Opinion
Video
Navigating the Patient Journey Through Heart Failure Diagnosis
Medical experts discuss strategies to connect with patients to alleviate concerns potentially associated with converting heart failure therapies.
This is a video synopsis/summary of a panel discussion involving Robert Groves, MD; Eugene E. Wright Jr, MD; Nancy Albert, PhD; Nihar Desai, MD, MPH; and Kelly Marie Axsom, MD. The panel discusses strategies for converting stable heart failure patients from angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) therapy. Albert emphasizes shared decision-making, explaining the benefits of switching, trying the new therapy, and reassessing how the patient feels. Once aware of improvements, patients are motivated to continue. Albert notes explaining therapeutic mechanisms helps, as ARNIs can actually reduce heart size versus just preventing enlargement with ACE inhibitors. Another of the 4 pillars of heart failure (HF) therapy, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, emerged unexpectedly from diabetes trials, reducing cardiovascular deaths across ejection fraction ranges. The ability to use SGLT2 inhibitors across HF spectrums makes adoption easier. For primary prevention, high-risk diabetes patients should receive SGLT2 inhibitors. In summary, SGLT2 inhibitors have rapidly become a core HF therapy thanks to unexpected cardiovascular benefits seen in diabetes trials. Their broad applicability creates substantial opportunities to improve outcomes across HF populations.
Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by AJMC editorial staff.
