title: The Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure Companion: Bridging Guidelines to Your Practice.
abstract: The Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure (HF) Guidelines Program has generated annual HF updates, including formal recommendations and supporting Practical Tips since 2006. Many clinicians indicate they routinely use the Canadian Cardiovascular Society HF Guidelines in their daily practice. However, many questions surrounding the actual implementation of the Guidelines into their daily practice remain. A consensus-based approach was used, including feedback from the Primary and Secondary HF Panels. This companion is intended to answer several key questions brought forth by HF practitioners such as appropriate timelines for initial assessments and subsequent reassessments of patients, the order in which medications should be added, how newer medications should be included in treatment algorithms, and when left ventricular function should be reassessed. A new treatment algorithm for HF with reduced ejection fraction is included. Several other practical issues are addressed such as an approach to management of hyperkalemia/hypokalemia, treatment of gout, when medications can be stopped, and whether a target blood pressure or heart rate is suggested. Finally, elements and teaching of self-care are described. This tool will hopefully function to allow better integration of the HF Guidelines into clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: howlettjonathan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.affiliation: Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Justin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ezekowitz
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harkness
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Régional de Lanaudière and Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kouz
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Quebec, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Leblanc
authors.affiliation: St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Gordon W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.affiliation: Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Meara
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.affiliation: Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Anique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ducharme
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grzeslo
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sheri L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Koshman
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Fleurimont, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepage
authors.affiliation: University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McKelvie
authors.affiliation: QE II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Miroslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajda
authors.affiliation: Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swiggum
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Virani
authors.affiliation: St Boniface General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zieroth
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002309:Cardiology; D019468:Disease Management; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical