Ivabradine Treatment in a Chronic Heart Failure Patient Cohort: Symptom Reduction and Improvement in Quality of Life in Clinical Practice

INTRODUCTION: In the prospective, open-label multicenter INTENSIFY study, the effectiveness and tolerability of ivabradine as well as its impact on quality of life (QOL) in chronic systolic heart failure (CHF) patients were evaluated over a 4-month period. METHODS: In CHF patients with an indication for treatment with ivabradine, resting heart rate (HR), heart failure symptoms [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, signs of decompensation], left ventricular ejection fraction, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) values, QOL, and concomitant medication with focus on beta-blocker therapy were documented at baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 4 months. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS: Thousand nine hundred and fifty-six patients with CHF were included. Their mean age was 67 ± 11.7 years and 56.9% were male. 77.8% were receiving beta-blockers. Other concomitant medications included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (83%), diuretics (61%), aldosterone antagonists (18%), and cardiac glycosides (8%). At baseline, the mean HR of patients was 85 ± 11.8 bpm, 51.1% and 37.2% of patients were classified as NYHA II and III, respectively, and 22.7% showed signs of decompensation. BNP concentrations were tracked in a subgroup, and values exceeding 400 pg/mL were noted in 53.9% of patients. The mean value of the European quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) QOL index was 0.64 ± 0.28. After 4 months of treatment with ivabradine, HR was reduced to 67 ± 8.9 bpm. Furthermore, the proportion of patients presenting with signs of decompensation decreased to 5.4% and the proportion of patients with BNP levels >400 pg/mL dropped to 26.7%, accompanied by a shift in NYHA classification towards lower grading (24.0% and 60.5% in NYHA I and II, respectively). EQ-5D index improved to 0.79 ± 0.21. CONCLUSION: Over 4 months of treatment, ivabradine effectively reduced HR and symptoms in CHF patients in this study reflecting daily clinical practice. These benefits were accompanied by improved QOL and good general tolerability. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12325-014-0147-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.