Clinical Course of Patients With Worsening Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

Abstract

Background: Epidemiology of patients with worsening heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the real-world setting is not well described.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe incidence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with HFrEF who develop worsening heart failure (HF) in the real-world setting.

Methods: Data on patients with incident HFrEF from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry PINNACLE were linked to pharmacy, private practitioner, and hospital claims databases. Incidence, clinical characteristics, treatment (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) and outcomes of patients with worsening HF, defined as ≥90 days of stable HF with subsequent worsening requiring intravenous diuretic agents, were assessed.

Results: Of 11,064 HFrEF patients, 1,851 (17%) developed worsening HF on average 1.5 years following initial HF diagnosis. Patients who developed worsening HF were more likely to be African American, be octogenarians, and have higher comorbidity burden (p < 0.001). At the onset of worsening HF, 42.4% of patients were on monotherapy, 43.4% were on dual therapy, and 14.1% were on triple therapy. A total of 48%, 61%, and 98% of patients were on >50% target dose for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, respectively. The 2-year mortality rate was 22.5%, and 56% of patients were rehospitalized within 30 days of the worsening HF event.

Conclusions: In the real-world setting, 1 in 6 patients with HFrEF develop worsening HF within 18 months of HF diagnosis. These patients have a high risk for 2-year mortality and recurrent HF hospitalizations. The use of standard-of-care therapies both before and after the onset of worsening HF is low. With high unmet medical need, patients with worsening HF require novel treatment strategies as well as greater optimization of existing guideline-directed therapy.

Keywords: guideline-directed evaluation and management; medications; target doses; worsening heart failure.