Sam Brusco, Associate Editor11.27.23
Contrary to its dictionary definition, “heart failure” doesn’t mean the heart has stopped beating. Heart failure—HF, for short—develops when the heart can’t pump enough blood for the body’s needs. Also called congestive HF, it can also happen if the heart can’t fill up with blood properly or when it’s too weak to pump correctly.
Despite the slight misnomer, HF is extremely serious and demands immediate medical care. It can arise suddenly or gradually as the heart weakens, is often caused by another cardiovascular condition, and can damage the liver and kidneys. It can also lead to cardiac arrest—when the heart actually stops pumping.
To gather more information on HF and the technological innovations that monitor and treat it, MPO spoke to Philip B. Adamson, MD, chief medical officer of Abbott Laboratories' Heart Failure business. Some of his input was included in the feature article "The Beat Goes On in the Cardiovascular Device Market." The full content of the interview with MPO is included below.
Dr. Philip B. Adamson: Abbott is committed to helping providers see the benefits of different types of treatments at every stage of heart failure progression. One example is through relevant medical education and training materials to support healthcare professionals in their approach to clinical strategies and heart failure technology. We offer a range of in-person and online education initiatives—including videos, timely podcasts, and on-demand webinars—to share the latest research, best practices, and perspectives from leading specialists in the field of heart failure.
Research shows earlier treatment has proven positive impacts on patient quality of life and reduced healthcare costs. Advanced technology and therapies provide more options for treating heart failure patients, giving them the chance for more time and a better quality of life. When equipped with the right tools and understanding of which patients are at risk, physicians can begin treatment early to prevent heart failure from advancing, even when symptoms are mild.
Dr. Adamson: Heart failure is a chronic disease that gets progressively worse in severity. While there is no cure for heart failure, the condition can be actively managed in ways that slow its progression and extends life.
Abbott’s connected care technology is building more collaboration between clinical teams and patients, helping to treat heart failure before it worsens. For example, our CardioMEMS remote-monitoring technology delivers real-time patient data to care teams to enable immediate informed treatment decisions that can help reduce patient hospitalizations and disease progression.
Another benefit of remote-monitoring technology is it’s an early warning system against worsening heart failure and can help doctors more proactively change a patient’s treatment plan before the disease advances (which can often result in repeat hospitalizations if the heart failure gets worse). Keeping patients out of the hospital and on a treatment plan that is managing the disease is critical, since risk of dying significantly rises1 with each heart failure-related hospitalization.
Dr. Adamson: Connected health devices that are part of the standard of care for chronic conditions like diabetes are beginning to transform how we treat heart disease, including heart failure. These advancements are arming providers and patients with real-time data outside of a clinical setting, improving health outcomes and building stronger connections between care teams and their patients.
Advancing how we treat and manage heart failure through connected health technology can improve patient outcomes. We must educate primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals about the proven clinical benefits of available therapies and new technologies to help improve access for heart failure patients. Referring heart failure patients earlier, rather than later, to a heart failure specialist who can recommend different technologies before their disease advances is also critical to helping patients live longer, fuller lives.
Dr. Adamson: Abbott’s CardioMEMS HF system can detect pulmonary artery pressure changes that can indicate worsening heart failure—even before the patient starts to physically feel symptoms. The care team can remotely monitor for changes to the patient’s pressure, make immediate therapy adjustments if needed, and watch the effects of those adjustments in real-time. Prior to this technology, many patients would have required hospitalization.
Not only does this solution work to break down barriers in care that often make it challenging for patients to access treatment, but it also empowers patients to manage their heart failure and collaborate with their clinicians in a meaningful way. Improving patient outcomes relies on this type of engagement, as patients are often the ones most invested in their disease and improving their condition.
With heart failure diagnoses in the U.S. projected to double by 20302, we must increase the number of patients who are actively managing their failure in collaboration with their care teams. Abbott is dedicated to helping patients and healthcare professionals see the benefits of different types of treatments at every stage in the heart failure progression.
References
1 Setoguchi S, Stevenson LW, Schneeweiss S. Repeated hospitalizations predict mortality in the community population with heart failure. American Heart Journal. 2007;154(2):260-266. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2007.01.041.
2 American Heart Association. Heart Failure Projected to Increase Dramatically, According to New Statistics. Heart failure projected to increase dramatically, according to new statistics | American Heart Association. Accessed September 18, 2023.
Despite the slight misnomer, HF is extremely serious and demands immediate medical care. It can arise suddenly or gradually as the heart weakens, is often caused by another cardiovascular condition, and can damage the liver and kidneys. It can also lead to cardiac arrest—when the heart actually stops pumping.
To gather more information on HF and the technological innovations that monitor and treat it, MPO spoke to Philip B. Adamson, MD, chief medical officer of Abbott Laboratories' Heart Failure business. Some of his input was included in the feature article "The Beat Goes On in the Cardiovascular Device Market." The full content of the interview with MPO is included below.
Sam Brusco: How is Abbott helping raise clinician awareness to diagnose and treat heart failure earlier?
Dr. Philip B. Adamson: Abbott is committed to helping providers see the benefits of different types of treatments at every stage of heart failure progression. One example is through relevant medical education and training materials to support healthcare professionals in their approach to clinical strategies and heart failure technology. We offer a range of in-person and online education initiatives—including videos, timely podcasts, and on-demand webinars—to share the latest research, best practices, and perspectives from leading specialists in the field of heart failure.
Research shows earlier treatment has proven positive impacts on patient quality of life and reduced healthcare costs. Advanced technology and therapies provide more options for treating heart failure patients, giving them the chance for more time and a better quality of life. When equipped with the right tools and understanding of which patients are at risk, physicians can begin treatment early to prevent heart failure from advancing, even when symptoms are mild.
Brusco: How is Abbott fostering partnerships and more use of digital formats to help manage heart failure before it progresses?
Dr. Adamson: Heart failure is a chronic disease that gets progressively worse in severity. While there is no cure for heart failure, the condition can be actively managed in ways that slow its progression and extends life.
Abbott’s connected care technology is building more collaboration between clinical teams and patients, helping to treat heart failure before it worsens. For example, our CardioMEMS remote-monitoring technology delivers real-time patient data to care teams to enable immediate informed treatment decisions that can help reduce patient hospitalizations and disease progression.
Another benefit of remote-monitoring technology is it’s an early warning system against worsening heart failure and can help doctors more proactively change a patient’s treatment plan before the disease advances (which can often result in repeat hospitalizations if the heart failure gets worse). Keeping patients out of the hospital and on a treatment plan that is managing the disease is critical, since risk of dying significantly rises1 with each heart failure-related hospitalization.
Brusco: How might approaches used in other conditions (diabetes, cancer) better serve patients at risk of heart failure?
Dr. Adamson: Connected health devices that are part of the standard of care for chronic conditions like diabetes are beginning to transform how we treat heart disease, including heart failure. These advancements are arming providers and patients with real-time data outside of a clinical setting, improving health outcomes and building stronger connections between care teams and their patients.
Advancing how we treat and manage heart failure through connected health technology can improve patient outcomes. We must educate primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals about the proven clinical benefits of available therapies and new technologies to help improve access for heart failure patients. Referring heart failure patients earlier, rather than later, to a heart failure specialist who can recommend different technologies before their disease advances is also critical to helping patients live longer, fuller lives.
Brusco: Which digital solutions are helping bring heart failure care from hospital to home, and why are they important for patients?
Dr. Adamson: Abbott’s CardioMEMS HF system can detect pulmonary artery pressure changes that can indicate worsening heart failure—even before the patient starts to physically feel symptoms. The care team can remotely monitor for changes to the patient’s pressure, make immediate therapy adjustments if needed, and watch the effects of those adjustments in real-time. Prior to this technology, many patients would have required hospitalization.
Not only does this solution work to break down barriers in care that often make it challenging for patients to access treatment, but it also empowers patients to manage their heart failure and collaborate with their clinicians in a meaningful way. Improving patient outcomes relies on this type of engagement, as patients are often the ones most invested in their disease and improving their condition.
With heart failure diagnoses in the U.S. projected to double by 20302, we must increase the number of patients who are actively managing their failure in collaboration with their care teams. Abbott is dedicated to helping patients and healthcare professionals see the benefits of different types of treatments at every stage in the heart failure progression.
References
1 Setoguchi S, Stevenson LW, Schneeweiss S. Repeated hospitalizations predict mortality in the community population with heart failure. American Heart Journal. 2007;154(2):260-266. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2007.01.041.
2 American Heart Association. Heart Failure Projected to Increase Dramatically, According to New Statistics. Heart failure projected to increase dramatically, according to new statistics | American Heart Association. Accessed September 18, 2023.