BREATHE III is a prospective, multicenter, observational registry designed to provide contemporary insights into the epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic characteristics of patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF) in Brazil, including those with decompensated heart failure or new-onset ventricular dysfunction during acute myocardial infarction.
Recent evidence, such as the STRONG-HF trial, has demonstrated the prognostic benefit of rapid initiation and up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, prior phases of the BREATHE registry did not evaluate the timing of therapeutic optimization or barriers to implementing these strategies. Additionally, the therapeutic landscape of heart failure has evolved substantially in recent years, with the introduction of novel pharmacological agents, expanded indications for existing therapies, and new treatment options for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
BREATHE III aims to address these knowledge gaps by systematically assessing, over a 12-month follow-up, patient characteristics, treatment patterns, adherence to guideline-recommended therapies, time to treatment optimization, and clinical outcomes. The study will also identify barriers to the implementation and titration of evidence-based therapies, evaluate regional variations in care, and describe contemporary management practices across public and private healthcare settings in Brazil.
The results of this registry are expected to inform strategies to improve quality of care, optimize resource allocation, and guide future interventions aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure in Brazil.