ACC/AHA/HFSA Update on New Pharmacological Therapy for Heart Failure Released
On May 20th, 2016, the ACC, AHA and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) released updated guidelines for the management of Heart Failure to include two new effective heart failure medications: valsartan/sacubitril (Entresto) and ivabradine (Corlanor). In the introduction to the guideline, these therapies are described as “milestones” in the care of patients with heart failure.
The European Society of Cardiology concurrently released its 2016 Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure to improve patient care, avoid confusion and ensure consistency in practice. With the understanding of new guidelines, cardiovascular nurses are well-positioned to engage patients in shared decision-making dialogues regarding the benefits and risks of new therapies and their clinical application.