RAFT
Resynchronization-Defibrillation for Ambulatory Heart Failure Trial
Patient / Population Intervention / Exposure Comparison Outcome
In 1,798 patients with NYHA II-III heart failure, EF ≤ 30% and wide QRS, adding cardiac resynchronisation to an ICD reduced death or heart-failure hospitalisation compared with an ICD alone.
N
1,798
Design
Double-blind RCT
Endpoint
Death from any cause or hospitalisation for heart failure
Relevance
2
Result33.2% with ICD-CRT vs 40.3% with ICD alone (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.87; P<0.001); all-cause mortality also reduced.
Tang ASL, et al. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(25):2385-2395. 10.1056/NEJMoa1009540
Discussion & critique
Higher device-related complication rate with CRT and benefit concentrated in wide QRS/LBBB. Extended a mortality benefit of CRT to milder (NYHA II) heart failure, shaping device guidelines.