Heart Failure

Heart failure affects around 1 million people in the UK and becomes more common as people age.  There are two main types or heart failure; heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF).  Symptoms of heart failure may include fatigue or tiredness, shortness of breath and ankle or leg swelling.  There are now many treatments for this condition, most of them being tablet medication aimed at improving symptoms and reducing the risk of hospital admission.

The NICE TA902 appraisal guidance, published in 2023, recommends Dapagliflozin, a medication, for people with chronic heart failure who have HFPEF.   Before 2023, this medication was only recommended in HFREF.

From a patient’s perspective, this guidance means that Dapagliflozin is now considered a beneficial treatment option to improve symptoms, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance quality of life for those with this type of heart failure. If you're eligible, your doctor may discuss adding Dapagliflozin to your treatment plan.