Positive Health Online

Abstract

MARCHIOLI and LEVANTESI, (1)Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: marchioli@negrisud.it  (2)Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Chieti, Italy; Coronary Care Unit, Cardiologic Department, 'S. Pio' Hospital Vasto, Chieti, Italy reviewed the role of n-3 PUFAs in patients with heart failure.

Background

The risk of death of patients with heart failure (HF) is still too high in daily clinical practice despite the many progress that have occurred in the diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome that significantly reduce the mortality of these patients.

Methodology

Results of the GISSI-HF trial, the first and only large-scale clinical trial to date assessing the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in HF patients, showed that treatment of 100 patients saved almost 2 lives and prevented almost 2 cardiovascular hospitalisations, indicating that beneficial cardiovascular effects of n-3 PUFAs observed in other populations might also apply to patients with HF.

Results

Treatment with n-3 PUFAs may be considered as a new option to add to the shortlist of evidence-based life-prolonging therapies for HF, as suggested by the recent guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology.

Conclusion

However, further large clinical trials are undoubtedly needed to give adequate answers to still open questions on the treatment of HF.

References

Marchioli R(1) and Levantesi G(2). n-3 PUFAs and heart failure. Int J Cardiol. 170(2 Suppl 1):S28-32. Dec 20 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.06.041. Epub Sep 6 2013.