About this trial
DigiCare-HFrEF is an investigator-initiated, multicentre, randomised, open-label, endpoint-blinded, superiority trial designed to evaluate whether a structured digital remote-management platform can optimise guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after hospital discharge. Eligible adults (≥18 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of HFrEF within the past 3 months (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%) who are not optimally treated with GDMT-defined as at least two of the four foundational drug classes (ACEi/ARB or ARNi, β-blocker, MRA, SGLT2 inhibitor) either not initiated or prescribed at \<50% of the target dose-will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to digital remote management or usual care. In the intervention arm, patients will report symptoms and key physiologic measures (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight) via the platform; an algorithm will perform risk stratification and generate GDMT optimisation suggestions and decongestion prompts, as well as a comprehensive management for core health metrics, which are reviewed and confirmed by clinicians before implementation. The primary endpoint is the change in GDMT score from baseline to 3 months (ΔGDMT).
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults aged ≥18 years.
Hospitalised at a secondary or tertiary hospital with established heart failure care capacity.
Diagnosed with HFrEF within the past 3 months according to the 2022 ACC/AHA/HFSA guideline diagnostic pathway, including: LVEF ≤40% by echocardiography; typical heart-failure symptoms and/or signs; and exclusion of non-HF causes of symptoms.
Not optimized on guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) at enrollment, defined as at least two of the following four foundational drug classes not initiated or administered at <50% target dose.
Disqualifiers
Absolute contraindication to heart failure pharmacotherapy.
History of heart transplantation or currently on a transplant waiting list.
Receiving or planning implantation of a left ventricular assist device.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Digital Remote Management
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Beijing Anzhen Hospital
Lead sponsor
The First Hospital of Jilin University
Collaborator
Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University
Collaborator