In Case You Missed: Optimizing the Management of HFrEF With Novel Therapeutics

Overview

Provider Statement

This continuing education activity is provided by

Support Statement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc.

Activity Description

Recently, positive CV outcomes and reduced hospitalization for heart failure (HF) were noted in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) treated with novel emerging agents. The inclusion of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, vericiguat; and the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2), empagliflozin; have revolutionized the treatment of patients with HFrEF. Data continue to emerge from trials evaluating agents from these classes of agents and have the potential to influence the current treatment paradigm. Finally, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America recently published guidelines for the management of heart failure, and it is vital that clinicians have a thorough knowledge of these new management recommendations. In this educational activity, experts in the field of HF review the new HF management guidelines, the differences between the traditional and new therapies for HF, the most recent clinical data supporting the use of sGC stimulators and SGLT inhibitors of the treatment of HFrEF, and best practices regarding the optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy.

Target Audience

The intended audience for this activity is cardiologists, internists, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other health care professionals involved in the management of patients with heart failure.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Evaluate mechanisms of action and considerations for impact on mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, and quality of life of traditional therapies versus new agents used in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
• Examine the significance and latest clinical evidence for soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) modulators in the treatment of HFrEF as well as their role in current treatment paradigms.
• Assess modalities for sequencing of therapies and optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy in HFrEF.

Activity Chair

Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, FESC
Executive Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Programs,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Heart & Vascular Center
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA

Faculty

Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, FHFSA
The Mary and Gordon Cain Chair and Professor of Medicine
Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Development
Director, Winters Center for Heart Failure Research
Assoc. Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute
Vice-Chair of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

Carolyn Lam Su Ping, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, MS, FACC, FAMS, FESC, FAsCC
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Heart Centre Singapore
Professor
Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School
Singapore

Reviewer

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP

Accreditation

Vindico Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Participants who opt-in will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity.

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, April 30, 2022, to April 29, 2023.

How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CME Credit

To participate in this CE activity, you must read the objectives, answer the pretest questions, view the content, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 2 of the 3 posttest questions correctly. If a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ certificate.

Disclosures

Vindico Medical Education adheres to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Activity Chair and Faculty report the following relevant financial relationship(s)

Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, FESC
Consultant: 89Bio, Abbott, Afimmune, Aker BioMarine, Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beren, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardax, CellProthera, Cereno Scientific, Chiesi, CSL Behring, Eisai, Ethicon, Faraday Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, Fractyl, HLS Therapeutics, Idorsia, Ironwood, Ischemix, Janssen, Javelin, Lexicon, Lilly, Moderna, MyoKardia, NirvaMed, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Owkin, Pfizer, PhaseBio, PLx Pharma, Recardio, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, Stasys, Synaptic, The Medicines Company

Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, FHFSA
Consultant: Amgen, Baxter Healthcare, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Relypsa, Sanofi-Aventis, scPharmaceuticals, Vifor

Carolyn Lam Su Ping, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, MS, FACC, FAMS, FESC, FAsCC
Consultant: Actelion, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi

Reviewer reports the following relevant financial relationship(s)

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relationship(s)

No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage

The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Copyright Statement

Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2022 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any of Vindico Medical Education continuing medical education activities does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.

CME Questions?

Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com