Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common health problem that leads to frequent hospitalizations and an increased death rate. In spite of advances in drug therapy, it remains a significant public health problem. Recently, a new therapy has been developed for advanced heart failure patients with a ventricular conduction abnormality. This new therapy, called cardiac resynchronization (CRT), is a device which stimulates the atrium, the right ventricle, and the left ventricle providing synchronization of the contraction of the heart chambers. It is the addition of this therapy to an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) that will be evaluated in this study. This study will compare whether the implantation of this new therapy device, in combination with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, will reduce total mortality and hospitalizations for CHF.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II
* Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than or equal to 30% by multigated acquisition scan (MUGA)/catheterization OR LVEF less than or equal to 30% and LV end diastolic dimension ≥ 60 mm (by echocardiogram) within 6 months prior to randomization
* Intrinsic QRS complex width ≥ 120 ms OR paced QRS measurement ≥ 200 ms
* ICD indication for primary or secondary prevention
* Optimal heart failure pharmacological therapy
* Normal sinus rhythm; OR chronic persistent atrial tachyarrhythmia with resting ventricular heart rate ≤ 60 beats per minute (bpm) and 6 minute hall walk ventricular heart rate of ≤ 90 bpm; OR chronic persistent atrial tachyarrhythmia with resting ventricular heart rate \> 60 bpm and 6 minute hall walk ventricular heart rate of \> 90 bpm and booked for atrioventricular junction ablation.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Intravenous inotropic agent in the last 4 days
* Patients with a life expectancy of less than one year from non-cardiac cause
* Expected to undergo cardiac transplantation within one year (status I)
* In hospital patients who have acute cardiac or non-cardiac illness that requires intensive care
* Uncorrected or uncorrectable primary valvular disease
* Restrictive, hypertrophic, or reversible form of cardiomyopathy
* Severe primary pulmonary disease such as cor pulmonale
* Tricuspid prosthetic valve
* Patients with an existing ICD (patients with an existing pacemaker may be include…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Primary outcome is a composite of all cause total mortality and hospitalization for CHF
Timeframe: Study end
Trial details
NCT IDNCT00251251
SponsorOttawa Heart Institute Research Corporation