Twenty-nine trials (5,039 participants) were included in the review.
All-cause mortality (22 trials, 3,781 participants).
Multidisciplinary interventions reduced the risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70, 0.99); this result is just statistically significant at the 5% level. Subgroup analyses revealed that this effect was limited to those programmes in which multidisciplinary teams provided specialised follow-up care (RR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.96), but was not evident with those interventions that used telephone follow-up (RR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.29) or self-care activities (RR 1.14, 95% CI: 0.67, 1.94). The between-intervention differences were confirmed by the results of the indirect comparison analyses.
All-cause hospitalisation rate (23 trials, 4,313 participants).
Multidisciplinary interventions reduced the all-cause hospitalisation rate (RR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.93), but there was statistical heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses revealed that the effect was seen in those programmes in which multidisciplinary teams provided specialised follow-up care (RR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.92) or self-care activities (RR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.93), but was not evident with those interventions that used telephone follow-up (RR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.20). The between-intervention differences were confirmed by the results of the indirect comparison analyses.
HF hospitalisation rate (19 trials, 3,008 participants).
Multidisciplinary interventions reduced the HF hospitalisation rate (RR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.82). Subgroup analyses revealed that the beneficial effect was seen with all the different types of intervention used.
Total number of hospitalisations (21 trials, number of participants not stated).
Multidisciplinary interventions reduced the hospitalisation rate (RR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.80). Subgroup analyses revealed that the beneficial effect was seen with all the different types of intervention used.
Total number of HF hospitalisations (20 trials, number of participants not stated).
Multidisciplinary interventions reduced the HF hospitalisation rate (RR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.67). Subgroup analyses revealed that the beneficial effect was seen with all the different types of intervention used.
The authors stated that the results of the sensitivity analyses did not reveal any statistical differences, but did not present these data.