Ahmed Saad Elsaeidy, Mohamed Abuelazm, Ramy Ghaly, Youssef Soliman, Ahmed Mazen Amin, Mohamed El-Gohary, Salem Elshenawy, Amith Reddy Seri, Basel Abdelazeem, Brijesh Patel, Christopher Bianco
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Intermittent ambulatory levosimendan administration has been shown in several small randomized controlled trials to benefit patients with advanced heart failure, preventing heart failure rehospitalization and mortality. We aim to investigate the totality of high-quality evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of intermittent levosimendan in advanced heart failure patients.
Methods
Up to September 2023, we systematically reviewed the randomized controlled trials indexed in PubMed, Embase Cochrane, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. We used mean difference (MD) to estimate the continuous outcomes, and risk ratio (RR) for the dichotomous outcomes with a 95% confidence interval (CI), using the random-effects model. Ultimately, a trial sequential analysis was employed to enhance the reliability of our findings and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework for certainty leveling.
Results
Fifteen randomized controlled trials with 1181 patients were included. Intermittent levosimendan was significantly associated with an improved left ventricular ejection fraction compared with placebo (MD 6.39 [95% CI 3.04–9.73], P = 0.002; I2 = 75, P = 0.0005), with cumulative z-score of change after ≤ 1 week passing the monitoring boundaries, favoring the levosimendan, but did not cross the required information size. Additionally, levosimendan reduced the all-cause mortality rate (RR 0.60 [95% CI 0.40–0.90], P = 0.01; I2 = 9, P = 0.36). However, we found no difference between levosimendan and placebo in all-cause rehospitalization rate (RR 0.75 [95% CI 0.46–1.22], P = 0.25; I2 = 70, P = 0.04), event-free survival rate (RR 0.97 [95% CI 0.72–1.30], P = 0.84; I2 = 63, P = 0.03), or any adverse event (RR 1 [95% CI 0.73–1.37], P = 1.00, I2 = 0%, P = 0.70).
Conclusion
In patients with advanced heart failure, intermittent levosimendan significantly improved left ventricular ejection fraction, brain natriuretic peptide values, and all-cause mortality rate. Levosimendan use is not associated with a change in rehospitalization or event-free survival.
期刊介绍：
Promoting rational therapy within the discipline of cardiology, the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs covers all aspects of the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, particularly the place in therapy of newer and established agents.
Via a program of reviews and original clinical research articles, the journal addresses major issues relating to treatment of these disorders, including the pharmacology, efficacy and adverse effects of the major classes of drugs; information on newly developed drugs and drug classes; the therapeutic implications of latest research into the aetiology of cardiovascular disorders; and the practical management of specific clinical situations.
The American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs offers a range of additional enhanced features designed to increase the visibility, readership and educational value of the journal’s content. Each article is accompanied by a Key Points summary, giving a time-efficient overview of the content to a wide readership. Articles may be accompanied by plain language summaries to assist patients, caregivers and others in understanding important medical advances. The journal also provides the option to include various other types of enhanced features including slide sets, videos and animations. All enhanced features are peer reviewed to the same high standard as the article itself. Peer review is conducted using Editorial Manager®, supported by a database of international experts. This database is shared with other Adis journals.
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