Lessons learned from a multidisciplinary heart failure clinic for older women: a randomised controlled trial

Background: many heart failure disease management programs are primarily conducted in the male population. An approach incorporating disciplines such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, dietary and pharmacy in a standardized clinical pathway merits further investigation in older women with HF. Methods: in this randomized controlled trial, female patients in the intervention group received the multidisciplinary clinical pathway consisting of a series of 12 visits over a 6-week period in an outpatient clinic. Results: ninety-one community dwelling female patients aged 63 to 89 were randomized. Comparison of change between the two groups from baseline in the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score did not show a difference (P