Present and novel approaches to treating heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): Where to start and next-line strategies

Details

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome arising from diminished ventricular filling or ejection of blood. HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is characterized by abnormality in the systolic function and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of <40%. The prevalence of HF is about 40 million people globally and approximately 6.5 million in the U.S., and as the global population continues to age, the prevalence of HF is expected to continue increasing over the coming decades. HFrEF constitutes a major public health concern, with five-year survival rates as low as 25%, and it carries with it a significant risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

There has been increased focus recently on guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in HFrEF, and evidence suggests that each ten percent improvement in measures of guideline-recommended composite care is associated with a thirteen percent lower odds of 24-month mortality. Nonetheless, research shows that substantial portions of patients are not treated with guideline-recommended doses, even after taking into account dose-limiting physiological parameters, and that guideline non-adherent practice is associated with poorer outcomes.

Target Audience:

The following HCPs: Cardiologists and PCPs; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in cardiology; and any other HCPs with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with HFrEF.