Comparative Effectiveness of Carvedilol Versus Metoprolol Succinate in Heart Failure Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

The Comparative Effectiveness of Carvedilol versus Metoprolol Succinate in Heart Failure Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (CARVTOP-ICD) study is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, two-arm, randomized clinical trial designed to assess the comparative effectiveness of carvedilol versus metoprolol succinate in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The study will enroll a total of 2,000 participants from 100 sites across the United States, with an initial feasibility phase enrolling 100 participants from 15 sites over 18 months. The feasibility phase will assess study infrastructure, recruitment, consent processes, medication switching protocols, safety, adherence, and retention. A patient-centered approach, including engagement of caregivers and stakeholders, underpins this phase. Strategies to improve patient and provider participation, address barriers to beta-blocker switching, and ensure diversity in enrollment will be employed. Lessons learned will guide the full-scale study. Eligible participants must have an ICD implanted for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death due to HFrEF (either ischemic or non-ischemic etiology), be currently treated with metoprolol succinate, and be willing to switch to carvedilol. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either remain on metoprolol succinate or switch to an equivalent dose of carvedilol, with titration to maximally tolerated doses per protocol. Key exclusion criteria include treatment with any beta-blocker other than metoprolol succinate, systolic blood pressure \<100 mmHg, known intolerance to carvedilol, or inability to comply with the study protocol. The primary endpoint is the first occurrence of any ICD therapy (appropriate or inappropriate), cardiovascular hospitalization, or cardiovascular death. Secondary endpoints include the burden of ICD shocks, healthcare utilization (including emergency visits and hospitalizations), and quality of life (QoL) measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 (KCCQ-12), Florida Shock Anxiety Scale (FSAS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Tertiary endpoints include specific analyses of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and atrial arrhythmias leading to inappropriate ICD therapies. Participants will be followed for an average of 3 years. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and quarterly thereafter. Study data will include standard of care tests such as cardiac imaging, ICD interrogations, laboratory measures (BNP/NT-proBNP, creatinine, BUN, potassium, sodium), NYHA classification, CV medication data, adverse events, protocol deviations, and patient-reported outcomes. The study will also assess subgroup responses by sex, age, race/ethnicity, heart failure etiology (ischemic vs non-ischemic), ICD type (ICD vs CRT-D), and degree of LVEF impairment. This PCORI-funded trial will generate robust, real-world evidence to guide clinical decision-making on beta-blocker choice in HFrEF patients with ICDs, addressing a significant gap in evidence and helping inform personalized treatment strategies to improve clinical and arrhythmic outcomes. More information can be found at www.carvtop.org