Hardwick

Patients with Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (NICM) have a higher risk of experiencing serious abnormal heart rhythms that might be life-threatening. Current guidelines recommend fitting a device that can correct these serious heart rhythms (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)). However, research studies have shown that 90% of patients who have an ICD will never use it because they won't experience any serious heart rhythms. A recent large trial (DANISH) of over one thousand patients with severe Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy has called the current guidelines into question. The trial concluded that for patients who received an ICD, there was no difference in the likelihood of dying when compared to patients that didn't have an ICD fitted. As a result, many doctors are choosing not to implant an ICD in patients with this type of heart failure, as they believe there is no overall survival benefit. However, there are clues that some patients with NICM may still benefit from an ICD, even though the headline results suggest they are not necessary. It's likely that it's the patients who are at increased risk of having a serious abnormal heart rhythm that stand to benefit from ICDs. But having an ICD fitted carries with it a significant risk of problems developing e.g. bleeding, infection, lead problems, and inappropriate shocks. These risks may not outweigh the benefits and it is this question which BRITISH will address. The study will randomly assign (like the toss of a coin), half the study participants to receive an ICD and the other half to no ICD. Both groups will be followed up to decide whether having an ICD fitted reduces the chances of dying.

HF is associated with frequent and lengthy hospitalisations. These hospitalisations are usually as a result of congestion, and the standard treatment of this is decongestion with intravenous (IV) diuretic (usually furosemide). This is usually delivered in a hospital setting. A new formulation of a pHneutral furosemide (SQIN-Furosemide) that can be delivered subcutaneously (SC) by a small patch pump (SQIN-Infusor) has been developed. Bioavailability of SQIN-Furosemide is similar to IV furosemide. This trial will test the efficacy and safety of novel SC furosemide 30mg/ml (SQIN-Furosemide), delivered in a home environment (compared to usual care strategy with IV furosemide delivered in secondary care) as part of a novel early supported discharge strategy in patients admitted to hospital with HF.