Table 1

List of components extracted

ComponentDescriptionCategorisation (where applicable)
1. SettingWhere the majority of the patients’ management took place, that is, specialist outpatient or at ambulatory clinics.

  1. Specialist heart failure or cardiology clinic.

  2. Non-specified outpatient or other.

2. Telephone contactWas telephone contact with a healthcare professional available to patients?

  1. Yes.

  2. None specified.

3. EducationDid the studies incorporate education for self-management?

  1. Yes.

  2. None specified.

4. Treatment protocolsDid the studies use predefined rules/algorithms for the uptitration of medication?

  1. Predefined.

  2. Investigator judgement.

5. TargetsWas the target NP level based on an absolute level or were relative changes to baseline considered?

  1. Absolute.

  2. Incorporated relative changes.

6. StringencyHow aggressive was the NP target?

  1. Less stringent.*

  2. Stringent.

7. TriggerWas a relative value set for treatment changes (eg, reduction by 30%)?

  1. Yes.

  2. No.

8. Monitoring frequencyWhat was the most frequent rate of monitoring (either in titration or control phase)?

  1. More frequent than every 3 months.

  2. Every 3 months or longer

  • *Threshold for less/more stringent was 100 pg/ml (or equivalent units) for BNP and 1000 pg/ml for NT-proBNP.

  • NP, natriuretic peptide.