Sep 3, 2024

Michelle M. Kittleson, MD, PhD, FACC, JACC Associate Editor and John A. Spertus, MD, MPH, FACC discuss the evaluation of the cardiac myosin inhibitor, aficamten, on patient-reported health status in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as part of the SEQUOIA trial. The study utilized the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) Overall Summary Score (OSS) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire to assess the broader impact of the disease and treatment on patients' lives, emphasizing symptoms, function, and quality of life. The findings highlight the significance of these tools in capturing meaningful patient outcomes, beyond traditional physiological measures, which can guide clinicians in counseling HCM patients about treatment expectations. The rapid decline in health status after discontinuation of aficamten underscores its potential importance in managing HCM.