title: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Intravenous Inotropic Therapy in Advanced Heart Failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inotrope use in heart failure treatment was associated with improved symptoms, but worse survival in clinical trials. However, these studies predated use of modern heart failure therapies. This study evaluates contemporary outcomes on long-term inotropes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We collected baseline and postinotrope data on 197 patients discharged on inotropes between January 2007 and March 2013. Baseline characteristics, hemodynamic and clinical changes on inotropes, and survival were evaluated. Patients initiated on inotropes had refractory heart failure, with median baseline New York Heart Association class IV, cardiac index of 1.7 L/min per m(2), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 25.6 mm Hg, and left ventricular ejection fraction of 18.7%. Inotropes were used in patients listed for transplant or scheduled for left ventricular assist device (LVAD; 60 patients), in patients being evaluated for LVAD/transplant (20 patients), for stabilization pending cardiac resynchronization therapy/percutaneous coronary intervention (4 patients), in patients who were offered LVAD but chose inotropes (15 patients), and for palliation (98 patients). Milrinone was used in 84.8% and dobutamine in 15.2%. At the end of the study, 68 patients had died, 24 were weaned off inotropes, 23 were transplanted, 32 received LVADs, and 50 remained on inotropes. Patients who received inotropes for palliation or those who preferred inotropes over LVAD had median survival of 9.0 months (interquartile range, 3.1-37.1 months), actuarial 1-year survival of 47.6%, and 2-year survival of 38.4%. Of 60 patients who were placed on inotropes as a bridge to transplant/LVAD, 55 were successfully maintained on inotropes until transplant/LVAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survival on inotropes for patients who are not candidates for transplant/LVAD is modestly better than previously reported, but remains poor. Inotropes are effective as a bridge to transplant/LVAD.
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: Taimoor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sanam
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Revilla-Martinez
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: Charity J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tallaj
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: Salpy V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Pamboukian
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: Renzo Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Loyaga-Rendon
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.).
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: From the Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases (T.H., J.A.T., S.V.P., R.Y.L.-R., D.A.) and Cardiovascular Surgery (J.F.G.), and Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health (C.J.M.), University of Alabama at Birmingham; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI (K.S.); and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University Hospital at Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain (M.R.-M.). dacharya@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Acharya
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents
keywords: dobutamine; heart failure; milrinone; quality of life; survival