Podcast Episode 1: A Pragmatic Overview of Heart Failure in Patients with Diabetes for Endocrinologists, Primary Care Physicians and Noncardiologist Clinicians

Heart failure is a growing major public health concern. Total medical costs for heart failure in the USA are expected to rise to more than US $70 billion by 2030, and this is expected to rise as the prevalence of heart failure increases owing to an aging population and the concurrent increase in risk factors for heart failure such as obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Heart failure affects 22% of patients with type 2 diabetes and is frequently the first presentation of cardiovascular disease in these patients. One of the key challenges in heart failure treatment is early detection and diagnosis. Heart failure can present similarly to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is often misdiagnosed. Late diagnosis of heart failure can lead to delays in treatment initiation and poor patient outcomes. Clinicians other than specialist cardiologists, particularly endocrinologists and primary care physicians in the case of patients with diabetes, can play a key role in the early detection and diagnosis of heart failure. In this podcast series of three episodes, a cardiovascular specialist, an endocrinologist, and a primary care physician will provide practical guidance for primary care physicians on optimal identification and management of heart failure in patients with diabetes. In the first episode, we give a pragmatic overview of heart failure and practical guidance on how clinicians can identify patients most at risk of developing heart failure, tips for early detection and screening, and ultimately, how to prevent progression of heart failure in these patients. Podcast available for this article.