Optimization of heart FailUre medical Treatment after hospital discharge according to left ventricUlaR Ejection fraction: the FUTURE survey.

No clinical practice guidelines are available for the treatment of heart failure (HF) in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). To determine how cardiologists manage medical treatment in HF patients after hospital discharge, according to LVEF. The FUTURE study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in HF outpatients by French private cardiologists between September 2007 and August 2008. Patients had to have been hospitalized within the previous 18 months with a diagnosis of HF. Clinical data and HF treatments (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs], angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs], beta-blockers, diuretics and aldosterone antagonists) were recorded retrospectively, with precise information on drug doses, at two successive time points (at hospital discharge and at the index consultation). HF treatment was compared in patients with reduced (less than or equal to 40%) versus preserved (more than 40%) LVEF. Completed data were available for 1137 HF patients enrolled by 424 cardiologists. Mean patient age was 72±11 years; LVEF was reduced in 56% and preserved in 44%. The therapeutic approach was similar in the two groups, both at hospital discharge and at the index consultation. At the index consultation, HF treatment was: beta-blocker (74%); ACEI/ARB (83%); loop diuretic (86%); aldosterone antagonist (31%). The majority of patients (62%) received a beta-blocker plus an ACEI or an ARB; 56% reached more than or equal to 50% of the target dose for each treatment. There were no major differences in treatments and dosages between the groups with low and preserved LVEF. In 15% of cases where the drug dose was not increased, fear of adverse events was reported as the reason. The FUTURE survey showed a similar approach to HF treatment irrespective of LVEF. Compared with previous studies, we saw an improvement in the use of recommended HF drugs, especially beta-blockers. However, achievement of target doses could be improved.

Cohen Solal A ，Leurs I ，Assyag P ，Beauvais F ，Clerson P ，Contre C ，Thebaut JF ，Genoun M ，French National College of Cardiologists ... -  《-》

Treatment practices in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: a prospective observational study.

Peltier M ，Houpe D ，Cohen-Solal A ，Béguin M ，Levy F ，Tribouilloy C ... -  《-》

Prescription of cardiovascular drugs in the French ODIN cohort of heart failure patients according to age and type of chronic heart failure.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a frequent severe disease. Disease-management programmes, which contain a therapeutic patient education component, will play a central role in improving delivery of care and reducing mortality and hospitalizations for CHF. In order to have an up-to-date overview of medical treatment of CHF in France implemented by hospital and clinic cardiologists especially interested in CHF and therapeutic patient education, we described the prescription of cardiovascular drugs in the large ODIN cohort of CHF patients, according to age and type of CHF. From 2007 to 2010 (median follow-up 27.2 months), CHF patients were prospectively enrolled in a multicentre 'real-world' French cohort by centres previously trained in therapeutic patient education. Patients were grouped according to age (< 60 years, 60 to<70 years, 70 to<80 years and ≥ 80 years) and type of CHF (characterized by level of LVEF: reduced, borderline or preserved). Medical prescription was described and mortality was assessed at long-term follow-up. The cohort consisted of 3237 patients (67.6 years; 69.4% men). The oldest age group had the highest LVEF. Blockers of the angiotensin-aldosterone system were prescribed progressively and significantly less frequently as the population advanced in age or as LVEF was more preserved. The mean dosages of the main prescribed CHF drugs remained ≥ 50% lower than those recommended for most drugs in all age and LVEF groups. Drug prescriptions were related to aetiology of reduced or preserved CHF. A global decrease in CHF drug prescription was observed for all medication classes except calcium blockers, according to maintenance of relatively or totally preserved LVEF. Survival was related to age but not to type of CHF. In CHF, and despite management by cardiologists particularly interested in CHF and specifically trained to deliver therapeutic patient education, medical prescription differed substantially from guidelines. Age and type of CHF (reduced versus preserved) appeared to be important factors in lack of adherence to guidelines. However, only age influenced mortality; the type of CHF did not affect survival.

Juillière Y ，Suty-Selton C ，Riant E ，Darracq JP ，Dellinger A ，Labarre JP ，Druelle J ，Mulak G ，Danchin N ，Jourdain P ，ODIN cohort participants ... -  《-》

Nurse-coordinated collaborative disease management improves the quality of guideline-recommended heart failure therapy, patient-reported outcomes, and left ventricular remodelling.

Heart failure (HF) pharmacotherapy is often not prescribed according to guidelines. This longitudinal study investigated prescription rates and dosages of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB), beta-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), and concomitant changes of symptoms, echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular (LV) function and morphology and results of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey in participants of the Interdisciplinary Network Heart Failure (INH) programme. The INH study evaluated a nurse-coordinated management, HeartNetCare-HF(TM) (HNC), against Usual Care (UC) in patients hospitalized for decompensated HF [LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% before discharge). A total of 706 subjects surviving >18 months (363 UC, 343 HNC) were examined 6-monthly. At baseline, 92% received ACEi/ARB, (HNC/UC 91/93%, P = 0.28), 86% received beta-blockers (86/86%, P = 0.83), and 44% received MRA (42/47%, P = 0.07). After 18 months, beta-blocker use had increased only in HNC (+7.6%, P < 0.001). Guideline-recommended target doses were achieved more frequently in HNC for ACEi/ARB (HNC/UC: 50/25%, P < 0.001) and beta-blockers (39/15%, P < 0.001). The following variables were more improved and/or better in subjects undergoing HNC compared with UC: LVEF (47 ± 12 vs. 44 ± 12%, P = 0.004, change +17/+14%, P = 0.010), LV end-diastolic diameter (59 ± 9 vs. 61 ± 9.6 mm, P = 0.024, change -2.3/-1.4 mm, P = 0.13), New York Heart Association class (1.9 ± 0.7 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7, P = 0.001, change -0.44/-0.25, P = 0.002) and SF-36 physical component summary score (41.6 ± 11.2 vs. 38.5 ± 11.8, P = 0.004, change +3.3 vs. +1.1 score points, P < 0.02). Prescription rates and dosages of ACEi/ARB and beta-blockers improved more in HNC than UC patients. Concomitantly, participation in HNC was associated with significantly better clinical outcomes and more favourable echocardiographic changes after 18 months.

Güder G ，Störk S ，Gelbrich G ，Brenner S ，Deubner N ，Morbach C ，Wallenborn J ，Berliner D ，Ertl G ，Angermann CE ... -  《-》

Comparison of medical therapy dosing in outpatients cared for in cardiology practices with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction with and without device therapy: report from IMPROVE HF.

Heywood JT ，Fonarow GC ，Yancy CW ，Albert NM ，Curtis AB ，Gheorghiade M ，Inge PJ ，McBride ML ，Mehra MR ，O'Connor CM ，Reynolds D ，Walsh MN ... -  《-》