Publication
Improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and reverse remodeling in elderly heart failure patients on intense NT-proBNP-guided therapy
Journal Paper/Review - May 2, 2015
Kaufmann Beat A, Rocca Hans-Peter Brunner-La, Pfisterer Matthias E, Bernheim Alain M, Nietlispach Fabian, Bucher Urs, Maeder Micha, Min Son Y, Goetschalckx Kaatje, TIME-CHF Investigators
Units
PubMed
Doi
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Electronic
Pages
Brief description/objective
BACKGROUND
In chronic heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is considered to be stable. Intensified therapy may improve survival, but little is known whether this is associated with reverse remodeling and dependent on age and NT-proBNP guidance. We aimed to define the evolution of LVEF under intensified therapy in relation to age and NT-proBNP guidance.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Echocardiography was performed at baseline, 12 and 18months in TIME-CHF, a trial comparing NT-proBNP versus symptom-guided therapy in patients aged 60 to 74 and ≥75 years. LVEF, LV end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and end systolic volume index (LVESVI) were assessed. LVEF increased from 31.3 ± 10.7% to 39.1±11.8% at 18 months (p<0.001) in symptom-guided, and from 30.3 ± 11.7% to 44.0 ± 13.2% (p<0.001) in NT-proBNP-guided patients. The increase in LVEF was significantly larger in the NT-proBNP-guided treatment group (p for interaction=0.006), which was true for both age groups (p for interaction in both=0.091). LVEDVI and LVESVI decreased without influence by study group allocation.
CONCLUSIONS
In elderly heart failure patients, intensified medical therapy leads to an improvement in LVEF and to reverse remodeling. NT-proBNP guided therapy was associated with a larger improvement in LVEF than symptom guided therapy both in patients aged 60 to 74 and ≥75 years.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
http://isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN43596477.