Congestive heart failure chronic pharmacotherapy
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Assistant editor-in-chief Rim Halaby
Overview
There are several goals in the chronic management of systolic heart failure. The management of diastolic heart failure is discussed elsewhere. The first goal is to treat the patient's symptoms of heart failure and to improve the patient's exercise tolerance and quality of life. The use of diuretics and regular assessment of the patient's weight helps in avoiding excess body fluids that are associated with dyspnea and orthopnea. Another goal of the chronic treatment of heart failure is to decrease the rate of hospitalization and mortality. To cheat the second goal, patients with chronic heart failure should be administered an ACE inhibitor (or ARB if they are ACE intolerant) and a beta blocker. If the patient remains symptomatic, additional therapy may be advised.
Chronic Pharmacotherapy
Treatment Goals
Improvement of symptoms:
Decreased mortality:
Management Plan
- First, begin by improving the symptoms of heart failure by the use of diuretics. Diuretics help in maintaining a normal fluid status and decrease pulmonary edema that causes symptoms of dyspnea and orthopnea[2].
- Second, after diuretics are started or at the same time you can begin the use of an ACE inhibitors [3]. An example would be to start lisinopril 5 mg Q day. Every one to two weeks, the dose would be escalated to achieve a target dose of 15 to 20 mg Q day. ACE inhibitors are initiated before a beta blocker because they achieved their hemodynamic effects more rapidly, and they are less likely to cause a decline in hemodynamic function. If an ACE inhibitor is not tolerated, then an angiotensin receptor blocker ARB is started.
- Third, once you have achieved a stable dose of a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor, then a beta blocker can be added and the dose titrated based upon the patient's tolerance.
- Fourth, the combination of hydralazine and a nitrate (particularly among black patients) can be added if the patient continues to have symptoms on an ACE inhibitor and a beta blocker.
- Simultaneous with number 1, treatment of the underlying cause of heart failure
- Hypertension, ischemic heart disease, valve abnormalities.
- Simultaneous with number 1, treat other non cardiac diseases that might contribute to the symptoms of heart failure
- Simultaneous with number 1, treat with a low salt diet[5]
- Simultaneous with number 1, weight management to check for fluid overload
- Simultaneous with number 1, treat, vaccines for influenza and pneumococcus should be administered [6].
- Shown below is an image that summarizes the steps in the chronic management of patients with heart failure.
References
- ↑ Davies MK, Gibbs CR, Lip GY (2000). "ABC of heart failure. Management: diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and nitrates". BMJ. 320 (7232): 428–31. PMC 1117548. PMID 10669450.
- ↑ Michael Felker G (2010). "Diuretic management in heart failure". Congest Heart Fail. 16 Suppl 1: S68–72. doi:10.1111/j.1751-7133.2010.00172.x. PMID 20653715.
- ↑ Shiokawa Y (1975). "Proceedings: Streptococcus surveys in Ryukyu Islands, Japan". Jpn Circ J. 39 (2): 168–71. PMID 1117548.
- ↑ DeGroot WJ, Leonard JJ (1970). "Hyperthyroidism as a high cardiac output state". Am Heart J. 79 (2): 265–75. PMID 4903771.
- ↑ Evangelista LS, Shinnick MA (2008). "What do we know about adherence and self-care?". J Cardiovasc Nurs. 23 (3): 250–7. doi:10.1097/01.JCN.0000317428.98844.4d. PMC 2880251. PMID 18437067.
- ↑ Martins Wde A, Ribeiro MD, Oliveira LB, Barros Lda S, Jorge AC, Santos CM; et al. (2011). "Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in heart failure: a little applied recommendation". Arq Bras Cardiol. 96 (3): 240–5. PMID 21271169.