Effect of Ivabradine on Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling in Relatively Stable Heart Failure Outpatients With Reduced Ejection Fraction

Abstract

Background: Elevations of resting heart rate (HR) in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are often missed, resulting in some patients with an indication for ivabradine reportedly being missed.

Methods and Results: We studied 30 relatively stable HFrEF outpatients, and ivabradine was administered when regular follow-up echocardiography showed a resting HR ≥75 beats/min. Significant left ventricular reverse remodeling was observed 10.1±3.9 months after administration of ivabradine.

Conclusions: This finding may well make this procedure a potential new approach for preventing worsening of HF for relatively stable patients with HFrEF.