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Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
Critical evaluation of the optimal medical therapy in the cardiac resynchronization therapy candidates--single centre
D Vondráková1, F Málek, J Dvorák
1Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Centre, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague.
Insights
Optimal medical therapy for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRTD) significantly improved after treatment optimization. Specialized centers increase the proportion of CHF patients achieving recommended drug doses for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Heart Failure Management
- Medical Device Therapy
Background:
- Chronic heart failure (CHF) patients referred for cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRTD) often have suboptimal medical therapy.
- Pre-implantation medication regimens frequently do not meet recommended drug dosages for heart failure management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of optimizing medical therapy in CHF patients undergoing CRTD implantation.
- To assess changes in medication use and dosage adherence post-CRTD implantation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 179 CHF patients (NYHA class III-IV) referred for CRTD.
- Review of medical records to assess pre- and post-implantation optimal medical therapy (OMT).
- Analysis of the use and dosage of beta-blockers (BB), ACE inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and spironolactone.
Main Results:
- Post-CRTD implantation, the use of BB increased significantly (81% to 95%), with a higher proportion reaching 50% of the recommended daily dose.
- ACEI use also increased post-implantation (68% to 80%), with improved adherence to recommended dosages.
- Combined ACEI or ARB use rose to 98%, and spironolactone use increased to 77% post-CRTD.
Conclusions:
- Optimization of medical therapy in a specialized center significantly improves the proportion of CHF patients receiving optimal heart failure treatment.
- CRTD implantation is associated with enhanced medical therapy management, including increased use and dosage of key heart failure medications.
- Despite improvements, achieving target drug doses remains a challenge for a subset of CRTD candidates.
Unlabelled:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the optimal medical therapy in the chronic heart failure (CHF) patients referred from the comunity centres and the outpatients cardiology clinics for the cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrilator (CRTD) to the Department of Cardiology, Na Homolce Hospital with the device implantation between 1st January 2008 and 30st September 2009.
Methods:
The optimal medical therapy was analysed retrospectively from the medical records of 179 consecutive CHF patients NYHA class III-IV. Beta-blockers (BB) were used only in 81% subjects referred for CRTD, ACE inhibitors (ACEI) were used only in 68% patients Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) were used in 18% subjects. ACEI or ARB were used in 81%, spironolacton was use in 59%. Recommended target DD for BB (carvedilol 25 mg bid) was used only in 13% subjects, recommended target DD for ACEI (enalapril 10 mg bid) was used only in 9.4% patients.
Results:
In the Department of Cardiology, the optimal medical therapy was changed after CRTD, BB were used in 95% subjects at discharge (p < 0.01) and the number of patients reaching at least of 50% of recommended daily dose (DD) of BB increased (p < 0.05). ACEI were recommended after CRTD in 80% subjects after implantation (p < 0.05), the number of patients reaching at least of 50% of recommended DD for ACEIs increased too (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in ARB use recomended in the hospital (19% after CRTD - NS). ACEI or ARB were used in 98% patients after the device implanted (p < 0.05) and spironolacton in 77% after CRTD (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Despite optimal composition of the optimal medical heart failure therapy only small number of CRTD candidates are reaching recommended drug dose. The optimization of the medical therapy in the specialized center lead to significantly higher proportion of CHF using the optimal therapy with the increased dose of BB and ACEI.
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