Monash University

Heart failure accounts for one in ten acute medical admissions in Malaysian hospitals. It is one of the most common reasons for hospital readmission cases. The problem lies in most heart failure patients being unable to recognise early warning symptoms of worsening heart condition, mainly if the symptoms are atypical. This is due to several reasons – limited communication with healthcare providers, lack of correct information, memory difficulty, complex medical regimen, and a lack of compelling symptoms. Heart failure patients in rural areas are also unable to access hospital-based services easily due to their remote location.