Pharmacological management of heart failure: a patient-centred approach.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is a global health challenge that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Despite recent advances in pharmacological and interventional therapy, morbidity and mortality in these patients remain high. For this reason, and because of its interplay with other cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases, HF represents a major area of research, with new trials being published every year and international guidelines constantly updated.

AREAS COVERED: The authors review the current status and possible future developments in HF pharmacotherapy.

EXPERT OPINION: The treatment of HF has made significant advances in recent years, and the current recommendations are based on large outcome trials. This has led to significant reductions in both mortality and morbidity, but the death rate remains unacceptably high. In this context, a patient-centered approach that considers comorbidities and specific clinical scenarios when dosing HF medication is essential. Prevention of hospital admissions for cardiac decompensation is of utmost importance in patients with HF as is the enablement of activities of daily living, an endpoint which has only recently been incorporated into major HF trials.