Device therapy: Adding CRT to ICD improves outcomes in patients with NYHA class II and III heart failure.

摘要

A study by the RAFT investigators has shown that adding cardiac-resynchronization therapy (CRT) to implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy improves survival in patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Previous trials that demonstrate the benefits of CRT have been performed in patients with NYHA class III and IV heart failure or in less-sick patients. "For patients with a wide QRS and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who were to be implanted with an ICD, the question remained whether CRT would reduce mortality and heart-failure-related hospitalization over and above that provided by ICD and optimal medical therapy" says lead investigator Anthony Tang.