Outcomes of Premature Ventricular Contraction-Cardiomyopathy in the Veteran Population A Secondary Analysis of the CHF-STAT Study

OBJECTIVES This study sought to assess the rate and outcomes of premature ventricular contractions (PVC)-cardiomyopathy from the CHF-STAT (Survival Trial of Antiarrhythmic Therapy in Congestive Heart Failure) trial, a population with cardiomyopathy (left ventricular [LV] ejection fraction of <40%) and frequent PVCs (>10 PVCs per hour). BACKGROUND PVCs are associated with heart failure and PVC-cardiomyopathy. The prevalence of PVC-cardiomyopathy and outcome benefits of PVC suppression are not clear. METHODS A secondary analysis of the CHF-STAT study was performed to compare the rate of successful PVC suppression (>= 80% PVC reduction), LV recovery (defined as improvement in LV ejection fraction of >= 10% points), and PVC-cardiomyopathy between amiodarone and placebo groups at 6 months. PVC-cardiomyopathy was defined if both PVC reduction of >= 80% and LV ejection fraction improvement of >= 10% were present at 6 months. Cardiac events (death or resuscitated cardiac arrest) were compared between PVC-cardiomyopathy versus non-PVC-cardiomyopathy during a 5-year follow-up. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation. RESULTS The rates of successful PVC suppression and LV recovery were significantly higher in the amiodarone (72% and 39%, respectively) when compared to the placebo group (12% and 16%, respectively; p < 0.001), regardless of cardiomyopathy etiology. PVC-cardiomyopathy was present in 29% and 1.8% of patients in the amiodarone and placebo groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Similar PVC-cardiomyopathy rates were found in ischemic (24% amiodarone vs. 2% placebo; p < 0.001) and nonischemic populations (41% amiodarone vs. 1.5% placebo; p < 0.001). Death and resuscitated cardiac arrest were significantly lower in patients with PVC-cardiomyopathy and those treated with amiodarone. CONCLUSIONS The overall prevalence of PVC-cardiomyopathy in the CHF-STAT study was significant regardless of ischemic substrate (29%, overall population; 41%, nonischemic cardiomyopathy). Treatment of PVC-cardiomyopathy with amiodarone is likely to improve survival in this high-risk population.

Automated summary

The study assessed the rate and outcomes of premature ventricular contractions (PVC)-cardiomyopathy in patients with cardiomyopathy, finding that amiodarone treatment significantly increased the successful suppression of PVCs and LV recovery, potentially improving survival in patients with PVC-cardiomyopathy.