Monitoring
Ensure compliance of patients with their follow-up schedule, especially
those belonging to WHO-FC I. Follow-up visits at 3 to 6 months and 6 to 12
months after initial follow-up are advised. Risk stratification and assessment
of patient concordance must be done in every follow-up.
The baseline measurements of the following should be established during
the initial follow-up, and in all patients showing signs of worsening clinical
status:
- Medical history
- WHO-FC
- ECG
- 6MWT/Borg dyspnea score
- Basic blood exams (eg CBC, INR, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, AST/ALT, bilirubin, BNP/NT-proBNP)
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
- Echocardiography
- Specific laboratory tests (eg TSH, troponin, uric acid, iron levels)
- Blood gas analysis
- RHC
The patient’s medical history and functional class should be assessed using ECG, 6MWT/Borg dyspnea score, and basic laboratory exams (eg CBC, INR, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, AST/ALT, bilirubin, BNP/NT-proBNP levels) every follow-up visit of 3 to 6 months. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, specific laboratory tests (eg TSH, troponin, uric acid, iron levels), blood gas analysis, and RHC should be added at 6- to 12-month follow-up visit. At 3 to 6 months after every treatment adjustment, repeat evaluation of the patient’s complete medical history, functional class, ECG, 6MWT, echocardiography, basic blood tests, blood gas analysis, and RHC are recommended.