• by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, December 13, 2016

Support groups have been a regular feature of treatment for all kinds of serious illnesses for decades, and in the age of social media it’s only natural for the phenomenon to migrate online. This year saw the launch of a new social network for patients dealing with chronic heart failure, as well as their caregivers, by pharmaceutical giant Novartis, called “Together in HF.”

The social network, which went live in November, is intended to help heart failure patients share stories, talk about ways to manage their condition, and draw emotional support from other patients. They can also use it so find trustworthy content from medical professionals. A separate section for caregivers allows them to share their own experiences – an important addition, as the emotional toll of long-term caregiving often goes unrecognized.

Novartis created Together in HF in partnership with a number of respected professional organizations and advocacy groups, such as the American College of Cardiology, the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, the Association of Black Cardiologists, and WomenHeart.

Although the Together in HF Web site has a section where medical professionals can offer advice, doctors are not allowed to join the social network as practitioners – but they can register as caregivers or patients.

Not coincidentally, Novartis began work on Together in HF two years ago following its development of Entresto, a new drug for the treatment of chronic heart failure, which helps lower blood pressure and keep blood vessels open. It’s not clear whether or how Together in HF will be used to promote Entresto, but its primary purpose is educational, which will presumably help drive demand for the drug.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that around 5.7 million Americans are currently living with chronic heart failure, which accounted for one in nine deaths in the U.S. in 2009.