Baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) is a method of treating resistant high blood pressure by using an implanted device to electrically stimulate baroreceptors in the carotid sinus region. This approach has been recently used in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but its effectiveness and safety are not well studied. The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of BAT for heart failure with HFrEF.
This is a cohort study that included four patient cohorts: ABCD, created from 408 randomized patients with heart failure with HFrEF. The primary endpoints of the study were a change in 6-min hall walk distance (6MHW) from baseline to 6 months, QOL score, and NT-proBNP levels.
The cohort D (NT-proBNP <1,600 pg/ml) consisted of 245 patients; 120 were in the BAT group and 125 in the control group. The findings suggested that BAT was safe and resulted in significantly improved QOL, 6MHW, and NT-proBNP. When compared with the control group, the BAT group had a higher QOL score, increased 6MHW distance, and decreased NT-proBNP.
The research concluded that BAT in patients with heart failure with HFrEF resulted in improved QOL, 6MHW distance (energy capacity), and NT-proBNP.
Ref: https://www.onlinejacc.org/content/76/1/1
