The George Institute has launched an innovative study, led by Dr Nelson Wang, to transform treatment for people living with heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD)-two of the world’s most pressing public health challenges.
HF affects more than 55 million people globally, while CKD impacts 788 million people, with both conditions costing health systems billions of dollars annually. Despite clear evidence supporting multi-drug therapy for HF and CKD, uptake remains poor, particularly in the critical period following hospital discharge.
Dr Wang’s study aims to bridge this gap by evaluating an empirical prescribing pathway-a new model that simplifies the complex, stepwise approach to prescribing. Instead of the traditional method of gradual medication titration, the pathway enables upfront, evidence-based prescription of a combination therapy during a single clinical encounter, guided by a web-based decision tool developed by Dr Wang’s team.
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The goal is to make best-practice therapy faster, safer, and easier to implement. By reducing therapeutic inertia, we hope to improve outcomes for people living with these high-risk conditions.
By:Dr Wang
Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute
The 12-month study, funded with $100,000 AUD, will assess whether the pathway is practical, cost-effective, and sustainable in real-world settings. If successful, findings will be disseminated to inform clinical guidelines and support adoption through national initiatives with organisations such as Cardiac Society of Australia and Kidney Health Australia.
