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Cardiovascular drug utilization post-implant is related to clinical outcome in heart failure patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy

Bakos, Zoltan LU ; Reitan, Christian LU ; Werther-Evaldsson, Anna LU orcid ; Roijer, Anders LU ; PLatonov, Pyotr LU and Borgquist, Rasmus LU orcid (2017) In Cardiology Journal 24(4). p.374-384
Abstract

BACKGROUND: In select patients with heart failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is the most common complementary treatment besides medical treatment. We aimed to assess the association between post CRT-implant changes in cardiovascular medication and cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization.

METHODS: 211 patients on optimal medical therapy eligible for CRT were retrospectively included in this study (72 ± 7 years, 80% male, 66% left bundle branch block [LBBB], 48% dilated cardiomyopathy [DCMP]) and investigated at baseline and after 6 months . Follow-up with medication, biochemical markers and echocardiography was performed and 3-year mortality data was collected.

RESULTS: At 6 months... (More)

BACKGROUND: In select patients with heart failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is the most common complementary treatment besides medical treatment. We aimed to assess the association between post CRT-implant changes in cardiovascular medication and cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization.

METHODS: 211 patients on optimal medical therapy eligible for CRT were retrospectively included in this study (72 ± 7 years, 80% male, 66% left bundle branch block [LBBB], 48% dilated cardiomyopathy [DCMP]) and investigated at baseline and after 6 months . Follow-up with medication, biochemical markers and echocardiography was performed and 3-year mortality data was collected.

RESULTS: At 6 months post-implant the cohort was divided into two groups; 157 patients had low dosage furosemide treatment (up to 40 mg) and 54 patients were treated with high dosage (> 40 mg). A composite endpoint of heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality was evaluated at 30 months (881 ± 267 days) after the 6-month visit. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients in the high dose diuretics group had a higher risk of the primary endpoint (HR 1.9 [1.1-3.4], p = 0.033), but treatment with high dose diuretics was not associated with improved clinical symptoms (r = 0.031, p = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONS: High dosage of loop-diuretics was associated with worse medium-term clinical outcome in CRT treated patients. It is unclear whether there is a direct causality between these associations, or if higher prescribed dosage of loop-diuretics is just a marker of more severe disease. Higher dose loop diuretics do not necessarily improve the symptoms and may be harmful to the patient. Prospective trials are warranted to further elucidate these findings.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Journal Article
in
Cardiology Journal
volume
24
issue
4
pages
374 - 384
publisher
Via Medica
external identifiers
  • wos:000408251000005
  • scopus:85028323404
  • pmid:28198522
ISSN
1898-018X
DOI
10.5603/CJ.a2017.0019
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8f9ee567-2026-49cd-9edc-72bf6549fd7f
date added to LUP
2017-04-07 15:11:37
date last changed
2025-01-07 10:59:31
@article{8f9ee567-2026-49cd-9edc-72bf6549fd7f,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: In select patients with heart failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is the most common complementary treatment besides medical treatment. We aimed to assess the association between post CRT-implant changes in cardiovascular medication and cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization.</p><p>METHODS: 211 patients on optimal medical therapy eligible for CRT were retrospectively included in this study (72 ± 7 years, 80% male, 66% left bundle branch block [LBBB], 48% dilated cardiomyopathy [DCMP]) and investigated at baseline and after 6 months . Follow-up with medication, biochemical markers and echocardiography was performed and 3-year mortality data was collected.</p><p>RESULTS: At 6 months post-implant the cohort was divided into two groups; 157 patients had low dosage furosemide treatment (up to 40 mg) and 54 patients were treated with high dosage (&gt; 40 mg). A composite endpoint of heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality was evaluated at 30 months (881 ± 267 days) after the 6-month visit. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients in the high dose diuretics group had a higher risk of the primary endpoint (HR 1.9 [1.1-3.4], p = 0.033), but treatment with high dose diuretics was not associated with improved clinical symptoms (r = 0.031, p = 0.64).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: High dosage of loop-diuretics was associated with worse medium-term clinical outcome in CRT treated patients. It is unclear whether there is a direct causality between these associations, or if higher prescribed dosage of loop-diuretics is just a marker of more severe disease. Higher dose loop diuretics do not necessarily improve the symptoms and may be harmful to the patient. Prospective trials are warranted to further elucidate these findings.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bakos, Zoltan and Reitan, Christian and Werther-Evaldsson, Anna and Roijer, Anders and PLatonov, Pyotr and Borgquist, Rasmus}},
  issn         = {{1898-018X}},
  keywords     = {{Journal Article}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{374--384}},
  publisher    = {{Via Medica}},
  series       = {{Cardiology Journal}},
  title        = {{Cardiovascular drug utilization post-implant is related to clinical outcome in heart failure patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5603/CJ.a2017.0019}},
  doi          = {{10.5603/CJ.a2017.0019}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}