For patients admitted to hospital with heart failure, waiting several days for an ultrasound could delay important decisions about their treatment. New research supported by the Women's Giving Circle aims to help physicians identify the type of heart failure much earlier, potentially improving care and reducing time spent in hospital.
This is one of two innovative projects that received a $25,000 each from the Women’s Giving Circle, a local group that supports medical research.
The grants, announced Sept. 29 during a luncheon at the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club, will support research by Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) cardiologists Dr. Aws Almufleh and Dr. Maria Luz Garagiola.
Dr. Almufleh's research focuses on one of the major challenges in heart failure care: identifying the type of heart failure early enough to guide appropriate treatment.
Although patients with different types of heart failure often experience similar symptoms, the treatments they need can differ substantially. An echocardiogram, or heart ultrasound, is an important tool for distinguishing between these conditions. However, access to this test can be limited.
Dr. Almufleh and his research team are developing and testing a new approach that uses information already available in patients' medical records to identify heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a common form of heart failure that can be particularly challenging to diagnose.
The goal is to help physicians recognize this condition earlier, even before an echocardiogram becomes available. If successful, the research could support more timely treatment decisions, improve patient care and potentially reduce hospital stays.
"I am incredibly grateful to the Women's Giving Circle for supporting this research,” said Dr. Almufleh. “Their support allows us to explore innovative ideas that could make a meaningful difference in how patients with heart failure are diagnosed and treated."
Dr. Garagiola’s project is focused on another important challenge: improving access to heart imaging for adults living with congenital heart disease.
Thousands of Canadians born with congenital heart disease are now living into adulthood and require specialized cardiac care throughout their lives. At KHSC, growing demand is creating delays for patients waiting for follow-up and diagnostic testing.
Dr. Garagiola’s research team will study whether point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help address these challenges. Unlike a traditional electrocardiogram, which requires specialized imaging equipment and takes several days to get an appointment, POCUS is a portable form of ultrasound that allows physicians to easily perform heart imaging during a clinic visit.
The study will examine whether the POCUS scans can be incorporated safely and efficiently into regular Adult Congenital Heart Disease clinic visits, potentially helping physicians identify patients who need further imaging while reducing unnecessary delays.
Dr. Garagiola is grateful to receive the grant because research funding is vital to improving the health-care system.
“Everything begins with research,” said Dr. Garagiola. “Any idea we have about improving health and the health-care system, we need to study and test. Research is about improving care.”
The Women’s Giving Circle is a group of more than 130 women who are dedicated to supporting research at KHSC and Providence Care, while increasing awareness of the medical research taking place in Kingston.
Together, members work with KHSC Research Institute to identify and fund research projects (that they vote on) with the potential to turn new ideas into improved patient care.
“We're over 130 members now,” says Women’s Giving Circle Chair Rachel Koven. “The more members we have, the more research grants we can give.”
It is a simple idea with a powerful impact: when more women come together, more research can move forward, and more promising ideas have a chance to become better care for patients and families in our community.
The Women’s Giving Circle offers memberships for $42 per month for women aged 40 and over and $21 per month for women under 40. Members also have opportunities to attend research-focused luncheons and take part in behind-the-scenes tours led by medical researchers.
For more details, visit the Women’s Giving Circle webpage or contact UHKF at 613-549-5452.