CompletedNot Applicable

Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Patients After Implantation of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators to Improve Long-Term Outcomes

Canada29 participantsStarted 2021-06-01

Plain-language summary

Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and the mortality benefit it provides in the heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) population are well-established by multiple professional society guidelines. GDMT refers to initial medical therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB), beta-blockers (BB), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) titrating to maximally tolerated doses for patients with HFrEF. Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have also become a mainstay in the management of HFrEF after implementation of GDMT. ICD therapy is an effective and established treatment for HFrEF patients for both primary and secondary prevention of SCD. Regarding the use, adherence and results of GDMT after ICD/CRT implantation, there is very limited data available in the literature. There are a few retrospective trials that show this, however very limited randomized controlled data. This proposed study would randomize patients with primary prevention ICDs and CRT into a specialized clinic with a heart failure nurse practitioner vs usual clinical care, with the goal of determining outcomes such as change in LVEFs, heart failure hospitalizations, and visits to the ER for heart failure. Consequently, this would determine whether targeted clinics are needed for ICD/CRT patients with HFrEF to optimize GDMT, improve patient outcomes and thus implement new guidelines/recommendations for this specific patient population.

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: \- patients who underwent ICD or CRT (pacemaker or defibrillator) implantation therapy at the QEII Health Sciences Centre between 2002 and 2019 and had a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% at the time of the initial implantation. Exclusion Criteria: * unable to provide informed consent, has a life expectancy of less than one year, dementia, cirrhosis, or metastatic malignancy. * Patients who underwent primary prevention ICD implantation for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), ion channelopathies, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or infiltrative cardiomyopathy will be excluded from this analysis.

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

Change in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)

Timeframe: 1 year

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04505007

SponsorRatika Parkash

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-12-01

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