Introduction: A new ACC program to elevate heart failure care
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is launching Transformation of HF Care: New Horizons in Treatment, an 18-month education program designed to equip clinicians with the latest advances in heart failure (HF) management. The initiative seeks to bridge gaps between evolving research and everyday practice, ensuring that patients with HF receive prompt, evidence-based therapies tailored to their specific subtypes and comorbidities.
Why a focused program now?
Heart failure remains a leading cause of hospitalization, particularly among adults aged 65 and older, with more than 6 million Americans affected and approximately 1 million HF-related hospitalizations each year. HF is a chronic, progressive condition with several subtypes—HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Each phenotype requires targeted treatment strategies, and the latest therapies offer new ways to improve symptoms, reduce hospitalizations, and extend quality of life.
Program objectives and structure
The 18-month program aims to advance three core areas: disease state education, diagnostic competencies, and practical implementation of therapies. Clinicians will explore trends in HF incidence, drivers of disease, and the impact of race, ethnicity, and sex on prevalence and outcomes. This holistic approach emphasizes personalized care and equity in treatment access.
1) Disease state basics
Participants will review the epidemiology of HF and the role of comorbidities such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. A key priority is recognizing how these factors influence treatment planning and prognosis across different patient populations, including women and Black and Hispanic communities who face higher hospitalization and readmission rates.
2) Diagnostic competencies
Accurate HF classification is essential for optimal therapy. The program covers phenotype differentiation, symptom recognition, and the use of AI-driven tools and algorithms to confirm HF diagnosis. By enhancing diagnostic accuracy, clinicians can initiate guideline-directed management sooner and more reliably.
3) Practical implementation
A major focus is translating guideline-directed medical therapy into everyday practice for HFmrEF and HFpEF, where treatment options have expanded in recent years. Key topics include:
- New evidence supporting finerenone for select HF patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetes.
- The expanding role of SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in reducing HF-related events beyond diabetes management.
- Comparative effectiveness of contemporary therapies versus traditional regimens and how to incorporate them into personalized care plans.
Participants will also examine practical workflows for adopting these therapies, monitoring adverse effects, and coordinating multidisciplinary care that often includes cardiovascular specialists, primary care, and allied health professionals.
Clinical leadership and patient engagement
As noted by program co-chair Dr. Alison L. Bailey, educating clinicians about the latest HF therapies can lead to better patient education, shared decision-making, and adherence. “Awareness of the latest therapies can significantly improve patient outcomes. Effective management can lead to reduced symptoms, fewer hospitalizations, prolonged life, and better quality of life for patients with HF,” she said. The program emphasizes empowering clinicians to engage patients in treatment decisions, fostering partnerships that support long-term success.
Industry collaboration and funding
The initiative is supported by Bayer, reflecting a collaborative effort to disseminate cutting-edge knowledge about HF care. The partnership underscores the importance of timely education in a rapidly evolving field and reinforces ACC’s commitment to evidence-based practice and health equity in heart failure management.
What this means for clinicians and patients
For clinicians, the Transformation of HF Care program offers a structured path to stay current with advances in HF treatment, enabling faster adoption of effective therapies. For patients, the result should be more accurate diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, and improved outcomes—fewer symptoms, fewer hospitalizations, and better quality of life.
Conclusion: A proactive step toward better HF outcomes
Heart failure care is rapidly advancing, and well-informed clinicians are essential to translating research into real-world benefit. By focusing on disease state basics, diagnostic precision, and practical therapy implementation, Transformation of HF Care aims to transform HF treatment and improve the lives of millions of patients who live with this condition.
