Acute Heart Failure Treatment Dominated by Therapies Effective at Relieving Symptoms

BURLINGTON, Mass., June 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that, in the absence of therapies able to improve long-term outcomes, treatment approaches in Acute Heart Failure (AHF) focus mainly on relieving patient symptoms. Loop diuretics, deemed the most effective in improving common symptoms of AHF such as breathlessness and fluid overload, are the therapy of choice for the majority of surveyed U.S. cardiologists. Nearly all drug-treated AHF patients receive an intravenous loop diuretic first line, and within this class furosemide is the preferred drug for over three-quarters of surveyed cardiologists.

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Other key findings from the Acute Heart Failure U.S. Current Treatment report:

    --  Treatment approach does not differ significantly between de novo AHF and
        acute decompensated heart failure, both in terms of treatment rates and
        the drug classes used.
    --  Because of the heterogeneity in symptoms associated with AHF, optimal
        treatment is selected on a patient-by-patient basis, and the use of
        specific AHF drug classes varies depending on patient characteristics.
    --  Cardiologists report patient shares for particular drugs within each AHF
        drug class and provide insights into average length of treatment with
        each agent.
    --  Drug attributes are evaluated on their importance in dictating the
        choice of therapy for AHF patients, with a clear pattern of most
        influential factors emerging among cardiologists.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Analyst, Dominika Rudnicka-Noulin:

    --  "Treatment of AHF remains challenging, partly because of the
        heterogeneous nature of this syndrome. Physicians have to make decisions
        about optimal treatment approach on a patient-by-patient basis."
    --  "The high attrition rate of drugs in development for AHF has resulted in
        a highly genericized market; because the majority of AHF agents are very
        inexpensive, cardiologists can focus on clinical attributes, such as
        drug efficacy, when choosing optimal therapy for their AHF patients."

About Decision Resources Group
DRG, a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd., is the premier source for global healthcare data and market intelligence. A trusted partner for over 20 years, DRG helps companies competing in the global healthcare industry make informed business decisions. Organizations committed to the developing and delivering life-changing therapies to patients rely on DRG's in-house team of expert healthcare analysts, data scientists, and consultants for critical guidance. DRG products and services, built on extensive data assets and delivered by experts, empower organizations to succeed in complex healthcare markets.

Media contact:

Decision Resources Group
Whitney Goldstein
617-747-9037
wgoldstein@dresources.com

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SOURCE Decision Resources Group