A comprehensive review of chronic heart failure pharmacotherapy treatment approaches in African Americans

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to review the published literature evaluating treatment approaches for chronic heart failure (HF), notably as it relates to African American patients. METHOD: We undertook a comprehensive database search (1986–2017) of PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid/MEDLINE utilizing terms ‘African American’, ‘black’, ‘chronic heart failure’, ‘heart failure’, ‘medication’, ‘chronic therapy’, and ‘clinical trials’. Additional notable studies were obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies published in English that examine treatment modalities of chronic HF in African American and non-African American patients were included. RESULTS: Examples of current gaps worthy of investigation include whether to maximize thiazides and calcium-channel blockers prior to adding renin–angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors or beta blockers in HF with preserved ejection fraction; whether hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) should be initiated during earlier HF stages; whether to prioritize hydralazine/ISDN over other agents such as RAS inhibitors; varying response of African Americans to different agents within drug classes; and the role of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed in order for consensus guidelines to clarify how best to treat this population.