Key Learning Points: NICE Chronic Heart Failure

Dr Clare Taylor and Dr Jim Moore Highlight Five Key Learning Points to Take Away from the Updated NICE Guideline on Chronic Heart Failure in Adults

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symptoms that suggest heart failure and when to refer to a specialist the role of GPs in managing patients with heart failure treatment options for people with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Find implementation actions for STPs, ICSs, and clinical pharmacists in general practice at the end of this article

Heart failure affects around 920,000 people in the UK.¹ The average age at diagnosis is 77 years¹ but heart failure can occur in younger people.² It often exists in the context of multimorbidity,³ which can make diagnosis and treatment more complex and, overall, the prognosis for people with heart failure is worse than for most cancers.^4–6

Timely diagnosis, appropriate referral, and optimal treatment across primary and secondary care are key to improving outcomes for these patients. The updated NICE Guideline (NG) 106, Chronic heart failure in adults: diagnosis and management,¹ provides practical recommendations to guide diagnosis and management. This article highlights the five areas most relevant to GPs.

1. Symptoms Suggestive of Heart Failure Call For a Natriuretic Peptide Test

Making a diagnosis of heart failure can be challenging. Symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, and ankle swelling are common, particularly in older people, and may also occur because of other co-morbidities or prescribed medication. Natriuretic peptides are released by the myocardium when the heart is under strain and are raised in people with heart failure. NICE recommends natriuretic peptide testing for any patient presenting in primary care with symptoms and signs suggestive of heart failure.¹ NICE previously recommended that patients with a history of myocardial infarction should be referred directly for echocardiography, but this recommendation has been removed following the update.¹

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are both available. Where there is a choice, NICE recommends using NT-proBNP as the level remains stable in blood samples over a longer period and it is not affected by the newer heart failure drugs.¹

NICE recommends that all patients with suspected heart failure and a NT-proBNP level above 400 pg/ml should be referred urgently and assessed by the specialist team within 6 weeks. If the NT-proBNP level is greater than 2000 pg/ml then the assessment should take place within 2 weeks. An electrocardiogram (ECG) should also be recorded and other tests, such as a chest X-ray and blood tests, should be considered to evaluate aggravating factors and/or alternative diagnoses, but the decision to refer should be based on clinical suspicion and a raised NT-proBNP level.¹

2. Refer to a Heart Failure Specialist for Diagnosis

NICE Guideline 106 recommends that the diagnosis of heart failure is made by a lead physician with subspecialty training in heart failure. Imaging of the heart is also required to assess for any structural or functional abnormality with echocardiography recommended as the most appropriate modality. The time between referral and being seen by a specialist is dependent on the NT-proBNP level because high levels of natriuretic peptide are associated with worse prognosis, and hospital admission, so diagnosis and treatment should be prioritised for those with high levels.¹

‘Heart failure’ is a frightening (and somewhat misleading) term that can be difficult for patients to understand. NICE recommends offering an extended first consultation with the specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT) to people newly diagnosed with heart failure, followed by a second consultation within 2 weeks, to ensure that the diagnosis is fully explained to patients and their family or carers, and that they have an opportunity to ask any questions.¹

3. Heart Failure Management Requires a Team-based Approach

People with heart failure require primary and secondary care teams to work together to provide the best care. The transition between teams within the healthcare system can be difficult for patients and the clinicians involved in their care. The updated guideline specifically tackles this problem by clearly defining the responsibilities of each team. The MDT should work in collaboration with the primary care team and include a lead physician with training in heart failure, a specialist heart failure nurse, and healthcare professional with expertise in specialist prescribing for heart failure. The specialist MDT should diagnose heart failure, initiate and optimise treatment for patients with a new diagnosis or worsening symptoms, and provide a written care plan that should be shared with the primary care team and the patient.¹

The role of primary care includes referral for diagnosis and monitoring stable patients once their treatment has been optimised by the specialist MDT, ensuring that any changes to the clinical record (e.g. medications, clinical status) are understood by the patient and communicated to the specialist MDT, with referral back if clinically indicated e.g. for second line therapies or in advanced heart failure. Patients with heart failure should be reviewed at least every 6 months, although many will be seen more frequently.¹

4. The Type of Heart Failure Determines Management

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome that occurs when the heart is unable to meet the metabolic needs of the body. There are many causes including hypertension, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, and genetic disorders. The management of arrhythmia is through rate and/or rhythm control and valvular heart disease may require surgical intervention.¹

The updated NICE guideline focuses on the classification of heart failure based on left ventricular ejection fraction: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). There is currently no evidence-based pharmacotherapy for HFpEF, and management should aim to optimise the treatment of co-morbidities, but there is a range of prognostically beneficial treatments in HFrEF.¹

NICE recommends offering diuretics to all patients with heart failure, for the relief of congestive symptoms and fluid retention. NICE now recommends against routinely advising patients to reduce their salt or fluid consumption; patients should be asked about their salt and fluid consumption and advised to restrict fluids if they have dilutional hyponatraemia, and reduce salt and/or fluid consumption if their intake is particularly high. People with heart failure should be offered a personalised, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme, unless their condition is unstable.¹

5. There is a Range of Treatment Options for HFrEF

NICE still recommends offering an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) and a beta-blocker licensed for heart failure as the first-line treatment option for HFrEF; consider an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) as an alternative to an ACE-I if the patient has intolerable side-effects. NICE now also recommends offering a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in addition to an ACE inhibitor (or ARB) and beta-blocker if symptoms persist—so called ‘triple therapy’. Close monitoring of renal function, electrolytes, and blood pressure is important, particularly in people with chronic kidney disease where the dose of medication may need to be reduced.¹

There are further second-line treatment options for patients with persistent symptoms. A new class of drug has been introduced in the updated guideline called an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI). Sacubitril valsartan, the only available ARNI, is recommended for people with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II to IV symptoms, a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less, and who are already receiving a stable dose of an ACE-I or ARB. Natriuretic peptides are the body’s response to strain on the heart and help to maintain homeostasis by acting on the kidney to induce diuresis. Neprilysin is an enzyme that breaks down natriuretic peptides. ARNIs inhibit the action of neprilysin so allowing natriuretic peptides to act for longer.⁷ Initiation and titration of ARNIs is undertaken by the specialist team initially but prescribing may be transferred to primary care in stable patients, depending on local arrangements. GPs need to be aware that ARNIs are composed of both a neprilysin inhibitor and an ARB and therefore replace any prescribed ACE-I or ARB. Medication lists in the patient primary care record should be updated appropriately. Other second-line treatment options recommended by NICE include ivabradine, which acts on the sinoatrial node to control heart rate in people with HFrEF, provided they are in sinus rhythm with a heart rate of 75 beats per minute or more.

Summary

The new NICE guidance on chronic heart failure has a welcome person-centred approach and clearly explains the important role of primary care. Timely diagnosis and optimal treatment, along with routine monitoring in primary care that supports seamless care between healthcare providers, is key to achieving the best possible outcomes for patients with heart failure.

Competing Interests

CT was lead author for the diagnostic accuracy study (REFER) which was considered in the evidence review for the guideline. A declaration of interest was made, and CT withdrew from the committee during discussion of the health economic model and subsequent recommendations. Roche Diagnostics provided the NT-proBNP testing equipment for the REFER study but did not have any influence on study design, conduct, or reporting.

JM has no competing interests releating to NG106.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all of the members of the 2018 Chronic heart failure in adults: diagnosis and management guideline development group.

CT is funded by a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Lectureship at the University of Oxford. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dr Clare J Taylor

GP and GPwSI, Gloucestershire Heart Failure Service

National Institute for Health Research Academic Clinical Lecturer

Member of the guideline development group for NG106

Dr Jim Moore

GPwSI heart failure

Member of the guideline development group for NG106