Cor Vasa 2021, 63(1):66-71 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2020.113

Cardiac Device Therapy in Heart Failure: Between Guidelines and Current Practice. Where Are We?

Zainab A. Dakhil^a, Hasan A. Farhan^b, Sami M. Mishlish^c

^a Al-Kindy College of Medicine/Baghdad University, Al-Nahdha Square, Baghdad, Iraq

^b Scientific Council of Cardiology, Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations-Baghdad Heart Centre, Baghdad, Iraq

^c College of Medicine/Al-Anbar University, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Background: Over last few decades, treatment of heart failure witnessed a leap especially regarding device therapy which decreases heart failure burden and mortality, however; in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction introduction of device therapy should be considered after maximizing guideline directed medical therapy. There is limited data from emerging countries regarding adherence to guidelines in heart failure management. Accordingly, this study sought to investigate adherence of cardiologists to optimization of guideline directed medical therapy prior to device implantation in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

Patients and methods: This study enrolled patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction who were admitted for cardiac device implantation (implantable cardioverter defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy), patients' data were collected; including demographic characteristics, baseline medications and doses were recorded as well as type of implanted device and its indication.

Keywords: Clinical audit, Cost effectiveness, Guideline adherence, Quality improvement

Received: August 21, 2020; Revised: November 28, 2020; Accepted: December 1, 2020; Published: February 25, 2021  Show citation