[Drug treatment for chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction].

Based on multiple randomized controlled trials performed in the last 20 years, drugs form the basis of treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). Despite solid evidence for their efficacy and safety and publication of detailed national and international guidelines many patients with HFREF remain, who are not at all or only insufficiently treated. Treatment goals include reduction of mortality and hospitalizations, improvement of symptoms and exercise tolerance as well as prevention of disease progression. ACE-inhibitors and beta-adrenergic receptor blockers exert beneficial effects on all treatment goals and are therefore indicated in all patients with HFREF if tolerated. Diuretics allow control of fluid retention and maintenance of "euvolemia". Low-dose spironolactone can be considered in persistent moderate to severe (NYHA 3 - 4) HFREF despite treatment. Angiotensin receptor blockers are indicated for ACE-inhibitor intolerance or in addition to ACE-inhibitors and beta-adrenergic receptor blockers in case of persistent symptoms. Triple combination of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and aldosterone antagonists should be avoided in view of the substantial risk of hyperkalemia. In current praxis digoxin is mainly used as an adjunctive agent for rate control of atrial fibrillation in combination with beta-adrenergic receptor blockers. Titration and maintenance of heart failure treatment requires continuous control of clinical parameters, renal function and electrolytes. It is recommended to use drugs and dosest hat have been shown to be effective in clinial trials. Despite the fact that heart failure is mainly a disease of the elderly, this population is underrepresented in clinical trials. The risk of side effects and drug-drug interactions is increased in elderly patients because of physiologic changes with age and frequent comorbidities with resultant polypharmacy.