An updated review of cardiac devices in heart failure

Heart failure has the highest rates of adult hospitalisations, the highest mortality rates and significant costs associated with its care. The cost of heart failure is expected continue to grow on a global scale, with $108 billion spent on heart failure in 2012. Mortality rates are high, with incident cases of heart failure resulting in 30% 1-year mortality, and in hospital mortality of acute heart failure, 28%.

This article reviews the devices currently in use for the treatment of heart failure, as well as those that are under investigation. A review of the mechanism of action of devices, the literature supporting their application as therapy, and the cost effectiveness associated with their use are discussed. Conventional techniques discussed herein include the guideline-supported therapies of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT). Novel devices that are discussed include invasive physiological monitoring, neuromodulation, percutaneous ventricular assist devices (VADs) and cardiac contractility modulation (CCM). There has been advancement in mechanical circulatory support devices for the treatment of both acute and chronic heart failure. In addition to MCS, only CRT has resulted in reduced mortality.

Due to the clinical and economic arguments, treatment of heart failure is said to be the biggest unmet need in cardiology today. The data reviewed herein support this statement.