NYMC Faculty Publications
Benefit-Risk Review of Different Drug Classes Used in Chronic Heart Failure
DOI
10.1080/14740338.2018.1512580
Journal Title
Expert Opinion on Drug Safety
First Page
37
Last Page
49
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
January 2019
Department
Medicine
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is an important public health problem with an increasing prevalence across the globe. The mortality rates from this complex clinical problem have stabilized in the recent years with the use of pharmacotherapeutics which demonstrated survival benefits in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Areas covered: We reviewed the seven classes of medications which constitute the guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in chronic HF patients. We discussed clinical trials which support or contradict their use, potential adverse events, and available real-world data on utilization and safety. Expert opinion: Loop diuretics form a major component of baseline therapy in HF patients to maintain euvolemia. As diastolic HF is more volume sensitive then systolic HF, diuretic use should be judiciously monitored to prevent states of volume depletion and associated complications. Neurohormonal modulation with pharmacotherapies are efficacious in reducing morbidity and mortality in the chronic HFrEF population. However, registry data showed that treatment intolerance and adverse events result in lower prescription rates of GDMT. Sacubitril/valsartan represents a major therapeutic advance in the treatment of HFrEF patients and can be safely used in addition to other GDMTs. Therapies to improve outcomes in diastolic HF patients are needed.
Recommended Citation
Andries, G., Yandrapalli, S., & Aronow, W. (2019). Benefit-Risk Review of Different Drug Classes Used in Chronic Heart Failure. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 18 (1), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/14740338.2018.1512580