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This chapter focused on heart failure drugs. Heart failure was defined and described per the AHA/ACC/HFSA 2022 Guidelines. Heart failure is a decrease in cardiac output. Heart rate and stroke volume are two components of cardiac output. Stroke volume is composed of preload, afterload, and contractility. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system was described, and how the system impacts cardiac output was explained.

Common heart failure drug classifications were covered in the chapter. Drug classifications covered included angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), mineralocorticoid receptor inhibitors (MRAs), beta-adrenergic blockers, sodium-glucose cotransport inhibitors (SGLT2Is), and diuretics. Adjunct drug classifications covered in this chapter included hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate, cardiac glycosides, and ivabradine.