Tag Archives: heart failure

Introduction Hospital doctors have a professional responsibility to complete an accurate and comprehensive discharge summary with relevant clinical details. It is fundamental that any healthcare professional supporting the aftercare of a heart failure patient is briefed on the diagnosis, clinical progress, treatment and follow-up arrangements following hospitalisation. The purpose of a discharge summary is to share important clinical information about a patient’s hospital episode with their GP and other healthcare professionals responsible for providing continuing care. However, discharge summaries often fail to communicate effectively.1 In

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Systems of heart failure delivery Best practice tariff There is now a ‘best practice tariff’ (BPT) programme for heart failure (and for many other conditions). Professor Iain Squire (University of Leicester) reviewed the implications of this and discussed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standards for chronic heart failure (CHF). The first year of the BPT (April 2015–March 2016) was voluntary but it has been compulsory since the beginning of the 2016–2017 financial year. For the financial year 2016–2017, the tariff is worth a 5% uplift in the amount a trust is paid for each and every admission. It is

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The 2016 guidelines include for the first time the new drug sacubitril/valsartan (previously known as LCZ696). This is the first drug in the class of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) and was shown in the PARADIGM-HF trial to be superior to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril for reducing the risk of death and hospitalisation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) who met strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Professor Piotr Ponikowski (Chairperson of the ESC Guidelines Task Force), said: “The issue of how to include LCZ696 in the treatment algorithm generated a lot

Approval for new heart failure treatment A breakthrough drug for the treatment of chronic heart failure is now available in the UK.  The new drug sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto®, Novartis) has been approved for the treatment of adults with symptomatic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFREF). Sacubitril/valsartan – the first drug in the angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) class of drugs – was found to be superior to an evidence-based dose of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, enalapril, in the PARADIGM-HF study, the largest heart failure study conducted to date. PARADIGM-HF (Pros

Dear Sirs, Acute decompensated heart failure (HF) is the most common cause of hospital admission among patients older than 65 years of age.1 Such patients present with dyspnoea and variable degrees of fluid retention. Although aldosterone is known to be elevated in patients with HF, it is not yet established whether aldosterone levels affect clinical presentation. We have performed a preliminary study to investigate the degree of variation in baseline aldosterone and whether there is any relationship between aldosterone levels and the extent of peripheral oedema. Methods and results We enrolled 29 patients (mean age: 76 years; range: 43−90)

Introduction Dr Mamta Buch, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust Mitral regurgitation (MR) is increasingly prevalent in developed countries and represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. It affects 24% of adults with valvular heart disease and is present in 7% of the population over the age of 75 years.1,2 Significant MR is a complex condition and, left untreated, it leads to slow progressive deterioration. Up to 50% of patients with criteria for surgical intervention are not referred for surgery, largely due to advanced age, significant comorbidities and the presence of left ventricular (LV) dysfunctio

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Introduction Heart failure is a significant and rising public health problem affecting 900,000 people in the UK, and accounts for 5% of all emergency admissions.1 This rising trend is set to continue as the average age of the population increases.1-3 It is estimated that the proportion of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is between 30% and 50%.4-9 As a result, in recent years, more attention has been paid to this cohort of patients. However, there is still limited information regarding outcomes and treatment for these patients. Previous reports have shown that patients that have HFPEF are more likely to be