The American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure program has dramatically transformed heart failure patient care since its launch in 2005, reducing mortality rates and improving long-term survival across the United States, according to recent research published in Circulation: Heart Failure.
When initially established, heart failure led to death for approximately one in three patients within a year. Today, more than 600 hospitals participate in the program, which uses data-driven benchmarking, educational resources, and recognition programs to standardize evidence-based treatments.
Research findings highlight significant improvements in patient outcomes. Hospitals engaged in the program consistently outperform non-participating institutions in heart failure process measures and patient survival rates. The program has challenged previous clinical assumptions, such as the prognosis for patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, and sparked new lines of clinical investigation.
Despite these advances, medical experts emphasize that challenges remain. Gregg Fonarow, a key program developer, noted that heart failure mortality remains too high, and many patients still do not receive comprehensive evidence-based therapies.
The registry has now generated over 170 peer-reviewed publications, serving not just as a data repository but as a critical platform for outcomes, data, and implementation sciences. By informing national policy and strengthening hospital systems, the program continues to drive innovations in personalized cardiovascular care.
