Abstract | INTRODUCTION: Quality of life (QOL) in heart failure patients is severely compromised by the symptoms of the disease. Acute administration of levosimendan improves patients' symptoms for intervals of 7-10 days. The aim of this study was to assess the QOL in heart failure patients, after monthly, intermittent administration of levosimendan for a 6-month period, using 3 activity questionnaires: Specific Activity Questionnaire (SAQ), Left Ventricular Dysfunction 36 (LVD 36), and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (LIhFE). METHODS: We prospectively studied 20 patients, age 61.0 +/- 15.7 years (mean +/- SD) with heart failure (NYHA III and IV). Levosimendan was administered intravenously for 24 hours (dose 0.1 mg/kg/min), 1 day every month for a 6-month period. Patients were asked to answer the questions of the 3 activity questionnaires SAQ, LVD36 and LIhFE before and after the end of the 6-month period. RESULTS: For the LIhFE (the best score is 0 and the worst 105) before levosimendan the score was 35.4 +/- 18.6 and after 6 months 22.2 +/- 13.0 (p<0.0001). SAQ (worst score is 0 and the best is 9) before levosimendan was 4.2 +/- 1.6 and after 6 months 4.7 +/- 1.3 (p<0.05). For the LVD36 (more ;right' answers, more severe condition) before levosimendan values were 52.6 +/- 26.2 and after 6 months 27.4 +/- 17.3 (p<0.0001). Before levosimendan patients had a mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 30.3 +/- 6.9, while after 6 months the LVEF was 32.1 +/- 7.4 (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS:
Levosimendan treatment improved both objective echocardiographic measurements and the subjective QOL questionnaires. LIhFE and LVD36 show a significant improvement in QOL in heart failure patients after a 6-month period of monthly intermittent administration of levosimendan. The SAQ showed a very small improvement, because it describes more strenuous activity, a situation unusual for these patients, who are severely symptom limited.
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Authors | Evangelia F Papadopoulou, Sophie I Mavrogeni, Athanasios Dritsas, Dennis V Cokkinos |
Journal | Hellenic journal of cardiology : HJC = Hellenike kardiologike epitheorese
(Hellenic J Cardiol)
2009 Jul-Aug
Vol. 50
Issue 4
Pg. 269-74
ISSN: 2241-5955 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 19622496
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Cardiotonic Agents
- Hydrazones
- Pyridazines
- Simendan
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Topics |
- Activities of Daily Living
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Cardiotonic Agents
(administration & dosage)
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Heart Failure
(drug therapy, physiopathology, psychology)
- Humans
- Hydrazones
(administration & dosage)
- Injections, Intravenous
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prospective Studies
- Pyridazines
(administration & dosage)
- Quality of Life
- Simendan
- Stroke Volume
(drug effects)
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Ventricular Function, Left
(drug effects, physiology)
- Young Adult
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