Home CPD SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure

SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure

CPD

April 16, 2025

CPD credits

Accreditation Number : CAP2504CDMC

Group 1 : 0.75 CPD credits

Group 2 : 1.5 CPD credits

This activity has been accredited for 0.75 hours of Group 1 CPD (or 0.75 CPD credits) suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist's CPD plan, which can be converted to 0.75 hours of Group 2 CPD (or 1.5 CPD credits) upon successful completion of relevant assessment activities.

Case scenario

Malcolm (68 years old, male) visits your pharmacy with a new prescription for sacubitril/valsartan. He mentions he has recently been diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). You review his records and confirm he is still taking metformin/sitagliptin for type 2 diabetes. Malcolm explains that he has taken this for many years, and that his general practitioner has advised him that his blood glucose control needs to be better. He expresses frustration that the shortness of breath from his heart failure limits his ability to exercise and improve his diabetes. Malcolm hopes that starting this new medicine will improve this.

After reading this article, pharmacists should be able to:

Discuss how heart failure is categorised
Outline current pharmacological management of heart failure
Discuss the use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in the management of heart failure
Explain the role of the pharmacist in optimising sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor use.

Competency standards (2016) addressed: 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5

Accreditation number: CAP2504CDMCP

Accreditation expiry: 31/03/2028

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Introduction

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome caused by the inability of the heart muscle to provide adequate cardiac output and/or the presence of increased cardiac pressure. This is due to either a structural or functional abnormality of the heart.¹ The clinical syndrome consists of symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue and may be accompanied by signs of fluid accumula

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5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

Tell us about your pharmacy career.

What medicines do you administer by injection?

Tell us about your administering injections beyond vaccines.

What role do you see pharmacists playing in cardiovascular care in future?

What did the Expert Panel find?

What is ‘gender-based undervaluation’?

How does the Expert Panel intend to address the undervaluation?

What does this mean for the minimum hourly pay rate for pharmacists?

What about intern pharmacists?

Will penalty rates increase too?

Will all pharmacists get a pay increase as a result of this decision?

Where can I find out more?

Case scenario

Introduction

Heart failure

Categorisation of heart failure

Pharmacological management of heart failure

A focus on SGLT2is

Knowledge to practice

Conclusion

Case scenario continued

Key points

References

Our author

Our reviewer

1. Influenza case numbers have reached unprecedented levels to start 2025

2. Pharmacists have had a fast start to influenza vaccination

3. Vaccination rates are far too low in children under 5

4. Vaccination rates in all cohorts need to improve to stave off a devastating influenza season

Tell us about your pharmacy career.

What medicines do you administer by injection?

Tell us about your administering injections beyond vaccines.

What role do you see pharmacists playing in cardiovascular care in future?

What did the Expert Panel find?

What is ‘gender-based undervaluation’?

How does the Expert Panel intend to address the undervaluation?

What does this mean for the minimum hourly pay rate for pharmacists?

What about intern pharmacists?

Will penalty rates increase too?

Will all pharmacists get a pay increase as a result of this decision?

Where can I find out more?

Case scenario

Introduction

Heart failure

Categorisation of heart failure

Pharmacological management of heart failure

A focus on SGLT2is

Knowledge to practice

Conclusion

Case scenario continued

Key points

References

Our author

Our reviewer

1. Influenza case numbers have reached unprecedented levels to start 2025

2. Pharmacists have had a fast start to influenza vaccination

3. Vaccination rates are far too low in children under 5

4. Vaccination rates in all cohorts need to improve to stave off a devastating influenza season

Tell us about your pharmacy career.

What medicines do you administer by injection?

Tell us about your administering injections beyond vaccines.

What role do you see pharmacists playing in cardiovascular care in future?

What did the Expert Panel find?

What is ‘gender-based undervaluation’?

How does the Expert Panel intend to address the undervaluation?

What does this mean for the minimum hourly pay rate for pharmacists?

What about intern pharmacists?

Will penalty rates increase too?

Will all pharmacists get a pay increase as a result of this decision?

Where can I find out more?

Case scenario

Introduction

Heart failure

Categorisation of heart failure

Pharmacological management of heart failure

A focus on SGLT2is

Knowledge to practice

Conclusion

Case scenario continued

Key points