CSWT – Cardiac shock wave therapy for coronary heart disease: Next study strengthens scientific evidence
Cardiac shock wave therapy: New clinical results expand prospects for patients with CHD
Cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) represents a remarkable expansion of therapeutic options in modern cardiology – especially for people with coronary heart disease (CHD) for whom medication, catheter procedures, or bypass surgery have been exhausted or are no longer an option.
CSWT treatment is performed on an outpatient basis, without anesthesia, hospitalization, surgery, or recovery time. It is precisely this gentle form of therapy that has led to CSWT being intensively researched worldwide. New clinical studies are published almost monthly, further classifying its efficacy and safety.
A recent publication in the International Journal of Cardiology – Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention now provides further important data on the effect of CSWT in patients with coronary heart disease.
Randomized study with 259 patients examines CSWT in direct comparison with other non-invasive therapies
A total of 259 patients with coronary heart disease were included in the study. The study examined the effects of cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT), enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), and a combination of both procedures—in each case in addition to standard drug therapy.
The follow-up period was 12 months. Among other things, the following were evaluated:
- the so-called Gensini score (a measure of the severity of coronary stenosis),
- heart function (ejection fraction),
- various laboratory parameters,
- and the occurrence of serious cardiovascular events.
Significant improvements in coronary stenosis and heart function with CSWT
The results show that patients who received CSWT therapy in addition to drug therapy showed significant improvements after 12 months.
The Gensini score, which describes the extent of coronary stenosis, improved significantly in the CSWT group compared to drug treatment alone. The effect was even more pronounced in the combination group (CSWT + EECP).
The left ventricular ejection fraction—an important measure of the heart’s pumping function—also increased significantly under CSWT. This shows that cardiac shock wave therapy can bring about a significant functional improvement in cardiac performance.
CSWT: Reduction in major cardiovascular events over a 12-month period
A particularly relevant aspect of the study is the analysis of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The results showed that:
- The highest event rate occurred in the control group treated with medication alone.
- The CSWT group had a significantly lower rate.
- The lowest event rate was found in the combination group.
These data show, as numerous other studies have done before, that cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) not only influences symptoms but can also have prognostically relevant effects.
How can this new CSWT study be classified for our patients?
It is important to make a clear distinction: Cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) does not (yet) replace standard therapy in accordance with guidelines. However, it represents a complementary, non-invasive option – especially for patients with chronic, therapy-resistant symptoms or limited exercise capacity.
The current study is part of a growing body of international evidence showing the following effects of cardiac shock waves:
- Improvement of myocardial blood flow
- Improvement of heart function
- Reduction of symptoms
- and good tolerability without relevant side effects
It is precisely the combination of outpatient treatment, no anesthesia, no surgical stress, and a good safety profile that makes CSWT a special option within modern non-invasive cardiology.
Schlosspraxen Meyer: First specialist practice in the German-speaking region to offer cardiac shock wave therapy
We are the first private specialist practice in the German-speaking world to offer cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) on an outpatient basis. Our decision to offer this procedure is based on the continuously growing body of international studies, the convincing safety profile, and the opportunity to offer our patients an additional therapeutic option when conventional procedures reach their limits.
The complete study can be found in our “CSWT Studies” section:
https://www.cswt-meyer.de/en/cswt/cswt-studies
or here via direct link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487526000048