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Heart failure (HF) is a major and increasing global public health problem. In Asia, aging populations and recent increases in cardiovascular risk factors have contributed to a particularly high burden of HF, with outcomes that are poorer than those in the rest of the world. Representation of Asians in landmark HF trials has been variable. In addition, HF patients from Asia demonstrate clinical differences from patients in other geographic regions. Thus, the generalizability of some clinical trial results to the Asian population remains uncertain. In this article, we review differences in HF phenotype, HF management, and outcomes in patients from East and Southeast Asia. We describe lessons learned in Asia from recent HF registries and clinical trial databases and outline strategies to improve the potential for success in future trials. This review is based on discussions among scientists, clinical trialists, industry representatives, and regulatory representatives at the CardioVascular Clinical Trialist Asia Forum in Singapore on July 4, 2014. more...

The burden of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is considerable and is projected to worsen. To date, there are no approved therapies available for reducing mortality or hospitalizations for these patients. The pathophysiology of HFpEF is complex and includes alterations in cardiac structure and function, systemic and pulmonary vascular abnormalities, end-organ involvement, and comorbidities. There remain major gaps in our understanding of HFpEF pathophysiology. To facilitate a discussion of how to proceed effectively in future with development of therapies for HFpEF, a meeting was facilitated by the Food and Drug Administration and included representatives from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies. This document summarizes the proceedings from this meeting. more...

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) each contributes to global disease burden and can coexist. The interplay of prior HF, prior AF, and presenting rhythm have not previously been jointly considered in prognostic implication., Objectives: The authors sought to assess 1-year all-cause mortality according to permutations of prior HF, prior AF, and AF as presenting rhythm, in a global cohort of patients hospitalized for HF., Methods: REPORT-HF enrolled patients during hospitalization for acute HF from 44 countries over 6 continents. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compute HRs for the primary outcome of 1-year all-cause mortality., Results: Of 13,401 participants (median age 67 years, 61% men), 58% had prior HF. AF prevalence (prior or newly detected) at HF admission was 39%, varying by left ventricular ejection fraction and race subgroups. Compared with patients with no prior HF, no prior AF, and presenting in sinus rhythm, 1-year all-cause mortality was elevated in patients with prior HF, prior AF, and presenting in AF (adjusted HR: 1.54 [95% CI: 1.34-1.78]; P < 0.001) and in patients with prior HF, no prior AF, and presenting in AF (adjusted HR: 1.51 [95% CI: 1.20-1.90]; P < 0.001), but not in patients with no prior HF and with prior AF or presenting in AF. These results were conserved across left ventricular ejection fraction and race subgroups., Conclusions: In a global cohort of patients hospitalized for HF, permutations of prior HF, prior AF, and AF as presenting rhythm differentiate outcome. History of prior HF influences the prognostic implications of AF in patients hospitalized for HF. (Global Noninterventional Heart Failure Disease Registry [REPORT-HF]; NCT02595814)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures REPORT-HF is sponsored by Novartis Pharma. Dr Chyou is supported by a research grant from the American Heart Association; and has received consulting fees from Medtronic. Dr Tromp is supported by a National University of Singapore Start-up grant, a Tier 1 Grant from the Ministry of Education, and a CS-IRG New Investigator Grant from the National Medical Research Council; has received consulting and speaker fees from Daiichi-Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and owns patent US-10702247-B2 unrelated to the present work. Dr Ouwerkerk has an advisory role at Us2.ai. Dr Yiu has received research grants from Novartis. Dr Cleland has received grants from the British Heart Foundation and the National Institute of Health Research; personal fees from Abbott; support for manuscript submission from Bristol Myers Squibb; personal fees from Novartis, Medtronic, and Idorsia, Pharmacosmos, CSL-Vifor, Servier, Boehringer Ingelheim, Astra-Zeneca, Biopeutics, Innolife, Moderna, and Viscardia; personal fees and nonfinancial support from NI Medical; stock options from Heartfelt Technologies; and grants from Pharmacosmos, CSL-Vifor, Viscardia, and Innolife. Dr Collins has received consulting fees from Reprieve Cardiovascular, Abbott, and Siemens; and has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Department of Defense, and from Beckman Coulter. Dr Angermann has received grant support, personal fees, and nonfinancial support from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Medtronik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group Ltd, and Vifor Pharma, all outside the submitted work; and has received nonfinancial support from the University Hospital Würzburg and the Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Würzburg; and grant support from German Ministry for Education and Research. Dr Ertl has received consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Vivor, and Abbott. Dr Dahlström has received grants from Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vifor, AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; and honoraria and consultancies from Pfizer, Amgen, and AstraZeneca, all outside the submitted work. Dr Ghadanfar is a former Novartis employee. Drs Schweizer and Obergfell are employees of Novartis and own Novartis shares. Dr Filippatos has received support from the European Commission and payments and honoraria from Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim; and has served as committee member and on data safety and monitoring boards for Medtronic, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vifor, Amgen, Servier, Impule Dynamics, and Novartis. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Novo Nordisk and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on advisory boards, steering committees, or executive committees for Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, Astra-Zeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, CardioRenal, Cytokinetics, Darma, EchoNous, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research & Development, Medscape/WebMD Global, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento, Quidel Corporation, Radcliffe Group, Recardio, ReCor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Previous studies have examined clinical predictors of incident heart failure (HF) in men and women. However, potential mechanisms through which these clinical predictors relate to the onset of HF remain to be established., Objectives: The authors studied the association between clinical and proteomic risk profiles of new-onset HF in men and women., Methods: Incident HF was studied in 478,479 participants from the UK Biobank. The association between new-onset HF and 8 common modifiable traditional risk factors, including obesity, smoking status, socioeconomic status, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and history of myocardial infarction, was assessed in men and women. Proteomics data (2,923 unique proteins, Olink) was available in 22,695 men and 27,421 women. Pathway over-representation analyses were performed to identify biological pathways in men and women with and without new-onset HF. Principal component analyses were performed to extract weighted scores for each pathway. Subsequently, weighted scores were used in mediation analyses to investigate how the pathways mediated the association between risk factors and new-onset HF., Results: During a median follow-up time of 12 years, HF incident rate was 3.60 per 1,000 person-years in men and 1.72 per 1,000 person-years in women (P < 0.001). The strongest risk factor for future HF was a history of myocardial infarction (HR: 2.61; 95% CI: 2.46-2.77) in men and atrial fibrillation (HR: 4.10; 95% CI: 3.58-4.71) in women. When a risk factor was present in women, it conferred a higher risk of new-onset HF compared with the presence of the same risk factor in men. Both in men and women, the population-attributable risk was highest for hypertension (25% in men, 29% in women) and obesity (16% in men, 21% in women). Pathway analyses of protein profiles indicated several inflammatory pathways, and neutrophil degranulation in particular, to be activated both in men and women who developed HF. These inflammatory pathways modestly (22% in men and 24% in women) contributed to the association between hypertension and new-onset HF, but showed a stronger contribution (33% in men and 47% in women) to the association between obesity and new-onset HF., Conclusions: In men and women, the most prominent risk factors for new-onset HF were hypertension and obesity, but they conferred a greater risk of new-onset HF in women. New-onset HF in both men and women was associated with pathophysiological pathways related to neutrophil degranulation and immunomodulation; and these pathways partly mediated the association between hypertension, obesity, and new-onset HF., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Qin is supported by a joint fellowship from the China Scholarship Council and University Medical Centre Groningen (number 202008440347). Dr Tromp is supported by the National University of Singapore Start-up grant, the tier 1 grant from the Ministry of Education, and the CS-IRG New Investigator Grant from the National Medical Research Council; has received research support from AstraZeneca; has received consulting or speaker fees from Daiichi-Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and owns patent US-10702247-B2 unrelated to the present work. Dr ter Maaten is supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation and Netherlands Organization for Research; and has received speaker fees to her institution from Boehringer Ingelheim and Novartis. Dr André de la Rambelje is supported by PRIME-CKD consortium of the European Commission. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Novo Nordisk and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, CardioRenal, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento, Quidel Corporation, Radcliffe Group, Recardio, ReCor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and has served as co-founder and non–executive director of Us2.ai. Dr Voors has received consultancy and/or research fees from Anacardio, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corteria, Cytokinetics, Eli Lilly, Merck, Moderna, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Roche Diagnostics. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Patients with severe heart failure (HF) experience debilitating clinical symptoms and worse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes with an excess mortality risk., Objectives: The authors aimed to assess the prevalence, CV outcome risk, and treatment response to the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) dapagliflozin among patients with severe HF across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in DAPA-HF and DELIVER., Methods: Severe HF was adapted from the ESC (European Society of Cardiology) HFA (Heart Failure Association) definition: NYHA functional class III/IV, evidence of HF with reduced, mildly reduced, or preserved LVEF, HF hospitalization within the previous 12 months, and adverse patient-reported symptom burden (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Total Symptoms Score <75). Outcomes and the treatment effect of dapagliflozin were assessed for the primary endpoint of CV death or first worsening HF event by severe HF status., Results: Among 10,948 patients with available data to define severe HF, 730 (6.7%) fulfilled the severe HF definition (296/4,722 [6.2%] with LVEF ≤40%, 192/2,101 [9.1%] with LVEF 41%-49%, and 232/4,125 [5.6%] with LVEF ≥50%). Over a median follow-up of 22 months, the primary endpoint occurred in 231 patients, at a rate of 20 per 100 patient-years (Q1-Q3: 17-23 per 100 patient-years). Patients with severe HF experienced a higher rate of events than patients without severe HF (adjusted HR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.60-2.12), regardless of LVEF (P interaction  = 0.98). Treatment with dapagliflozin was consistently beneficial in reducing the risk of the primary endpoint regardless of severe HF status (P interaction  = 0.48) across the LVEF spectrum (3-way P interaction  = 0.52). The safety profile of dapagliflozin was also consistent regardless of the severe HF status., Conclusions: Severe HF was associated with an excess risk of CV events across the spectrum of LVEF. Treatment with the SGLT2i dapagliflozin appeared to be safe and effective in reducing the risk of CV death or worsening HF in this population. (Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure [DAPA-HF]; NCT03036124; Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials were funded by AstraZeneca. Dr Inciardi has participated in speaking engagements for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Daiichi Sankyo; and has served on advisory boards for AstraZeneca and Novo Nordisk. Dr Lu has received research funding from the Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation, the SICPA Foundation, and the Société Académique Vaudoise. Dr de Boer’s institution has received research grants and fees from Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardior Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and Roche. Dr de Boer has had speaker engagements for, received fees from, or served on an advisory board for Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and Roche; and has received travel support from Abbott, Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support, served on advisory boards, or had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and has participated on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Hernandez has received research support from American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on the advisory board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Myokardia, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Vifor. Dr Køber has received compensation from Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and AstraZeneca for other services. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board, steering committee, or executive committee for Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Us2.ai, Janssen Research and Development, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and WebMD Global; and is cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Shah has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 HL107577, R01 HL127028, R01 HL140731, and R01 HL149423), Actelion, AstraZeneca, Corvia, and Novartis; and has served as a consultant or an advisory board member for Abbott, Actelion, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardiora, Coridea, CVRx, Eisai, Ionis, Ironwood, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Shifamed, Tenax, and United Therapeutics. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant for AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Pfizer, and Bayer; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca. Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Vifor Pharma; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Desai has received grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca during the conduct of the study; has received personal fees from Abbott, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corvidia, DalCor Pharma, Relypsa, Regeneron, and Merck; has received grants and personal fees from Alnylam and Novartis; and has received personal fees from Amgen outside the submitted work. Dr Ponikowski has received compensation for consultant services from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Servier, Amgen, Vifor Pharma; and has received compensation for other services from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novartis, and Abbott Vascular. Dr Sabatine has received research grant support through Brigham and Women’s Hospital from Abbott, Amgen, Anthos Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Intarcia, Ionis, The Medicines Company, MedImmune, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Quark Pharmaceuticalsm; and has received consulting honoraria from Althera, Amgen, Anthos Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CVS Caremark, DalCor, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Fibrogen, IFM Therapeutics, Intarcia, MedImmune, Merck, Moderna, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Neurotronik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellPro-Thera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University for work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, KBP Biosciences, and Novartis; has received personal consultancy fees from Alnylam Pharma, Bayer, BMS, George Clinical PTY, Ionis Pharma, Novartis, Regeneron Pharma, and River 2 Renal Corp; has received personal lecture fees Abbott, Alkem Metabolics, AstraZeneca, Blue Ocean Scientific Solutions, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge, Emcure Pharma, Eris Lifesciences, European Academy of CME, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Imagica Health, Intas Pharma, J.B. Chemicals and Pharma, Lupin Pharma, Medscape/Heart.org, ProAdWise Communications, Radcliffe Cardiology, Sun Pharma, The Corpus, Translation Research Group, and Translational Medicine Academy; and is a director of Global Clinical Trial Partners. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.) more...

Background: The value of generic quality of life (QoL) instruments in heart failure (HF) is uncertain., Objectives: In this study, the authors sought to quantify individual dimension scores and the EuroQol 5-Dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) Level Sum Score (LSS) in patients with HF with reduced, mildly reduced, or preserved ejection fraction, the association between those scores and outcomes, and the impact of treatment with dapagliflozin on the scores., Methods: Analyses were conducted using patient-level data from DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association between EQ-5D scores (each dimension and LSS) and clinical outcomes. Sankey diagrams were used to illustrate changes in individual patient EQ-5D dimensions from baseline to 8 months' follow-up., Results: Of the 11,007 patients randomized in DAPA-HF and DELIVER, 10,135 (92.1%) completed the instrument at baseline. Scores varied markedly by question with 37%, 30%, and 33% of patients reporting no, slight, or moderate or greater problem, respectively for mobility; 67%, 20%, and 13% for self-care; 40%, 33%, and 27% for usual activities; 45%, 32%, and 23% for pain/discomfort; and 57%, 27%, and 16% for anxiety/depression. Patients with higher (worse) EQ-5D-LSS were more frequently female, had more comorbidities, and had worse HF status. Compared with patients free from any problem across all dimensions (ie, an EQ-5D-LSS of 5), the HRs for the composite outcome of time to first cardiovascular death or worsening HF were 1.27 (95% CI: 1.10-1.47), 1.70 (95% CI: 1.46-1.98), and 2.31 (95% CI: 1.88-2.85) in patients with EQ-5D-LSS of 6-10, 11-15, and 16-25 points, respectively. Dapagliflozin led to greater improvement and less worsening in mobility (OR: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.04-1.23]; P = 0.004), self-care (OR: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.02-1.24]; P = 0.016), usual activities (OR: 1.11 [95% CI: 1.02-1.21]; P = 0.015), and anxiety/depression (OR: 1.10 [95% CI: 1.01-1.21]; P = 0.034) after 8 months. The number needed to treat for 1 patient to report improvement in EQ-5D-LSS was 31 (95% CI: 20-72)., Conclusions: The EQ-5D revealed problems not often associated (eg, pain) with HF or commonly quantified in HF (eg, anxiety/depression). Dapagliflozin improved multiple QoL dimensions, and possibly anxiety/depression. (Study to Evaluate the Effect of Dapagliflozin on the Incidence of Worsening Heart Failure or Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure [DAPA-HF]; NCT03036124; Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Drs Jhund and McMurray are supported by a British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant (RE/18/6/34217) and the Vera Melrose Heart Failure Research Fund. The DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials were funded by AstraZeneca. Dr Yang has received a Global CardioVascular Clinical Trialists (CVCT) Young Trialist Grant and travel grants from AstraZeneca and Bayer. Dr Kondo has received speaker fees from Abbott, Ono Pharma, Otsuka Pharma, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Abiomed. Dr Jhund has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Alkem Metabolics, ProAdWise Communications, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Intas Pharmaceuticals; advisory board fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis; has research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Analog Devices; his employer (University of Glasgow) has been remunerated for clinical trial work from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk; and he is the Director of Global Clinical Trial Partners (GCTP). Dr Docherty has received honoraria from AstraZeneca and a research grant to his institution from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support from, serves on advisory boards for, or has had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and has participated on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Bachus is an employee and shareholder of AstraZeneca. Dr Hernandez has received research support from American Regent, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on advisory boards for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Myokardia, Merck, Novartis, and Vifor. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board, steering committee, or executive committee for Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Us2.ai, Janssen Research and Development, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and WebMD Global; and serves as the co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Gador, Baliarda, Pfizer, Bayer, Bago. Dr de Boer has received research grants and fees (outside the submitted work) from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardio Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and Roche; and speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cardior Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and Roche (outside the submitted work). Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for Alnylam, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Janssen, Lexicon, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Pharmacosmos, Sanofi, and Vifor Pharma; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Desai has received consulting fees from Abbott, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Boehringer Ingelheim, DalCor Pharmaceuticals, and Regeneron; grant support (paid to Brigham and Women’s Hospital) and consulting fees from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Novartis; and advisory board fees from Corvidia and Relypsa. Dr Køber has received support from AstraZeneca; and personal fees from Novartis and Boehringer Ingelheim as a speaker. Dr Ponikowski has received personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Servier, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Novartis, Merck, Pfizer, and Berlin Chemie; and grants and personal fees from Vifor Pharma. Dr Sabatine is a member of the TIMI Study Group, which has also received institutional research grant support through Brigham and Women’s Hospital from Abbott, Aralez, Roche, and Zora Biosciences. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health—National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Neurotronik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and S2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellPro-Thera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University for work on clinical trials, consulting, and grants from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis; personal consulting fees from Alynylam Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, AnaCardio, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Berlin Cures, BMS, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, River 2 Renal Corp, British Heart Foundation, National Institutes of Health—National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Boehringer Ingelheim, SQ Innovations, Catalyze Group; and personal lecture fees from Abbott, Alkem Metabolics, AstraZeneca, Blue Ocean Scientific Solutions, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Eris Lifesciences, European Academy of CME, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Imagica Health, Intas Pharmaceuticals, J.B. Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Medscape/Heart.org, ProAdWise Communications, Radcliffe Cardiology, Sun Pharmaceuticals, The Corpus, Translation Research Group, and Translational Medicine Academy; has served on a data safety monitoring board for WIRB-Copernicus Group Clinical; and is a director of Global Clinical Trial Partners., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Outcomes of hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) and characteristics of advanced HF stage may vary across left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and world regions., Objectives: This study sought to analyze characteristics of hospitalized advanced HF patients across LVEF spectrum, world regions, and country income., Methods: Among 18,553 hospitalized patients with acute HF (7,902 new-onset HF and 10,651 decompensated chronic HF) enrolled in the global registry REPORT-HF (International Registry to Assess Medical Practice With Longitudinal Observation for Treatment of Heart Failure), the authors analyzed characteristics and outcomes of patients with advanced HF, defined as previously diagnosed HF; severe symptoms before current admission (NYHA functional class III/IV); and ≥1 HF-related hospitalization in the preceding 12 months, excluding the current. Differences among hospitalized advanced HF subgroups stratified by LVEF, world region, and country income were examined., Results: Among 6,999 patients with decompensated chronic HF and available previous NYHA functional class and HF hospitalization status, 3,397 (48.5%; 18.3% of the total population) had advanced HF. Of these, 44.5% had severely reduced (≤30%), 34.9% mildly/moderately reduced (31%-49%), and 20.7% preserved (≥50%) LVEF. Patients from Eastern Europe had the lowest 1-year mortality (23%), whereas those from Southeast Asia had the highest (37%). Patients from lower-middle-income countries were younger, with shorter HF duration and lower comorbidity prevalence, received fewer beta-blockers and HF-devices, and had higher 1-year mortality (34%) than upper-middle-income (26%) or high-income countries (27%; P = 0.018). Adjusted 1-year mortality risk did not differ among LVEF subgroups (all P > 0.05), nor did 1-year HF hospitalization rate (P = 0.56)., Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with advanced HF and preserved LVEF had similarly adverse outcomes as those with reduced LVEF. Patients from lower-middle-income countries had less implementation of HF therapies and higher 1-year mortality., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Novartis Pharma AG sponsored REPORT-HF. The Steering Committee was responsible for the trial design and supervised patient recruitment and clinical management of the trial. Novartis Pharma AG oversaw data collection and management. The Steering Committee oversaw the analysis and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, and approval of the manuscript; and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Dr Bistola has received honoraria for lectures or Advisory Boards from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Farmakis has received lecture honoraria, consulting or Advisory Board fees and/or grants from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Leo, Myocardial Solutions, Novartis, Remedica, Roche Diagnostics, and Viatris, all outside the present work. Dr Tromp is supported by the National University of Singapore Start-up grant, the tier 1 grant from the Ministry of Education, and the Clinician Scientist–Individual Research Grant New Investigator Grant from the National Medical Research Council; has received research support from AstraZeneca and consulting or speaker fees from Daiichi-Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Diagnostics and Us2.ai; and owns patent US-10702247-B2 unrelated to the present work. Dr Angermann has been a member of the Executive Committee of International Registry to Assess Medical Practice With Longitudinal Observation for Treatment of Heart Failure (REPORT-HF) and has received speaker honoraria, personal fees, and publication support from Novartis in the context of REPORT-HF; has received grant support from the German Ministry for Education and Research (grants 01GI0205 and 01GI1202A); and grant support, personal fees, and/or nonfinancial support from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly Company, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, ResMed, Thermo Fisher, and Vifor, all outside of the submitted work. Dr Dahlström has received research grants from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Vifor Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics and honoraria/consultancies from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Amgen, all outside the submitted work. Dr Ghadanfar is a former employee of Novartis Pharma AG and owns Novartis shares. Dr Schweizer is an employee of Novartis Pharma AG and owns Novartis shares. Dr Collins has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, U.S. Department of Defense, and Beckman Coulter and consulting fees from Abbott, Redesign Health, and Reprieve Cardiovascular, Inc. Dr Lam has been supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Novo Nordisk and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Biopeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, CardioRenal, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Quidel Corporation, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Recardio Inc, ReCor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Filippatos has received lecture fees and/or Advisory and/or Trial Committee membership from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Servier, Novartis, Impulse Dynamics, Vifor, Medtronic, Cardior, and Novo Nordisk and research grants from the European Union. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Mechanisms of disease pathobiology, prognosis, and potentially treatment responses might vary by race in patients with heart failure (HF)., Objectives: The authors aimed to examine the safety and efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan among patients with HF by self-reported race., Methods: PARADIGM-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure) and PARAGON-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ARB Global Outcomes in HF With Preserved Ejection Fraction) were global, randomized clinical trials testing sacubitril/valsartan against a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RASi) (enalapril or valsartan, respectively) in patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% (PARADIGM-HF) or left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45% (PARAGON-HF). Patients with self-reported race were categorized as White, Asian, or Black. We assessed the composite of first HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death, its components, and angioedema across races., Results: Among 12,097 participants, 9,451 (78.1%) were White, 2,116 (17.5%) were Asian, and 530 (4.4%) were Black. Over a median follow-up of 2.5 years, Black (adjusted HR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.42-1.98) and Asian patients (adjusted HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.18-1.47) experienced higher risks of the primary outcome compared with White patients. Treatment effects of sacubitril/valsartan vs RASi on the primary endpoint were consistent among White (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.91), Asian (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.78-1.10), and Black patients (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.58-1.07; P interaction  = 0.58). Rates of severe angioedema were higher with sacubitril/valsartan vs RASi (White: 0.2% vs 0.1%; Black: 1.5% vs 0.0%; Asian: 0.1% vs 0.1%)., Conclusions: In a pooled experience of 2 global trials, Black and Asian patients exhibited a higher risk of cardiovascular events than White patients. The benefits of sacubitril/valsartan were consistent across races. Risks of severe angioedema were low but numerically higher with sacubitril/valsartan. (Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure [PARADIGM-HF]; NCT01035255; Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ARB Global Outcomes in HF With Preserved Ejection Fraction [PARAGON-HF]; NCT01920711)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The PARADIGM-HF and PARAGON-HF trials were sponsored by Novartis. Dr Lu has received research funding from the Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation, the SICPA Foundation, and the Société Académique Vaudoise. Dr Claggett has been a consultant for Amgen, AO Biome, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corvia, Gilead, Myokardia, Cardurion, and Novartis. Dr Packer has received consulting fees from 89bio, AbbVie, Actavis, Alderlyx, Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Attralus, Boehringer Ingelheim, Caladrius, Casana, CSL Behring, Cytokinetics, Imara, Lilly, Medtronic, Moderna, Novartis, Pharmacosmos, Reata, Regeneron, Relypsa, and Salamandra. Dr Pfeffer has received the following research grant support Lexicon and Novartis, paid to his institution; has served as a consultant to Alexion, Alnylam, Apnimed, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly Alliance, DalCor, Intellia, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute—Collaborating Network of Networks for Evaluating COVID-19 and Therapeutic Strategies (Master Protocol Committee), Novartis, and Novo Nordisk; and has equity in DalCor. Dr Lewis has received personal fees from Amgen and Dal-Cor. Dr Lam has received grants from Novo Nordisk and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant for Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Biopeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), CardioRenal, Cytokinetics, Darma, Echonous, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Medscape/WebMD, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento, Quidel Corporation, Radcliffe Group, Recardio, Recor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Siemens Healthcare; has served as cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai outside the submitted work; and has patents pending (PCT/SG2016/050217; method for diagnosis and prognosis of chronic heart failure) and issued (U.S. Patent No. 10 702 247; automated clinical workflow that recognizes and analyses 2-dimensional and Doppler echo images for cardiac measurements and the diagnosis, prediction and prognosis of heart disease). Dr Rouleau has served as a Data Monitoring Committee member; and has received consulting fees from Alexion, Intellia, BMS, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Novartis. Dr Zile has received research funding from Novartis; and has been a consultant for Novartis, Abbott, Boston Scientific, CVRx, EBR, Endotronics, Ironwood, Merck, Medtronic, and Myokardia V Wave. Dr Lefkowitz is an employee of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Dr Desai has received research grant support from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Alnylam, Bayer, and Novartis; and has received consulting fees and/or honoraria from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Alnylam, Axon Therapeutics, Avidity Biopharma, Bayer, Biofourmis, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Parexel, Regeneron, River2Renal, Roche, Verily, Veristat, and Zydus. Dr Jhund has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Alkem Metabolics, ProAdWise Communications, and Sun Pharmaceuticals; advisory board fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis; research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Analog Devices Inc; has served as the director of Global Clinical Trial Partners; and his employer the University of Glasgow has been remunerated for clinical trial work from AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novartis and Novo Nordisk. Dr McMurray has received grants, paid to his employer, from AstraZeneca, Theracos, and GlaxoSmithKline during the conduct of the study; grants paid to his employer from Novartis, Amgen, BMS, Bayer, Abb-vie, Dal-Cor, Kidney Research UK, and Cardurion; and grants from British Heart Foundation. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, BMS, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Neurotronik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and Us2.ai; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, Sarepta, Lexicon, Anacardio, Akros, and PureTech Health. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support, served on advisory boards, or had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Fresenius Medical Care, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Milestone Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and has participated on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Pabon has reported that she has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) significantly worsens heart failure (HF) prognosis., Objectives: This study sought to investigate the impact of T2DM on outcomes in patients enrolled in VICTORIA and assess the efficacy of vericiguat in patients with and without T2DM., Methods: Patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction were randomized to receive vericiguat or placebo in addition to standard therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death or first heart failure hospitalization (HFH). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate HRs and 95% CIs to assess if the effect of vericiguat differed by history of T2DM., Results: Of 5,050 patients enrolled, 3,683 (72.9%) had glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) measured at baseline. Of these, 2,270 (61.6%) had T2DM, 741 (20.1%) had pre-T2DM, 449 (12.2%) did not have T2DM, and 178 (4.8%) had undiagnosed T2DM. The risks of the primary outcome, HFH, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were high across all categories. The efficacy of vericiguat on the primary outcome did not differ in patients stratified by T2DM by history (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.81-1.04), T2DM measured by HbA 1c (HR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.49-1.20), and pre-T2DM measured by HbA 1c (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.68-1.13) and in those with normoglycemia (HR: 1.02: 95% CI: 0.75-1.39; P for interaction = 0.752). No significant differences were observed in subgroups with respect to the efficacy of vericiguat on HFH and all-cause or cardiovascular death., Conclusions: In this post hoc analysis of VICTORIA, vericiguat compared with placebo significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or HFH in patients with worsening HF with reduced ejection fraction regardless of T2DM status. (A Study of Vericiguat in Participants With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction [HFrEF] [Mk-1242-001] [VICTORIA]; NCT02861534)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures VICTORIA was funded by Bayer and Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Inc, Rahway, New Jersey, USA. Dr Khan has served as an Advisory Board Member for Bayer. Dr Butler has received consulting fees from Abbott, Adrenomed, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceutical, Impulse Dynamics, Innolife, Janssen, LivaNova, Luitpold, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Vifor. Dr Roessig has been an employee of Bayer AG. Dr Blaustein has been an employee of Merck & Co, Inc. Dr Lam has received research grants from Bayer, National Medical Research Council of Singapore, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, and AstraZeneca; has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Vifor Pharma, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Amgen, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Novo Nordisk, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global LLC, Radcliffe Group Ltd, and Corpus; has patent PCT/SG2016/050217 pending and patent 16/216929 pending; and is cofounder and nonexecutive director of eKo.ai. Dr Voors has received research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche Diagnostics and consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, MyoKardia, Novartis, Servier, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Ponikowski has received research grants, has received consulting fees, and has served on the Speakers Bureau for Bayer, MSD, Servier, Novartis, Vifor Pharma Ltd, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Respicardia, AstraZeneca, Cibiem, RenalGuardSolution, and Berlin Chemie. Dr Anstrom has received research grants from Merck and the National Institutes of Health. Dr Armstrong has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk and research grants from Merck, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly, and CSL Limited. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Multimorbidity frequently occurs in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). The co-occurrence of comorbidities often follows specific patterns., Objectives: This study investigated multimorbidity subtypes and their associations with clinical outcomes., Methods: From the prospective RELAX-AHF-2 (Relaxin for the Treatment of Acute Heart Failure-2) trial, 6,545 patients (26% with HF with preserved ejection fraction, defined as LVEF ≥50%) were classified into multimorbidity groups using latent class analysis. The association between subgroups and clinical outcomes was examined. Validation of these findings was conducted in the RELAX-AHF trial, which comprised 1,161 patients., Results: Five distinct multimorbidity groups emerged: 1) diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (often male, high prevalence of CKD and diabetes mellitus); 2) ischemic (ischemic HF); 3) elderly/atrial fibrillation (AF) (oldest, high prevalence of AF); 4) metabolic (obese, hypertensive, more often HF with preserved ejection fraction); and 5) young (fewest comorbidities). After adjusting for confounders, patients in the diabetes and CKD (HR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.50-2.20), elderly/AF (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.20-1.70), and metabolic (HR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.20-1.80) groups had higher rates of the composite outcome than patients in the young group, primarily driven by differences in rehospitalization. Treatment allocation (placebo or serelaxin) modified these associations (P interaction  <0.001). Serelaxin-treated patients in the young group were associated with a lower risk for all-cause mortality (HR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.40-0.90). Similarly, patients from the RELAX-AHF trial clustered in 5 multimorbidity groups. The clinical characteristics and associations with outcomes could also be validated., Conclusions: Comorbidities naturally clustered into 5 mutually exclusive groups in RELAX-AHF-2, showing variations in clinical outcomes. These data emphasize that the specific combination of comorbidities can influence adverse outcomes and treatment responses in patients with AHF., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This study was funded by the PROMINENT project (funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement number 754425). Dr Tromp is supported by the National University of Singapore Start-up grant, the tier 1 grant from the ministry of education, and the CS-IRG New Investigator Grant from the National Medical Research Council; has received consulting or speaker fees from Daiichi Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and owns patent US-10702247-B2 unrelated to the present work. Drs Cotter and Davison are employees of Momentum Research, Inc, which has received grants from Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Celyad, Cirius Therapeutics Inc, Corteria Pharmaceuticals, Roche Diagnostics Inc, Sanofi, Windtree Therapeutics Inc, and XyloCor Therapeutics. Dr Felker has received research grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the American Heart Association, Amgen, Bayer, BMS, Merck, Cytokinetics, and CSL-Behring; has acted as a consultant to Novartis, Amgen, BMS, Cytokinetics, Medtronic, Cardionomic, Boehringer Ingelheim, American Regent, Abbott, AstraZeneca, Reprieve, Myovant, Sequana, Windtree Therapeutics, and Whiteswell; and has served on clinical endpoint committees/data safety monitoring boards for Amgen, Merck, Medtronic, EBR Systems, V-Wave, LivaNova, Siemens, and Rocket Pharma. Dr Gimpelewicz is an employee of Novartis. Dr Greenberg is a consultant for or on the advisory board of AstraZeneca, Bayer, Ionis, Merck, Mesoblast, and Tenaya; and has been on the Data Safety Monitoring Board of ACI, Axon, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cytokinetics, Boehringer Ingelheim, EBR Systems, Faraday, Inventiva, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis, Salubris, Vifor, Viking, and Windtree. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, ProSciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Voors has received research support and/or has been a consultant for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Merck, MyoKardia, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Metra received personal fees of minimal amounts in the last 3 years from Actelion, Amgen, LivaNova, and Vifor pharma as a member of Executive or Data Monitoring Committees of sponsored clinical trials; and from AstraZeneca, Abbott Vascular, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Edwards Therapeutics for participation on advisory boards and/or speeches at sponsored meetings. Dr Teerlink has received research support and/or has been a consultant for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Servier, and Windtree Therapeutics. Dr van der Meer received grant support and/or consultancy fees from Novartis, Pharma Nord, Pfizer, Ionis, Astra Zeneca, Vifor Pharma, Pharmacosmos, BridgeBio, and Novo Nordisk. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Patients recently hospitalized for heart failure (HF) are at a higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes, but they may experience a greater absolute and relative benefit from effective therapies than individuals who are considered more "stable.", Objectives: The authors examined the effects of dapagliflozin according to the timing of prior HF hospitalization in a patient-level pooled analysis of DAPA-HF (Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure) and DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure)., Methods: A total of 11,007 patients were randomized in DAPA-HF and DELIVER. The primary outcome was the composite of worsening HF or cardiovascular death., Results: In total, 12.4% were hospitalized for HF within 3 months of randomization, 14.2% between 3 and 12 months, and 16.8% more than 1 year before randomization, whereas 56.5% had not been hospitalized. The risk of the primary endpoint was inversely associated with time from prior HF hospitalization, and patients with a recent HF hospitalization had the highest risk. Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary outcome across HF hospitalization category (0-3 months, HR: 0.66 [95% CI: 0.55-0.81]; 3-12 months, HR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.59-0.90]; >1 year, HR: 0.91 [95% CI: 0.74-1.12]; and no prior hospitalization, HR: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.73-0.94]; P interaction  = 0.09). The number of patients needed to treat with dapagliflozin to prevent 1 event over the median follow-up of 22 months was 13, 20, 23, and 28, respectively. The beneficial effect was consistent across the range of LVEF regardless of HF hospitalization category., Conclusions: The relative benefits of dapagliflozin were consistent across the range of LVEF regardless of the timing of the most recent HF hospitalization with a greater absolute benefit in patients with recent hospitalization., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials were funded by AstraZeneca. Profs McMurray and Jhund are supported by a British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant RE/18/6/34217 and the Vera Melrose Heart Failure Research Fund. Dr Butt has received Advisory Board honoraria from Bayer; has received consultant honoraria from Novartis and AstraZeneca; and has received travel grants from AstraZeneca. Dr Jhund’s employer the University of Glasgow has been remunerated by AstraZeneca for working on the DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials; he has received personal fees from Novartis and Cytokinetics, and has received grants from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Docherty has received honoraria from AstraZeneca; and has received a research grant to his institution from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support, has served on Advisory Boards, or had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and has participated on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Bachus is an employee and shareholder of AstraZeneca. Dr Hernandez has received research support from American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on the Advisory Board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Myokardia, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Vifor. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Us2.ai, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and WebMD Global LLC; and serves as the cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Pfizer, and Bayer; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca. Dr de Boer’s institution has received research grants and fees (outside the submitted work) from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardio Pharmaceuticals Gmbh, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche. Dr de Boer has received speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche (outside of the submitted work). Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim; has served as a consultant or on an Advisory Board for Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Vifor Pharma; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honorarium from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Desai has received grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca during the conduct of the study; has received personal fees from Abbott, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corvidia, DalCor Pharma, Relypsa, Regeneron, and Merck; has received grants and personal fees from Alnylam and Novartis; and has received personal fees from Amgen outside the submitted work. Dr Køber has received compensation from Novartis for other services; has received compensation from Novo Nordisk for other services; and has received compensation from AstraZeneca for other services. Dr Ponikowski has received compensation from AstraZeneca for consultant services; has received compensation from Boehringer Ingelheim for consultant services; has received compensation from Servier for consultant services; has received compensation from AstraZeneca for other services; has received compensation from Pfizer for other services; has received compensation from Amgen for consultant services; has received compensation from Vifor Pharma for consultant services; has received compensation from Novartis for other services; and has received compensation from Abbott Vascular for other services. Dr Sabatine has received research grant support through Brigham and Women’s Hospital from Abbott, Amgen, Anthos Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Intarcia, IONIS, Medicines Company, MedImmune, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Quark Pharmaceuticals; and has received consulting honoraria for Althera, Amgen, Anthos Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CVS Caremark, DalCor, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Fibrogen, IFM Therapeutics, Intarcia, MedImmune, Merck, Moderna, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellPro-Thera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University from work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, KBP Biosciences, and Novartis; has received personal consultancy fees from Alnylam Pharma, Bayer, BMS, George Clinical PTY Ltd, Ionis Pharma, Novartis, Regeneron Pharma, and River 2 Renal Corporation; has received personal lecture fees Abbott, Alkem Metabolics, AstraZeneca, Blue Ocean Scientific Solutions Ltd, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge, Emcure Pharma Ltd, Eris Lifesciences, European Academy of CME, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Imagica Health, Intas Pharma, J.B. Chemicals & Pharma Ltd, Lupin Pharma, Medscape/Heart.Org, ProAdWise Communications, Radcliffe Cardiology, Sun Pharma, The Corpus, Translation Research Group, and Translational Medicine Academy; and is a director of Global Clinical Trial Partners Ltd., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) decisions may be less affected by single patient variables such as blood pressure or kidney function and more by overall risk profile. In STRONG-HF (Safety, tolerability and efficacy of up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies for acute heart failure), high-intensity care (HIC) in the form of rapid uptitration of heart failure (HF) GDMT was effective overall, but the safety, tolerability and efficacy of HIC across the spectrum of HF severity is unknown. Evaluating this with a simple risk-based framework offers an alternative and more clinically translatable approach than traditional subgroup analyses., Objectives: The authors sought to assess safety, tolerability, and efficacy of HIC according to the simple, powerful, and clinically translatable MAGGIC (Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic) HF risk score., Methods: In STRONG-HF, 1,078 patients with acute HF were randomized to HIC (uptitration of treatments to 100% of recommended doses within 2 weeks of discharge and 4 scheduled outpatient visits over the 2 months after discharge) vs usual care (UC). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death or first HF rehospitalization at day 180. Baseline HF risk profile was determined by the previously validated MAGGIC risk score. Treatment effect was stratified according to MAGGIC risk score both as a categorical and continuous variable., Results: Among 1,062 patients (98.5%) with complete data for whom a MAGGIC score could be calculated at baseline, GDMT use at baseline was similar across MAGGIC tertiles. Overall GDMT prescriptions achieved for individual medication classes were higher in the HIC vs UC group and did not differ by MAGGIC risk score tertiles (interaction nonsignificant). The incidence of all-cause death or HF readmission at day 180 was, respectively, 16.3%, 18.9%, and 23.2% for MAGGIC risk score tertiles 1, 2, and 3. The HIC arm was at lower risk of all-cause death or HF readmission at day 180 (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.50-0.86) and this finding was robust across MAGGIC risk score modeled as a categorical (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.62-0.68 in tertiles 1, 2, and 3; interaction nonsignificant) for all comparisons and continuous (interaction nonsignificant) variable. The rate of adverse events was higher in the HIC group, but this observation did not differ based on MAGGIC risk score tertile (interaction nonsignificant)., Conclusions: HIC led to better use of GDMT and lower HF-related morbidity and mortality compared with UC, regardless of the underlying HF risk profile. (Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Rapid Optimization, Helped by NT-proBNP testinG, of Heart Failure Therapies [STRONG-HF]; NCT03412201)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Funding for the STRONG-HF study was through an unrestricted grant provided to the Heart Initiative by Roche Diagnostics International (Rotkreuz, Switzerland). The funder had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Dr Ambrosy has received relevant research support through grants to his institution from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (K23HL150159), the American Heart Association (2nd Century Early Faculty Independence Award), The Permanente Medical Group, Northern California Community Benefits Programs, Garfield Memorial Fund, Abbott Laboratories, Amarin Pharma, Inc, Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc, and Novartis. Dr Mebazaa has received grants from Roche Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories, 4TEEN4, and Windtree Therapeutics; honoraria for lectures from Roche Diagnostics, Bayer, and Merck Sharp & Dohme; is a consultant for Corteria Pharmaceuticals, S-form Pharma, FIRE-1, Implicity, 4TEEN4, and Adrenomed; and is coinventor of a patent on combination therapy for patients having acute or persistent dyspnoea. Drs Cotter, Davison, Edwards, Mebazaa, Novosadova, and Takagi are employees of Momentum Research, which has received grants for research from Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Celyad, Cirius Therapeutics, Corteria Pharmaceuticals, Heart Initiative, Sanofi, Windtree Therapeutics, and XyloCor Therapeutics. Drs Cotter and Davison are directors of Heart Initiative, a nonprofit organization. Dr Adamo has received speaker fees from Abbott Vascular and Medtronic. Dr Celutkiene has received personal fees from Novartis, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Diagnostics, and Pfizer. Dr Chioncel has received grants from Servier. Dr Cohen-Solal has received honoraria for lectures or consultancy from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Vifor, Bayer, Merck, Sanofi, Abbott, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Damasceno works for the Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University (Maputo, Mozambique), which received research grants from the Heart Initiative for their participation in this study. Dr Diaz has received supporting fees for coordination of STRONG-HF trial activities. Dr Filippatos has received lecture fees or was a committee member for trials and registries sponsored by Bayer, Vifor, Boehringer Ingelheim, Medtronic, Servier, and Amgen. Dr Sliwa has received grants from Medtronic, Servier, and Amylam and honoraria from Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, and Sanofi. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/ Executive Committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Redcardio Inc, ReCor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and Us2.ai; and serves as co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Metra has received personal fees from Amgen, Livanova, and Vifor Pharma as a member of executive committees of sponsored clinical trials and from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Edwards Lifesciences, and Roche Diagnostics for participation to advisory boards or for speaking at sponsored meetings. Dr Pagnesi has received personal fees from Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Vifor Pharma. Dr Pang has received grants or research contracts from American Heart Association, Roche, Siemens, Ortho Diagnostics, Abbott, Beckman Coulter, and Siemens; consulting fees from Roche; honoraria from WebMD; and he has financial interest in The Heart Course. Dr Voors has received consultancy fees or research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Myocardia, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Filippatos has received lecture fees and/or advisory and/or trial committee membership by Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Servier, Novartis, Impulse Dynamics, Vifor, Medtronic, Cardior, Novo Nordisc and Research Grants from the European Union. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Although some patients with heart failure (HF) with mildly reduced/preserved ejection fraction have low natriuretic peptide levels, there are no large-scale systematic studies of how common these individuals are or what happens to them., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the proportion of patients in the I-PRESERVE (Irbesartan in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial with an N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level <125 pg/mL, their clinical characteristics, and outcomes., Methods: I- PRESERVE enrolled patients with symptomatic HF and a LVEF ≥45% but who did not have NT-proBNP or body mass index inclusion/exclusion criteria. Baseline NT-proBNP was measured after enrollment but not reported to investigators. The primary outcome in this analysis was the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization., Results: Overall, 808 of 3,480 patients (23.2%) had NT-proBNP <125 pg/mL. Patients with a low NT-proBNP were younger (68.6 years vs 72.6 years; P < 0.001), were less often men (36.1% vs 40.9%; P = 0.015), and had a higher body mass index (48.4% vs 38.7% obese; P < 0.001) than those with a higher NT-proBNP level. Patients with a low NT-proBNP had less atrial fibrillation (8.5% vs 35.1%; P < 0.001), myocardial infarction, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and anemia but better kidney function. Patients with a lower NT-proBNP level had less marked echocardiographic abnormalities and were less likely to experience cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization; adjusted HR: 0.35 (95% CI: 0.27-0.46; P < 0.001). However, health status was similarly impaired in patients with lower and higher NT-proBNP levels (median Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire 43 vs 43; P = 0.95)., Conclusions: Almost one-quarter of patients with HF with mildly reduced/preserved ejection fraction had a low NT-proBNP level. Although these patients have a favorable prognosis, compared to those with a high NT-proBNP level, they have similarly impaired health status which should be a target for treatment. (Irbesartan in Heart Failure With Preserved Systolic Function [I- PRESERVE]; NCT00095238)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Kondo has received speaker fees from Abbott, Ono Pharma, Otsuka Pharma, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Abiomed. Dr Jhund has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Alkem Metabolics, ProAdWise Communications, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Intas Pharmaceuticals; has received advisory board fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis; has received research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Analog Devices Inc; his employer, the University of Glasgow, has been remunerated for clinical trial work from AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk; and he is a Director of Global Clinical Trial Partners. Drs Jhund and McMurray are supported by a British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant RE/18/6/34217 and the Vera Melrose Heart Failure Research Fund. Dr Anand has received consulting fees from Amgen, ARCA Pharma, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, LivaNova, and Novartis. Dr Carson has received honoraria as a CEC member from Novartis. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Novo Nordisk and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, CardioRenal, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Quidel Corporation, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Recardio Inc, ReCor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as cofounder and non-executive director of Us2.ai. Dr Shah has received either personal or institutional research support from AstraZeneca. Dr Vadagunathan has received research grant support, served on advisory boards, or had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and participates on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Zannad has received consulting fees from Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior, Cereno Scientific, Cellprothera, CEVA, CVRx, Merck, Novartis, Servier, and Vifor-Pharma; and has been a founder of CardioRenal and CVCT. Dr Zile reports research funding from Novartis; and has been a consultant for Novartis, Abbott, Boston Scientific, CVRx, EBR, Endotronics, Ironwood, Merck, Medtronic, and Myokardia V Wave. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Neurotronik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellPro-Thera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University for work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, KBP Biosciences, and Novartis; has received personal consultancy fees from: Alnylam Pharma, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, George Clinical PTY Ltd, Ionis Pharma, Novartis, Regeneron Pharma, and River 2 Renal Corporation; has received personal lecture fees from Abbott, Alkem Metabolics, AstraZeneca, Blue Ocean Scientific Solutions Ltd, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge, Emcure Pharma. Ltd, Eris Lifesciences, European Academy of CME, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Imagica health, Intas Pharma, J.B. Chemicals and Pharma. Ltd, Lupin Pharma, Medscape/Heart.Org, ProAdWise Communications, Radcliffe Cardiology, Sun Pharma., The Corpus, Translation Research Group, and Translational Medicine Academy; and is a Director of Global Clinical Trial Partners., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: In VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction), vericiguat compared with placebo reduced cardiovascular death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction., Objectives: This study explored the association between vericiguat and recurrent hospitalizations and subsequent mortality after HF hospitalization., Methods: The treatment effect of vericiguat on the burden of HF hospitalizations was evaluated by assessing total HF hospitalization and cardiovascular death in the overall trial and based on baseline N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels with and without adjustment for VICTORIA model covariates (ie, baseline variables associated with the primary endpoint) assessed via the Andersen-Gill method. Associations between vericiguat and recurrent hospitalization and mortality adjusted for VICTORIA model covariates are reported., Results: There were 1,222 total HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths among 2,526 patients in the vericiguat group and 1,336 total events among 2,524 patients in the placebo group (unadjusted HR: 0.89 [95% CI: 0.81-0.97] and adjusted HR: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.84-1.01]). In the subgroup with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels ≤2,816 pg/mL (ie, Q1 and Q2; median or below), there was a suggestion of a benefit with vericiguat (adjusted HRs of 0.80 [95% CI: 0.64-1.01] and 0.77 [95% CI: 0.62-0.94], respectively) compared with those above this value (adjusted HRs of 1.12 [95% CI: 0.93-1.34] and 0.87 [95% CI: 0.74-1.04] for Q3 and Q4). There was no significant difference in treatment effect between patients with vs without an HF hospitalization. After HF hospitalization, the all-cause mortality rate (events per 100 patient-years) was 48.6 for vericiguat and 44.1 for placebo., Conclusions: Additional investigation of the association between vericiguat and cardiovascular death and total HF hospitalizations by recurrent event analysis did not show a statistically significant reduction in events. Mortality was high after HF hospitalization, emphasizing the need for further therapies to reduce morbidity and mortality. (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction [VICTORIA]; NCT02861534)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The VICTORIA trial was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck & Company, Inc, and Bayer AG. Dr Mentz has received research support and honoraria from Bayer and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation, a subsidiary of Merck & Company, Inc. Dr Butler has received consulting fees from Abbott, Adrenomed, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceutical, Impulse Dynamics, Innolife, Janssen, LivaNova, Luitpold, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Vifor. Dr Chiang has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and Sanofi. Dr Ezekowitz has received research grants and consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics. Dr Hernandez has received research grants from Merck, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Verily; and received honoraria from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. Dr Hilkert is an employee of Merck & Company, Inc. Dr Lam has received research grants from Bayer, the National Medical Research Council of Singapore, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, and AstraZeneca; has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Vifor Pharma, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Amgen, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Novo Nordisk, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global LLC, and Radcliffe Group Ltd, Corpus; has a patent pending (PCT/SG2016/050217 & 16/216929); and is a co-founder and nonexecutive director of eKo.ai. Dr O’Connor has received research funding from Merck and consulting fees from Bayer, Dey LP, and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. Dr Pieske has received research support from Boston Scientific and honoraria from Bayer, MSD, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, BMS, Edwards Lifesciences, and Boston Scientific. Dr Ponikowski has received research grants, consulting fees, and Speakers Bureau for Bayer, MSD, Servier, Novartis, Vifor Pharma Ltd, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Respicardia, AstraZeneca, Cibiem, RenalGuard Solutions, and Berlin-Chemie. Dr Roessig is an employee of Bayer AG. Dr Voors has received research support and honoraria from AstraZeneca, BMS, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Anstrom has received research grants from Merck and the National Institutes of Health. Dr Armstrong has received research grants from Merck, Bayer, Sanofi-Aventis Recherche & Développement, Boehringer Ingelheim, and CSL Limited; and has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Although beta-blockers are not recommended for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) according to the latest European Society of Cardiology and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America guidelines, these therapies remain commonly used for comorbidity management. There has been concern that beta-blockers may adversely influence clinical outcomes by limiting chronotropic response in HFpEF., Objectives: This study sought to examine the contemporary use and implications of beta-blockers in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) or HFpEF., Methods: In the DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) trial, a total of 6,263 patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >40% were randomized to dapagliflozin or placebo across 20 countries. In this prespecified analysis, efficacy and safety outcomes were examined according to beta-blocker use at randomization. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death or worsening HF., Results: Overall, beta-blockers were used in 5,177 patients (83%), with wide variation by geographic region. Beta-blocker use was associated with a lower risk of the primary outcome in covariate-adjusted models (HR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.60-0.83). Dapagliflozin consistently reduced the risk of the primary outcome in patients taking beta-blockers (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.72-0.94) and in patients not taking beta-blockers (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.61-1.03; P interaction  = 0.85), with similar findings for key secondary endpoints. Adverse events were balanced between patients randomized to dapagliflozin and placebo, regardless of background beta-blocker use., Conclusions: In patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF who were enrolled in DELIVER, 4 out of 5 participants were treated with a beta-blocker. Beta-blocker use was not associated with a higher risk of worsening HF or cardiovascular death. Dapagliflozin consistently and safely reduced clinical events, irrespective of background beta-blocker use. (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The DELIVER trial was funded by AstraZeneca. Dr Peikert has received a research grant from the German Research Foundation. Dr Bart has received research grant support (paid to institution) from AstraZeneca, Cardurion, and Daxor; and has participated in clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by Daxor and Nuwellis. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support, served on advisory boards, or had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and has participated on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Alnylam, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Intellia, and Rocket. Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for 35 Pharma, Alnylam, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Dexcom, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Imbria Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Lexicon, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Pfizer, scPharmaceuticals Structure Therapeutics, Vifor Pharma, and Youngene Therapeutics; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Desai has received institutional research grants from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Alnylam, Bayer, Novartis, and Pfizer; and has received personal consulting fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Alnylam, Avidity, Axon Therapeutics, Bayer, Biofourmis, GlaxoSmithKline, Medpace, Merck, Novartis, Parexel, Regeneron, River2Renal, Veristat, Verily, and Zydus. Dr Jhund has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Alkem Metabolics, ProAdWise Communications, Sun Pharmaceuticals; has received advisory board fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis; has received research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Analog Devices Inc; has received personal fees from Roche and Intas Pharma; has served as Director of Global Clinical Trial Partners (GCTP); and his employer, the University of Glasgow, has been remunerated for clinical trial work from AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Lam has received supported from a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development, Medscape/WebMD Global, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento, Radcliffe Group, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and us2.ai; and has served as cofounder and nonexecutive director of us2.ai. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Lexicon, Merck, Pfizer, vTv Therapeutics, Abbott, and Esperion; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca. Dr de Boer has received research grants and/or fees from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and Roche; and has had speaker engagements with Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Roche. Dr Hernandez has received research grants from American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, Somologic and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on the advisory board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Intercept, Merck, and Novartis. Dr Shah has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health (U54 HL160273, R01 HL107577, R01 HL127028, R01 HL140731, and R01 HL149423), Actelion, AstraZeneca, Corvia, Novartis, and Pfizer; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Actelion, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Aria CV, Axon Therapies, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardiora, Coridea, CVRx, Cyclerion, Cytokinetics, Edwards Lifesciences, Eidos, Eisai, Imara, Impulse Dynamics, GlaxoSmithKline, Intellia, Ionis, Ironwood, Eli Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prothena, Regeneron, Rivus, Sanofi, Sardocor, Shifamed, Tenax, Tenaya, and United Therapeutics. Dr Petersson is an employee and shareholder of AstraZeneca. Dr Langkilde is an employee and shareholder of AstraZeneca. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University from work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, KBP Biosciences, and Novartis; has received personal consulting fees from Alnylam Pharma, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, George Clinical PTY, Ionis Pharma, Novartis, Regeneron Pharma, River 2 Renal Corporation; has received personal lecture fees from Abbott, Alkem Metabolics, AstraZeneca, Blue Ocean Scientific Solutions, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge, Emcure Pharma, Eris Lifesciences, European Academy of CME, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Imagica Health, Intas Pharma, J.B. Chemicals and Pharma, Lupin Pharma, Medscape/Heart.Org, ProAdWise Communications, Radcliffe Cardiology, Sun Pharma, The Corpus, Translation Research Group, Translational Medicine Academy; and has served as a director of Global Clinical Trial Partners. Dr Solomon has received research grants (paid to institution) from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Eli Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Neurotronik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and us2.ai; and has served as a consultant for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, Sarepta, Lexicon, Anacardio, and Valo. Dr Vardeny has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Cardurion; and has received personal consulting fees from Cardior. Mr Kulac has reported that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: The EMPEROR-Reduced (EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in Patients With chrOnic heaRt Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial established the efficacy of empagliflozin in reducing heart failure (HF) outcomes among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)., Objectives: The authors examined the outcomes of EMPEROR-Reduced as a function of background diuretic therapy., Methods: The EMPEROR-Reduced trial was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of placebo vs empagliflozin 10 mg among 3,730 HFrEF patients. Herein, the population was stratified into 4 groups: no diuretic and diuretic dose equivalent to furosemide <40, 40, and >40 mg daily at baseline., Results: A total of 3,656 patients from the EMPEROR-Reduced trial were available for analysis. Of those patients, 482 (13.2%) were receiving no diuretic therapy, and 731 (20.0%), 1,411 (38.6%), and 1,032 (28.2%) were receiving <40 mg, 40 mg, and >40 mg, respectively. The efficacy of empagliflozin on the primary outcome (time to first event of hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular [CV] death) was consistent regardless of background diuretic therapy (>40 mg: HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.71-1.10]; 40 mg: HR: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.51-0.82]; <40 mg: HR: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.46-0.92]); no diuretic agents: HR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.47-1.29]; P trend test  = 0.192). Baseline diuretic doses did not influence the effect of empagliflozin on body weight, systolic blood pressure, NT-proBNP, or hematocrit at 52 weeks. The safety profile of empagliflozin vs placebo was unaffected by baseline diuretic dose; however, independently of treatment allocation, total rates of adverse events were higher among patients with higher baseline doses of diuretic agents., Conclusions: Empagliflozin exhibits a consistent effect on time to CV death or HF hospitalization and an unaltered safety profile regardless of baseline diuretic therapy. (EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in Patients With chrOnic heaRt Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction [EMPEROR-Reduced]; NCT03057977)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Verma holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery; has received research grants and/or speaking honoraria from Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EOCI Pharmacomm Ltd, HLS Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceuticals, PhaseBio, and the Toronto Knowledge Translation Working Group; is a member of the scientific excellence committee of the EMPEROR-Reduced trial; has served as a national lead investigator of the DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced trials; and is the President of the Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group, a federally incorporated not-for-profit physician organization. Dr Butler has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, Patient Centered Outcomes Research, and the European Union; has served on the Speakers Bureau for Novartis, Janssen, and Novo Nordisk; and has served as a consultant and has served on steering committee, clinical events committee, or data safety monitoring boards for Abbott, Adrenomed, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Berlin-Cures, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squib, Cardiocell, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceutical, Innolife, Janssen, Lantheus, LinaNova, Luitpold, Medscape, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Relypsa, Roche, Sanofi, Stealth-Peptide, SC Pharma, V-Wave Limited, Vifor, and ZS Pharma. Dr Anker has received grants and personal fees from Vifor International and Abbott Vascular; and has received personal fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Brahms, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardiac Dimensions, Novartis, Occlutech, Servier, and Vifor International. Dr Ferreira is a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Filippatos has received lecture fees and/or committee member contributions in trials sponsored by Bayer, Medtronic, Vifor, Servier, Novartis, Amgen, and Boehringer Ingelheim; and has received research support from the European Union. Dr Januzzi is a Trustee of the American College of Cardiology, a Board member of Imbria Pharmaceuticals, Applied Therapeutics, Innolife, Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Abbott Diagnostics; has received consulting income from Abbott, Janssen, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics; and has participated in clinical endpoint committees/data safety monitoring boards for Abbott, AbbVie, Amgen, Bayer, CVRx, Janssen, MyoKardia, and Takeda. Dr Lam has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has received fees as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Us2.ai, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and WebMD Global LLC; and holds a position as co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Sattar has received personal fees from Abbott Laboratories, Afimmune, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi; and has received grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics outside of the submitted work. Dr Zaremba-Pechmann is a contractor to Boehringer Ingelheim via Elderbrook Solutions Gmbh. Dr Böhm is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation; TTR 219, project number 322900939); and has received personal fees from Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Medtronic, Novartis, Servier, and Vifor during the conduct of the study. Drs Nordaby and Brueckmann are employees of Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. Dr Pocock is a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Zannad has received steering committee or advisory board fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cardior, CVRx, Janssen, Livanova, Merck, Mundipharma, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Vifor Fresenius. Dr Packer has received personal fees from Abbvie, Actavis, Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Caladrius, Casana, CSL Behring, Cytokinetics, Imara, Lilly, Moderna, Novartis, Reata, Relypsa, and Salamandra. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. Data Sharing Statement: To ensure independent interpretation of clinical study results and enable authors to fulfil their role and obligations under the ICMJE criteria, Boehringer Ingelheim grants all external authors access to relevant clinical study data. In adherence with the Boehringer Ingelheim Policy on Transparency and Publication of Clinical Study Data, scientific and medical researchers can request access to clinical study data after publication of the primary manuscript and secondary analyses in a peer-reviewed journals and regulatory and reimbursement activities are completed, normally within 1 year after the marketing application has been granted by major Regulatory Authorities. Researchers should use https://vivli.org/ to request access to study data and visit https://www.mystudywindow.com/msw/datasharing for further information., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Cardio-renal-metabolic (CRM) conditions are individually common among patients with heart failure (HF), but the prevalence and influence of overlapping CRM conditions in this population have not been well-studied., Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of overlapping CRM conditions on clinical outcomes and treatment effects of dapagliflozin in HF., Methods: In this post hoc analysis of DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure), we evaluated the prevalence of comorbid CRM conditions (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes), their impact on the primary outcome (cardiovascular death or worsening HF), and treatment effects of dapagliflozin by CRM status., Results: Among 6,263 participants, 1,952 (31%), 2,245 (36%), and 1,236 (20%) had 1, 2, and 3 additional CRM conditions, respectively. HF alone was uncommon (13%). Greater CRM multimorbidity was associated with older age, higher body mass index, longer-duration HF, worse health status, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. Risk of the primary outcome increased with higher CRM overlap, with 3 CRM conditions independently associated with highest risk of primary events (adjusted HR: 2.16 [95% CI: 1.72-2.72]; P < 0.001) compared with HF alone. Relative benefits of dapagliflozin on the primary outcome were consistent irrespective of the type of CRM overlap (P interaction  = 0.773) and by the number of CRM conditions (P interaction  = 0.734), with greatest absolute benefits among those with highest CRM multimorbidity. Estimated 2-year numbers needed to treat with dapagliflozin to prevent 1 primary event were approximately 52, 39, 33, and 24 for participants with 0, 1, 2, and 3 additional CRM conditions at baseline, respectively. Adverse events between treatment arms were similar across the CRM spectrum., Conclusions: CRM multimorbidity was common and associated with adverse outcomes among patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction >40% in DELIVER. Dapagliflozin was safe and effective across the CRM spectrum, with greater absolute benefits among those with highest CRM overlap (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures DELIVER was sponsored by AstraZeneca. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Desai has received institutional grant support from Abbott, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, and Pfizer; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Avidity, Axon Therapeutics, Bayer, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Medpace, Merck, New Amsterdam, Novartis, Parexel, Regeneron, River2Renal Roche, Veristat, Verily, and Zydus. Dr Jhund has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Alkem Metabolics, ProAdWise Communications, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Intas Pharmaceuticals; has received advisory board fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis; has received research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Analog Devices Inc; and his employer, the University of Glasgow, has been remunerated for clinical trial work from AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novartis, and NovoNordisk; and is the Director of Global Clinical Trial Partners (GCTP). Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim; and has received consulting fees from Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Esperion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Lexicon, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Pharmacosmos, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Vifor. Dr Lam has received support from a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Lexicon, Merck, Pfizer, vTv Therapeutics, Abbott, and Esperion; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca. Dr de Boer has received research grant support from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior Pharmaceuticals Gmbh, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche; and has received speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche. Dr Hernandez has received research grant support from American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, Somologic; and has received verily consulting fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Merck, Novartis, and NovoNordisk. Dr Shah has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health (U54 HL160273, R01 HL107577, R01 HL127028, R01 HL140731, and R01 HL149423), Actelion, AstraZeneca, Corvia, Novartis, and Pfizer; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Actelion, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Aria CV, Axon Therapies, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardiora, Coridea, CVRx, Cyclerion, Cytokinetics, Edwards Lifesciences, Eidos, Eisai, Imara, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia, Ionis, Ironwood, Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prothena, Regeneron, Rivus, Sanofi, Shifamed, Tenax, Tenaya, and United Therapeutics. Drs Petersson and Langkilde are employees of AstraZeneca. Dr McMurray has received funding to his institution, Glasgow University, for his work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, and Theracos; and has received personal lecture fees from the Corpus, Abbott, Hickma, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Medsca. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support, served on advisory boards, or had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and has participated on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Interleukin (IL)-6 is a central inflammatory mediator and potential therapeutic target in heart failure (HF). Prior studies have shown that IL-6 concentrations are elevated in patients with HF, but much fewer data are available in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)., Objectives: This study aims to determine how IL-6 relates to changes in cardiac function, congestion, body composition, and exercise tolerance in HFpEF., Methods: Clinical, laboratory, body composition, exercise capacity, physiologic and health status data across 4 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored trials were analyzed according to the tertiles of IL-6., Results: IL-6 was measured in 374 patients with HFpEF. Patients with highest IL-6 levels had greater body mass index; higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels; worse renal function; and lower hemoglobin levels, and were more likely to have diabetes. Although cardiac structure and function measured at rest were similar, patients with HFpEF and highest IL-6 concentrations had more severely impaired peak oxygen consumption (12.3 ± 3.3 mL/kg/min 13.1 ± 3.1 mL/kg/min 14.4 ± 3.9 mL/kg/min, P < 0.0001) as well as 6-minute walk distance (276 ± 107 m vs 332 ± 106 m vs 352 ± 116 m, P < 0.0001), even after accounting for increases in IL-6 related to excess body mass. IL-6 concentrations were associated with increases in total body fat and trunk fat, more severe symptoms during submaximal exercise, and poorer patient-reported health status., Conclusions: IL-6 levels are commonly elevated in HFpEF, and are associated with greater symptom severity, poorer exercise capacity, and more upper body fat accumulation. These findings support testing the hypothesis that therapies that inhibit IL-6 in patients with HFpEF may improve clinical status. (Clinical Trial Registrations: Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition to Improve Clinical Status and Exercise Capacity in Diastolic Heart Failure [RELAX], NCT00763867; Nitrate's Effect on Activity Tolerance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, NCT02053493; Inorganic Nitrite Delivery to Improve Exercise Capacity in HFpEF, NCT02742129; Inorganic Nitrite to Enhance Benefits From Exercise Training in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction [HFpEF], NCT02713126)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Borlaug is supported by R01 HL128526, U01 HL160226, and R01 HL162828, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and W81XWH2210245, from the U.S. Department of Defense. Dr Alogna is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; CRC 1470, Z01). Drs Kirkland and Tchkonia are supported by R37 AG013925, P01 AG062413, and R33 AG061456 from NIH, the Connor Fund, Robert J. and Theresa W. Ryan, and the Noaber Foundation. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) have a high burden of multimorbidity, often necessitating numerous medications. There may be clinical concern about introducing another medication, especially among individuals with polypharmacy., Objectives: This study examined the efficacy and safety of addition of dapagliflozin according to the number of concomitant medications in HF with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction., Methods: In this post hoc analysis of the DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) trial, 6,263 participants with symptomatic HF with left ventricular ejection fraction >40% were randomized to dapagliflozin or placebo. Baseline medication use (including vitamins and supplements) was collected. Efficacy and safety outcomes were assessed by medication use categories ("nonpolypharmacy": <5 medications; "polypharmacy": 5 to 9 medications; and "hyperpolypharmacy": ≥10 medications) and continuously. The primary outcome was worsening HF or cardiovascular death., Results: Overall, 3,795 (60.6%) patients met polypharmacy and 1,886 (30.1%) met hyperpolypharmacy criteria. Higher numbers of medications were strongly associated with higher comorbidity burden and increased rates of the primary outcome. Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin similarly reduced the risk of the primary outcome irrespective of polypharmacy status (nonpolypharmacy HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.58-1.34]; polypharmacy HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.75-1.03]; hyperpolypharmacy HR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.60-0.88]; P interaction  = 0.30). Similarly, benefits with dapagliflozin were consistent across the spectrum of total medication use (P interaction  = 0.06). Although adverse events increased with higher number of medications, they were not more frequent with dapagliflozin, regardless of polypharmacy status., Conclusions: In the DELIVER trial, dapagliflozin safely reduced worsening HF or cardiovascular death across a broad range of baseline medication use, including among individuals with polypharmacy (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding support and author disclosures The DELIVER trial was funded by AstraZeneca. Dr Peikert has received a research grant from the German Research Foundation. Dr Goyal has received consulting fees from Sensorum Health. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support; has served on advisory boards or has had speaker engagements with American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; and has participated on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by AstraZeneca, Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Alnylam, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, and Intellia, Rocket. Dr Vardeny has received institutional research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Cardurion; and has served as a consultant or advisory board member for AstraZeneca, Cardior, Cytokinetics, and Sanofi-Pasteur. Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for 35 Pharma, Alnylam, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Dexcom, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Imbria Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Lexicon, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Pfizer, scPharmaceuticals Structure Therapeutics, Vifor Pharma, and Youngene Therapeutics; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Desai has received institutional research grants from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Alnylam, Bayer, Novartis, and Pfizer; and has received personal consulting fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Alnylam, Avidity, Axon Therapeutics, Bayer, Biofourmis, GlaxoSmithKline, Medpace, Merck, Novartis, Parexel, Regeneron, River2Renal, Veristat, Verily, and Zydus. Dr Jhund has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Alkem Metabolics, ProAdWise Communications, Sun Pharmaceuticals; has received advisory board fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis; has received research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Analog Devices Inc; and personal fees from Roche and Intas Pharma; has served as Director of Global Clinical Trial Partners (GCTP); and his employer, the University of Glasgow, has been remunerated for clinical trial work from AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novartis, and NovoNordisk. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and has served as cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Lexicon, Merck, Pfizer, vTv Therapeutics, Abbott, and Esperion; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca. Dr de Boer has received research grants and/or fees from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche; and has had speaker engagements with Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Roche. Dr Hernandez has received research grants from American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, Somologic and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on the Advisory Board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Intercept, Merck, and Novartis. Dr Shah has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health (U54 HL160273, R01 HL107577, R01 HL127028, R01 HL140731, and R01 HL149423), Actelion, AstraZeneca, Corvia, Novartis, and Pfizer; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Actelion, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Aria CV, Axon Therapies, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardiora, Coridea, CVRx, Cyclerion, Cytokinetics, Edwards Lifesciences, Eidos, Eisai, Imara, Impulse Dynamics, GlaxoSmithKline, Intellia, Ionis, Ironwood, Eli Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prothena, Regeneron, Rivus, Sanofi, Sardocor, Shifamed, Tenax, Tenaya, and United Therapeutics. Drs Petersson and Langkilde are employees and shareholders of AstraZeneca. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University from work on clinical trials, consulting and other activities from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GSK, KBP Biosciences, and Novartis; personal consultancy fees from Alnylam Pharma, Bayer, BMS, George Clinical PTY Ltd, Ionis Pharma, Novartis, Regeneron Pharma, River 2 Renal Corporation; personal lecture fees from Abbott, Alkem Metabolics, AstraZeneca, Blue Ocean Scientific Solutions Ltd, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge, Emcure Pharma Ltd, Eris Lifesciences, European Academy of CME, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Imagica Health, Intas Pharma, J.B. Chemicals & Pharma Ltd, Lupin Pharma, Medscape/Heart.Org, ProAdWise Communications, Radcliffe Cardiology, Sun Pharma, The Corpus, Translation Research Group, Translational Medicine Academy; and he is a director of Global Clinical Trial Partners Ltd. Dr Solomon has received research grants (paid to institution) from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Eli Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, Sarepta, Lexicon, Anacardio, and Valo. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.) more...

Background: Age and sex influence treatment and outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF)., Objectives: The authors examined the associations of age and sex with clinical characteristics, background therapies, outcomes, and response to vericiguat in this post hoc analysis of 5,050 VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction; 1,568 (31%) were ≥75 years of age, of whom 445 (24%) were women., Methods: Clinical characteristics were compared across age (<65, 65 to <75, and ≥75 years) and sex. The treatment effect of vericiguat was estimated by age and sex on the primary composite outcome (time to first HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death) using Cox proportional hazards regression., Results: Compared with younger patients, those ≥75 years of age had more class III and IV symptoms, higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels, and worse kidney function but had the lowest use of triple therapy. No sex differences in triple therapy existed by age, but achieving target doses of triple therapy was less likely in older patients. Men ≥75 years of age were more than twice as likely to receive defibrillators and 65% more likely to undergo cardiac resynchronization than women. The primary composite outcome was nominally lower in women than men across all age groups. Vericiguat dosing did not differ between sexes in each age group, and its beneficial effect on the primary endpoint was not modified by age (continuous age, P interaction  = 0.169; categorical age, P interaction  = 0.189); and sex (3-way interaction; P = 0.847)., Conclusions: Although elderly women received less intense background HF therapy than men, their prognosis was nominally better. The benefit of vericiguat was independent of age and sex. (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction [HFrEF] [MK-1242-001] [VICTORIA]; NCT02861534)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The VICTORIA trial was funded by Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck and Co Inc (Rahway, New Jersey, USA), and Bayer AG (Wuppertal, Germany). Dr Lam has received research grants from Bayer, the National Medical Research Council of Singapore, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, and AstraZeneca; has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Vifor Pharma, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Amgen, Janssen Research and Development, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Novo Nordisk, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global, Radcliffe Group, and Corpus; has patent PCT/SG2016/050217 pending and patent 16/216929 pending; and is a cofounder and nonexecutive director of eKo.ai. Dr Pieske has received research grants from Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Bayer, and Servier; has received consulting fees from Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Bayer, Servier, Bristol Myers Squibb, MedScape, Daiichi Sankyo, and Novartis; and has received nonfinancial support from Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Bayer, and Novartis. Dr Blaustein is an employee of Merck. Dr Nkulikiyinka is an employee of Bayer. Dr Westerhout has received consulting fees from Bayer. Dr Armstrong has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk; and has received research grants from Merck, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly, and CSL Limited. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Previous reports suggest that risk factors, management, and outcomes of acute heart failure (AHF) may differ by sex, but they rarely extended analysis to low- and middle-income countries., Objectives: In this study, the authors sought to analyze sex differences in treatment and outcomes in patients hospitalized for AHF in 44 countries., Methods: The authors investigated differences between men and women in treatment and outcomes in 18,553 patients hospitalized for AHF in 44 countries in the REPORT-HF (Registry to Assess Medical Practice With Longitudinal Observation for the Treatment of Heart Failure) registry stratified by country income level, income disparity, and world region. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality., Results: Women (n = 7,181) were older than men (n = 11,372), were more likely to have heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, had more comorbid conditions except for coronary artery disease, and had more severe signs and symptoms at admission. Coronary angiography, cardiac stress tests, and coronary revascularization were less frequently performed in women than in men. Women with AHF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction were less likely to receive an implanted device, regardless of region or country income level. Women were more likely to receive treatments that could worsen HF than men (18% vs 13%; P < 0.0001). In countries with low-income disparity, women had better 1-year survival than men. This advantage was lost in countries with greater income disparity (P interaction  < 0.001)., Conclusions: Women were less likely to have diagnostic testing or receive guideline-directed care than men. A survival advantage for women was observed only in countries with low income disparity, suggesting that equity of HF care between sexes remains an unmet goal worldwide., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures REPORT-HF was funded by Novartis Pharma. Dr Tromp is supported by a National University of Singapore start-up grant, a tier 1 grant from the Ministry of Education, and a CS-IRG New Investigator grant from the National Medical Research Council; has received consulting or speaker fees from Daiichi-Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and owns patent US-10702247-B2 unrelated to the present work. Dr Angermann has received grant support, personal fees, and nonfinancial support from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Biotronik, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group, and Vifor, all outside of the submitted work; nonfinancial support from the University Hospital Würzburg and the Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Würzburg; and grant support from the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). Dr Dahlstrom has received research support from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vifor, Roche Diagnostics, and Boston Scientific and speaker honoraria from and consultancies for AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Amgen. Dr Hassanein has received honoraria as a lecturer from Novartis, Aventis, Amgen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, AstraZeneca, and Merck. Drs Ghadanfar, Schweizer, and Obergfell are employed by Novartis. Dr Collins has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and consulting fees from Novartis, Aiphia, Boehringer Ingelheim, Siemens, and Ortho Clinical. Dr Filippatos has received research grants from the European Union, committee fees from Novartis related to REPORT-HF, and committee membership in trials and registries sponsored by Servier, BI, Medtronic, and Vifor. Dr Cleland has received grants and personal fees from Amgen, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Philips, and Torrent Pharmaceuticals; personal fees from AstraZeneca, Myokardia, Servier, Stealth Biopharmaceuticals, Sanofi, and Abbott; grants, personal fees, and nonfinancial support from Medtronic, Novartis, and Vifor; and grants and nonfinancial support from Pharmacosmos and PharmaNord. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, and Vifor Pharma; has served as consultant or on the advisory board, steering committee, or executive committee for Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, Novartis, Amgen, Merck, Janssen Research and Development, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global, Radcliffe Group, and Corpus; and serves as co-founder and nonexecutive director of eKo.ai. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: In the CANVAS (Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study) program, canagliflozin reduced the risk of heart failure (HF) hospitalization among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate heterogeneity in absolute and relative treatment effects of canagliflozin on HF hospitalization according to baseline HF risk as assessed by diabetes-specific HF risk scores (WATCH-DM [Weight (body mass index), Age, hyperTension, Creatinine, HDL-C, Diabetes control (fasting plasma glucose) and QRS Duration, MI and CABG] and TRS-HF DM [TIMI Risk Score for HF in Diabetes])., Methods: Participants in the CANVAS trial were categorized into low, medium, and high risk for HF using the WATCH-DM score (for participants without prevalent HF) and the TRS-HF DM score (for all participants). The outcome of interest was time to first HF hospitalization. The treatment effect of canagliflozin vs placebo for HF hospitalization was compared across risk strata., Results: Among 10,137 participants with available HF data, 1,446 (14.3%) had HF at baseline. Among participants without baseline HF, WATCH-DM risk category did not modify the treatment effect of canagliflozin (vs placebo) on HF hospitalization (P interaction = 0.56). However, the absolute and relative risk reduction with canagliflozin was numerically greater in the high-risk group (cumulative incidence, canagliflozin vs placebo: 8.1% vs 12.7%; HR: 0.62 [95% CI: 0.37-0.93]; P = 0.03; number needed to treat: 22) than in the low- and intermediate-risk groups. When overall study participants were categorized according to the TRS-HF DM score, a statistically significant difference in the treatment effect of canagliflozin across risk strata was observed (P interaction = 0.04). Canagliflozin significantly reduced the risk of HF hospitalization by 39% in the high-risk group (HR: 0.61 [95% CI: 0.48-0.78]; P < 0.001; number needed to treat: 20) but not in the intermediate- or low-risk groups., Conclusions: Among participants with T2DM, the WATCH-DM and TRS-HF DM can reliably identify those at high risk for HF hospitalization and most likely to benefit from canagliflozin., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This study, carried out under YODA Project # 2020-4213, used data obtained from the Yale University Open Data Access Project, which has an agreement with Janssen Research and Development, LLC. The interpretation and reporting of research using this data are solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Yale University Open Data Access Project or Janssen Research and Development, LLC. Dr Khan has received personal fees from Merck. Dr Patel has served as a consultant to Novo Nordisk. Dr DeVore has received research funding through his institution from the American Heart Association, Biofourmis, Bodyport, Cytokinetics, American Regent Inc, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Novartis, and Story Health; has provided consulting services for and/or received honoraria from Abiomed, AstraZeneca, Cardionomic, InnaMed, LivaNova, Natera, Novartis, Procyrion, Story Health, Vifor, and Zoll; and has received nonfinancial support from Abbott for educational and research activities. Dr Vaduganathan is supported by the KL2/Catalyst Medical Research Investigator Training award from Harvard Catalyst (National Institutes of Health/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Award UL 1TR002541); and has served on advisory boards or has received research grant support from American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Baxter Healthcare, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, and Relypsa. Dr Lam has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant or on advisory boards/steering committees/executive committees for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta, Amgen, ANaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma, EchoNous, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Us2.ai and WebMD Global; and has served as cofounder and non-executive director of Us2.ai. Dr Zannad has received personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim during the conduct of the study; has received personal fees from Janssen, Novartis, Boston Scientific, Amgen, CVRx, AstraZeneca, Vifor Fresenius, Cardior, Cereno Pharmaceutical, Applied Therapeutics, Merck, Bayer, and Cellprothera outside of the submitted work; and has received other support from cardiovascular clinical trialists and Cardiorenal outside of the submitted work. Dr Verma holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery; has received research grants and honoraria from Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, HLS Therapeutics, Janssen, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, PhaseBio, and Pfizer; has received honoraria from Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and the Toronto Knowledge Translation Working Group; is a member of the scientific excellence committee of the EMPEROR-Reduced trial (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction); has served as a national lead investigator of the DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced trials; and is the president of the Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group, a federally incorporated not-for-profit physician organization. Dr Butler has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior, CVRx, Foundry, G3 Pharma, Imbria, Impulse Dynamics, Innolife, Janssen, LivaNova, Luitpold, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Relypsa, Roche, Sanofi, Sequana Medical, V-Wave Ltd, and Vifor. Dr Pandey has received grant funding outside the present study from Applied Therapeutics; has received honoraria outside of the present study as an advisor/consultant for Tricog Health Inc, Lilly, USA, Rivus, and Roche Diagnostics; has received nonfinancial support from Pfizer and Merck; is supported by the Texas Health Resources Clinical Scholarship, Gilead Sciences Research Scholar Program, and the National Institute of Aging GEMSSTAR Grant (1R03AG067960-01); and has received grant support from Applied Therapeutics. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Systemic microvascular dysfunction and inflammation are postulated to play a pathophysiologic role in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)., Objectives: This study aimed to identify biomarker profiles associated with clinical outcomes in HFpEF and investigate how inhibition of the neutrophil-derived reactive oxygen species-producing enzyme, myeloperoxidase, affects these biomarkers., Methods: Using supervised principal component analyses, the investigators assessed the associations between baseline plasma proteomic Olink biomarkers and clinical outcomes in 3 independent observational HFpEF cohorts (n = 86, n = 216, and n = 242). These profiles were then compared with the biomarker profiles discriminating patients treated with active drug vs placebo in SATELLITE (Safety and Tolerability Study of AZD4831 in Patients With Heart Failure), a double-blind randomized 3-month trial evaluating safety and tolerability of the myeloperoxidase inhibitor AZD4831 in HFpEF (n = 41). Pathophysiological pathways were inferred from the biomarker profiles by interrogation of the Ingenuity Knowledge Database., Results: TNF-R1, TRAIL-R2, GDF15, U-PAR, and ADM were the top individual biomarkers associated with heart failure hospitalization or death, and FABP4, HGF, RARRES2, CSTB, and FGF23 were associated with lower functional capacity and poorer quality of life. AZD4831 downregulated many markers (most significantly CDCP1, PRELP, CX3CL1, LIFR, VSIG2). There was remarkable consistency among pathways associated with clinical outcomes in the observational HFpEF cohorts, the top canonical pathways being associated with tumor microenvironments, wound healing signaling, and cardiac hypertrophy signaling. These pathways were predicted to be downregulated in AZD4831 relative to placebo-treated patients., Conclusions: Biomarker pathways that were most strongly associated with clinical outcomes were also the ones reduced by AZD4831. These results support the further investigation of myeloperoxidase inhibition in HFpEF., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The KaRen study was supported by grants from the Fédération Française de Cardiologie/Société Française de Cardiologi and Medtronic Bakken Research Center. The PROMIS-HFpEF and SATELLITE studies were funded by AstraZeneca. Drs Michaëlsson, Gabrielsen, and Garkaviy are employees of and Dr Gan is a former employee of and hold shares in AstraZeneca, which is developing AZD4831 for the treatment of HFpEF. Dr Lund has received research grants from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vifor-Fresenius, and Boston Scientific; has received consulting or speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vifor-Fresenius, Bayer, Sanofi, Merck, Myokardia, Orion Pharma, MedScape, Radcliffe Cardiology, Lexicon, and Respicardia, and has stock ownership in AnaCardio, outside the submitted work. Dr Hage has received consulting fees from Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, and AnaCardio; and has received speaker fees from Novartis and Merck Sharp & Dohme. Dr Shah has received research grant funding and consultant fees from AstraZeneca. The employer of Dr Voors (Univeristy of Groningen) received consultancy fees from Anacardio, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Cytokinetics, Merck, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Eli Lilly, Moderna, Roche Diagnostics; and has received research support from NovoNordisk and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Saraste has received speaker or consulting fees from Abbot, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer. Dr Grove has received speaker or consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Lundbeck Pharma, and Organon; is an investigator in clinical studies sponsored by AstraZeneca or Bayer; and has received unrestricted research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Richards has received research support from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Sphingotec, and Medtronic; has served as consultant to Roche Diagnostics and on the Advisory Board/ Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Roche Diagnostics, Critical Diagnostics, Pfizer, and Novartis. Dr Svedlund has received research grant funding from AstraZeneca. Dr Lam has received research support from NovoNordisk and Roche Diagnostics; has received consulting fees from Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, CardioRenal, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Quidel Corporation, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Recardio Inc, ReCor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and is a co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Although patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%) comprise nearly half of those with chronic heart failure, evidence-based treatment options for this population have historically been limited. Recently, however, emerging data from prospective, randomized trials enrolling patients with HFpEF have greatly altered the range of pharmacologic options to modify disease progression in selected patients with HFpEF. In the context of this evolving landscape, clinicians are increasingly in need of practical guidance regarding the best approach to management of this growing population. In this review, the authors build on the recently published heart failure guidelines by integrating contemporary data from recent randomized trials to provide a contemporary framework for diagnosis and evidence-based treatment of patients with HFpEF. Where gaps in knowledge persist, the authors provide "best available" data from post hoc analyses of clinical trials or data from observational studies to guide management until more definitive studies are available., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Desai has received institutional research grants from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Alnylam, Bayer, and Novartis; has received consulting fees from Abbott, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Axon Therapeutics, Avidity Biopharma, Bayer, Biofourmis, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Medpace, Merck, New Amsterdam, Novartis, Parexel, Roche, Regeneron, Veristat, and Verily. Dr Lam has received a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia Therapeutics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, ReCor Medical, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr McMurray has received a British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant RE/18/6/34217; has received payments through Glasgow University from work on clinical trials; has received fees for consulting and other activities from Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, Dal-Cor, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, KBP Biosciences, Novartis, Pfizer, and Theracos; and has received personal lecture fees from Corpus, Abbott, Hikma, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Medscape/Heart.Org, Radcliffe Cardiology, Servier Director, and Global Clinical Trial Partners (GCTP). Dr Redfield has reported that she has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Vericiguat reduced the risk of cardiovascular death (CVD) or hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in patients with worsening HF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)., Objectives: The authors assessed the association of LVEF with biomarker levels, risk of outcome, and whether the effect of vericiguat was homogeneous across LVEF in the VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial., Methods: Patients were grouped by LVEF tertiles (≤24%, 25%-33%, and >33%). Patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and efficacy and safety of vericiguat were examined by tertile. Prespecified biomarkers including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin T, growth differentiation factor 15, interleukin 6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and cystatin C were examined., Results: The mean LVEF was 29% ± 8% (range: 5%-45%). A pattern of higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interleukin 6 was evident in patients in the lowest LVEF tertile vs the other tertiles. Patients with lower LVEF experienced higher rates of the composite outcome (41.7%, 36.3%, and 33.4% for LVEF ≤24, 25-33, and >33; P < 0.001). There was no significant treatment effect heterogeneity of vericiguat across LVEF groups (adjusted HR from lowest to highest tertiles: 0.79 [95% CI: 0.68-0.94]; 0.95 [95% CI: 0.82-1.11]; 0.94 [95% CI: 0.79-1.11]; P for interaction = 0.222), although the HR was numerically lower in the lowest tertile. There was also no heterogeneity of effect for CVD and HF hospitalization individually (P interaction for CVD = 0.964; HF hospitalization = 0.438). Discontinuation of treatment because of adverse events, symptomatic hypotension, or syncope was consistent across the range of LVEF., Conclusions: Patients with lower LVEF had a distinctive biomarker profile and a higher risk for adverse clinical outcomes vs those with a higher LVEF. There was no significant interaction for the benefit of vericiguat across LVEF tertiles, although the largest signal for benefit in both the primary outcome and HF hospitalizations was noted in tertile 1 (LVEF ≤24%). (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction [VICTORIA]; NCT02861534)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The VICTORIA trial was funded by Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck and Co Inc, and Bayer AG. Dr Butler has received consulting fees from Abbott, Adrenomed, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceutical, Impulse Dynamics, Innolife, Janssen, LivaNova, Luitpold, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Vifor. Dr Lund is a consultant for Bayer/Merck; has received grants unrelated to the present work from AstraZeneca, Vifor, Boston Scientific, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis; has received consulting fees from Merck, Vifor, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Pharmacosmos, MedScape, Sanofi, Lexicon, Myokardia, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Servier; has received speaker honoraria from Abbott, MedScape, Radcliffe, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and patent AnaCardio; and has stock ownership in AnaCardio. Dr deFilippi has received institutional research grants from Abbott Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, and Ortho Diagnostics; and has received consulting fees from FujiRebio, Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, and Ortho Diagnostics. Dr Blaustein is an employee of Merck and Co, Inc. Mr Ezekowitz has received research grants and consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics. Dr Freitas is an employee of Bayer AG. Dr Hernandez has received research grants from Merck, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Verily; and has received honoraria from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. Dr O’Connor has received research grants from Merck; and has received consulting fees from Bayer, Dey LP, and Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. Dr Voors has received research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche Diagnostics; and has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Myokardia, Novartis, Servier, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Westerhout has received consulting fees from Bayer. Dr Lam has received research grants from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has received consulting fees from Abbott, Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and is a cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Armstrong has received research grants from Merck, Bayer, Sanofi-Aventis Recherche and Développement, Boehringer Ingelheim, and CSL Limited; and has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: The association between frailty and health status in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is not well known., Objectives: The authors examined the association between: 1) patient-reported frailty, measured by the Fried frailty phenotype, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Physical Limitation Score (KCCQ-PLS), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and other baseline characteristics; 2) baseline frailty compared with KCCQ-PLS and 24-week 6MWD; 3) frailty and changes in KCCQ-PLS and 6MWD; and 4) vericiguat and frailty at 24 weeks., Methods: In a post hoc analysis, patients in the VITALITY-HFpEF (Patient-reported Outcomes in Vericiguat-treated Patients With HFpEF) trial were categorized as not frail (0 symptoms), prefrail (1-2 symptoms), and frail (≥3 symptoms) according to patient-reported number of frailty symptoms. Correlations and linear regression models were used to examine the association between frailty and other measures, and between frailty and KCCQ-PLS at baseline with 24-week 6MWD., Results: Among 739 patients, 27.3% were not frail, 37.6% were prefrail, and 35.0% were frail at baseline. Frail patients were older, more likely to be women, and less likely to be from Asia. Baseline KCCQ-PLS and 6MWD (mean ± SD) among not frail, prefrail, and frail patients was 68.2 ± 23.2, 61.7 ± 22.6, and 48.4 ± 23.8 and 328.5 ± 117.1 m, 310.8 ± 98.9 m, and 250.7 ± 104.3 m (P < 0.01 for both). After accounting for baseline 6MWD, frailty status at baseline, but not KCCQ-PLS, was significantly associated with 6MWD at 24 weeks. By 24 weeks, 47.5% of patients had no change in frailty, 45.5% had become less frail, and 7.0% had become more frail. Treatment with vericiguat did not alter frailty status at 24 weeks., Conclusions: Patient-reported frailty is modestly correlated with both the KCCQ-PLS and 6MWD but offers prognostic insight into 6MWD at 24 weeks. (Patient-reported Outcomes in Vericiguat-treated Patients With HFpEF [VITALITY-HFpEF]; NCT03547583)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The VITALITY-HFpEF trial was funded by Bayer and Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp, a subsidiary of Merck and Co, Inc. Dr Lam has received research grant support from Bayer, the National Medical Research Council of Singapore, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostics, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, and AstraZeneca; has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostics, Vifor Pharma, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Amgen, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Novo Nordisk, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global LLC, Radcliffe Group Ltd, and Corpus; has patent PCT/SG2016/050217 pending and patent 16/216929 pending; and is co-founder and nonexecutive director of eKo.ai. Dr Westerhout has received consulting fees from Bayer Canada. Dr Spertus has received research grant support from the National Institutes of Health, Abbott Vascular, and American College of Cardiology Foundation; has received consulting fees from Janssen, Novartis, Amgen, Myokardia/Bristol Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Merck and Co, Inc; has served on the scientific advisory board for United Healthcare; has served on the board of directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City; and owns the copyright to the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, Seattle Angina Questionnaire, and Peripheral Artery Questionnaire. Dr Anstrom has received research grant support from Merck and Co, Inc, and the National Institutes of Health. Dr Blaustein is an employee of Merck and Co, Inc. Dr Ezekowitz has received research grant support and consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen, Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, Otsuka, and Applied Therapeutics. Dr Pieske has received research grant support from Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bayer, and Servier; consulting fees from Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bayer, Servier, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MedScape, Daiichi Sankyo, and Novartis; and nonfinancial support from Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bayer, and Novartis. Dr Roessig is an employee of Bayer AG. Dr Butler has received consulting fees from Abbott, Adrenomed, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceutical, Impulse Dynamics, Innolife, Janssen, LivaNova, Luitpold, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Vifor. Dr Armstrong has received research grant support from Merck, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly, and CSL Limited; and consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, and Novo Nordisk. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Black people have a higher incidence and prevalence of heart failure (HF) than White people, and once HF has developed, they may have worse outcomes. There is also evidence that the response to several pharmacologic therapies may differ between Black and White patients., Objectives: The authors sought to examine the outcomes and response to treatment with dapagliflozin according to Black or White race in a pooled analysis of 2 trials comparing dapagliflozin to placebo in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (DAPA-HF [Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure]) and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction/heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (DELIVER [Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure])., Methods: Because most self-identified Black patients were enrolled in the Americas, the comparator group was White patients randomized in the same regions. The primary outcome was the composite of worsening HF or cardiovascular death., Results: Of the 3,526 patients randomized in the Americas, 2,626 (74.5%) identified as White and 381 (10.8%) as Black. The primary outcome occurred at a rate of 16.8 (95% CI: 13.8-20.4) in Black patients compared with 11.6 (95% CI: 10.6-12.7) per 100 person-years in White patients (adjusted HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01-1.59). Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin decreased the risk of the primary endpoint to the same extent in Black (HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.47-1.02) and White patients (HR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.61-0.88]; P interaction  = 0.73). The number of patients needed to treat with dapagliflozin to prevent one event over the median follow-up was 17 in White and 12 in Black patients. The beneficial effects and favorable safety profile of dapagliflozin were consistent across the range of left ventricular ejection fractions in both Black and White patients., Conclusions: The relative benefits of dapagliflozin were consistent in Black and White patients across the range of left ventricular ejection fraction, with greater absolute benefits in Black patients. (Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure [DAPA-HF]; NCT03036124; Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials were funded by AstraZeneca. Prof McMurray is supported by a British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant RE/18/6/34217. Dr Butt has received advisory board honoraria from Bayer. Dr Docherty has received honoraria from AstraZeneca and a research grant to his institution from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Desai has received grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Abbott, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corvidia, DalCor Pharma, Relypsa, Regeneron, and Merck; grants and personal fees from Alnylam and Novartis; and personal fees from Amgen, outside of the submitted work. Dr Fang has received either personal or institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr Petersson is an employee and shareholder of AstraZeneca. Dr Langkilde is an employee and shareholder of AstraZeneca. Dr de Boer’s institution, the UMCG, has received research grants and fees (outside of the submitted work) from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardio Pharmaceuticals Gmbh, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche. Dr de Boer has received speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche (outside of the submitted work). Dr Hernandez has received research support from American Regent, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on the Advisory Board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Myokardia, Merck, Novartis, and Vifor. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Lexicon, Merck, Pfizer, vTv Therapeutics, Abbott, and Esperion; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Vifor Pharma; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honorarium from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Køber has received compensation from Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and AstraZeneca for other services. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Us2.ai, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and WebMD Global LLC; and serves as the cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca. Dr Ponikowski has received compensation from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Servier, Amgen, and Vifor Pharma for consultant services; and compensation from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novartis, and Abbott Vascular for other services. Dr Sabatine has received research grant support through Brigham and Women’s Hospital from Abbott, Amgen, Anthos Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Intarcia, IONIS, Medicines Company, MedImmune, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Quark Pharmaceuticals; and has done consulting for Althera, Amgen, Anthos Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CVS Caremark, DalCor, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Fibrogen, IFM Therapeutics, Intarcia, MedImmune, Merck, Moderna, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Vardeny has received either personal or institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr O’Meara or her institution has received financial support for clinical trials from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, and Novartis; and has served as a consultant or speaker for Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and AstraZeneca. Dr Saraiva has received research grant support from Pfizer, Daichii Sankyo, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Amgen, and Novartis; and has received honorarium from Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, and Amgen. Dr Shah has received either personal or institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support or served on advisory boards for American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, and Relypsa; has had speaker engagements with Novartis and Roche Diagnostics; and has participated on clinical endpoint committees for studies sponsored by Galmed and Novartis. Dr Jhund's employer, the University of Glasgow, has been remunerated by AstraZeneca for working on the DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials. Dr Jhund has received personal fees from Novartis and Cytokinetics; and has received grants from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellPro-Thera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University from work on clinical trials; consulting fees and fees for other activities from Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, Dal-Cor, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, KBP Biosciences, Novartis, Pfizer, and Theracos; has received personal lecture fees from the Corpus, Abbott, Hikma, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Medscape/Heart.Org, Radcliffe Cardiology, Servier Director, and Global Clinical Trial Partners (GCTP)., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.) more...

Background: Optimizing systolic blood pressure (SBP) in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction carries a Class I recommendation but with limited evidence. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have antihypertensive effects across cardiovascular disease., Objectives: The authors examined the interplay between SBP and treatment effects of dapagliflozin on SBP and cardiovascular outcomes., Methods: The authors analyzed 6,263 DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) participants and related baseline and mean achieved SBP categories (<120, 120-129, 130-139, ≥140 mm Hg) to the primary outcome (cardiovascular death or worsening HF), secondary outcomes, and safety events. They analyzed whether the blood pressure-lowering effects of dapagliflozin accounted for its treatment effects by adjusting for the change in SBP from baseline to 1 month., Results: The average age was 72 ± 10 years and 44% were women. SBP <120 mm Hg was associated with higher HF and mortality events, although amputation and stroke risk increased with higher SBP. Dapagliflozin reduced SBP by 1.8 (95% CI: 1.1-2.5) mm Hg compared with placebo at 1 month. The treatment effect of dapagliflozin on the primary outcome and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire total symptom score was consistent across SBP (interaction P = 0.15 and P = 0.98, respectively). Adverse events between arms were similar across SBP categories. The treatment effect was not accounted for by reducing blood pressure., Conclusions: In DELIVER, risk by SBP was augmented in the lowest and highest categories and varied by endpoint examined. Dapagliflozin modestly decreased SBP compared with placebo. Dapagliflozin was similarly efficacious and safe across the range of baseline SBP. The beneficial effects of dapagliflozin were not accounted for the changes in SBP. (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The DELIVER study was funded by AstraZeneca. Dr Selvaraj was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (K23HL161348), American Heart Association (#935275), Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (#2020061), and the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (Translational Bio-Imaging Center award). Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support from or served on the advisory board for American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; had speaker engagements with AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics; and served on the clinical trial committee for studies sponsored by Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Amgen, Cardurion, Corvia, and Novartis. Dr Fang has received research grant support from the National Institutes of Health; has served as a consultant for Novartis, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly, Abbott, Capricor, Windtree, and LabCorp; and has provided support to the American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Heart Failure Society of America, and Heart Rhythm Society. Dr Vardeny has received institutional research support for the DELIVER study from AstraZeneca and has received institutional research support from Bayer. Dr Desai has received institutional grant support from Abbott, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Novartis; and consulting fees from Abbott, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Avidity, Axon Therapeutics, Bayer, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Parxel, Regeneron, Roche, and Verily. Dr Shah has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health (U54 HL160273, R01 HL107577, R01 HL127028, R01 HL140731, R01 HL149423), Actelion, AstraZeneca, Corvia, Novartis, and Pfizer; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Actelion, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Aria CV, Axon Therapies, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardiora, Coridea, CVRx, Cyclerion, Cytokinetics, Edwards Lifesciences, Eidos, Eisai, Imara, Impulse Dynamics, GlaxoSmithKline, Intellia, Ionis, Ironwood, Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prothena, Regeneron, Rivus, Sanofi, Sardocor, Shifamed, Tenax, Tenaya, and United Therapeutics. Dr Lam was supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as co-founder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Martinez has received consultation fees and research grants from AstraZeneca, Baliarda, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gador, Milestone, Novartis, Pfizer, and St Luke’s University. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Lexicon, Merck, Pfizer, vTv Therapeutics, Abbott, and Esperion; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr de Boer has received research grants and/or fees from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche; and has had speaker engagements with Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Roche. Drs Petersson and Langkilde are employees and shareholders of AstraZeneca. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University for work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, Dal-Cor, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, KBP Biosciences, Novartis, Pfizer, and Theracos; received personal lecture fees from the Corpus, Abbott, Hikma, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Medscape/Heart.Org, Radcliffe Cardiology, Servier Director, and Global Clinical Trial Partners. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, BMS, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and Us2.ai; and has served as a consultant for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, Sarepta, Lexicon, Anacardio, and Akros., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is used for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation in heart failure (HF). Previous clinical trials in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have shown potential heterogeneity in the treatment response by baseline NT-proBNP levels., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment effect of dapagliflozin across baseline levels of NT-proBNP among patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF., Methods: This was a post hoc analysis from DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure), a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of dapagliflozin in patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF. Elevated NT-proBNP was part of the inclusion criteria (≥300 ng/L for non-atrial fibrillation or flutter [AFF]; ≥600 ng/L for AFF). Baseline NT-proBNP was categorized in quartiles and additionally analyzed continuously. The primary composite outcome was cardiovascular death or worsening HF events., Results: Among the 6,262 included patients (mean: 71.7 years and 3,516 [56%] men), the median baseline concentration of NT-proBNP was 716 (Q1-Q3: 469-1,280) ng/L and 1,399 (Q1-Q3: 962-2,212) ng/L for non-AFF and AFF, respectively. Higher NT-proBNP levels were linearly associated with a greater risk of the primary outcome (adjusted HR for log 2 NTpro-BNP was 1.53 [95% CI: 1.46-1.62] and Q4 vs Q1: 3.46 [95% CI: 2.48-4.22]; P < 0.001), with consistent results regardless of AFF status. The clinical benefit of dapagliflozin was present irrespective of baseline NT-proBNP concentration (P value for interaction = 0.40 by quartiles and = 0.19 continuously for the primary outcome) and the absolute risk reduction was, therefore, greater with higher NT-proBNP concentrations. The effect on health status and safety of dapagliflozin was similarly consistent across NT-proBNP quartiles., Conclusions: Dapagliflozin is safe and improves outcomes irrespective of baseline NT-proBNP concentrations in HFmrEF or HFpEF, with the greatest absolute benefit likely seen in patients with higher NT-proBNP concentrations. (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The DELIVER trial was funded by AstraZeneca. Dr Myhre has consulted for Amgen, Amarin, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support or served on advisory boards for American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and Tricog Health; speaker engagements with AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics; and participates on clinical trial committees for studies sponsored by Galmed, Novartis, Bayer AG, Occlutech, and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Amgen, Cardurion, Corvia, and Novartis. Dr Jhund’s employer has been remunerated for his work on the DELIVER and DAPA-HF trials by AstraZeneca; consulting and speaker fees from Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim; research funding from Boehringer Ingelheim; and remuneration for clinical trial work from NovoNordisk and Bayer. Dr De Boer has received research grants and/or fees from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche; and has had speaker engagements with Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Roche. Dr Hernandez has received research grants from American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, Somologic and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on the advisory board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Intercept, Merck, and Novartis. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Lexicon, Merck, Pfizer, vTv Therapeutics, Abbott, and Esperion; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for Alnylam, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Janssen, Lexicon, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Pharmacosmos, and Vifor Pharma; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Bayer and Roche Diagnostics; has served as consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Actelion, Alleviant Medical, Allysta Pharma, Amgen, AnaCardio AB, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, EchoNous Inc, Eli Lilly, Impulse Dynamics, Ionis Pharmaceutical, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape/WebMD Global LLC, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Prosciento Inc, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and serves as co-founder and non-executive director of Us2.ai. Dr Martinez has received consultation fees and research grants from AstraZeneca, Baliarda, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gador, Milestone, Novartis, Pfizer, and St Lukes University. Dr Shah has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health (U54 HL160273, R01 HL107577, R01 HL127028, R01 HL140731, R01 HL149423), Actelion, AstraZeneca, Corvia, Novartis, and Pfizer, and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Actelion, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Aria CV, Axon Therapies, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardiora, Coridea, CVRx, Cyclerion, Cytokinetics, Edwards Lifesciences, Eidos, Eisai, Imara, Impulse Dynamics, GlaxoSmithKline, Intellia, Ionis, Ironwood, Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prothena, Regeneron, Rivus, Sanofi, Sardocor, Shifamed, Tenax, Tenaya, and United Therapeutics. Dr Desai has received institutional grant support from Abbott, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Novartis; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Avidity, Axon Therapeutics, Bayer, Biofourmis, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Parxel, Regeneron, Roche, and Verily. Drs Lindholm, Petersson, and Langkilde are employees and shareholders of AstraZeneca. Dr McMurray has received payments through Glasgow University for work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, Dal-Cor, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, KBP Biosciences, Novartis, Pfizer, and Theracos; and has received personal lecture fees from the Corpus, Abbott, Hikma, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Medscape/Heart.Org, Radcliffe Cardiology, Servier Director, and Global Clinical Trial Partners (GCTP). Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, BMS, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, and US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, BMS, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, Sarepta, Lexicon, Anacardio, and Akros. Dr Miao has reported that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.) more...

Background: The effect of vericiguat on sequential N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and influence of this relationship on clinical outcomes is unknown., Objectives: This study assessed the relationship between changes in NT-proBNP and the primary outcome (cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization); evaluated the effect of vericiguat on changes in NT-proBNP; and explored the association between the efficacy of vericiguat and changes in NT-proBNP., Methods: NT-proBNP was measured at randomization and at 16, 32, 48, and 96 weeks in 4,805 of 5,050 patients. The association between NT-proBNP change at week 16 and the primary outcome was assessed. The relationship between changes in NT-proBNP and the primary outcome according to treatment group was assessed by using joint modeling and mediation analysis., Results: A significant and sustained decline in NT-proBNP levels was seen in both treatment groups. After week 16, NT-proBNP levels decreased more with vericiguat vs placebo (any reduction: odds ratio [OR]: 1.45 [95% CI: 1.28-1.65]; P < 0.001; ≥50% reduction: OR: 1.27 [95% CI: 1.10-1.47]; P = 0.001) and were less likely to increase (≥20% increase: OR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.59-0.78]; P < 0.001; ≥50% increase: OR: 0.70 [95% CI: 0.59-0.82]; P < 0.001). The treatment effect related to serial NT-proBNP on the primary composite outcome was HR: 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99) at week 16, which increased to HR: 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85-0.96) at week 48; the average extent of mediation of the composite outcome related to NT-proBNP was 45%., Conclusions: In patients with worsening HFrEF, vericiguat significantly decreased NT-proBNP levels compared with placebo. This change appeared associated with a modest relative improvement in the primary outcome of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization. (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction [VICTORIA]; NCT02861534)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The VICTORIA trial was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Inc, and Bayer AG. Dr Armstrong has received research grants from Merck, Bayer, Sanofi-Aventis Recherche & Développement, Boehringer Ingelheim, and CSL Limited; and consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. Dr Troughton has received research grants and personal fees from Merck and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Lund has received consulting honoraria from Bayer/Merck; and unrelated to this present work, he has received grants from AstraZeneca, Vifor, Boston Scientific, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis; he has received consulting fees from Merck, Vifor, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Pharmacosmos, MedScape, Sanofi, Lexicon, Myokardia, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Servier; he has received speaker's honoraria from Abbott, MedScape, Radcliffe, AstraZeneca, and Novartis; and he has a patent and stock ownership with AnaCardio. Dr Lam has received research grants from Bayer, National Medical Research Council of Singapore, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, and AstraZeneca; and consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Vifor Pharma, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Amgen, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Novo Nordisk, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global LLC, Radcliffe Group Ltd, and Corpus. Dr Lam also has patent PCT/SG2016/050217 pending and patent 16/216929 pending and is co-founder and non-executive director of eKo.ai. Dr Westerhout has received consulting fees from Bayer Canada. Dr Blaustein is an employee of Merck & Co. Dr Butler has received consulting fees from Abbott, Adrenomed, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceutical, Impulse Dynamics, Innolife, Janssen, LivaNova, Luitpold, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Vifor. Dr Hernandez has received research grants from Merck, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Verily; and honoraria from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. Dr Roessig is an employee of Bayer AG. Dr O’Connor has received research funding from Merck; and consulting fees from Bayer, Dey LP, and Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. Dr Voors has received research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche Diagnostics; and consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, MyoKardia, Novartis, Servier, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr Ezekowitz has received research grants from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics; and consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen, Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: In this study, the authors sought to assess the relationship between AFF and outcomes, the treatment response to sacubitril/valsartan and first-detected AFF in patients with HFpEF enrolled in the PARAGON-HF trial., Background: Atrial fibrillation and flutter (AFF) are common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and increase the risk of adverse outcomes., Methods: A total of 4,776 patients formed 3 groups: those with AFF according to electrocardiography (ECG) at enrollment (n = 1,552; 33%), those with history of AFF but without AFF on ECG at enrollment (n = 1,005; 21%), and those without history of AFF or AFF on ECG at enrollment (n = 2,219, 46%). We assessed outcomes, treatment response to sacubitril/valsartan in each group, and the risk associated with first-detected AFF in patients without any known AFF. The primary outcome was a composite of total heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death., Results: History of AFF and AFF at enrollment were associated with higher risk of the primary outcome (risk ratio [RR]: 1.36 [95% CI: 1.12-1.65] and RR: 1.31 [1.11-1.54], respectively), than no AFF. Neither history of AFF nor AFF at enrollment modified the treatment effect of sacubitril/valsartan. Post randomization AFF occurred in 12% of patients without previous AFF and was associated with 2.8-fold higher risk of the primary outcome, but it was not influenced by sacubitril/valsartan., Conclusions: History of AFF and AFF on ECG at enrollment were associated with a higher risk of the primary outcome. First-detected AFF was not influenced by sacubitril/valsartan, yet it was associated with increased risk of all subsequent outcomes and may represent a potential target for future HFpEF trials. (Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan, on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction [PARAGON-HF]; NCT01920711)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The PARAGON-HF study was sponsored by Novartis; no additional funding was provided for this analysis. Dr Cikes has received institutional grants or contracts from Novartis, Abbott, and Corvia; payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, Speakers Bureau, manuscript writing, or educational events from Novartis, GE Healthcare, Pfizer, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Sanofi, and LivaNova; and participation on advisory boards for Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, and Novartis. Dr Planinc has received an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim; has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, Speakers Bureau, manuscript writing, or educational events from Sanofi Aventis, Pfizer, Bayer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Krka-Farma, Servier-Pharma, Sandoz, Mylan, and AstraZeneca; has received support for attending meetings and/or travel from Pfizer, Bayer, and Abbott; and has participated on advisory boards for Novartis and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corvia, Myokardia, and Novartis. Dr Cunningham has received grant support from the United States National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (T32HL094301). Dr Sweitzer has received salary support from Novartis for work as PARAGON-HF national leader, Merck for work as national leader, and the American Heart Association for work as journal editorship; and has received research support from the National Institutes of Health. Dr Shah has received institutional grants from Actelion, AstraZeneca, Corvia, Pfizer, and Novartis; has received royalties or licenses from UpToDate; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Actelion, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Axon Therapies, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardiora, CVRx, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Ironwood, Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prothena, Sanofi, Shifamed, Tenax, and United Therapeutics. Dr Packer has received consulting fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Amarin, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Casana, CSL Behring, Cytokinetics, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Moderna, Novartis, ParatusRx, Pfizer, Relypsa, Salamandra, Synthetic Biologics, and Theravance; has received payment for expert testimony from Actavis; and has received support for attending meetings and/or travel from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Pfeffer has received institutional research grant support from Novartis for serving on the PARAGON-HF Steering Committee and as Study Chair of PARADISE-MI; has received personal consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly Alliance, CinCor, Corvidia, DalCor, GlaxoSmithKline, Innovative Science Solutions, Jazz, Lexicon, MyoKardia, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute CONNECTs (Master Protocol Committee), Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Peerbridge, Pfizer, Pharmascience, Roche, Sanofi, Servier, and Takeda; has received support for attending meetings and/or travel from Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and A+ (third party to AstraZeneca); and has received stock options from DalCor and Peerbridge. Dr Zile has received grants, consulting fees and participation on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board as part of the committees for the PARAGON-HF and PARADIGM trials. Dr Anand has received consulting fees from Novartis, Amgen, ARCA, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and LivaNova; and has participated on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board for Boston Scientific. Dr Chiang is a Novartis employee receiving wages and stocks from Novartis as part of an annual wage package. Dr Lam has received research grants from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has received consulting fees from Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Janssen R & D, Medscape/WebMD Global, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, St Luke, and Us2.ai; has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, Speakers Bureau, manuscript writing, or educational events from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Medscape/WebMD Global, Novartis, Radcliffe, and Roche Diagnostics; has a patent pending PCT/SG2016/050217; has a patent application number 16/216,929; has participated on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Roche Diagnostics; and has nonexecutive director role and stock or stock options for Us2.ai. Dr Redfield has received steering committee membership for PARAGON-HF without personal compensation. Dr Desai has received institutional research grant support from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Alnylam, Bayer, and Novartis; and has received personal consulting fees from Abbott, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Biofourmis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, DalCor Pharma, Lupin Pharma, Lexicon, Merck, Novartis, Relypsa, Regeneron, and Sun Pharma. Dr McMurray has received institutional support from Novartis; has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, Speakers Bureau, manuscript writing, or educational events from Abbott, Alkem Metabolics, Eris Lifesciences, Hikma, Lupin, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Medscape/Heart.Org, ProAdWise Communications, Radcliffe Cardiology, Servier, and The Corpus; and has received other institutional funding from Cytokinetics, KBP Biosciences, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Bayer, AstraZeneca, Theracos, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, DalCor, Glaxo Smith Kline, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardurion, and Alnylam. Dr Solomon has received an institutional grant from Novartis for conduct of the PARAGON trial; has received institutional grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, and Theracos; and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boeringer-Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: This report describes the baseline clinical profiles and management of DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) trial participants and how these compare with those in other contemporary heart failure with preserved ejection fraction trials., Background: The DELIVER trial was designed to evaluate the effects of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor dapagliflozin on cardiovascular death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, or urgent HF visits in patients with HF with mildly reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)., Methods: Adults with symptomatic HF and LVEF >40%, with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus, elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, and evidence of structural heart disease were randomized to dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or matching placebo., Results: A total of 6,263 patients were randomized (mean age: 72 ± 10 years; 44% women; 45% type 2 diabetes mellitus; 45% with body mass index ≥30 kg/m 2 ; and 57% with history of atrial fibrillation or flutter). Most participants had New York Heart Association functional class II symptoms (75%). Baseline mean LVEF was 54.2 ± 8.8% and median NT-proBNP of 1,399 pg/mL (IQR: 962 to 2,210 pg/mL) for patients in atrial fibrillation/flutter compared with 716 pg/mL (IQR: 469 to 1,281 pg/mL) in those who were not. Patients in both hospitalized and ambulatory settings were enrolled, including 10% enrolled in-hospital or within 30 days of a hospitalization for HF. Eighteen percent of participants had HF with improved LVEF., Conclusions: DELIVER is the largest and broadest clinical trial of this population to date and enrolled high-risk, well-treated patients with HF with mildly reduced and preserved LVEF. (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [NCT03619213])., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The DELIVER study was funded by AstraZeneca. Dr Solomon has received research grants from Actelion, Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bellerophon, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lilly, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Neurotronik, Novartis, NovoNordisk, Respicardia, Sanofi Pasteur, Theracos, US2.AI; and has consulted for Abbott, Action, Akros, Alnylam, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardior, Cardurion, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Roche, Theracos, Quantum Genomics, Cardurion, Janssen, Cardiac Dimensions, Tenaya, Sanofi-Pasteur, Dinaqor, Tremeau, CellProThera, Moderna, American Regent, and Sarepta. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support or served on advisory boards for American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Roche Diagnostics, and Sanofi, speaker engagements with Novartis and Roche Diagnostics, and participates on clinical endpoint committees for studies sponsored by Galmed and Novartis. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr De Boer’s institution, the UMCG, has received research grants and fees (outside the submitted work) from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardio Pharmaceuticals Gmbh, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche. Dr de Boer has received speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche (outside the submitted work). Dr DeMets has received consulting fees from Frontier Science, Actelion, Bristol Myers Squibb, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck; and has received consulting fees and is the owner of DL DeMets Consulting. Dr Hernandez has received research support from American Regent, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis, and Verily; and has served as a consultant or on the Advisory Board for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Myokardia, Merck, Novartis, and Vifor. Dr Inzucchi has served on clinical trial committees or as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Lexicon, Merck, Pfizer, vTv Therapeutics, Abbott, and Esperion; and has given lectures sponsored by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Vifor Pharma; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honorarium from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; has served as a consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Us2.ai, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and WebMD Global LLC; and serves as the cofounder and non-executive director of Us2.ai. Dr Martinez has received personal fees from AstraZeneca. Drs Shah and Belohjavek have received either personal or institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr Chiang has received honoraria and consultation fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, and Sanofi. Dr Borleffs has received speaker fees and institutional research support from AstraZeneca; has received speaker fees from Novartis; and has received institutional research support from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Comin-Comet has received personal and institutional financial support for the DELIVER study from AstraZeneca; outside this work, he has received fees for speaking and fees for consultancy from Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Orion Pharma, and Vifor Pharma; and he has received research grants from Novartis, Orion Pharma, and Vifor Pharma. Dr Dobreanu has received either personal or institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr Drozdz has received personal and institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr Fang has received either personal or institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr Gamba has received personal fees from Sanfer, Roche, Amgen, Asofarma, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Boehringer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bayer, Pfizer, Merck, Abbott, Silanes, Servier, Jansen Cilag, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific. Drs Al Habeeb, Han, Cabrera, Janssens, Vardeny, and Nguyen have received either personal or institutional research support for DELIVER from AstraZeneca. Dr Katova has received fees for serving as national coordinator from Novartis and AstraZeneca. Dr Kitakaze has received support for the present manuscript (funding, provision of study materials, medical writing, article processing charges, etc) from AstraZeneca, has received grants or contracts from the Japanese government through the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development Japan Heart Foundation, and has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from AstraZeneca, Ono, Novartis, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Japan Medical Data Center, Takeda, Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Otsuka, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Amgen, Kowa, Toyama-Kagaku, Kureha, Viatris, and Mochida. Dr Merkely has received personal fees from AstraZeneca and Servier. Dr O’Meara has served as a consultant and speaker for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis; has served as a steering committee member or a national lead investigator with contracts between her institution (Montreal Heart Institute Research Center) and American Regent, AstraZeneca, Cytokinetics, Merck, and Novartis; and has ongoing clinical trial participation with Amgen, Abbott, American Regent, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Eidos, Novartis, Merck, Pfizer, and Sanofi. Dr Kerr Saraiva has received research grant support from Pfizer, Daichii Sankyo, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Amgen, and Novartis; and has received honorarium from Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Astra Zeneca, and Amgen. Dr Tereshchenko has received personal fees from Servier, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novartis, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Thierer has received support for lectures and advisory boards from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer. Dr Verma has received research grants and/or speaking honoraria from Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EOCI Pharmacomm Ltd, HLS Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, PhaseBio, Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and the Toronto Knowledge Translation Working Group; and is the President of the Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group, a federally incorporated not-for-profit physician organization. Drs Wilderäng, Zaozerska, Lindholm, and Petersson are employees and shareholders of AstraZeneca. Dr McMurray has received funding to his institution, Glasgow University, for his work on clinical trials, consulting, and other activities from Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardurion, Cytokinetics, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, and Theracos; and has received personal lecture fees from the Corpus, Abbott, Hickma, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Medsca., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: This study sought to estimate and compare the aggregate treatment benefit of pharmacological therapy for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction., Background: The estimated treatment effects of various combinations of contemporary HF medical therapies are not well characterized., Methods: We performed a systematic network meta-analysis, using MEDLINE/EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials published between January 1987 and January 2020. We included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers (BB), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), digoxin, hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate, ivabradine, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNi), sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), vericiguat, and omecamtiv-mecarbil. The primary outcome was all-cause death. We estimated the life-years gained in 2 HF populations (BIOSTAT-CHF [BIOlogy Study to TAilored Treatment in Chronic Heart Failure] and ASIAN-HF [Asian Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Registry])., Results: We identified 75 relevant trials representing 95,444 participants. A combination of ARNi, BB, MRA, and SGLT2i was most effective in reducing all-cause death (HR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.31-0.49); followed by ARNi, BB, MRA, and vericiguat (HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.32-0.53); and ARNi, BB, and MRA (HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.36-0.54). Results were similar for the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or first hospitalization for HF (HR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.29-0.46 for ARNi, BB, MRA, and SGLT2i; HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.35-0.56 for ARNi, BB, MRA, and omecamtiv-mecarbil; and HR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.34-0.55 for ARNi, BB, MRA, and vericiguat). The estimated additional number of life-years gained for a 70-year-old patient on ARNi, BB, MRA, and SGLT2i was 5.0 years (2.5-7.5 years) compared with no treatment in secondary analyses., Conclusions: In patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, the estimated aggregate benefit is greatest for a combination of ARNi, BB, MRA, and SGLT2i., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Tromp is supported by the National University of Singapore Start-up Grant; and has received consultancy fees from Olink proteomics and Roche Diagnostics; and served as a scientific advisor and shareholder of Us2.ai. Dr Richards has received consultancy/advisory board/speaker fees, research grants, and/or support in kind from Roche Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific. Dr van der Meer has received consultancy and/or research grants from Vifor Pharma, AstraZeneca, Servier, Novartis, Pfizer, and Ionis. Dr Anand has received consultancy fees from Amgen, ARCA, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, LivaNova, Novartis, Rockwell Medical, and Zensun. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, and Vifor Pharma; has served as consultant or on the advisory board/steering committee/executive committee for Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, Novartis, Amgen, Merck, Janssen Research and Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global LLC, Radcliffe Group Ltd, and Corpus; and serves as cofounder and non-executive director of Us2.ai. Dr Voors has received consultancy fees and/or research grants from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Merck, Myokardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Roche Diagnostics. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the frequency and nature of cost/value statements in contemporary heart failure (HF) clinical guidance documents (CGDs)., Background: In an era of rising health care costs and expanding therapeutic options, there is an increasing need for formal consideration of cost and value in the development of HF CGDs., Methods: HF CGDs published by major professional cardiovascular organizations between January 2010 and February 2021 were reviewed for the inclusion of cost/value statements., Results: Overall, 33 documents were identified, including 5 (15%) appropriate use criteria, 7 (21%) clinical practice guidelines, and 21 (64%) expert consensus documents. Most CGDs (27 of 33; 82%) included at least 1 cost/value statement, and 20 (61%) CGDs included at least 1 cost/value-related citation. Most of these statements were found in expert consensus documents (77.7%). Three (9%) documents reported estimated costs of recommended interventions, but only 1 estimated out-of-pocket cost. Of 179 cost/value-related statements observed, 116 (64.8%) highlighted the economic impact of HF or HF-related care, 6 (3.4%) advocated for cost/value issues, 15 (8.4%) reported gaps in cost/value evidence, and 42 (23.5%) supported clinical guidance recommendations. Over time, patterns of inclusion of statements and citations of cost/value have been largely stable., Conclusions: Although most contemporary HF CGDs contain at least 1 cost/value statement, most CGDs focus on the high economic impact of HF and its related care; explicit inclusion of cost/value to support clinical guidance recommendations remains infrequent. These results highlight key opportunities for the integration of formalized cost/value considerations in future HF-focused CGDs., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Bhatt has received an honorarium from Sanofi Pasteur; and is supported by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute T32 postdoctoral training grant T32HL094301. Dr Butler has received personal fees as a consultant from Abbott, Adrenomed, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Berlin Cures, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceuticals, Innolife, Janssen, LivaNova, Luitpold, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Relypsa, Roche, Sanofi, SC Pharma, V-Wave Limited, and Vifor outside the submitted work. Dr Fonarow has received consulting fees from Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, CHF Solutions, Edwards, Janssen, Medtronic, Merck, and Novartis. Dr Januzzi is supported in part by the Hutter Family Professorship; is a Trustee of the American College of Cardiology; has received grant support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Innolife, Applied Therapeutics, and Abbott Diagnostics; consulting income from Abbott, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Merck, and Roche Diagnostics; and participated in clinical end point committees or data safety monitoring boards for Abbott, AbbVie, Amgen, Bayer, CVRx, and Takeda. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, and Vifor Pharma; served as consultant or on the advisory board, steering committee, or executive committee for Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, Novartis, Amgen, Merck, Janssen Research & Development, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, WebMD Global, Radcliffe Group, and Corpus. Dr Maddox has received funding from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (grant 1U24TR002306-01) and honoraria and/or expense reimbursement in the past 3 years from New York Presbyterian, Westchester Medical Center, Sentara Heart Hospital, the Henry Ford Health System, and the University of California, San Diego; advises Myia Labs in his role as a cardiologist and the executive director of the Healthcare Innovation Lab at BJC HealthCare/Washington University School of Medicine, for which his employer receives equity compensation in the company; and receives no individual compensation from the company; he is also a compensated director of a New Mexico–based foundation, the J.F. Maddox Foundation. Dr Vaduganathan has received research grant support from or has served on advisory boards of American Regent, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Baxter Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Relypsa, and Roche Diagnostics; has had speaker engagements with Novartis and Roche Diagnostics; and participates on clinical end point committees for studies sponsored by Galmed and Novartis. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Medications with proven benefit in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction are recommended, according to prospective large clinical trials, in the stable patient after careful up-titration in a strict sequential order. Although the relevance of careful clinical up-titration is unproven, there is evidence that after recompensation and shortly after hospital discharge, the rate of cardiovascular death and hospitalization is high. Clinical studies provided evidence that the onset of treatment effects is rapid, occurring within 28 days with most of these drugs used, and in some trials, early treatment after discharge or already started in the hospital has provided benefits. Therefore, early treatment without deferring it to the stable outpatient may be useful to reduce cardiac-related events further. This expert opinion proposes treatment layering according to individual patient phenotypes involving heart rate, blood pressure, impaired renal function, and electrolyte disturbances, as well as dedicated subgroups of patients with specific requirements for treatment initiation. This complements other approaches that suggest starting sequential treatment according to the size of treatment effects of drugs, specific cardiac diseases, and patient wishes. Patient phenotyping may guide personalized drug layering in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction that provides the best outcomes, whereas pragmatic clinical trials are warranted to scrutinize the effectiveness of these approaches., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Allen has received grants from the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; and consulting fees from Abbott, ACI Clinical, Amgen, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, and Novartis. Dr Abdin has received speaker honoraria from Novartis; and travel grants from Biotronik, Medtronic, and Novartis. Dr Lindenfeld has received grant funding from AstraZeneca, Sensible Medical, Volumetrix; and personal fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, CVRx, Edwards Lifesciences, Impulse Dynamics, and VWave. Dr Lam has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boston Scientific, and Roche Diagnostics; consultancy fees from service on the advisory board, steering committee, or executive committee of Actelion, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cytokinetics, Darma Inc, Us2.ai, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Medscape, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Radcliffe Group Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi, and WebMD Global LLC; and holds a position as cofounder and nonexecutive director of Us2.ai. Dr Savarese has received grants from Boston Scientific (outside the submitted work), Vifor, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and Novartis; nonfinancial support from Boehringer Ingelheim; and personal fees from Vifor and the Societá Prodotti Antibiotici, AstraZeneca, Roche, Servier, GENESIS, Cytokinetics, and Medtronic. Dr Gottlieb has received grants from Pfizer, Cytokinetics, and Amgen; and consulting for Cytokinetics. Dr Böhm has received support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation; TTR 219, project number 322900939); and has fees from Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Servier, Medtronic, Vifor, and Novartis. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: This study examined the relationship among high-sensitivity troponin-T (hs-TnT), outcomes, and treatment with sacubitril/valsartan in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)., Background: hs-TnT is a marker of myocardial injury in HF., Methods: The PARAGON-HF trial randomized 4,796 patients with HFpEF to sacubitril/valsartan or valsartan. We compared the risk of the composite outcome of cardiovascular death (CVD) and total HF hospitalization (HHF) according to hs-TnT. We also assessed the effect of allocated treatment on hs-TnT., Results: hs-TnT was available in 1,141 patients (24%) at run-in (median value: 17 ng/L) and 1,260 (26%) at randomization, with 58.3% having hs-TnT >14 ng/L (upper limit of normal). During a median follow-up of 34 months, there were 393 outcome events (82 CVD, 311 HHF). Adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), log-hs-TnT at randomization was an independent predictor of the composite outcome (HR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.19-1.59; P < 0.001). Compared with valsartan, sacubitril/valsartan significantly reduced hs-TnT by 9% at week 16 (P < 0.001). Patients whose hs-TnT decreased from randomization to 16 weeks to at or below the median value of 17 ng/L subsequently had a lower risk of CVD/HHF compared with those with persistently elevated hs-TnT (P = 0.046). Patients with higher baseline hs-TnT (>17 ng/L) appeared to have a greater benefit from sacubitril/valsartan treatment when accounting for other potential effect modifiers (P interaction = 0.07)., Conclusions: Higher baseline hs-TnT was associated with increased risk of CVD/HHF, whereas hs-TnT decrease at 16 weeks led to lower subsequent risk of CVD/HHF compared with those who had persistently elevated values. Sacubitril/valsartan significantly reduced hs-TnT compared with valsartan. hs-TnT may be helpful in identifying patients with HFpEF who are more likely to benefit from sacubitril/valsartan., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The PARAGON-HF trial was sponsored by Novartis. Dr Gori has received consulting fees from Novartis, Menarini, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Senni has received consulting fees from Novartis, Bayer, Abbott, Merck, Vifor, AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Claggett has received consulting fees from AO Biome, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corvia, Gilead, Myokardia, and Novartis. Dr Jhund’s employer, the University of Glasgow, has been remunerated by Novartis for his work on the PARADIGM-HF and PARAGON-HF trials. His employer, the University of Glasgow, has been remunerated by AstraZeneca for his work on the DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials. Dr Jhund has received speaker fees and advisory board fees from Novartis; has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca; and a grant from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Packer has received consulting fees from Abbvie, Akcea, Actavis, Amgen, Amarin, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardiorentis, Daiichi-Sankyo, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Novartis, NovoNordisk, ParatusRx, Pfizer, Relypsa, Sanofi, Synthetic Biologics, and Theravance. Dr Rouleau has received consulting fees from Novartis, AstraZeneca, MyokardiaAbbott, and Sanofi. Dr Zannad has received steering committee personal fees from Applied Therapeutics, Bayer, Boehringer, Boston Scientific, Novartis, Janssen, and CVRx; advisory-board personal fees from AstraZeneca, Vifor Fresenius, Cardior, Cereno Pharmaceutical, Merck, and Owkin; stock options from G3Pharmaceutical; and is the founder of CardioRenal and CVCT. Dr Pfeffer has received grants from Novartis and personal fees for consulting from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Alliance, DalCor, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Inc, Peerbridge, and Sanofi; and owns stock options of DalCor. Dr McMurray has received grants to his institution from Novartis, Bayer, Cardiorentis, Amgen, Oxford University, Theracos, Abbvie, DalCor, Pfizer, Merck, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Kings College Hospital. Dr Zile has received fees for serving on steering committees from Abbott and Ironwood Pharma; consulting fees from Boston Scientific and MyoKardia; grant support and fees for serving on a steering committee from CVRx and Medtronic; fees for serving on an eligibility committee from EBR Systems and V-Wave; fees for serving on a clinical events committee from Endotronics; and fees for serving on a data and safety monitoring board from Merck. Dr van Veldhuisen has received fees for serving on a steering committee and has received travel support from ARCA Biopharma and Corvia Medical. Dr Pieske has received fees for serving on a steering committee, fees for serving on an advisory board, and lecture fees from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and MSD; lecture fees from AstraZeneca; fees for serving on an advisory board and lecture fees from Bristol Myers Squibb; fees for serving on an advisory board for Daiichi-Sankyo; and lecture fees and honoraria from Medscape. Dr Lam has received grant support and fees for serving on an advisory board from Boston Scientific and Roche Diagnostics; grant support, fees for serving on an advisory board, and fees for serving on steering committees from Bayer; grant support from Medtronics; grant support and fees for serving on a steering committee from Vifor Pharma; fees for serving on an advisory board and fees for serving on steering committees from AstraZeneca and Novartis; fees for serving on an advisory board from Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Abbott Diagnostics; consulting fees from Merck and Stealth BioTherapeutics; fees for serving on a steering committee from Janssen Research and Development; lecture fees and consulting fees from Menarini; and fees for serving on a scientific committee from Corvia Medical; and is holding a pending patent (PCT/SG2016/050217) on a methodregarding diagnosis and prognosis of chronic heart failure. Dr Maggioni has received consulting fees from Novartis and fees for serving on study committees from Bayer and Fresenius. Drs Lefkowitz, Prescott, and Shi are employees of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Dr Solomon has received grants paid to his institution from Alnylam, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bellerophon, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celladon, Cytokinetics, Gilead, Eidos, GlaxoSmithKline, Ionis, Lone Star Heart, Mesoblast, MyoKardia, National Institutes of Health/NHLBI, Novartis, Sanofi Pasteur, and Theracos; and consulting fees from Alnylam, Amgen, AoBiome, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardiac Dimensions, Corvia, Cytokinetics, Daichi-Sankyo, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Ironwood, Janssen, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Quantum Genomics, Roche, Takeda, Tenaya, and Theracos. Dr Liu has reported that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the predictive power of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the decision cutoffs in heart failure (HF) across body mass index (BMI) categories., Background: Concentrations of NT-proBNP predict outcome in HF. Although the influence of BMI to reduce levels of NT-proBNP is known, the impact of obesity on prognostic value remains uncertain., Methods: Individual data from the BIOS (Biomarkers In Heart Failure Outpatient Study) consortium were analyzed. Patients with stable HF were classified as underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m 2 ), and mildly (BMI 30-34.9 kg/m 2 ), moderately (BMI 35-39.9 kg/m 2 ), or severely (BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 ) obese. The prognostic role of NT-proBNP was tested for the endpoints of all-cause and cardiac death., Results: The study population included 12,763 patients (mean age 66 ± 12 years; 25% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction 33% ± 13%). Most patients were overweight (n = 5,176), followed by normal weight (n = 4,299), mildly obese (n = 2,157), moderately obese (n = 612), severely obese (n = 314), and underweight (n = 205). NT-proBNP inversely correlated with BMI (β = -0.174 for 1 kg/m 2 ; P < 0.001). Adding NT-proBNP to clinical models improved risk prediction across BMI categories, with the exception of severely obese patients. The best cutoffs of NT-proBNP for 5-year all-cause death prediction were lower as BMI increased (3,785 ng/L, 2,193 ng/L, 1,554 ng/L, 1,045 ng/L, 755 ng/L, and 879 ng/L, for underweight, normal weight, overweight, and mildly, moderately, and severely obese patients, respectively) and were higher in women than in men., Conclusions: NT-proBNP maintains its independent prognostic value up to 40 kg/m 2 BMI, and lower optimal risk-prediction cutoffs are observed in overweight and obese patients., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Januzzi is supported in part by the Hutter Family Professorship; is a Trustee of the American College of Cardiology; has received grant support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Roche Diagnostics, Abbott, Singulex and Prevencio; has received consulting income from Abbott, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Merck, and Roche Diagnostics; and participates in clinical endpoint committees/data safety monitoring boards for Abbott, AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, and Takeda. Dr Richards has sat on advisory boards and/or received speakers honoraria, travel support, and/or grants from Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher, and Critical Diagnostics. Dr Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, and Vifor Pharma; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/ Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, Novartis, Amgen, Merck, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, WebMD Global LLC, Radcliffe Group Ltd, and Corpus. Dr Latini has received grant support and travel reimbursements from Roche Diagnostics. Dr Brunner-La Rocca reports unrestricted research grants and consulting fees from Roche Diagnostics, as well as unrestricted research grants from Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline outside this work. Dr Bayes-Genis has received grant support from Roche Diagnosis, lecture honoraria from Roche Diagnostics and Critical Diagnostics, and consulting income from Roche Diagnostics, Critical Diagnostics, and Novartis. Dr Lupón has received lecture honoraria from Roche Diagnostics and Critical Diagnostics. The University Medical Centre Groningen, which employs Drs De Boer and Meems, has received research grants and/or fees from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardior Pharmaceuticals Gmbh, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Novo Nordisk, and Roche. Dr de Boer received speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche, outside the submitted work. Dr Gaggin has received grant support from Roche and Portola; consulting income from Roche Diagnostics, Amgen, and Ortho Clinical; and research payments for clinical endpoint committees for EchoSense and Radiometer. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: The primary aim of the current study was to investigate global differences in prevalence, association with outcome, and treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in the REPORT-HF (International Registry to Assess Medical Practice With Longitudinal Observation for Treatment of Heart Failure) registry., Background: Data on IHD in patients with AHF are primarily from Western Europe and North America. Little is known about global differences in treatment and prognosis of patients with IHD and AHF., Methods: A total of 18,539 patients with AHF were prospectively enrolled from 44 countries and 365 centers in the REPORT-HF registry. Patients with a history of coronary artery disease, an ischemic event causing admission for AHF, or coronary revascularization were classified as IHD. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with and without IHD were explored., Results: Compared with 8,766 (47%) patients without IHD, 9,773 (53%) patients with IHD were older, more likely to have a left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]), and reported more comorbidities. IHD was more common in lower income compared with high-income countries (61% vs. 48%). Patients with IHD from countries with low health care expenditure per capita or without health insurance less likely underwent coronary revascularization or used anticoagulants at discharge. IHD was independently associated with worse cardiovascular death (hazard ratio: 1.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.09 to 1.35). The association between IHD and cardiovascular death was stronger in HFrEF compared with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (p interaction  <0.001)., Conclusions: In this large global contemporary cohort of patients with AHF, IHD was more common in low-income countries and conveyed worse 1-year mortality, especially in HFrEF. Patients in regions with the greatest burden of IHD were less likely to receive coronary revascularization and treatment for IHD., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures REPORT-HF was funded by Novartis. Dr. Lam is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council of Singapore; has received research support from Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, and Vifor Pharma; has served as consultant or on the Advisory Board/Steering Committee/Executive Committee for Boston Scientific, Bayer, Roche Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, Novartis, Amgen, Merck, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Jana Care, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global LLC, Radcliffe Group Ltd., and Corpus; and serves as co-founder and non-executive director of eKo.ai. Dr. Tromp has received personal grants and speaker fees from Olink Proteomics and Roche Diagnostics. Dr. Filippatos has received research grants from the European Union; committee fees from Novartis related to REPORT-HF; and committee membership in trials and/or registries sponsored by Servier, Boehringer Ingelheim, Medtronic, and Vifor. Dr. Angermann has received grants, personal fees, and other from Novartis; and further acknowledges nonfinancial support from the University Hospital Würzburg, nonfinancial support from the Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Würzburg, and grant support from the German Ministry for Education and Research. Dr. Dahlstrom has received research support from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vifor, Roche Diagnostics, and Boston Scientific; and speaker honoraria and consultancies from AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Amgen. Dr. Hassanein has received honoraria as a lecturer from Novartis, Aventis, Amgen, MSD, AstraZeneca, and Merck. Dr. Collins has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the American Heart Association, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; and consulting fees from Novartis, Medtronic, Vixiar, and Ortho Clinical. Drs. Ghadanfar, Schweizer, and Obergfell are employed by Novartis. Dr. Cleland has received grants and personal fees from Amgen, Philips, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Stealth Biopharmaceuticals, and Torrent Pharmaceuticals; personal fees from AstraZeneca, MyoKardia, Sanofi, Servier, and Abbott; grants, personal fees, and nonfinancial support from Medtronic, Novartis, and Vifor; and grants and nonfinancial support from Pharmacosmos and Pharma Nord. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: This study sought to compare patient characteristics, outcomes, and treatment effects among regions in the COMMANDER-HF trial., Background: Globalization of cardiovascular trials increases generalizability. However, regional differences may also introduce heterogeneity in results., Methods: Incidence rates and interactions with treatment were recorded in pre-specified regions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe and South Africa, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America., Results: Most patients (n = 3,224; 64.2%) were from Eastern Europe; 458 (9.1%) were from Western Europe and South Africa; 149 (3.0%) were from North America; 733 (14.6%) were from Asia-Pacific; and 458 (9.1%) were from Latin America. Compared with patients from Eastern Europe, patients from Western Europe and South Africa, North America, and Asia-Pacific were older and more likely to have coronary interventions and cardiac devices. Patients from Eastern Europe had the lowest event rates. For the primary outcome of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, or all-cause death, event rates (100/year) were 11.6 in Eastern Europe (10.8 to 12.5); 19.5 (16.5 to 23.0) in Western Europe and South Africa; 14.2 (10.5 to 19.2) in North America; 17.7 (15.4 to 20.3) in Asia-Pacific; and 18.6 (15.6 to 22.1) in Latin America. There was a lower incidence of bleeding in Eastern Europe. Blood concentrations of rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Titusville, New Jersey) at 4 weeks were undetectable in 21% patients from Eastern Europe (n = 128) compared to 5% in other regions (n = 42). There was no evidence of treatment-by-region heterogeneity for the primary outcome (interaction p  = 0.14), but a favorable effect on the secondary outcome of MI, stroke, or cardiovascular death was observed in Western Europe and South Africa, North America, and Latin America but not in Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific (interaction p  = 0.017)., Conclusions: In the COMMANDER-HF study, patients from Eastern Europe had a lower risk profile and fewer cardiovascular and bleeding events, possibly related to lower treatment adherence. Those differences might have influenced the effect of rivaroxaban therapy. (A Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Reducing the Risk of Death, Myocardial Infarction or Stroke in Participants With Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Following an Episode of Decompensated Heart Failure [COMMANDER HF]; NCT01877915)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The COMMANDER-HF trial was supported by Janssen Research and Development. Drs. Ferreira, Rossignol, and Zannad are supported by Reseau Hospitalo-Universitaire Fight-HF, a public grant overseen by the French National Research Agency as part of the second “Investissements d’Avenir” program (reference: ANR-15-RHUS-0004) and by the French Investments for the Future Program project “Lorraine Université d’Excellence” (reference: ANR-15-IDEX-04-LUE). The biobanking for rivaroxaban dosages is managed by Biological Resource Center Lorrain BB-0033-00035. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the treatment effect of vericiguat in relation to N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels at randomization., Background: Vericiguat compared with placebo reduced the primary outcome of cardiovascular death (CVD) or heart failure hospitalization (HFH) in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the VICTORIA (A Study of Vericiguat in Participants With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial. Because an interaction existed between treatment and the primary outcome according to pre-specified quartiles of NT-proBNP at randomization, we examined this further., Methods: This study evaluated the NT-proBNP relationship with the primary outcome in 4,805 of 5,050 patients as a risk-adjusted, log-transformed continuous variable. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are presented., Results: Median NT-proBNP was 2,816 pg/ml (25th to 75th percentile: 1,556 to 5,314 pg/ml). The study treatment effect varied across the spectrum of NT-proBNP at randomization (with log 2 transformation, p for interaction = 0.002). A significant association between treatment effects existed in patients with levels <4,000 pg/ml and remained evident up to 8,000 pg/ml. A 23% relative risk reduction occurred in the primary endpoint with NT-proBNP ≤4,000 pg/ml (HR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.88). For NT-proBNP values ≤4,000 pg/ml (n = 3,100), the HR was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.67 to 0.90) for HFH and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.60 to 0.94) for CVD. For NT-proBNP ≤8,000 pg/ml (n = 4,133), the HR was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76 to 0.95) for the primary outcome, 0.84 (95% CI: 0.75 to 0.95) for HFH, and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71 to 0.99) for CVD. For NT-proBNP >8,000 pg/ml (n = 672), the HR was 1.16 (95% CI: 0.94 to 1.41) for the primary outcome., Conclusions: A reduction in the primary composite endpoint and its CVD and HFH components was observed in patients on vericiguat compared with subjects on placebo with NT-proBNP levels up to 8,000 pg/ml. This provided new insight into the benefit observed in high-risk patients with worsening HFrEF. (A Study of Vericiguat in Participants With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction [HFrEF] [MK-1242-001] [VICTORIA]; NCT02861534)., Competing Interests: Author Relationship With Industry This study was supported by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., and Bayer AG. Mr. Ezekowitz has received research grants from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics; has received consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, Servier, Amgen, Sanofi, Novartis, Cytokinetics, American Regent, and Applied Therapeutics. Dr. O’Connor has received research funding from Merck; and has received consulting fees from Bayer, Dey LP, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. Dr. Troughton has received research grants from and personal fees from Merck and Roche Diagnostics. Dr. Voors has received research grants from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche Diagnostics; and has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Myokardia, Novartis, Servier, and Roche Diagnostics. Dr. Butler has received consulting fees from Bayer, Merck, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CVRx, G3 Pharmaceutical, Janssen, Luitpold, Medtronic, Novartis, Vifor, and Novo Nordisk. Dr. Lam has received research grants from Bayer, National Medical Research Council of Singapore, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Medtronic, Vifor Pharma, and AstraZeneca; has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Boston Scientific, Roche Diagnostic, Vifor Pharma, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Amgen, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Menarini, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Diagnostics, Corvia, Stealth BioTherapeutics, Novo Nordisk, JanaCare, Biofourmis, Darma, Applied Therapeutics, MyoKardia, Cytokinetics, WebMD Global LLC, Radcliffe Group Ltd, and Corpus; has a patents pending for PCT/SG2016/050217 and 16/216,929; and is the Cofounder and non-executive director of eKo.ai. Dr. Ponikowski has received research grants from Vifor Pharma Ltd, and Servier; has received consulting fees from MSD, Novartis, Vifor Pharma Ltd, Servier, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Respicardia, AstraZeneca, Cibiem, RenalGuardSolution, and Berlin Chemie. Dr. Pieske has received research grants from MSD, Bayer, and Servier; has received consulting fees from MSD, Bayer, Servier, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MedScape, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Novartis; and has received non-financial support from MSD, Bayer, and Novartis. Dr. Hernandez has received research grants from Merck, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Verily; and has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. Dr. Armstrong has received research grants from Merck, Bayer, Sanofi-Aventis Recherche & Développement, Boehringer Ingelheim, and CSL Limited; and has received consulting fees from Merck, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of a mid-trial protocol amendment requiring elevated natriuretic peptides for inclusion in the COMMANDER-HF (A Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Reducing the Risk of Death, Myocardial Infarction, or Stroke in Participants with Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Following an Episode of Decompensated Heart Failure) trial., Background: Heart failure (HF) trials that select patients based on history of HF hospitalization alone are susceptible to regional variations in event rates. Elevated plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides (NPs) as selection criteria may help HF ascertainment and risk enrichment. In the COMMANDER-HF trial, B-type natriuretic peptide ≥200 ng/l or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide ≥800 ng/l were added to inclusion criteria as a mid-trial protocol amendment, providing a unique case-study of NP-based inclusion criteria., Methods: We compared the baseline characteristics, event rates, and treatment effects for patients enrolled before and after the NP protocol amendment. The primary endpoint was all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Secondary endpoints included HF rehospitalization and cardiovascular death., Results: A total of 5,022 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and coronary artery disease were included. Compared to patients enrolled before the NP protocol amendment, those enrolled post-amendment (n = 3,867, 77%) were older, more often had diabetes, and had lower values for body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher heart rate, and higher event rates: primary endpoint (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16 to 1.50), cardiovascular death (HR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.50), HF rehospitalization (HR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.49), and major bleeding (HR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.11 to 2.65). Differences between pre- and post-amendment rates were confined to and driven by Eastern Europe. This protocol amendment did not modify the neutral effect of rivaroxaban on the primary endpoint (p interaction = 0.36) or secondary endpoints., Conclusions: In a global event-driven trial of rivaroxaban in HF, requiring elevated NPs for inclusion increased event rates allowing earlier completion of the trial but did not modify treatment effect. These data inform future HF trials regarding the expected impact of NP-based inclusion criteria on patient characteristics and event rates. (COMMANDER HF [A Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Reducing the Risk of Death, Myocardial Infarction, or Stroke in Participants With Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Following an Episode of Decompensated Heart Failure] NCT01877915)., (Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Objectives: The authors sought to evaluate the prognostic significance of baseline N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), whether NT-proBNP modified the treatment response to sacubitril/valsartan, and the treatment effect of sacubitril/valsartan on NT-proBNP overall and in key subgroups., Background: Sacubitril/valsartan reduces NT-proBNP in heart failure (HF) with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction (EF), but did not significantly reduce total HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular death compared with valsartan in patients with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF)., Methods: In the PARAGON-HF (Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan, on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial, 4,796 patients with HFpEF and elevated NT-proBNP were randomized to sacubitril/valsartan or valsartan. NT-proBNP was measured at screening in all patients and at 5 subsequent times in >2,700 patients: before, between, and after sequential valsartan and sacubitril/valsartan run-in periods, and 16 and 48 weeks post-randomization., Results: Median NT-proBNP was 911 pg/ml (interquartile range: 464 to 1,613 pg/ml) at screening. Screening NT-proBNP was strongly associated with the primary endpoint, total HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular death (rate ratio [RR]: 1.68 per log increase in NT-proBNP, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53 to 1.85; p < 0.001). This relationship was stronger in patients with atrial fibrillation (adjusted RR: 2.33 [95% CI: 1.89 to 2.87] vs. 1.58 [95% CI: 1.42 to 1.75] in patients without atrial fibrillation; p interaction <0.001) and weaker in obese patients (adjusted RR: 1.50 [95% CI: 1.31 to 1.71] vs. 1.92 [95% CI: 1.70 to 2.17] in nonobese patients; p interaction <0.001). Screening NT-proBNP did not modify the treatment effect of sacubitril/valsartan compared with valsartan (p interaction = 0.96). Sacubitril/valsartan reduced NT-proBNP by 19% (95% CI: 14% to 23%; p < 0.001) compared with valsartan 16 weeks post-randomization, with similar reductions in men (20%) and women (18%), and in patients with left ventricular EF ≤57% (20%) and >57% (18%). Decreases in NT-proBNP predicted lower subsequent risk of the primary endpoint., Conclusions: Baseline NT-proBNP predicted HF events but did not modify the sacubitril/valsartan treatment effect in patients with HFpEF. Sacubitril/valsartan reduced NT-proBNP consistently in men and women, and in patients with lower or higher EF. (Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan, on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction [PARAGON-HF]; NCT01920711)., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Whereas multiple national, international, and trial registries for heart failure have been created, international standards for clinical assessment and outcome measurement do not currently exist. The working group's objective was to facilitate international comparison in heart failure care, using standardized parameters and meaningful patient-centered outcomes for research and quality of care assessments. The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement recruited an international working group of clinical heart failure experts, researchers, and patient representatives to define a standard set of outcomes and risk-adjustment variables. This was designed to document, compare, and ultimately improve patient care outcomes in the heart failure population, with a focus on global feasibility and relevance. The working group employed a Delphi process, patient focus groups, online patient surveys, and multiple systematic publications searches. The process occurred over 10 months, employing 7 international teleconferences. A 17-item set has been established, addressing selected functional, psychosocial, burden of care, and survival outcome domains. These measures were designed to include all patients with heart failure, whether entered at first presentation or subsequent decompensation, excluding cardiogenic shock. Sources include clinician report, administrative data, and validated patient-reported outcome measurement tools: the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire; the Patient Health Questionnaire-2; and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. Recommended data included those to support risk adjustment and benchmarking across providers and regions. The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement developed a dataset designed to capture, compare, and improve care for heart failure, with feasibility and relevance for patients and clinicians worldwide., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...