New Drug Could Decrease Hospital Stay for Acute Heart Failure Patients
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 00:00
LOS ANGELES, November 6, 2012
PCNA urges members to get familiar with new options for AHF patients
A new study, the RELAXin in Acute Heart Failure (RELAX-AHF) Trial, released tonight at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012 shows promise in a new drug called serelaxin, which helps relax blood vessels in acute heart failure patients.
According to a press release from the American Heart Association, hospitalized patients given serelaxin had improved symptoms and other clinical benefits including fewer deaths than those given standard of care plus a placebo.
The Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) urges members and other health care providers to pay attention to this study and get familiar with this drug as a possible new therapy for acute heart failure.
“It is very promising that for hospitalized patients with acute heart failure there is a new drug alternative to reduce symptoms and get them home faster by improving blood flow to the heart, bringing more oxygen to the myocardium and reducing demand on the heart,” says Lola Coke, PhD, ACNS-BC, RN-BC, FAHA, FPCNA, assistant professor in Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing at Rush University College of Nursing and president of the PCNA board of directors.
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Contact: Abby Despins, 920-606-2115, adespins@pcna.net