Gap between guidelines and clinical practice in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Background Heart failure (HF) is a global health problem. Guidelines for the management of HF have been established in Western countries and in Taiwan. However, data from the Taiwan Society of Cardiology-Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction (TSOC-HFrEF) registry showed suboptimal prescription of guideline-recommended medications. We aimed to analyze the reason of non-prescription and clinical outcomes as a result of under-prescription of medications. Methods A total of 1509 patients hospitalized for acute HFrEF were recruited in 21 hospitals in Taiwan by the end of October 2014. Prescribed guideline-recommended medications and other relevant clinical parameters were collected and analyzed at discharge and 1 year after index hospitalization. Results At discharge, 62% of patients were prescribed with either angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB); 60% were prescribed with beta-blockers and 49% were prescribed with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA). The proportions of patients at ≥50% of the target dose for ACEI/ARB, beta-blockers and MRA were 24.4%, 20.6%, 86.2%, respectively. At 1-year follow-up, dosages of ACEI/ARB and MRA were up-titrated in about one-fourth patients, and dosages of beta-blocker were up-titrated in about 40% patients. One-year mortality rate was lowest in patients who received at least 2 classes of guideline-recommended medications with ≥50% of the target dose, and highest in those who received 0 or 1 class of medications. Conclusion The TSOC-HFrEF registry demonstrated the under-prescription of guideline-recommended medications and reluctance of physicians to up-titrate medications to target dose. Action plan needs be formulated in order to improve physician's adherence to HF guidelines.