29/08/2010

Heart failure medicine looks promising

New research suggests that a medicine called ivabradine, which slows the heartbeat, could cut death and hospitalisation in people with heart failure.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the BHF, said: “Over 700,000 people in the UK are living with heart failure – and it can be a debilitating condition.

“The medical treatment for the condition has improved substantially over recent years, but it still has a poor outcome. This important study suggests that a new drug, that works by lowering heart rate, may offer improvements over currently available treatments.

“Further studies are now needed to establish its role in heart failure management.”

More information about the research can be found here.

The research was announced at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2010 in Stockholm, where top international heart doctors and scientists gather to share their latest findings.