Echocardiography can assist with diagnosis of heart failure, but it may be difficult to access
Professor Ngaire Kerse says new medicines for heart failure have appeared in recent years. With optimised use, these support the main goal of treatment, which is periods of stability with good quality of life (ask your patients what that means for them)
References
1. Betty B, Fisher R. Optimising heart failure management: What GPs need to know. Goodfellow Symposium, 28 March 2021. goodfellowunit.org
2. Teh R, Kerse N, Kepa M, et al. Self-rated health, health-related behaviours and medical conditions of Maori and non-Maori in advanced age: LiLACS NZ. N Z Med J 2014;127(1397):13–29.
3. Hayman S, Atherton JJ. Should angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors replace angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction? Card Fail Rev 2016;2(1):47–50.
4. Atherton JJ, Sindone A, De Pasquale CG, et al. National Heart Foundation of Australia and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand: Guidelines for the prevention, detection, and management of heart failure in Australia 2018. Heart Lung Circ 2018;27(10):1123–208.
