Cardio-oncology & otherRandomised controlled trial
Heart failure therapy in patients with advanced cancer receiving specialized palliative care (EMPATICC trial)
- Randomised controlled trial
- double-blind
- placebo-controlled
- 5 centres
Authors' conclusion
In a population with advanced cancer receiving specialized palliative care and high early mortality, optimized HF therapy did not improve patients' self-care ability.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with stage 4 solid tumours, life expectancy 1–6 months, receiving specialized palliative care, with ≥2 CV risk criteria and ≥1 functional limitation criterion
- Participants
- 93 patients
- Comparison
- Optimized heart failure (HF) therapy vs placebo
- Primary endpoint
- Hierarchical: days alive and able to wash oneself, ability to walk 4 m, and self-reported patient global assessment (PGA) of subjective well-being
- Follow-up
- 30-day placebo-controlled phase
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Primary hierarchical endpoint
Primary endpoint did not differ between groups (win ratio)
0.95, 95% CI 0.57-1.58; P = .83
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT-proBNP, LVEF and PGA in patients alive at 30 days · PGA scores improved | 0.22 (0.06–0.75) | P = 0.016 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
- NT-proBNP, LVEF and patient global assessment (PGA) in patients alive at 30 days — NT-proBNP reduced by
- 41% (P = .040)
- NT-proBNP, LVEF and PGA in patients alive at 30 days — LVEF increased by
- 2.9% (P = .036)
Mortality (overall) · 30 days
- Overall mortality, not different between groups
- 32%
Original publication
Heart failure therapy in patients with advanced cancer receiving specialized palliative care (EMPATICC trial). Eur Heart J. Published 30 August 2025. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf705
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it