Supporting the Management of Patients with Heart Failure within Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and African Countries: A Toolbox for Healthcare Providers

Abstract

Objectives: The management of heart failure (HF) is most effective when established treatment guidelines and recommendations are followed. We aimed to develop a “Toolbox” of resources to facilitate the care of patients with acute HF and chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction delivered by healthcare professionals across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (henceforth referred to as the “Region”). Methods: We convened a group of cardiologists from across the Region to develop a set of checklists, algorithms, and other practical resources. These resources are based on our experiences, current evidence, and international guidelines. Results: The HF Toolbox comprises three simplified sets of resources for use in the Emergency Room (ER), hospital and outpatient settings. Resources include admission and discharge checklists, treatment algorithms, recommendations for forming a multidisciplinary team, patient education, and self-management materials, and key performance indicators to monitor whether standards of care are met or maintained, or should be improved. Conclusions: The HF Toolbox provides practical resources to simplify the management of patients with HF and to support the formation of HF programs in the Region. The Toolbox is aligned with current guideline recommendations and can support the management of patients from presentation in the ER, through hospital admission to outpatient care.