January 31, 2011Open Access
Cardiac resynchronization therapy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Structured PICO
Does cardiac resynchronization therapy reduce mortality in patients with heart failure?
P
Population
Patients with heart failure
I
Intervention
Cardiac resynchronization therapy
C
Comparator
Optimal medical therapy or defibrillator therapy
O
Outcome
Mortalityhard clinical
Cardiac resynchronization therapy provides a conclusive mortality benefit for patients with heart failure when added to standard medical or defibrillator therapies.
Abstract
The cumulative evidence is now conclusive that the addition of cardiac resynchronization to optimal medical therapy or defibrillator therapy significantly reduces mortality among patients with heart failure.