CRT therapy producing good results in heart failure cases: Study

The study showed the effect of the two therapy methods and superiority of CRT over usual pharmacological treatment in terms of improvement in clinical conditions by about 25 percent. As part of the study, around 471 patients on optimized medical therapy and meeting CRT implantation guidelines were monitored in 12 Indian hospitals for two years. Patients with CRT treatment showed significant improvement in clinical composite score of about 69 percent compared to patients treated with only optimal medical therapy with 44.7 percent. They also showed a more favourable response in case of mortality and hospitalization rate compared to those who did not go through the therapy.

Dr Ulhas Pandurangi, chief, senior consultant cardiologist at Madras Medical Mission said, “Heart failure in India accounts for a large share of the non-communicable disease burden. The study highlights that the Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy helps in improvement of the clinical conditions. The need for new healthcare policies, improved awareness about heart failure disease will help in fighting the disease.” The prevalence of heart failure ranges from 13 to 46 lakhs with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. The study stated that patients in India who are suffering from heart failure are younger and have a higher morbidity and mortality.

In support of CRT, Dr KK Aggrawal president of Heart Care Foundation of India said, “CRT is used in patients with left bundle branch block, low pumping action of the heart with delayed conduction. It prevents sudden cardiac death and improves quality of life. In the current scenario where even, the poor are covered for five lakhs under Ayushman Bharat scheme all such patients who may get benefit with these devices must be offered this treatment routinely.”

There is a lack of adequate surveillance systems and incorporating comprehensive prevention of heart failure provides thebest opportunity to curb the projected rise of heart failure, the study concluded.