Advancements and Considerations in the Treatment of Heart Failure

Ryan Jacobsen, PharmD, BCPS leads a discussion on defining heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as well as the importance of staging and functional classification criteria.

Alexandra Goncharenko, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP reviews factors that may influence treatment approaches for heart failure and emphasizes the importance of diagnosis to begin maximally tolerated doses of guideline-directed medical therapy.

Key opinion leader in pharmacy, Randy McDonough, PharmD, MS, BCGP, BCPS, FAPhA, provides insight into the history of conventional treatment approaches in heart failure.

A panel of experts builds a discussion on the role of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors for the management of heart failure and highlights the importance of considering patient adherence and cost burden.

Key opinion leaders in cardiology and pharmacy consider the role of ivabradine to reduce heart rate and lower the risk of hospitalization for patients with heart failure.

Experts in cardiology and pharmacy provide an overview of the cardiac benefit of SGLT2 inhibitors by discussing their mechanism of action, safety, efficacy, and cost burden for patients with heart failure.

A thought leader in the pharmacologic management of heart failure, Alexandra Goncharenko, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP, reviews the mechanism of action of vericiguat and considers its place in the treatment landscape.

Panelists consider the goals of guideline-directed medical therapy and reflect on how recent updates to clinical practice guidelines may impact therapeutic pathways.

Randy McDonough, PharmD, MS, BCGP, BCPS, FAPhA reviews the goals of pharmacologic maintenance of heart failure and comments on the importance of social determinants of health, health system efficiency, and patient education.

Key opinion leaders in the pharmacologic management of heart failure share insights on optimizing care by using a patient-centered approach and shared decision-making.

A panel of experts concludes by highlighting key advice for community pharmacists managing patients with heart failure and emphasizing the importance of communication between providers on the health care team.