Prognosis on chronic dobutamine or milrinone infusions for stage D heart failure.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

BACKGROUND: There are no published clinical trials comparing dobutamine with milrinone in outpatients with stage D heart failure on continuous inotropes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a retrospective analysis of 112 inotrope-dependent patients with stage D heart failure who were not transplant candidates at enrollment, we investigated the relationship between choice of dobutamine or milrinone and mortality. Half the patients were on dobutamine (mean dose, 5.4+/-2.5 microg/kg per minute) and half on milrinone (mean dose, 0.4+/-0.2 microg/kg per minute). Those on dobutamine tended to be older (63 years old versus 54 years old), male (86% versus 79%), and fewer had implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (57% versus 74%). During a median follow-up time of 130 days (range, 2 to 2345 days), there were 85 deaths (76% of cohort) and 55 rehospitalizations. Use of dobutamine compared with milrinone was associated with higher all-cause mortality in an unadjusted analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.63; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.52; P<0.03). However, this association was not significant after adjustment for baseline characteristics in the full cohort (N=112; HR, 0.99; 95% CI 0.5 to 1.97; P=0.98) or propensity-matched cohort (N=70; HR, 0.94; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.85; P=0.86). CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center retrospective study, there were no mortality differences between chronic intravenous dobutamine or milrinone in patients with stage D heart failure being discharged from the hospital. The high mortality in this group selected for inotrope dependence warrants careful consideration of all options and priorities for further care.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Gorodeski, EZ; Chu, EC; Reese, JR; Shishehbor, MH; Hsich, E; Starling, RC

Published Date

  • July 2009

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 2 / 4

Start / End Page

  • 320 - 324

PubMed ID

  • 19808355

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1941-3297

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.108.839076

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States