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Objective: Chronic heart failure (CHF) management requires a multidisciplinary approach, and it's very important for primary care physicians (PCC) to cooperate with cardiology physicians in this process. In this study, we tried to reveal the awareness and expectations of PCC about CHF management., Methods: The study was designed as a descriptive survey in a single region and included 549 PCC. Data were collected through a survey study., Results: A total of 389 PCC participated in our study. Of these, 137 (35.2%) stated that they had an average of more than 40 CHF patients registered with them, and 331 (85.1%) stated that they had identified them thanks to their medical treatment. The symptoms that physicians most frequently question in CHF patients are shortness of breath (27.5%), swelling in the ankle (27%), orthopnea (23.9%) and palpitations (20.5%). The physical examination findings that they question most frequently are peripheral edema (% 29.2), tachycardia (18.5%), crepitus in the lungs (16.8%), and irregular pulse (15.2%). 203 (55.9%) of PCC stated that measurements of natriuretic peptides could be implemented in their institutions if the necessary training and opportunity were provided. Most physicians (46.8%) stated that they should be given priority in referring CHF patients; 172 of them (44.2%) stated that they received in-service training regarding CHF and 278 of them (71.5%) stated that their training was not at a sufficient level., Conclusion: It is clear that better results can be obtained in the management of CHF as the education level and professional experience of PHCs increases. It seems that PCC need training on CHF and need to improve the quality of communication with cardiologist's.

Objective: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency, and iron metabolism becomes further deteriorated in the presence of certain conditions, such as heart failure (HF). Atrial fibrillation (AF) has many similarities to HF, including a chronic inflammatory pathophysiology; however, the prevalence of ID and other hematinic deficiencies in AF patients have not been determined., Methods: In this study, the prevalence of iron (serum ferritin <100 µg/L or ferritin 100-299 µg/L with transferrin saturation <20%), vitamin B12 (<200 pg/mL), and folate deficiency (<4.0 ng/mL) was evaluated in 101 patients with non-valvular AF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and no signs of HF, and the results were compared with 35 age- and gender-matched controls., Results: Anemia was detected in 26% of the patients. A total of 48 (47.6%) patients had ID, 10 (9.9%) had a vitamin B12 deficiency, and 13 (12.9%) had a folate deficiency. The prevalence of ID was similar in the controls and the paroxysmal AF patients, but increased gradually in persistent and permanent AF. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that permanent vs. paroxysmal AF [Odds ratio (OR): 2.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-5.69; p=0.011], high sensitive C-reactive protein (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 0.93-2.36; p=0.019), N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.96-1.71; p=0.034), and white blood cell count (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.95-1.58; p=0.041) were associated with ID. In multivariable analysis, permanent AF remained as an independent clinical associate of ID (OR: 4.30; 95% CI: 0.83-12.07; p=0.039)., Conclusion: ID is common in permanent AF, as in HF. Inflammation and neurohormonal activation seem to contribute to its development.