Guideline Implementation and Quality of Care Evaluation in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

Guideline Implementation and Quality of Care Evaluation in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF): The IMPLEMENT-HF Study.

The IMPLEMENT HF study is part of the national heart failure quality of care registry (evaluation of given health care). Within the HF registry, the investigators will investigate whether mirror information on the actual 4 pillars of guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) in HFrEF patients will help to further improve the implementation of GDMT.

Data will be used from the national HF registry in the Netherlands. Two groups will be studied, one where the HCP receives the mirror information on GDMT and one where both the patient and the HCP receive the mirror information on GDMT. GDMT or the 4 pillars treatment is standard of care as recommended by the ESC HF guidelines, indicated for all HFrEF patients. The project is a quality of care registry and health care evaluation to optimize adherence to the HF guidelines.

The IMPLEMENT HF is a sequel study to the TITRATE HF study that has shown that the level of GDMT prescription in de novo HFrEF can be further improved. The investigators hypothesize that mirror information about actual levels of GDMT helps the physician and patient optimize GDMT as recommended in the guideline. The IMPLEMENT is a registry based study in 1500 with de novo HFrEF patients, in which mirror information on GDMT (4 pillars) prescription levels will be shown to the treating physician. In a second group (50%) both the physician and patient will receive the mirror information on the prescription of GDMT. For diversity, the investigators aim to include 50% elderly and 50% women in to the registry. The primary endpoint is the prescription level of GDMT. Secondary endpoints are the dosing levels of GDMT (% target dose) and incident clinical events.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Written informed consent
2. Age ≥18 years
3. Diagnosis of HFrEF according to ESC HF guidelines (EF <40%)
4. Participant is willing to participate for 1 years of follow-up for standard of care at the outpatient clinic of the participating hospital and the local investigator follows the patients for the time frame of 1 years on reported endpoints.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. An expected life expectancy less than 1 year due to other comorbidities according to the treating physician
2. A major CV event (e.g. disabling stroke, myocardial infarction, open heart surgery) within 3 months of enrollment, if likely to interfere with GDMT titration or regular follow-up.
3. Advanced or Endstage Heart Failure stage in which advanced HF treatment with an LVAD or heart transplant is anticipated within 6 months after the baseline visit.

At enrollment the patient has heart failure with reduction ejection fraction with an established EF below 40%.