Abstract
Chronic heart failure is a clinical syndrome associated with an ominous long-term prognosis and major economic consequences for Western societies. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the pharmacological management of heart failure, and several treatments have been confirmed to confer survival and symptomatic benefits. However, pharmaceuticals remain underutilised, and the combination of several different drugs present challenges for their optimal prescription, requiring a thorough knowledge of potential side effects and complex interactions. This article reviews in detail the evidence pertaining to the out-patient pharmacological management of chronic heart failure, and offers recommendations on the use of various drugs in complex clinical conditions, or in areas of ongoing controversy.
MeSH terms
-
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use*
-
Ambulatory Care
-
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / therapeutic use*
-
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
-
Cardiac Output, Low / drug therapy*
-
Cardiac Output, Low / metabolism
-
Cardiac Output, Low / prevention & control
-
Cardiotonic Agents / administration & dosage
-
Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use*
-
Dobutamine / administration & dosage
-
Dobutamine / therapeutic use
-
Drug Prescriptions
-
Drug Therapy, Combination
-
Drug Utilization
-
Humans
-
Practice Guidelines as Topic
-
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
-
Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
-
Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / drug therapy
-
Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / prevention & control
Substances
-
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
-
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
-
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
-
Cardiotonic Agents
-
Vasodilator Agents
-
Dobutamine