Baseline characteristics of patients randomized in the resynchronization reverses remodeling in systolic left ventricular dysfunction (REVERSE) study

The Resynchronization Reverses Remodeling in Systolic Left Ventricular Dysfunction (REVERSE) study is a randomized controlled trial currently assessing the safety and efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with previous symptoms of mild heart failure. This paper describes the baseline characteristics of randomized patients; 610 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II (82.3%) heart failure or asymptomatic (NYHA class I) LV dysfunction with previous symptoms (17.7%) were randomized in 73 centers. The mean age was 62.5±11.0 years, the mean LV ejection fraction was 26.7%±7.0%, and the mean LV end-diastolic diameter was 66.9±8.9 mm. A total of 97% of patients were taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and 95.1% were taking b-blockers, which were at the target dose in 35.1% of patients. Compared with previous randomized cardiac resynchronization therapy trials, REVERSE patients are on better pharmacologic treatment, are younger, and have a narrower QRS width despite similar LV dysfunction.