In recent years, patients with heart failure (HF) are benefiting more and more from a rapidly evolving management landscape, driven by advances in understanding its pathophysiology along with diagnosis, treatment and personalized care.

When it comes to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the most common form, the GLP-1 RA semaglutide is turning the tide with remarkable benefits in patients with obesity.

This month's cover story dives into the results from the pivotal STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM trials which have shown significant improvement in HF symptoms, physical capacity and weight loss. "It's not just that the trials were positive, but the treatment effect was so large that it was, in a way, paradigm shifting," says Mikhail Kosiborod, MD, FACC.

In addition to the changing paradigm, our Focus on Heart Failure section delves into the need for greater suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis and vigilance in its diagnosis as well as current treatments.

Palliative care is also a hot topic, in that it may be the best path for some patients with HF despite the advances in treatment. Click here for a primer on providing supportive care for cardiovascular patients in an article authored by members of ACC's Geriatric Cardiology Section.

Also in this issue, read about ACC's Quality Summit, where clinicians spanning the entire cardiovascular care team gained NCDR-specific knowledge along with a deeper understanding of the value of accreditation and ways patient data can drive process improvement initiatives.

Also, don't miss photo highlights of this year's Legislative Conference and read up on the major talking points and issues that were discussed with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Visit ACC.org/Advocacy for more tips on how you can help carry forward these messages to your own members of Congress.

In case you missed it, the newest ACC/AHA clinical guideline focuses on the perioperative cardiovascular management of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Catch the highlights, as well as links to related resources, in the New in Clinical Documents section.

Other topics of interest include a look at the current status of bioresorbable stents for the management of below-the-knee arterial disease in Peripheral Matters, as well as tips for talking with patients about quitting smoking just in time for the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback. Reach us at CardiologyEditor@acc.org. Enjoy this issue and the changing of the seasons!

 

Peter C. Block
MD, FACC

John Gordon Harold
MD, MACC

 

Clinical Topics: Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Acute Heart Failure

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Heart Failure, Palliative Care, Amyloidosis, Weight Loss, Obesity