The efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients with hypotension

Abstract

Despite previous studies showing that patients with low systolic blood pressure (sBP) in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has a poor prognosis, it has few treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) in HFrEF patients with hypotension. We included 43 consecutive HFrEF patients with sBP < 100 mmHg despite guideline-directed medical therapy for at least 3 months and who received S/V between September 2020 and July 2021. Patients admitted for acute heart failure were excluded and 29 patients were evaluated for safety endpoints. Furthermore, patients who performed non-pharmacological therapy or died within 1 month were excluded, finally, 25 patients were evaluated for efficacy endpoints. The mean initial S/V dose was 53.0 ± 20.5 mg/day and the mean dosage was increased to 84.0 ± 34.5 mg/day in 1 month. Serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values significantly decreased from 2200 [interquartile range (IQR): 1462-3666] pg/ml to 1409 (IQR: 964-2451) pg/ml. (p < 0.0001). No significant change in sBP occurred (pre-sBP: 93.2 ± 4.9 mmHg, post-sBP: 93.4 ± 9.6 mmHg, p = 0.91), and no patients discontinued the S/V due to symptomatic hypotension in 1 month after S/V initiation. S/V can be safely introduced in HFrEF patients with hypotension to reduce serum NT-proBNP values. Thus, S/V may be useful for the treatment of HFrEF patients with hypotension.

Keywords: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; Hypotension; N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide values; Sacubitril/valsartan.