This educational update highlights two key publications on Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM®) therapy, focusing on its role in managing patients with NYHA Stage III heart failure symptoms.  The first paper was published in the Heart Rhythm Journal, authored by Prof. Jürgen Kuschyk and is titled, “Cardiac contractility modulation in HFrEF patients with QRS duration 120-149 ms: reduction in heart failure hospitalizations and improvement in functional outcome”.  Prof. Kuschyk provides an overview of his research, sharing data from the CCM-Registry highlighting the improvement in heart failure symptoms and outcomes in the subset of patients with a QRS duration of 120-149 ms.  The second paper was recently published in the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, authored by Dr. Isaac Whitman, and titled "Mid-term clinical outcomes and cardiac function in patients receiving cardiac contractility modulation".  Dr. Whitman reviews mid-term outcomes, detailing improvements in cardiac function and symptom relief in patients treated with CCM therapy.  As the moderator, Dr. Andrew Sauer emphasizes the concept of "healthy days at home" as a critical measure of therapy success in managing chronic heart failure patients.  CCM therapy offers an innovative treatment for NYHA Class III heart failure patients who:  remain symptomatic despite guideline directed medical therapy, have a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) of 25%–45%, and are not receiving CRT.  This session underscores the growing evidence supporting CCM as a therapeutic option, addressing a critical gap in heart failure management for this patient group.

The OPTIMIZER® System, which delivers Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM) therapy, is indicated to improve 6-minute hall walk, quality of life, and functional status of NYHA Class III heart failure patients who remain symptomatic despite guideline directed medical therapy, are not receiving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), and have a left ventricular ejection fraction ranging from 25% to 45%. CCM’s effect on heart failure hospitalization (HFH) and mortality have not been studied in randomized clinical trials and is outside of our current US indications for use.