Abnormal Heart Rate Turbulence Predicts Sudden Death in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
An article published in the HeartRhythm Journal reveals important, new findings from the MUSIC Study; new research represents the largest heart failure population ever studied

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann-Marie White
Heart Rhythm Society
(202) 464-3476
awhite@hrsonline.org

New research reveals that abnormal heart rate turbulence (HRT), an ECG-based risk marker, is a significant risk predictor for sudden death in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The new study published in the August edition of the HeartRhythm Journal, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, is the first to document abnormal HRT as an indicator of sudden, or arrhythmic death risk in patients with heart failure — a life-threatening condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body's other organs.

The MUSIC (Muerte Subita en Insufficiencia Cardiaca) Study, a multi-center, Spanish, longitudinal study designed to assess risk markers for sudden death in CHF patients, represents the largest heart failure population ever studied. Over 1,000 patients were enrolled in the MUSIC Study between 2003 and 2004 and several risk markers, including Holter-based, were assessed to predict mortality during nearly four years of follow up. Led by principal investigator Antoni Bayes de Luna, MD, this is the first study to document that HRT predicts not only all-cause mortality and heart failure progression, but also sudden death in patients with heart failure.

Currently, radiofrequency catheter ablation is a very common and effective treatment of AFL, with cure rates around 95 percent. However, radiofrequency catheter ablation can cause serious side effects such as coagulum formation or endocardial charring which can lead to potential long-term health complications. Catheter-based cryoablation is known to be a viable and safer alternative to radiofrequency catheter ablation; yet, its efficiency in treating AFL had not been systematically evaluated in a large clinical trial until now.

“Our study documented that HRT might be considered a useful tool to identify heart failure patients at high risk of death, including high risk of dying suddenly,” stated lead author Iwona Cygankiewicz, MD, PhD, Cardiology Division, University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. “HRT may help physicians more effectively manage heart failure patients by indicating the need for more frequent follow up visits at specialized heart failure units and more intensely applied therapy, including ICD implantation in high risk patients.”

Approximately 50 percent of congestive heart failure-related deaths are due to progressive heart failure, while the other half are thought to be related to serious arrhythmias. Even though HRT was proven as an important risk startifier in postinfarction patients, little is known about its value in patients with heart failure. Previous, smaller studies have proven abnormal HRT as a risk stratifier for all-cause mortality and heart failure progression, but not sudden death.

Patients of the MUSIC Study represent a modern population of heart failure patients with a broad spectrum of etiologies. The study population includes patients with heart failure as seen at the ambulatory practice, including a high number of patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Interest is growing in the survival of patients with preserved LVEF and the MUSIC Study marks the first time this subgroup was included in a study evaluating the prognostic value of HRT.

For more information about this study, please visit www.heartrhythmjournal.com.

About HeartRhythm Journal
HeartRhythm provides rapid publication of the most important science developments in the field of arrhythmias and cardiovascular electrophysiology (EP). As the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, HeartRhythm publishes both basic and clinical subject matter of scientific excellence devoted to the EP of the heart and blood vessels, as well as therapy. The journal is the only EP publication serving the entire electrophysiology community from basic to clinical academic researchers, private practitioners, technicians, industry and trainees. HeartRhythm has a new impact factor of 4.203 for 2007 and ranks 10th out of 72 cardiovascular medicine journals by the Institute for Scientific Information. Additionally, the journal ranks seventh in the Immediacy Index among cardiology publications. It is also the official publication of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society.