Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmission

Abstract Aims The 2021 European heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend the combination of four drugs as a standard therapy (angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI]/angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]/angiotensin receptor‐neprilysin inhibitor [ARNI]; beta‐blocker (BB); mineralocorticoid recept...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Martin Möckel, Samipa Pudasaini, Kristina Feldmann, Henning Thomas Baberg, Benny Levenson, Jürgen Malzahn, Thomas Mansky, Guido Michels, Christian Günster, Elke Jeschke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:ESC Heart Failure
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.15280
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849708788238516224
author Martin Möckel
Samipa Pudasaini
Kristina Feldmann
Henning Thomas Baberg
Benny Levenson
Jürgen Malzahn
Thomas Mansky
Guido Michels
Christian Günster
Elke Jeschke
author_facet Martin Möckel
Samipa Pudasaini
Kristina Feldmann
Henning Thomas Baberg
Benny Levenson
Jürgen Malzahn
Thomas Mansky
Guido Michels
Christian Günster
Elke Jeschke
author_sort Martin Möckel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aims The 2021 European heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend the combination of four drugs as a standard therapy (angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI]/angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]/angiotensin receptor‐neprilysin inhibitor [ARNI]; beta‐blocker (BB); mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist [MRA]; sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitor [SGLT2i]) in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We investigated if the use of this combined treatment (as opposed to the outdated two‐drug ACEI/ARB and BB therapy) yields a favourable outcome regarding mortality and readmission and evaluated whether an increase in adoption of the newly endorsed therapy can already be observed in clinical routine. Methods and results We included anonymous data from all patients who were insured at Germany’s largest health insurer (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse [AOK]) and had a claims record for hospitalization (2019–2021) with the main diagnosis of HF. Mortality and readmission within 91–365 days following the index stay were analysed, and the impact of medication on outcome was compared. 315 342 cases of hospitalization due to HF were included (median 80 years [IQR 72–86], 53.7% female). HF drug prescription rates were as follows: ACEI 46.3%, ARB 31.8%, ARNI 12.1%, BB 80.9%, MRA 35.6%, SGLT2i 7.3%. Treatment combinations were prescribed in 35.9% (two‐drug) and 3.7% (four‐drug). Total mortality was 18.0%, all‐cause readmission 32.0%, and HF readmission 16.0%. Mortality risk was significantly lower (adjusted HR = 0.92 [95% CI 0.86–0.97]) with the four‐ versus two‐drug treatment. Kaplan–Meier survival was 88.2% for the four‐drug therapy [95% CI: 87.6%–88.8%] and 83.1% for the two‐drug therapy [95% CI: 82.9%–83.3%]). Similar benefits were visible for the readmission rates due to all causes (HR = 0.76 [0.73–0.80]) and readmission due to HF (HR = 0.90 [0.85–0.95]). Conclusions Our study suggests that the newly recommended four‐drug therapy may lead to lower mortality and readmission rates compared to the outdated two‐drug therapy. However, the overall adoption of the four‐drug therapy remains limited.
format Article
id doaj-art-cae2b90fa1144925bf87cbb08bda6c2c
institution DOAJ
issn 2055-5822
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series ESC Heart Failure
spelling doaj-art-cae2b90fa1144925bf87cbb08bda6c2c2025-08-20T03:15:33ZengWileyESC Heart Failure2055-58222025-08-011242791280210.1002/ehf2.15280Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmissionMartin Möckel0Samipa Pudasaini1Kristina Feldmann2Henning Thomas Baberg3Benny Levenson4Jürgen Malzahn5Thomas Mansky6Guido Michels7Christian Günster8Elke Jeschke9Department of Emergency and Acute Medicine, Campus Virchow‐Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin GermanyDepartment of Emergency and Acute Medicine, Campus Virchow‐Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin GermanyDepartment of Emergency and Acute Medicine, Campus Virchow‐Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin GermanyDepartment of Cardiology and Nephrology Helios Klinikum, Berlin‐Buch and Medical School Berlin Berlin GermanyGerman Society of Cardiologists in Private Practise (BNK) Berlin GermanyFederal Association of the Local Health Care Funds (AOK) Berlin GermanyFaculty of Economics and Management Division of Structural Development and Quality Management in Healthcare, Technische Universität Berlin Berlin GermanyDepartment of Emergency Medicine Hospital of the Barmherzige Brüder Trier GermanyResearch Institute of the Local Health Care Funds (WIdO) Berlin GermanyResearch Institute of the Local Health Care Funds (WIdO) Berlin GermanyAbstract Aims The 2021 European heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend the combination of four drugs as a standard therapy (angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI]/angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]/angiotensin receptor‐neprilysin inhibitor [ARNI]; beta‐blocker (BB); mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist [MRA]; sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitor [SGLT2i]) in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We investigated if the use of this combined treatment (as opposed to the outdated two‐drug ACEI/ARB and BB therapy) yields a favourable outcome regarding mortality and readmission and evaluated whether an increase in adoption of the newly endorsed therapy can already be observed in clinical routine. Methods and results We included anonymous data from all patients who were insured at Germany’s largest health insurer (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse [AOK]) and had a claims record for hospitalization (2019–2021) with the main diagnosis of HF. Mortality and readmission within 91–365 days following the index stay were analysed, and the impact of medication on outcome was compared. 315 342 cases of hospitalization due to HF were included (median 80 years [IQR 72–86], 53.7% female). HF drug prescription rates were as follows: ACEI 46.3%, ARB 31.8%, ARNI 12.1%, BB 80.9%, MRA 35.6%, SGLT2i 7.3%. Treatment combinations were prescribed in 35.9% (two‐drug) and 3.7% (four‐drug). Total mortality was 18.0%, all‐cause readmission 32.0%, and HF readmission 16.0%. Mortality risk was significantly lower (adjusted HR = 0.92 [95% CI 0.86–0.97]) with the four‐ versus two‐drug treatment. Kaplan–Meier survival was 88.2% for the four‐drug therapy [95% CI: 87.6%–88.8%] and 83.1% for the two‐drug therapy [95% CI: 82.9%–83.3%]). Similar benefits were visible for the readmission rates due to all causes (HR = 0.76 [0.73–0.80]) and readmission due to HF (HR = 0.90 [0.85–0.95]). Conclusions Our study suggests that the newly recommended four‐drug therapy may lead to lower mortality and readmission rates compared to the outdated two‐drug therapy. However, the overall adoption of the four‐drug therapy remains limited.https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.15280Heart failureDrug therapyGuideline adherenceMortalityReadmission
spellingShingle Martin Möckel
Samipa Pudasaini
Kristina Feldmann
Henning Thomas Baberg
Benny Levenson
Jürgen Malzahn
Thomas Mansky
Guido Michels
Christian Günster
Elke Jeschke
Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmission
ESC Heart Failure
Heart failure
Drug therapy
Guideline adherence
Mortality
Readmission
title Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmission
title_full Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmission
title_fullStr Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmission
title_full_unstemmed Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmission
title_short Prescription of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure: impact on mortality and readmission
title_sort prescription of guideline directed medical therapy in heart failure impact on mortality and readmission
topic Heart failure
Drug therapy
Guideline adherence
Mortality
Readmission
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.15280
work_keys_str_mv AT martinmockel prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT samipapudasaini prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT kristinafeldmann prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT henningthomasbaberg prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT bennylevenson prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT jurgenmalzahn prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT thomasmansky prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT guidomichels prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT christiangunster prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission
AT elkejeschke prescriptionofguidelinedirectedmedicaltherapyinheartfailureimpactonmortalityandreadmission