Jonathan and Lucy talk about the sensible management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. They discuss the so-called ‘Four Pillars’ of heart failure, remembering that the key is to consider what matters most to people and tailor our approach accordingly. The important words in the NICE Quality Standard on Heart Failure being ‘appropriate’ and ‘optimal’ – not simply following the protocol by rote!
The people in the big heart failure trials tend to be people aged in their 60s and men. So how do we apply this to older people or those who are women. Carefully, sensibly and by agreement is the answer...
So we meet Janet, an 86 year old lady who Lucy has seen. She lost her husband recently and misses him terribly. She is lonely and is just starting to show signs of cognitive impairment. We discuss the importance of getting to know your patients. And perhaps their beloved pet cat or dog.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Useful related resources from PrescQIPP:
