Efficacy and safety of ivabradine in patients with severe chronic systolic heart failure (from the SHIFT study)

• A post hoc analysis of Systolic Heart failure treatment with the I f inhibitor ivabradine Trial (SHIFT) explored the efficacy and safety of ivabradine in severe heart failure (HF) as denoted by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤20% and/or New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV. The SHIFT population (LVEF ≤35%, heart rate ≥70 beats/min, and sinus rhythm) comprised 712 patients with severe (defined previously) and 5,973 with less severe (NYHA classes II or III and LVEF >20%) HF, all randomized to ivabradine or placebo on a background of guideline-defined standard care. The rate of primary composite end point of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization with placebo was higher in severe (42%) than less severe (27%) HF (p <0.001). Treatment with ivabradine in severe HF was associated with relative risk reductions indistinguishable from those of less severe disease for the primary end point (16% reduction), all-cause death (22%), cardiovascular death (22%), HF death (37%), and HF hospitalization (17%; all p values for interaction: NS). NYHA class improved in 38% (n = 129) ivabradine-treated patients with severe HF versus 29% (n = 104) placebo-treated patients (p = 0.009). In the 272 patients with severe HF and baseline heart rate ≥75 beats/min (the indication approved by the European Medicines Agency), ivabradine reduced the primary end point by 25% (p = 0.045), HF hospitalization by 30% (p = 0.042), and cardiovascular death by 32% (p = 0.034). Ivabradine's safety profile in severe HF was indistinguishable from less severe. In conclusion, our analysis confirms that heart rate reduction with ivabradine can be safely used in severe HF and may improve clinical outcomes independently of disease severity. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

beta adrenergic receptor blocking agent

dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase inhibitor

ivabradine

placebo

adult

aged

article

blurred vision

bradycardia

cause of death

controlled study

disease course

disease severity

double blind procedure

drug efficacy

drug safety

female

heart atrium fibrillation

heart failure

heart left ventricle ejection fraction

heart rate

hospitalization

human

major clinical study

male

meta analysis

middle aged

patient care

practice guideline

priority journal

randomized controlled trial

risk reduction

systolic heart failure

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)