Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy Patients Derive Superior Mortality Benefit from Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

BACKGROUND Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is indicated for the treatment of advanced heart failure with severe systolic dysfunction and intraventricular conduction delay. Patient selection for this technology is vital, though it remains unclear which patients benefit most from CRT. We tested the hypothesis that patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy have a superior mortality benefit from CRT than ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. METHODS We evaluated 95 CRT patients to determine which factors predict mortality. RESULTS Patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy had a significantly better prognosis than patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION Larger prospective studies can substantiate this finding and better delineate which patients benefit most from CRT.