Heart failure trial for treatments

ASSOCIATE Professor Ernesto Oqueli, head of cardiology at Grampians Health, is leading a clinical trial to investigate a new medication to improve symptoms of heart failure patients.

Grampians Health has several cardiology studies underway, and the aim of this new trial is to evaluate the effects of medication on the symptoms experienced by patients, as well as their physical capacity.

“The risk of developing heart failure increases with age, and we have an aging population around the world,” said Mr Oqueli. “It is expected that this new treatment we’re researching will add to the current pharmacological options for treating heart failure, which will lead to an overall better clinical benefit for patients.”

Mr Oqueli said he believes the trial will lead to more options for treating heart failure.

“We’re still in the study phase with this looking at how the new medication works to reduce the symptoms of heart failure and increase physical capacity,” he said.

“We’re confident that this research will give us more answers for treating heart failure with more medication options.

“Limited pharmacological interventions to address heart failure with mildly reduced or preserve dejection fraction have been approved, making it one of the highest unmet needs in cardiology today.”

The trial is part of a multi-national study in 18 countries so regional Victorian patients will have access to cutting edge global research.