Many Heart failure patients in Europe are not getting the best treatment because doctors are not following prescription guidelines, researchers said on Tuesday.

In a study that analysed how 1410 heart patients in six European countries were treated by their doctors, they found only 60 percent were given the recommended drugs for their condition.

“This means there is a high proportion of patients who are not receiving the best possible treatment for their condition, and who suffer worsening symptoms and even death as a result,” said Professor Michel Komajda, of the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, in Paris, France.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) issues guidelines for use of the most common cardiac drugs, which include ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers and spironolactone.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the developed world.

“We found that where doctors had treated their patients in accordance with the ESC guidelines, fewer patients had to be referred to the hospital due to deterioration of their heart failure or for cardiovascular symptoms,” Komajda said.

The researchers, who reported their findings in the European Heart Journal, said there was a 74 percent adherence to diagnosis guidelines but large differences in following guidelines for treatment.

Eight-five percent of patients who needed ACE-inhibitors received them but only 58 percent who would have benefited from beta-blockers were prescribed the drugs.

Patients who were prescribed drugs according to the guidelines responded better and fewer were admitted to hospital with chronic heart failure.

The researchers examined how patients were treated in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Britain.

“We hope that these results will encourage cardiologists to ensure that they are familiar with, and adhere to, treatment guidelines,” said Komajda.