PHARM Optimal-HF Pilot

Summary

The goal if this pilot randomized controlled trial is to determine the feasibility of conducting and guide the design of a definitive trial of a pharmacist-led, remotely-administered intervention to optimize medications for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as part of a multidisciplinary HF clinic.

Both the intervention group and comparator group will receive usual care by the multidisciplinary HF clinic, including standard-of-care clinical pharmacy services.

In addition to usual care, participants randomized to the intervention arm will receive co-management of medications by a dedicated study pharmacist with advanced training and expanded scope of practice, with the aim of achieving optimal medical therapy for HFrEF based on the 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society HF guidelines. The intervention will consist of 30-minute remote (telephone) encounters with a clinical pharmacist every 1-2 weeks with the aim of initiating or titrating ≥1 medication per encounter using standard protocols, for an intervention duration of up to 4 months.

Conditions

• Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

Interventions

OTHER

Pharmacist-led HFrEF medication optimization

In addition to usual care, participants randomized to the intervention arm will receive co-management of medications by a clinical pharmacist with advanced training and expanded scope of practice, with the aim of achieving optimal medical therapy (OMT) for HFrEF as outlined by the 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) HF guidelines. This will consist of, where possible, the combination of an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), evidence-based beta-blocker, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) at target doses, along with personalized therapies as outlined in the 2021 CCS HF guidelines, unless the patient is unable to tolerate these agents/doses.

OTHER

Usual care

Both the intervention group and comparator group will receive usual care by the multidisciplinary HF clinic, including standard-of-care clinical pharmacy services. The standard pathway in the HF clinic consists of an initial consultation with the multidisciplinary team (cardiologist, physician trainees, registered nurse and clinical pharmacist), follow-up visits approximately every 3 months with the nurse and cardiologist until discharge, along with telehealth nurse calls for medication titrations.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alberta

  collaborator OTHER

• University of British Columbia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ricky Turgeon, BSc(Pharm), ACPR, PharmD · University of British Columbia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-03-13

Primary Completion

2025-06-01

Completion

2025-09-01

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations