Podcast: A Heart Transplant Recipient’s Journey
Each month, the Heart Failure Society of America’s Heart Failure Beat features candid conversations with heart failure clinicians about daily challenges, breakthroughs in research, treatment, career development, and more. The podcast is designed for cardiologists, clinicians, and trainees, as well as anyone else interested in heart failure news from leading experts.
Key Updates from the AHA/ACC/HFSA Heart Failure Management Guidelines
In episode #200 of Cardionerds: A Cardiology Podcast, special co-host Dr. Mark Belkin and the Journal of Cardiac Failure team discuss the 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. Editors Dr. Robert Mentz, Dr. Anu Lala, and FIT editors highlight patient-centered updates and practice-changing guidance for diagnosing and managing heart failure, including newer therapeutics like SGLT2 inhibitors, emphasizing holistic care and improved patient outcomes.
GDMT in Heart Failure Cases, Emphasizing Beta Blockers and Titration Strategies
In episode #209 of Cardionerds: A Cardiology Podcast, Drs. Karan Desai, Natalie Stokes, and Tiffany Dong join Dr. Randall Starling to discuss guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) through real cases. In one case, a man with genetic cardiomyopathy and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) experienced worsening symptoms.
Study Finds EAT-Lancet Diet Reduces Heart Failure Risk in Long-Term Analysis
Researchers explored the impact of the EAT-Lancet diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods and limits sugar and animal products, on heart failure risk. In an analysis of more than 23,000 participants with a median follow-up of 25 years, the study found that higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with a decreased risk of developing heart failure.
Bundled Payments for Care Improvement and Quality of Care and Outcomes in Heart Failure
Does Medicare Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Model 2 program affect in process-of-care measures or outcomes for heart failure? In this study, hospital participation in BPCI for heart failure was not associated with improvement in process-of-care measures or in 30-day or 90-day rates of readmission or mortality.
Expanding Medicaid Means Better Care for Heart Patients
A study published in BMC Health Services Research found that expanding Medicaid eligibility is associated with significant improvements in care for low-income patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart rhythm issues and cerebrovascular disease. The study observed trends from 2012 to 2015 in eight states that expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2014 and five that didn’t. Data included 143 million patients averaging 56 years in age. Overall, Medicaid expansion was associated with a 19% increase in the likelihood that a new Medicaid patient would receive high-value prescriptions for heart-related ailments, diabetes mellitus, depression, and osteoporosis. In states that did not expand Medicaid eligibility, the likelihood of a new Medicaid patient receiving one of those prescriptions or treatments decreased by 24%.
Nurse Practitioners and Managing Patients With Heart Failure
Researchers investigated the capacity of nurse practitioners (NPs) in managing the complexities of heart failure (HF) patients through a multifaceted approach. Other studies have demonstrated that NP care in HF results in reduced readmissions, timely visits, decreased costs, and improved quality outcomes. Researchers concluded that NPs deliver comprehensive, patient-focused care across all phases of heart failure, with the ability to navigate and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to assure the best treatment for their patients. Telehealth, which saw heightened use during the COVID-19 pandemic, offers potential in HF management, particularly in boosting access and reducing readmissions. Researchers suggest that future studies should explore NP-led clinics, cost efficiency, and care quality.
