The potential of the inodilator levosimendan in maintaining quality of life in advanced heart failure

Nieminen, Markku S.Helsinki Univ Hosp, Meilahti Tower Hosp, Heart & Lung Ctr, PL 340, Helsinki 00029, Finland. (author)

Maintaining adequate quality of life (QoL) is an important therapeutic objective for patients with advanced heart failure and, for some patients, may take precedence over prolonging life. Achieving good QoL in this context may involve aspects of patient care that lie outside the familiar limits of heart failure treatment. The inodilator levosimendan may be advantageous in this setting, not least because of its sustained duration of action, ascribed to a long-acting metabolite designated OR-1896. The possibility of using this drug in an outpatient setting is a notable practical advantage that avoids the need for patients to attend a clinic appointment. Intermittent therapy can be integrated into a wider system of outreach and patient monitoring. Practical considerations in the use of levosimendan as part of a palliative or end-of-life regimen focused on preserving QoL include the importance of starting therapy at low doses and avoiding bolus administration unless immediate effects are required and patients have adequate baseline arterial blood pressure.

Fonseca, CandidaHosp Sao Francisco Xavier, Ctr Hosp Lisboa Ocidental, Dept Internal Med, Heart Failure Unit, P-1449005 Lisbon, Portugal. (author)
Brito, DulceHosp Santa Maria, Ctr Hosp Lisboa Norte, Dept Cardiol, Av Prof Egas Moniz, P-1649035 Lisbon, Portugal. (author)
Wikström, GerhardUppsala universitet,Kardiologi(Swepub:uu)gewik021 (author)
Helsinki Univ Hosp, Meilahti Tower Hosp, Heart & Lung Ctr, PL 340, Helsinki 00029, Finland.Hosp Sao Francisco Xavier, Ctr Hosp Lisboa Ocidental, Dept Internal Med, Heart Failure Unit, P-1449005 Lisbon, Portugal. (creator_code:org_t)

In:European Heart Journal, Supplement: OXFORD UNIV PRESS19:C, s. C15-C211520-765X1554-2815

By the author/editor: Nieminen, Markku ...; Fonseca, Candida; Brito, Dulce; Wikström, Gerhar ...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Cardiac and Card ...

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