Norbert Klein, Dietrich Pfeiffer, Dirk Stockman, Martin Hinterseer, Maximo Rivero-Ayerza, Maika Klein
Background: In an earlier study comparing acceleration sensor (AS)- and closed loop stimulation (CLS)-based rateadaptive pacing, a sub analysis showed that heart rate (HR) after 6-minute walk (6MW) was higher in symptomatic (NYHA II/III) than symptom-free (NYHA I) patients in the CLS group only. The present study evaluated prospectively whether CLS unlike AS is able to differentiate between symptomatic and symptom-free patients, for whom 6MW represents demanding exercise versus low-to-moderate exercise, requiring marked versus moderate HR increase, respectively.
Methods: The study randomized 205 chronotropically incompetent patients 1:1 to AS or CLS. Primary endpoint was HR after 6MW for symptomatic versus symptom-free patients in each randomization group. A subanalysis tested primary endpoint only in patients with heart failure (HF). Secondary endpoint was HF progression over 2 years.
Results: The primary endpoint showed the expected tendency without statistical significance. In the subanalysis, HR after 6MW was significantly higher in symptomatic than symptom-free patients for CLS sensor (median, 92 vs. 84 bpm [P=0.021]), with an opposite non-significant trend for AS. HF development did not differ significantly between AS and CLS.
Conclusions: CLS increased HR more selectively than AS in symptomatic patients with HF. Progression of HF over 2 years was minimal in both modes.
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