Acute Heart Failure Treatment Dominated by Therapies Effective at Relieving Symptoms

BURLINGTON, MA -- Decision Resources Group finds that, in the absence of therapies able to improve long-term outcomes, treatment approaches in Acute Heart Failure (AHF) focus mainly on relieving patient symptoms. Loop diuretics, deemed the most effective in improving common symptoms of AHF such as breathlessness and fluid overload, are the therapy of choice for the majority of surveyed U.S. cardiologists. Nearly all drug-treated AHF patients receive an intravenous loop diuretic first line, and within this class furosemide is the preferred drug for over three-quarters of surveyed cardiologists.

For more information about this report, please visit our website: http://bit.ly/2tahekt

Other key findings from the Acute Heart Failure U.S. Current Treatment report:

Treatment approach does not differ significantly between de novo AHF and acute decompensated heart failure, both in terms of treatment rates and the drug classes used.
Because of the heterogeneity in symptoms associated with AHF, optimal treatment is selected on a patient-by-patient basis, and the use of specific AHF drug classes varies depending on patient characteristics.
Cardiologists report patient shares for particular drugs within each AHF drug class and provide insights into average length of treatment with each agent.
Drug attributes are evaluated on their importance in dictating the choice of therapy for AHF patients, with a clear pattern of most influential factors emerging among cardiologists.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Analyst, Dominika Rudnicka-Noulin:

"Treatment of AHF remains challenging, partly because of the heterogeneous nature of this syndrome. Physicians have to make decisions about optimal treatment approach on a patient-by-patient basis."
"The high attrition rate of drugs in development for AHF has resulted in a highly genericized market; because the majority of AHF agents are very inexpensive, cardiologists can focus on clinical attributes, such as drug efficacy, when choosing optimal therapy for their AHF patients."

About Decision Resources Group
DRG, a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd., is the premier source for global healthcare data and market intelligence. A trusted partner for over 20 years, DRG helps companies competing in the global healthcare industry make informed business decisions. Organizations committed to the developing and delivering life-changing therapies to patients rely on DRG's in-house team of expert healthcare analysts, data scientists, and consultants for critical guidance. DRG products and services, built on extensive data assets and delivered by experts, empower organizations to succeed in complex healthcare markets.

Media contact:

Decision Resources Group
Whitney Goldstein
617-747-9037
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SOURCE Decision Resources Group