How Many Asymptomatic Heart Failure Patients Can Stop Treatment?

A pilot study has some discouraging news.

Not infrequently, individuals with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) experience a recovery of cardiac function and resolution of symptoms after initiating evidence-based therapy. Such individuals and their clinicians might question whether they can safely discontinue multidrug HFrEF regimens. Researchers in the U.K. performed an open-label, single-site, unblinded pilot trial (NCT02859311) of withdrawal of evidence-based HFrEF treatment in asymptomatic patients with prior HFrEF due to dilated cardiomyopathy who had experienced normalization of left ventricular (LV) volumes and LVEF and had a normal N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level. The 51 enrolled individuals (mean age, 55; 67% men; median time si…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)

How Many Asymptomatic Heart Failure Patients Can Stop Treatment?

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Reviewing Author