Baroreflex Activation Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure with a Reduced Ejection Fraction

Abstract

A randomized, controlled trial of baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction demonstrated that BAT was safe and significantly improved patient-centered symptomatic outcomes, increasing exercise capacity, improving quality of life, decreasing n-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and improving functional class. BAT was approved by the FDA for improvement of symptoms of heart failure for patients who remain symptomatic despite treatment with guideline-directed management, are New York Heart Association Class III or Class II (with a recent history of Class III), have a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%, an NT-proBNP < 1600 pg/mL and excluding patients indicated for cardiac resynchronization therapy.