The Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Heart Failure Patients

Objective to evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure patients. Methods We continuous assessed forty-eight heart failure patients who underwent CRT implantation in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2012, evaluate/measure NYHA grade, left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) before cardiac resynchronization therapy and half year, one year, two years after cardiac resynchronization therapy. Results Compared to the results before cardiac resynchronization, half year, one year and two years later, NYHA grade, LVEF, LVEDd, BNP improved significantly (P <0.05); Compared to the results of half year after cardiac resynchronization therapy, one year and two years later, NYHA grade, LVEF, LVEDd, BNP also improved significantly (P<0.05); However, compared the results between one year and two years later after cardiac resynchronization therapy, there were no difference as to NYHA grade, LVEF, LVEDd and BNP (P>0.05). Conclusions CRT could improve cardiac function in patients with congestive heart failure, however, when we followed up the patients for two years, cardiac function did not improve further.