The role of a multidisciplinary heart failure clinic in optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy: HF-optimize

Theresa Diederich, Adam Burdorf, Bunny Pozehl, Stephanie Bowman, Kelly Ferguson, Kyana Holder, Windy Alonso, Douglas Stoller, Scott Lundgren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) reduces mortality and hospitalizations in adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF); however, few are receiving GDMT. National registries show as few as 1% of patients are receiving appropriate GDMT. Development of heart failure clinics achieving optimal GDMT are crucial to improve outcomes for HFrEF patients. Objective: We developed a multidisciplinary HF-Optimize clinic aimed at improving GDMT use along with providing education, resources, and comorbidity screening for adults with HFrEF. Methods: We targeted patients with newly diagnosed HFrEF and/or recent or multiple admissions for 6 visits over 12 weeks. We measured medication use, ejection fraction, 6-minute walk test distance, and health-related quality of life (EuroQol Visual Analog Scale) at visits 1 and 6. Results: One-hundred ten patients completed all visits. Patients were a mean age of 58 (±14) years, 37% were female, and 42% were of non-White race. From visit 1 to visit 6, utilization of GDMT increased from 35.5% to 85.5% (p < 0.001) and significant improvements in ejection fraction (25.9% to 35.5%, p < 0.001), 6-minute walk distance (1032 feet to 1121.7 feet, p = 0.001), and quality of life (63.8/100 vs 70.8/100, p = 0.002). Only 2 patients (1.8%) that completed HF-Optimize had a 30-day heart failure readmission. Conclusion: Our multidisciplinary HF-Optimize clinic improved medication usage and clinical outcomes. Further studies are needed to validate outcomes of multidisciplinary GDMT clinics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)95-101
Number of pages7
JournalHeart and Lung
Volume57
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2023

Keywords

  • Guideline-directed medical therapy
  • Health related quality of life
  • Heart failure outcomes
  • Multidisciplinary heart failure clinic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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