Optimisation of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) Patients

Primary care has become somewhat more familiar with ACEi (e.g. Enalapril) and beta-blocker (i.e. Carvedilol, Bisoprolol, Nebivolol) therapies over the years, with the MRA (Spironolactone/Epleronone) medication group becoming more widely recognised as triple therapy for patients with HFrEF.

However, much has changed and we now have more superior treatment in replacement of an ACEi/ARB for specific patients such as the use of ARNI, i.e. Sacubitril Valsartan (NICE, 2018; McDonagh et al. 2021).

In addition to triple therapy, we have seen a fourth medication added to the medication regime.

SGLT2i (such as Dapagliflozin and Empaglifozin) are now recommended as a quadruple therapy in HFrEF.

This medication adds further morbidity and mortality benefits. (McDonagh et al. 2021); Straw et al. (2021).

Vaduganathan, et al (2020) report that the average 65-year heart failure patient could expect up to an additional 5 years if receiving the 4 pillars of treatment.

With my primary care hat on, I am seeing more and more patients receiving quadruple therapies, which is reassuring, but we have a long way to go to ensure this is accessed equitable and systematically among general practice patients.

Secondly, medication optimisation, i.e. titration to optimally tolerated dose or target dose, should be being focussed upon in a heart failure review consultation in general practice.

It goes without saying, some patients can be complex and require more close assessment and guidance in terms of priority ordering of the 4 pillars of treatment and referral to our cardiology heart failure team is advised.

Nonetheless, much can be achieved in primary care clinic at the patients 6/12 monthly review.

For practices using the Quality & Outcomes Framework (QOF) it is expected that a heart failure medication review is an ideal time to identify patients who require medication optimisation.

I can hear you say; “But what will patients say when all of a sudden, we begin to titrate their medication now and not before.”

Be candid; general practice is diverse and we have an expanding knowledge base on what we can do for patients with HFrEF, and most patients won’t question that fact.

Don’t let status quo stop you optimising their medications.

I can hear you say, “I’m not a heart failure expert”, well I appreciate that, but many patient’s medications can be easily titrated and it’s not as hard as you think!

Many primary care colleagues are now using mentoring with a local heart failure nurse, advanced pharmacy practitioner, GP with special interest cardiology/HF to increase confidence and competency.

Nationally, there has been access to a fully funded foundation in HF webinar course. There are many available courses to help brush up your heart failure knowledge and skills.

Don’t forget, heart failure audit is key place to begin with primary care heart failure management.

For example, the Oberoi Disease Management Audit Platform (oberoi-dm.co.uk) supports primary care to identify diagnostics coding issues, identify missing heart failure patients and clearly identifies patients who are not taking therapies for HFrEF and those who require medication optimisation.