Effect of heart failure reversal treatment as add-on therapy in patients with chronic heart failure: A randomized, open-label study

AbstractObjectivesThe present study was designed to evaluate effect of heart failure reversal therapy (HFRT) using herbal procedure (panchakarma) and allied therapies, as add-on to standard CHF treatment (SCT) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.MethodsThis open-label, randomized study conducted in CHF patients (aged: 25–65 years, ejection fraction: 30–65%), had 3-phases: 1-week screening, 6-week treatment (randomized [1:1] to HFRT+SCT or SCT-alone) and follow-up (12-week). Twice weekly HFRT (60–75min) consisting of snehana (external oleation), swedana (passive heat therapy), hrudaydhara (concoction dripping treatment) and basti (enema) was administered. Primary endpoints included evaluation of change in metabolic equivalents of task (MET) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) from baseline, at end of 6-week treatment and follow-up at week-18 (non-parametric rank ANCOVA analysis). Safety and quality of life (QoL) was assessed.ResultsSeventy CHF patients (n=35, each treatment-arm; mean [SD] age: 53.0 [8.6], 80% men) were enrolled in the study. All patients completed treatment phase. Add-on HFRT caused a significant increase in METs (least square mean difference [LSMD], 6-week: 1.536, p=0.0002; 18-week: −1.254, p=0.0089) and VO2peak (LSMD, 6-week: −5.52, p=0.0002; 18-week: −4.517, p=0.0089) as compared with SCT-alone. Results were suggestive of improved functional capacity in patients with HFRT (QoL; Mean [SD] HFRT+SCT vs. SCT-alone; 6-week: −0.44 [0.34] vs. −0.06 [0.25], p