Introduction: Heart rate (HR) is often elevated in cats with cardiomyopathies (CMPs). Pharmacologic modulation of HR may reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality.
Objectives: To investigate the effects of cilobradine vs. placebo, regarding time to cardiac mortality or morbidity in cats with first episode of congestive heart failure (CHF) due to primary CMP.
Animals: Three hundred and sixty-seven client-owned cats with primary CMP that had presented with a first episode of CHF at 50 centers in Europe. Per-protocol population comprised 193 cats (n = 89 cilobradine, n = 104 placebo). An interim analysis for futility was planned.
Methods: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multicenter clinical trial. Primary outcome variable was the time to a composite of cardiac mortality or cardiac morbidity.
Results: Median time to primary outcome was 84 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 63-219 days) in the cilobradine group (CG) and 203 days in the placebo group (95% CI: 145-377 days) with observed hazard ratio of 1.44, indicating a higher hazard for the CG (P = 0.057). Mean HR was 28 beats per minute (bpm) lower at Day 7 (P < 0.0001) and remained 29 bpm lower at Day 360 (P = 0.026) in the CG than that in the placebo group. Although the number of adverse events did not differ, there were more serious adverse events in the CG.
Conclusions: Heart rate reduction by cilobradine in cats with a first episode of CHF due to primary CMP did not reduce cardiac mortality and morbidity.
Keywords: Cardiology; Clinical trial; Feline; Heart disease; Heart rate.
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