Clinical Report: How Quickly Are Patients Reaching Quadruple HFrEF Therapy?
Overview
A retrospective cohort study found that less than 25% of veterans with newly diagnosed heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) achieved quadruple therapy within a median follow-up of 2.9 years, with a median time to therapy exceeding 6 months.
Background
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a major health concern, with established guidelines recommending concurrent use of four specific drug classes.
Data Highlights
Metric
Value
Patients Achieving Quadruple Therapy
21% (n = 11,217)
Median Time to Quadruple Therapy
6 months
Mortality Rate During Follow-Up
31%
Patients with Evidence-Based Beta-Blocker
78%
Patients with Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitor
79%
Patients with SGLT2 Inhibitor
46%
Key Findings
Less than 25% of veterans with newly diagnosed HFrEF achieved quadruple therapy within 2.9 years.
The median time to achieve quadruple therapy was over 6 months.
Prescription copays were associated with lower rates of achieving quadruple therapy.
Adjusted rates of quadruple therapy were higher among Black and Hispanic patients compared to White patients.
Patients diagnosed in the outpatient setting were more likely to achieve quadruple therapy than those diagnosed in the inpatient setting.
Clinical Implications
The findings indicate a need for targeted interventions to improve the initiation of quadruple therapy in veterans with HFrEF. Addressing barriers such as prescription copays and enhancing outpatient management strategies may facilitate better adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy.
Conclusion
The study reveals significant delays and low rates of quadruple therapy initiation among veterans with HFrEF.