Background: Ivabradine is indicated to control heart rate in otherwise optimally treated patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced ejection fraction. However, data on its effectiveness outside clinical trials and longer-term effects are scarce.
Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study involving 249 German resident cardiologists and analyzed the 1-year effectiveness and safety of ivabradine used in CHF outpatients. Data on symptoms, quality of life, and hospitalizations were collected.
Results: In total, 767 CHF patients were enrolled to receive ivabradine twice daily, of whom 684 (90%) were still on ivabradine at study end (mean treatment duration 11.2months). The cohort was representative of CHF patients seen in clinical practice in terms of age, risk factor profile, and comorbidities. Concomitant beta-blocker therapy was prescribed in 497 patients (65%). After one year, compared to baseline, heart rate in ivabradine-treated patients was 16bpm lower. This reduction was associated with a significant improvement in NYHA class, and less frequent signs of decompensation (36% to 8%). The proportion of hospitalized patients within 1year decreased from 23% before treatment, to 5% with ivabradine therapy. These improvements in clinical status were accompanied by a reduction in BNP and an increase in LVEF (+5.1% at 1year). Quality of life was significantly improved in all measured dimensions. Adverse drug reactions were noted in 26 patients (3%), and were in line with the known safety profile of ivabradine.
Conclusions: Ivabradine was effective and well-tolerated in CHF patients seen in clinical practice throughout 1year of treatment.
Keywords: Clinical practice; Heart failure; Hospitalization; Ivabradine; Quality of life; Symptoms.
Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.