1. The INTENSIFY study: practical daily effectiveness and tolerance of ivabradine in chronic systolic heart failure in Germany
Zugck C, Martinka P, Stöckl G.
Zugck C, Martinka P, Stöckl G. Ivabradine treatment in a chronic heart failure patient cohort: symptom reduction and improvement in quality of life in clinical practice. Adv Ther. 2014;31:

2. BACKGROUND
Heart failure is a major problem both in terms of impact on patients’ daily lives and the cost to society, mainly due to the heavy burden of recurrent hospitalizations. The SHIFT study has shown that ivabradine improves cardiovascular outcomes in a wide range of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This risk reduction was achieved on top of background pharmacotherapy, including beta-blockers, and led to the recommendation of ivabradine in heart failure guidelines.
The INTENSIFY study analyzed the effectiveness of ivabradine in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life, and in terms of tolerability, in CHF patients in daily clinical practice over a 4-month period.
The INTENSIFY study can be likened to the SHIFT study translated into clinical practice.
Zugck C, Martinka P, Stöckl G. Ivabradine treatment in a chronic heart failure patient cohort: symptom reduction and improvement in quality of life in clinical practice. Adv Ther. 2014;31:

3. METHODOLOGY
The INTENSIFY study is a prospective, non-interventional, open-label multicenter study conducted in 694 centers in Germany.
1956 patients enrolled have chronic systolic heart failure (origin of heart failure: ischemic in 62.4%, nonischemic in 31.7%, and both in 5.8%), fulfilling criteria for treatment with ivabradine according to the approved indication (sinus rhythm, NYHA class II–IV, resting heart rate 70/75 bpm).
The INTENSIFY study evaluated the effectiveness, tolerability, and effect on quality of life of ivabradine over a 4-month period.
The effectiveness of ivabradine was assessed in addition to standard heart failure treatment. The study was conducted by cardiologists, specialized general practitioners, and internists, and thus reflects daily clinical practice.
Zugck C, Martinka P, Stöckl G. Ivabradine treatment in a chronic heart failure patient cohort: symptom reduction and improvement in quality of life in clinical practice. Adv Ther. 2014;31:

4. Ivabradine rapidly improves symptoms
RESULTS
Ivabradine rapidly improves symptoms
Zugck C, Martinka P, Stöckl G. Ivabradine treatment in a chronic heart failure patient cohort: symptom reduction and improvement in quality of life in clinical practice. Adv Ther. 2014;31:

5. Ivabradine rapidly improves quality of life
RESULTS
Ivabradine rapidly improves quality of life
Zugck C, Martinka P, Stöckl G. Ivabradine treatment in a chronic heart failure patient cohort: symptom reduction and improvement in quality of life in clinical practice. Adv Ther. 2014;31:

6. IMPACT ON CLINICAL PRACTICE
The INTENSIFY study has shown that there is room for further symptomatic improvement in chronic heart failure patients, despite current treatments such as beta-blockers.
Ivabradine has proven in clinical practice to be rapidly effective in reducing symptoms of heart failure, and improving quality of life in chronic heart failure patients.
Zugck C, Martinka P, Stöckl G. Ivabradine treatment in a chronic heart failure patient cohort: symptom reduction and improvement in quality of life in clinical practice. Adv Ther. 2014;31: