This course aims to update GPs about the importance of optimising patients who have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) beyond pharmacological therapy. It will discuss the use of the 12 lead ECG as an important component of a heart failure review and how it may assist the GP in identifying patients who may benefit from an early onward referral for assessment of cardiac resynchronisation therapy. It will specifically review the indications for referral for consideration of both cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in patients with heart failure and how these interventions may benefit patients in terms of their quality of life and prognosis. This course will also discuss other common ECG abnormalities not to miss in patients with heart failure. This course falls within the Cardiovascular Health curriculum field.
An educational sponsorship was received from Medtronic Limited for the production of the course. Editorial and content decisions were made solely by the RCGP.
