Características basales y cambios en el tratamiento tras el periodo de optimización de los pacientes incluidos en el estudio EFICAR

OBJECTIVES: To describe the baseline date and drugs therapy changes during treatment optimization in patients with heart failure with depressed systolic function included in the EFICAR study. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized clinical trial. LOCATION: Seven Health Centers. PARTICIPANTS: 150 patients (ICFSD) age 68 ± 10 years, 77% male. MEASUREMENTS: Sociodemographic variables, comorbidities (Charlson index), functional capacity and quality of life. Drug therapy optimization was performed. RESULTS: The main etiology was ischemic heart disease (45%), with 89% in functional class ii. The Charlson index was 2.03 ± 1.05. The ejection fraction mean was 37% ± 8, 19% with ejection fraction < 30%. With the stress test 6.3 ± 1.6 mean was reached, with the 6 minutes test 446 ± 78 meters and the chair test 13.7 ± 4.4 seconds. The overall quality of life with ejection fraction was 22.8 ± 18.7 and with the Short Form-36 Health Survey, physical health 43.3 ± 8.4 and mental health 50.1 ± 10.6. After optimizing the treatment, the percentage of patients on drugs therapy and the dose of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin ii receptor antagonists and beta-blockers were not changed. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the subjects are in functional class ii, with functional capacity and quality of life decreased and comorbidity index high. A protocolized drug therapy adjustment did not increase the dose or number of patients with effective drugs for heart failure with depressed systolic function