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Veltmann C, Duncker D, Doering M, Gummadi S, Robertson M, Wittlinger T, Colley BJ, Perings C, Jonsson O, Bauersachs J, Sanchez R, Maier LS. Therapy duration and improvement of ventricular function in de novo heart failure: the Heart Failure Optimization study. Eur Heart J 2024:ehae334. [PMID: 38864173 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS In patients with de novo heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is expected to occur when started on guideline-recommended medical therapy. However, improvement may not be completed within 90 days. METHODS Patients with HFrEF and LVEF ≤ 35% prescribed a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator between 2017 and 2022 from 68 sites were enrolled, starting with a registry phase for 3 months and followed by a study phase up to 1 year. The primary endpoints were LVEF improvement > 35% between Days 90 and 180 following guideline-recommended medical therapy initiation and the percentage of target dose reached at Days 90 and 180. RESULTS A total of 598 patients with de novo HFrEF [59 years (interquartile range 51-68), 27% female] entered the study phase. During the first 180 days, a significant increase in dosage of beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists was observed (P < .001). At Day 90, 46% [95% confidence interval (CI) 41%-50%] of study phase patients had LVEF improvement > 35%; 46% (95% CI 40%-52%) of those with persistently low LVEF at Day 90 had LVEF improvement > 35% by Day 180, increasing the total rate of improvement > 35% to 68% (95% CI 63%-72%). In 392 patients followed for 360 days, improvement > 35% was observed in 77% (95% CI 72%-81%) of the patients. Until Day 90, sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias were observed in 24 wearable cardioverter-defibrillator carriers (1.8%). After 90 days, no sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia occurred in wearable cardioverter-defibrillator carriers. CONCLUSIONS Continuous optimization of guideline-recommended medical therapy for at least 180 days in HFrEF is associated with additional LVEF improvement > 35%, allowing for better decision-making regarding preventive implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Veltmann
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Heart Center Bremen, Electrophysiology Bremen, Senator-Wessling-Str. 1, 28277 Bremen, Germany
| | - David Duncker
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Doering
- Heart Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Siva Gummadi
- Department of Cardiology, CVI of Central Florida, Ocala, FL, USA
| | | | - Thomas Wittlinger
- Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Harzklinik Goslar, Goslar, Germany
| | - Byron J Colley
- Department of Cardiology, Jackson Heart Clinic, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Christian Perings
- Department of Cardiology, Katholisches Klinikum Luenen, Luenen, Germany
| | - Orvar Jonsson
- Department of Cardiology, Sanford Cardiovascular Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Johann Bauersachs
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Robert Sanchez
- Department of Cardiology, HCA Florida Heart Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Lars S Maier
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Lenormand T, Bodin A, Fauchier L. The Role of the Wearable Defibrillator in Heart Failure. Curr Heart Fail Rep 2024; 21:33-42. [PMID: 38236485 DOI: 10.1007/s11897-023-00641-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs) have been developed as a temporary measure for protecting patients at risk for sudden cardiac death that do not meet the indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), most notably in the early stages of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction before reassessment of their left ventricular ejection fraction. In this review, we report available evidence in the literature and guidelines regarding WCD use in order to try to define the role WCDs may have in heart failure. RECENT FINDINGS In the last decade, most observational studies found WCDs to be both safe and effective in terminating ventricular arrhythmias in various indications, mostly centered around heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The only available randomized controlled trial using WCD did not however show a benefit on patients' survival. Hence, recent guidelines only recommended its use in limited indications. Recent data also suggest a possible interest of WCD in monitoring patients, a finding that may prove useful in the context of new-onset heart failure. Data regarding WCD benefit is scarce, and definitive conclusions on its utility are hard to draw. In the context of heart failure, and particularly new-onset heart failure, WCD might find a role in a global comprehensive management of the disease, both acting as an educational tool, a monitoring tool, and, most importantly, a safe and effective tool in preventing sudden cardiac death. The low level of evidence however invites caution, and the decision of prescribing a WCD needs to be individualized and thoroughly discussed with the patient whose compliance is key with this device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Lenormand
- Service de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Trousseau, Faculté de Médecine, Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
| | - Alexandre Bodin
- Service de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Trousseau, Faculté de Médecine, Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
| | - Laurent Fauchier
- Service de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Trousseau, Faculté de Médecine, Université François Rabelais, Tours, France.
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Wybraniec MT, Orszulak M, Męcka K, Mizia-Stec K. Heart Failure with Improved Ejection Fraction: Insight into the Variable Nature of Left Ventricular Systolic Function. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14400. [PMID: 36361280 PMCID: PMC9656122 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The progress of contemporary cardiovascular therapy has led to improved survival in patients with myocardial disease. However, the development of heart failure (HF) represents a common clinical challenge, regardless of the underlying myocardial pathology, due to the severely impaired quality of life and increased mortality comparable with malignant neoplasms. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the main index of systolic function and a key predictor of mortality among HF patients, hence its improvement represents the main indicator of response to instituted therapy. The introduction of complex pharmacotherapy for HF, increased availability of cardiac-implantable electronic devices and advances in the management of secondary causes of HF, including arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy, have led to significant increase in the proportion of patients with prominent improvement or even normalization of LVEF, paving the way for the identification of a new subgroup of HF with an improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF). Accumulating data has indicated that these patients share far better long-term prognoses than patients with stable or worsening LVEF. Due to diverse HF aetiology, the prevalence of HFimpEF ranges from roughly 10 to 40%, while the search for reliable predictors and genetic associations corresponding with this clinical presentation is under way. As contemporary guidelines focus mainly on the management of HF patients with clearly defined LVEF, the present review aimed to characterize the definition, epidemiology, predictors, clinical significance and principles of therapy of patients with HFimpEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej T. Wybraniec
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 47 Ziołowa St., 40-635 Katowice, Poland
- Upper-Silesian Medical Center, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
- European Reference Network on Heart Diseases—ERN GUARD-HEART, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michał Orszulak
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 47 Ziołowa St., 40-635 Katowice, Poland
- Upper-Silesian Medical Center, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
| | - Klaudia Męcka
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 47 Ziołowa St., 40-635 Katowice, Poland
- Upper-Silesian Medical Center, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Mizia-Stec
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 47 Ziołowa St., 40-635 Katowice, Poland
- Upper-Silesian Medical Center, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
- European Reference Network on Heart Diseases—ERN GUARD-HEART, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Usage of the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator during pregnancy. IJC HEART & VASCULATURE 2022; 41:101066. [PMID: 35676917 PMCID: PMC9168609 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2022.101066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Pregnancy can trigger or aggravate the risk for life-threating arrhythmias in cardiac diseases. Pregnancy is associated with reluctance for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) due to concerns about radiation. Thus, the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) might be an option during pregnancy. Aim of the study was to collect experiences about the use of WCD in pregnancy. Methods and results This study retrospectively included eight women who received a WCD during pregnancy. They suffered from ventricular tachycardia (VT) without known cardiac disease (n = 3), Brugada syndrome (n = 1), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 1), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 1), non-compaction (n = 1), and survived sudden cardiac arrest during a preceding pregnancy (n = 1). WCD usage was started between 13 and 28 weeks of gestation. WCD wearing period ranged from 3 days to 30.9 weeks, WCD wearing time ranged from 13.0 to 23.7 h per day. Two women (25%) abandoned WCD already during pregnancy. Neither appropriate nor inappropriate WCD shocks were recorded. Antiarrhythmic management included beta-blockers (n = 5) and flecainide (n = 2). After delivery, ICD were implanted (n = 4), refused (n = 2) and estimated not necessary after successful catheter ablation (n = 2). Conclusion Uneventful pregnancy is possible in women at risk for sudden cardiac death by interdisciplinary monitoring and diligent pharmacotherapy protected by the WCD. Since no WCD shocks were recorded, the effectiveness of WCD during pregnancy is still unclear. However, arrhythmia detection by WCD was very good despite the changed anatomy in pregnancy. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to assess effectiveness of WCD in pregnant women. Furthermore, efforts should be made to increase the wearing adherence of WCD during pregnancy.
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