Target Audience:

Who should attend:

• Clinical faculty from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
• Clinical staff pharmacists employed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and deployed throughout the hospital campus in unit based roles and centrally in the department of pharmacy's main pharmacy
• Student pharmacy interns currently working within the department of pharmacy
• Certified Pharmacy Technicians

Abstract
Studies have shown that chronic heart failure is the strongest predictor for the development of AF (atrial fibrillation), with up to a sixfold increase in risk. Heart failure and atrial fibrillation together increases the risks of strokes, hospitalization for HF exacerbation, and all-cause mortality. The treatment of HF and AF presents with challenges especially in patients with reduced ejection fraction. Controversies on choosing rate control or rhythm control strategies have been an ongoing issue. Several large randomized clinical trials failed to show the superiority of one strategy over the other and only included a small percentage of patients with HFrEF(heart failure with reduced ejection fraction). Newer evidence has shown the benefit of decreasing mortality and HF hospitalizations in patients with AF and HF when initiating an early rhythm control therapy. This presentation is going to evaluate previous and newer available studies and discuss the potential treatment approaches in patients with AF and HFrEF.

Educational Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this continuing pharmacy education program, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the pathophysiology and disease prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AFib) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
• Discuss current recommendations for patients with AFib and HFrEF.
• Discuss newer evidence-based treatment options in patients with AFib and HFrEF.

Pharmacy Continuing Education Credits In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. The assigned universal program number(s) is JA4008223-0000-23-105-H02-P.  This knowledge-based activity provides 1  contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit.

Suggested Additional Reading & Joint Accreditation Statement - Note: This Accreditation Statement Supersedes All Other Statements:

A list of references is included as a separate resource after the video.

Joint Accreditation Statement - this statement supersedes any other statement on this page
In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Pharmacy (CPE) - This knowledge-based activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit.

Other Healthcare Professionals: Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.