Two Year Mortality of New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class II and III Congestive Heart Failurep

The study was conducted to determine the outcome of conventional therapy alone, or in combination with amiodarone, in patients with NYHA functional class II and III of Congestive Cardiac Failure (CCF). Methodology: Patients presenting with congestive heart failure to Hayat Abad Medical Complex Peshawar Pakistan were randomly divided into two groups. After informed consent they were started on conventional therapy for heart failure i.e. Angiotensin Converting Enzymes Inhibitors (ACIs), or Angiotensin Receptors Blockers (ARBs) and beta blockers, diuretics, aldosterone antagonist and digoxin if needed. One group was started on amiodarone in the standard dose or placebo (folic acid 5 mg) daily. Patients were followed monthly for two years. The primary end point was death due to heart failure or till the end of the study. Both the group had treatment for any other cause as usual as needed. Results: There were 34 deaths in the two years period. 19 deaths were recorded in the amiodarone group, and 15 deaths in the placebo group. Overall there was no statistically significant difference in both groups regarding mortality. Conclusion: Amiodarone has not reduced mortality in patients who were in congestive heart failure and received amiodarone in addition to the conventional therapy.