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Background: Brazil is a country with different biomes and social disparities. There are limited data available on regional differences and prognosis of heart failure (HF) in the country., Objective: The Rosa dos Ventos study aims to investigate regional differences and the current prognosis of HF outpatients with reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction in Brazil., Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study that will include outpatients older than 18 years with HF and an ejection fraction < 50% in 30 public and private centers distributed in all Brazilian regions. A total of 2,500 patients will be enrolled from June 2021 and October 2023, with a 12-month follow-up period. We will collect data on socioeconomic and clinical status, medical prescription and results of cardiology tests. Follow-up phone calls will be made at 6 and 12 months after inclusion to collect information regarding emergency room visits, hospitalization and mortality., Conclusion: The Rosa dos Ventos study will allow a more accurate characterization of chronic HF in Brazil. This initiative will provide relevant information for the development of effective management strategies to mitigate the impact of this condition on patients and the healthcare system.

Objectives: To measure Quality of Life (QoL) and costs of Heart Failure (HF) outpatients in Brazil as an introduction to the Value-Based Health Care (VBHC) concept., Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study, patients with HF, with ejection fraction <50%, were recruited from three hospitals in Brazil. Two QoL (36-Item Short Form Survey [SF-36] and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire [MLHFQ]) and two anxiety/depression questionnaires were applied. SF-36 scores were stratified by domains. Treatment costs were calculated using the Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) method. Results were stratified by NYHA functional class and sex., Results: From October 2018 to January 2021, 198 patients were recruited, and the median MLHFQ (49.5 [IQR 21.0, 69.0]) and SF-36 scores demonstrated poor QoL, worse at higher NYHA classes. A third of patients had moderate/severe depression and anxiety symptoms, and women had higher anxiety scores. Mean costs of outpatient follow-up were US$ 215 ± 238 for NYHA I patients, US$ 296 ± 399 for NYHA II and US$ 667 ± 1012 for NYHA III/IV. Lab/exam costs represented 30% of the costs in NYHA I, and 74% in NYHA III/IV (US$ 63.26 vs. US$ 491.05)., Conclusion: Patients with HF in Brazil have poor QoL and high treatment costs; both worsen as the NYHA classification increases. It seems that HF has a greater impact on the mental health of women. Costs increase mostly related to lab/exams. Accurate and crossed information about QoL and costs is essential to drive care and reimbursement strategies based on value., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 HCFMUSP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)