PATIENT INFORMATION
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE FACTS
Heart failure has clearly become an epidemic. It is estimated that approximately 1.2% to 2% of the global population and as much as 10% of those 65 years and older suffer from heart failure.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is defined as the failure of the heart to properly pump blood to the body. The most common conditions leading to heart failure include hypertension (high blood pressure), ischemic heart disease (where diseased coronary arteries do not allow a sufficient blood supply to the heart, and the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen) and valvular disease (disease of the valves inside the heart). In many cases these conditions co-exist and together accelerate disease progression. Heart failure may also be a result of infectious, genetic, toxic, metabolic, hormone related or other, unknown causes.
When experiencing heart failure, a person is likely to have difficulties with otherwise effortless activities. The easiest of actions may cause exhaustion and shortness of breath as well as dizziness and general weakness. Additional symptoms could include general fluid retention, weight gain and edema.
Existing treatment for heart failure include mostly drug therapies such as ACE inhibitors, Beta Blockers, Diuretics, Digitalis, Anti-Arrhythmics and intravenous delivery of inotropes. Though therapeutic, optimal dosage of drug therapies is difficult to achieve as it may result in adverse side effects. Moreover, the mortality rate utilizing these therapies remains very high, on average 30% with NYHA class III patients at one year.
Early studies show that vagus nerve stimulation in particular may provide a therapeutic benefit in the treatment of heart failure. BioControl Medical is currently developing a device based on this evidence. The Company is engaged in a multi-center clinical study in Europe of the CardioFit™ system, designed to enable controlled stimulation of the vagus nerve. For more specific information about the trial, please click here.
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