Examining Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Patients with HFrEF

Guideline-directed medical therapy is a type of pharmacological therapy that is used to treat patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The treatment, which has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity, includes 4 medication classes: renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, evidence-based β-blockers, mineralocorticoid inhibitors and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.¹

At the Heart Failure Society of America 2024 Annual Meeting, several posters looked into guideline-directed medical therapy, examining a pharmacist-led program, benefits in adding the program prior to hospital discharge, limitations due to mild adverse events, how a remote program can increase uptake, and the role of a multidisciplinary team in utilizing the program.

READ MORE: Physical Frailty Prominent in Women, Retired or Unemployed Patients with Heart Failure

Click here for more coverage of the Heart Failure Society of America 2024 Annual Meeting.

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References

1. Dixit NM, Shah S, Ziaeian B, et al. Optimizing Guideline-directed Medical Therapies for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction During Hospitalization, US Cardiology Review 2021;15:e07. https://doi.org/10.15420/usc.2020.29

2. Twydell B, Kelsh S, Dickinson M, et al. Pharmacist-led Guideline-directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) Clinic For The Optimization Of Medications For Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction. Presented at: Heart Failure Society of America 2024 Annual Meeting; September 27-30, 2024; Atlanta, GA. Poster 108.

3. Scarano R. A Multidisciplinary Heart Failure Medication Titration Clinic Optimizes Guideline Directed Medical Therapy. Presented at: Heart Failure Society of America 2024 Annual Meeting; September 27-30, 2024; Atlanta, GA. Poster 383.

4. Besenhofer E, Green N, Chebotarev O. Improving Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Utilization And Ejection Fraction With A Multidisciplinary Heart Failure Clinic. Presented at: Heart Failure Society of America 2024 Annual Meeting; September 27-30, 2024; Atlanta, GA. Poster 138.

5. Willeford A, Yousif Z. Guideline-Directed Medical Therapies Initiated Prior To Discharge Have Additive Benefit Towards 30-day Readmissions For Heart Failure. Presented at: Heart Failure Society of America 2024 Annual Meeting; September 27-30, 2024; Atlanta, GA. Poster 023.

6. Velasco C, Baksh G, Haydo M, et al. Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Optimization Is Frequently Limited By Asymptomatic Mild Adverse Effects. Presented at: Heart Failure Society of America 2024 Annual Meeting; September 27-30, 2024; Atlanta, GA. Poster 206.