Optimizing HFrEF Patients Using BaroStim and CardioMems

This is a longitudinal, single arm study in which patients will serve as their own controls prior to study intervention (BaroStim insertion). All patients eligible for both CardioMems and BaroStim devices will undergo insertion per standard of care, regardless of participation in this study. After placement of CardioMems, patients will undergo 3 months of medication management and titration. After 3 months of medication titration, patients will undergo BaroStim insertion. This sequential placement of devices along with the 3 month medication titration period is standard of care and will occur prior to enrollment in the study. Subsequently, patients will be seen for in-office visits for titration of BaroStim along with measurement of pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, 6MWT, and vital signs. The goal will be to achieve a pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) of 18-20 mm Hg or less. Patients will be followed for up to 1-year post-insertion.

The goal of this study is to utilize the pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (obtained from CardioMems) as an objective method to assess BAT. A 10% improvement in 6MWT, blood pressure, PADP, NT pro-BNP, or LVEF, or any improvement in NYHA class is deemed clinically significant.

Inclusion criteria

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
• Male or female, ages 18-80 years
• Diagnosed with NYHA Class III Heart Failure with LVEF<35%
• Able to tolerate oral medications for guideline directed medical therapy titration period
• Have undergone insertion of CardioMems and BaroStim devices per standard of care.
• It is a standard of care to recommend that females of reproductive potential use highly effective contraception, because of the teratogenic potential of many medications used to treat HFrEF. In addition, withdrawal of GDMT during pregnancy may reverse the positive remodeling and lead to life threatening worsening of heart failure. Women of child-bearing age need to agree to use such a method during study participation and indefinitely after the end of the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals ineligible for either CardioMems or BaroStim devices.
• NT-proBNP >1600 mg/dL
• Indicated for CRT-D device (left bundle branch block)
• Initial 6-minute walk test distance less than 140 m
• Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
• History of carotid vascular procedure (carotid endarterectomy)
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Known allergic reactions to components of the BaroStim or CardioMems insertion or guideline directed medical therapy for heart failure
• Febrile illness within 30 days of study enrollment
• Treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within 1 year
• Current smoker or tobacco use within 1 year
• Enrolled in any other CVRx funded study, including investigator-initiated research, registries, or other pre- or post-market studies.
• Vulnerable individuals as outlined below