The effect of long-term tafamidis treatment on quality of life in people with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM): a plain language summary

Abstract

[Abstract] What is this summary about?: This summary explains some results of a study called ATTR-ACT and its ongoing long-term extension study that were published in the European Journal of Heart Failure. The purpose of ATTR-ACT was to find out if a drug called tafamidis is an effective treatment for people with a heart condition called transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). People took tafamidis or placebo for up to 2.5 years in ATTR-ACT (the initial study). A placebo looks like the study medicine but does not contain any active ingredients. After people completed the initial study, they could take part in the extension study. An extension study allows people to continue receiving treatment after the original clinical study ends and helps researchers understand how well a treatment works over a longer time period. This extension study allows people to receive tafamidis for up to an additional 5 years. People who took placebo in the initial study now receive tafamidis. People who took tafamidis in the initial study continue tafamidis treatment. Researchers looked at changes in peoples' ability to enjoy life ('quality of life') and heart failure symptoms since they started ATTR-ACT. Results are available for the first 2.5 years of the extension study.

What are the key takeaways?: During the initial study, there was less worsening of quality of life and heart failure symptoms in people who took tafamidis compared to people who took placebo. In the extension study, quality of life and heart failure symptoms were maintained or nearly maintained in people who took tafamidis in the initial study. In people who started tafamidis in the extension study, quality of life and heart failure symptoms continued to worsen, but the worsening slowed down.

What were the main conclusions reported by the researchers?: Tafamidis slows the worsening of quality of life and heart failure symptoms in people with ATTR-CM. People with ATTR-CM should start treatment early to receive the most benefit.