Bridging critical gaps in advanced heart failure care

(Press-News.org) DALLAS, January 27, 2025 — About 6.7 million American adults are living with heart failure (HF), and prevalence is expected to reach more than 8 million by 2030.[1]

While there is no cure for HF, many people with this condition can live full, enjoyable lives and disease progression can be slowed. While people with early-stage HF often can manage their condition with lifestyle modifications and medications, more advanced therapies may be needed as the disease progresses. Yet, a significant number of patients who may benefit from advanced HF specialty care don’t receive it — a gap that particularly affects populations with limited access to health care resources.[2],[3]

The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health  for all, has launched a new $3 million initiative, supported financially by Abbott, that aligns with the rising need for advanced HF treatment pathways and education beyond traditional guideline-directed medical therapy. This effort will provide cardiovascular clinicians with information on care models that connect specialists and clinical teams to improve patient outcomes and support a growing HF population.

“Knowledge gaps among clinicians may contribute to variations and disparities in the types of patients who receive advanced HF therapies, and resultant delays or lack of referral can lead to adverse consequences for patients and their families,” said Mariell Jessup, M.D., FAHA, chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association. “This initiative will create nationwide education on the full array of treatment options for eligible people living with advanced heart failure, helping to bridge these gaps.”

By engaging 15 carefully selected hospitals across the nation, the American Heart Association’s new three-year Heart Failure Education Initiative aims to improve understanding and amplify successful models of HF treatment pathways. Participating sites will:

collaborate to share challenges and develop solutions, and have access to education sharing successful models of care through conferences, posters, webinars and more. Multidisciplinary teams at each hospitals will engage in process mapping, expert collaboration and a national roundtable event. The 15 sites include:

Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute in Minneapolis  Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota  Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, Louisiana   Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey  JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas  Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina  Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon  Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Georgia  Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri  The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska   University of California San Diego in La Jolla, California   University of Chicago Medicine in Chicago  University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City  Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut “Across the United States, millions of people are living with heart failure, yet far too many of those people see their disease progress while never receiving access to new and innovative treatment approaches and therapy options,” said Keith Boettiger, vice president of Abbott’s heart failure business. “Fostering new connections between primary care physicians, cardiologists and advanced heart failure specialists is critical to ensuring more of these patients can access advanced therapy options that can improve and extend their life.” 

Learn more about the initiative at heart.org/HFEducation.

Additional Resources:

Multimedia is available on the right column of release link. Health Lesson: Know Your Family Health History Heart Failure | American Heart Association ### 

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.  

[1] Chapter 22. 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Circulation. February 20, 2024. 149(8):e347-e913. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001209.

[2] Mwansa H, Lewsey S, Mazimba S, et al. Racial/Ethnic and Gender Disparities in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction. Curr Heart Fail Rep 2021(18):41–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-021-00502-5.

[3] White-Williams C, Rossi LP, Bittner VA, Driscoll A, Durant RW, Granger BB, Graven LJ, Kitko L, Newlin K, Shirey M. American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. Addressing Social Determinants of Health in the Care of Patients With Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020 Jun 2;141(22):e841-e863. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000767.

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