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Background: \ud Despite renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system blockade and immunosuppressive treatment, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) often progresses to kidney failure. The objective of this pre-specified analysis of DAPA-CKD was to assess efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in a small subgroup participants with FSGS confirmed by kidney biopsy.\ud \ud Methods: \ud In DAPA-CKD, patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 25–75 mL/min/1.73m2 and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) 200–5000 mg/g (22.6–565 mg/mol) were randomised to dapagliflozin 10mg once-daily or placebo as an adjunct to standard care, and followed for median 2.4 years. The primary composite endpoint was sustained eGFR decline ≥ 50%, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), or kidney or cardiovascular death. The endpoint of interest for this analysis was eGFR slope (acute effects from baseline to Week 2 and chronic effects from Week 2 to end of treatment).\ud \ud Results: \ud Of 104 participants with biopsy-confirmed FSGS, 45 were randomised to dapagliflozin and 59 to placebo. Mean (SD) age was 54.0 (14.3) years, mean eGFR 41.9 (11.5) mL/min/1.73m2 and median (IQR) UACR 1248 (749–2211) mg/g. The primary outcome occurred in 4 (8.9%) and 7 (11.9%) participants randomised to dapagliflozin and placebo, respectively (HR 0.62, 95%CI 0.17–2.17). Dapagliflozin led to a larger acute reduction (SE) in eGFR compared to placebo (−4.5 [95% CI − 5.9-−3.1] vs − 0.9 [−2.1–0.4] mL/min/1.73m2 per 2 wks). Thereafter, mean rates of chronic eGFR decline with dapagliflozin and placebo were − 1.9 (−3.0-−0.9) and − 4.0 (−4.9-−3.0) mL/min/1.73m2/year, respectively (difference 2.0 [95%CI 0.6–3.5] mL/min/1.73m2/year). Adverse events leading to study drug discontinuation were similar in both groups; there were fewer serious adverse events with dapagliflozin.\ud \ud Conclusion: \ud Among DAPA-CKD participants with FSGS, dapagliflozin reduced the rate of chronic decline of eGFR compared to placebo, although this difference was not statistically significant.

Background: \ud Recent guidelines support consideration of sodium glucose co-transporter(SGLT)-2 inhibitors in the long-term management of heart failure (HF) with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Patients and clinicians may be interested in the expected lifetime benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitors.\ud \ud Objectives: \ud To estimate event-free survival gains from long-term use of dapagliflozin in patients with HF with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction overall and in clinically relevant subgroups.\ud \ud Methods: \ud In this pre-specified analysis of DELIVER, we applied validated nonparametric age-based methods to extrapolate potential gains in survival free from the primary endpoint (cardiovascular death or worsening HF event) from long-term use of dapagliflozin. Eligible participants had symptomatic HF, LVEF>40%, elevated natriuretic peptide levels, and structural heart disease. For every year between age 55 and 85, we estimated event-free survival using age at randomization rather than time from randomization as the time horizon. Residual lifespan free from primary endpoint was estimated based on area under the survival curve in each arm.\ud \ud Results: \ud Among 6,263 participants, mean survival free from the primary endpoint for a 65-year-old participant was 12.1 (95%CI 11.0 to 13.2) years with dapagliflozin and 9.7 (95%CI 8.8 to 10.7) years with placebo, representing a 2.3 (95%CI 0.9 to 3.8) year event-free survival gain(P=0.002). Treatment gains in survival free from the primary endpoint ranged from 2.0 (95%CI -0.6 to 4.6) years in a 55-year-old to 1.2 (95%CI -0.1 to 2.4) years in a 75-year-old. Mean event-free survival was greater with dapagliflozin than with placebo across all 14 subgroups.\ud \ud Conclusions: \ud Treatment with dapagliflozin is projected to extend event-free survival by up to 2-2.5 years among middle age and older individuals with HF with mildly reduced, preserved, or improved ejection fraction.

Background: \ud Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in heart failure (HF), is associated with worse outcomes, compared to sinus rhythm, and may modify the effects of therapy.\ud \ud Objectives: \ud We examined the effects of dapagliflozin according to the presence or not of AF in the Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure trial (DELIVER).\ud \ud Methods: \ud A total of 6,263 patients with HF with NYHA functional class II-IV, LVEF >40%, evidence of structural heart disease, and elevated NT-proBNP levels were randomized to dapagliflozin or placebo. Clinical outcomes, and the effect of dapagliflozin, according to AF status, were examined. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death or a worsening HF.\ud \ud Results: \ud Of the 6,261 patients with data on baseline AF, 43.3% had no AF, 18.0% paroxysmal AF, and 38.7% persistent/permanent AF. The risk of the primary endpoint was higher in patients with AF, especially paroxysmal AF, driven by a higher rate of HF hospitalization: no AF, HF hospitalization rate per 100 person-years (95% CI), 4.5 (4.0-5.1); paroxysmal AF 7.5 (6.4-8.7); persistent/permanent AF 6.4 (5.7-7.1) (P

Background: In a post hoc analysis, the frequency of occurrence of an early decline ("dip") in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after initiation of dapagliflozin, and its association with outcomes, was evaluated in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) randomized in the Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse outcomes in Heart Failure trial. Methods: HFrEF patients with or without type 2 diabetes and an eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73m2 were randomized to placebo or dapagliflozin 10mg daily. The primary outcome was the composite of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular death. The extent of the dip in eGFR between baseline and 2 weeks, patient characteristics associated with a >10% decline, and cardiovascular outcomes and eGFR slopes in participants experiencing this decline were investigated. Time-to-event outcomes were assessed in Cox regression from 14 days; eGFR slopes were assessed using repeated measure mixed effect models. Results: The mean change in eGFR between day 0 and 14 was -1.1 ml/min/1.73m2 (95% CI -1.5,-0.7) with placebo and -4.2 ml/min/1.73m2 (-4.6,-3.9) with dapagliflozin, giving a between treatment difference of 3.1 (2.6, 3.7) ml/min/1.73m2. The proportions of patients randomized to dapagliflozin experiencing a >10%, >20% and >30% decline in eGFR were: 38.2%, 12.6%, and 3.4%, respectively; for placebo they were 21.0%, 6.4% and 1.3%, respectively. The odds ratio for a >10% early decline in eGFR with dapagliflozin, compared with placebo, was 2.36 (95%CI 2.07-2.69), P10% decline in eGFR on dapagliflozin were older age, lower eGFR, higher ejection fraction, and type 2 diabetes. The hazard ratio for the primary outcome in patients in the placebo group experiencing a >10% decline in eGFR, compared with ≤10% decline in eGFR was 1.45 (95% CI 1.19-1.78). The corresponding hazard ratio in the dapagliflozin group was 0.73 (95% CI 0.59-0.91), P-interaction 10% initial decline in eGFR was not associated with greater long-term decline in eGFR or more adverse events. Conclusions: The average dip in eGFR after starting dapagliflozin was small and associated with better clinical outcomes, compared with a similar decline on placebo in patients with HFrEF. Large declines in eGFR were uncommon with dapagliflozin.

Aims: \ud Worsening renal function may impact long-term outcomes in heart failure (HF). However, little is known about the longitudinal trajectories in renal function in relation to the HF hospitalization or how this high-risk clinical event impacts renal outcomes.\ud \ud Methods and Results: \ud In PARAGON-HF, we evaluated the association between recency of prior HF hospitalization (occurring pre-randomization) and subsequent first renal composite outcome: (1) time to ≥50% decline in eGFR ; (2) development of end stage renal disease (ESRD); or (3) death attributable to renal causes. 2,306 (48.1%) patients had a history of prior HF hospitalization. Incident rates of the renal outcome were highest in those most recently hospitalized and decreased with longer time from last hospitalization. Treatment effect on the renal outcome of sacubitril/valsartan vs. valsartan was similar between patients with (HR 0.43; 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.75) and without (HR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.18; Pinteraction = 0.39) a prior history of HF hospitalization and appeared consistent regardless of timing of prior hospitalization for HF (Pinteraction =0.39). Serial eGFR measurements leading up to and after a HF hospitalization (occurring during the study period) and estimated eGFR trajectories using repeated measures regression models with restricted cubic splines were also examined. Patients experiencing a post-randomization HF hospitalization had a significant decline in eGFR prior to hospitalization while patients without HF hospitalization experienced a relatively stable eGFR trajectory (p

Background: SGLT2 inhibitors are strongly recommended in guidelines to treat patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but their clinical benefits at higher ejection fractions are less well established. Two large-scale trials, DELIVER and EMPEROR-Preserved, in heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction have been done, providing power to examine therapeutic effects on cardiovascular mortality and in patient subgroups when combined with the earlier trials in reduced ejection fraction.Methods: We did a prespecified meta-analysis of DELIVER and EMPEROR-Preserved, and subsequently included trials that enrolled patients with reduced ejection fraction (DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced) and those admitted to hospital with worsening heart failure, irrespective of ejection fraction (SOLOIST-WHF). Using trial-level data with harmonised endpoint definitions, we did a fixed-effects meta-analysis to estimate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on various clinical endpoints in heart failure The primary endpoint for this meta-analysis was time from randomisation to the occurrence of the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for heart failure. We assessed heterogeneity in treatment effects for the primary endpoint across subgroups of interest. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022327527.Findings: Among 12 251 participants from DELIVER and EMPEROR-Preserved, SGLT2 inhibitors reduced composite cardiovascular death or first hospitalisation for heart failure (hazard ratio 0·80 [95% CI 0·73–0·87]) with consistent reductions in both components: cardiovascular death (0·88 [0·77–1·00]) and first hospitalisation for heart failure (0·74 [0·67–0·83]). In the broader context of the five trials of 21 947 participants, SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of composite cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for heart failure (0·77 [0·72–0·82]), cardiovascular death (0·87 [0·79–0·95]), first hospitalisation for heart failure (0·72 [0·67–0·78]), and all-cause mortality (0·92 [0·86–0·99]). These treatment effects for each of the studied endpoints were consistently observed in both the trials of heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction and across all five trials. Treatment effects on the primary endpoint were generally consistent across the 14 subgroups examined, including ejection fraction.Interpretation: SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalisations for heart failure in a broad range of patients with heart failure, supporting their role as a foundational therapy for heart failure, irrespective of ejection fraction or care setting.Funding: None.

Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are now seen as an integral part of therapy in type 2 diabetes to not only control blood glucose but to improve cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is an uncommon but a serious complication of type 2 diabetes which has a high case fatality rate. The absolute risk of DKA in large, prospective randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in people with type 2 diabetes using SGLT2 inhibitors has been very low, although the relative risk is higher in those assigned to SGLT2i compared with placebo. In those without diabetes prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors for heart failure or chronic kidney disease, the risk of DKA is similar to placebo. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of DKA have also been reported in cases of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Consensus guidelines have recommended that SGLT2 inhibitors should be avoided in cases of serious illness and suggest they are not recommended for routine in-hospital use. However, recent data suggest potential beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in the setting of acute illness with COVID-19 with no increase in adverse events and low rates of DKA which were non-severe. Given the low rates of DKA in cardiovascular outcome trials and in hospitalised type 2 diabetes patients, the potential for SGLT2 inhibitors not being re-initiated following discharge and their cardiovascular and kidney benefits, we believe the practice of routine “sick day” guidance should be re-examined based on current evidence with a call for further research in this area. Further high quality trials of initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors in people admitted to hospital with cardiovascular disease or kidney disease and trials of continuation of SGLT2 inhibitors in people with careful monitoring of DKA should be conducted. These should be further supplemented with large observational studies.

Background: \ud Biomarker-driven prognostic models incorporating NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT in HFpEF are lacking.\ud \ud Aims: \ud To generate a biomarker-driven prognostic tool for patients with chronic HFpEF enrolled in EMPEROR-Preserved.\ud \ud Methods: \ud Multivariable Cox regression models were created for (i) the primary composite outcome of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death (ii) all-cause death (iii) cardiovascular death and (iv) HF hospitalization. PARAGON-HF was used as a validation cohort.\ud \ud Results: \ud NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT were the dominant predictors of the primary outcome, and in addition, a shorter time since last hospitalization, NYHA class III or IV, history of COPD, insulin-treated diabetes, low hemoglobin, and a longer time since HF diagnosis were key predictors (8 variables, all P22x higher than those in the bottom 10th. A model for HF hospitalization alone had even better discrimination (c=0.79). Empagliflozin reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure in patients across all risk levels. NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT were also the dominant predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality followed by history of COPD, low albumin, older age, LVEF ≥50%, NYHA class III or IV and insulin-treated diabetes (8 variables, all P

Aims: \ud Data on long-term treatment effects are scarce, despite the intent to use new therapies for many years and the need of patients, physicians and payers to have a better understanding of the lifetime benefits of treatments. The restricted mean or median survival time (RMST) calculated using age instead of time, hypothetically enables estimation of long-term gain in event-free or overall survival from the short-term (within-trial) effects of an intervention, compared with its control. Tha aim of the study is to use trials with long-term follow-up available through extension studies to compare the long-term projections estimated using RMST from within-trial follow-up data with the actual long-term outcomes in the extension studies.\ud \ud Methods and results: \ud We estimated the median long-term survival time using age instead of follow-up time and compared these model-based projections with the actual long-term estimates in the (i) SCD-HeFT trial vs. SCD-HeFT long-term outcomes; (ii) SOLVD trial vs. SOLVD 12 year follow-up; (iii) STICH trial vs. STICHES; and (iv) ACCORD study vs. ACCORDION. In the long-term follow-up of SCD-HeFT, gain in survival with ICD vs. placebo over a median of 11.0 years was +1.4 years of life. The RMST model-derived survival projection from the within-trial data (median follow-up of 3.4 years) gave an estimated survival gain of +1.2 years. In STICHES, over a median follow-up of 9.8 years, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) vs. medical care led to a survival extension of +1.4 years in favour of CABG. RMST projections using within-trial data from STICH (median follow-up of 4.9 years), gave an extended survival of +2.4 years in favour of CABG in younger patients. In the long-term follow-up of SOLVD, enalapril vs. placebo led to a survival gain of +0.8 years over a median follow-up of 12.1 years. The RMST projections from the within-trial data (median follow-up of 2.8 years) gave a survival extension of +0.3 years in favour of enalapril. In the long-term follow-up ACCORDION study, with a median follow-up of 8.8 years, intensive vs. a standard anti-hyperglycaemic treatment did not influence long-term survival, which was concordant with the RMST projections from the short-term ACCORD study with median follow-up of 4.9 years.\ud \ud Conclusions: \ud Age-based survival projections using within-trial data generally provided concordant results with the actual survival measured in long-term follow-up extension studies. Our findings suggest that age-based lifetime projections may be used as means to assess the long-term treatment effects.

Background Compared with enalapril, sacubitril/valsartan lowered HbA1c and reduced new insulin therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and diabetes in the PARADIGM-HF trial. We sought to assess the glycemic effects of sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and diabetes, and across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in heart failure and diabetes. Methods We compared the effect of sacubitril/valsartan, relative to valsartan, on HbA1c, new insulin therapy and hypoglycemia in the randomized controlled trial PARAGON-HF, and performed pooled analyses of PARAGON-HF and PARADIGM-HF. Results Among 2395 patients with HFpEF and diabetes in PARAGON-HF, sacubitril/valsartan compared with valsartan reduced HbA1c (baseline-adjusted between-group difference in HbA1c change at 48 weeks: − 0.24%, 95% CI − 0.33 to − 0.16%, P interaction = 0.56). Across the spectrum of LVEF, sacubitril/valsartan reduced new insulin therapy (HR: 0.75, 95% CI 0.63–0.89, P = 0.001), compared with enalapril or valsartan. Conclusions Sacubitril/valsartan reduced HbA1c and new insulin therapy in patients with heart failure and diabetes across the spectrum of LVEF but may be associated with a slightly higher risk for hypoglycemia. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01920711

In this review, we discuss what is meant by "foundational" therapy for patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and the evidence supporting the use of the five agents that comprise this group of drugs i.e., sacubitril/valsartan, a beta-blocker, an aldosterone or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) and a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. We review the conventional approach to sequencing these therapies in HFrEF and proposed new rapid sequencing strategies. We review a recent modelling study suggesting the optimal sequence of treatment includes a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition and an MRA as the first two therapies. Finally, we review the important opportunity offered by hospitalization for worsening heart failure to initiate and optimize foundational therapies in patients at high risk of early adverse outcomes.

Importance: Daprodustat, a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, is being evaluated as an oral alternative to conventional erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy. Few studies of anemia treatment in an incident dialysis (ID) population have been reported.\ud \ud Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of daprodustat vs darbepoetin alfa in treating anemia of chronic kidney disease in ID patients.\ud \ud Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective, randomized, open-label clinical trial was conducted from May 11, 2017, through September 24, 2020, in 90 centers across 14 countries. Patients with advanced CKD were eligible if they planned to start dialysis within 6 weeks from screening or had started and received hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) within 90 days before randomization, had a screening hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of 8.0 to 10.5 g/dL (to convert to grams per liter, multiply by 10) and a randomization Hb of 8.0 to 11.0 g/dL, were ESA-naive or had received limited ESA treatment, and were iron-replete.\ud \ud Interventions: Randomized 1:1 to daprodustat or darbepoetin alfa.\ud \ud Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary analysis in the intent-to-treat population evaluated the mean change in Hb concentration from baseline to evaluation period (weeks 28-52) to assess noninferiority of daprodustat vs darbepoetin alfa (noninferiority margin, −0.75 g/dL). The mean monthly intravenous (IV) iron dose from baseline to week 52 was the principal secondary end point. Rates of treatment-emergent and serious adverse events (AEs) were also compared between treatment groups to assess safety and tolerability.\ud \ud Results: A total of 312 patients (median [IQR] age, 55 [45-65] years; 194 [62%] male) were randomized to either daprodustat (157 patients; median [IQR] age, 52.0 [45-63] years; 96 [61%] male) or darbepoetin alfa (155 patients; median [IQR] age, 56.0 [45-67] years; 98 [63%] male); 306 patients (98%) completed the trial. The mean (SD) Hb concentration during the evaluation period was 10.5 (1.0) g/dL for the daprodustat and 10.6 (0.9) g/dL for the darbepoetin alfa group, with an adjusted mean treatment difference of −0.10 g/dL (95% CI, −0.34 to 0.14 g/dL), indicating noninferiority. There was a reduction in mean monthly IV iron use from baseline to week 52 in both treatment groups; however, daprodustat was not superior compared with darbepoetin alfa in reducing monthly IV iron use (adjusted mean treatment difference, 19.4 mg [95% CI, –11.0 to 49.9 mg]). Adverse event rates were 76% for daprodustat vs 72% for darbepoetin alfa.\ud \ud Conclusions and Relevance: This randomized clinical trial found that daprodustat was noninferior to darbepoetin alfa in treating anemia of CKD and may represent a potential oral alternative to a conventional ESA in the ID population.\ud \ud Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03029208

Aims: Blood uric acid (UA) levels are frequently elevated in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), may lead to gout and are associated with worse outcomes. Reduction in UA is desirable in HFrEF and sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may have this effect. We aimed to examine the association between UA and outcomes, the effect of dapagliflozin according to baseline UA level, and the effect of dapagliflozin on UA in patients with HFrEF in the DAPA-HF trial. Methods and results: The association between UA and the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure, its components, and all-cause mortality was examined using Cox regression analyses among 3119 patients using tertiles of UA, after adjustment for other prognostic variables. Change in UA from baseline over 12 months was also evaluated. Patients in tertile 3 (UA ≥6.8 mg/dl) versus tertile 1 (2), and more often treated with diuretics. Higher UA was associated with a greater risk of the primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.66; p = 0.01). The risk of heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death increased by 7% and 6%, respectively per 1 mg/dl unit increase of UA (p = 0.04 and p = 0.07). Spline analysis revealed a linear increase in risk above a cut-off UA value of 7.09 mg/dl. Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin reduced UA by 0.84 mg/dl (95% CI −0.93 to −0.74) over 12 months (p < 0.001). Dapagliflozin improved outcomes, irrespective of baseline UA concentration. Conclusion: Uric acid remains an independent predictor of worse outcomes in a well-treated contemporary HFrEF population. Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin reduced UA and improved outcomes irrespective of UA concentration.

Aims: \ud To examine clinical and social correlates of health-related quality of life (HRQL), in patients with heart failure (HF) from high- (HIC), upper middle- (UMIC), lower middle-(LMIC) and low-income (LIC) countries.\ud \ud Methods and Results: \ud Between 2017 and 2020, we enrolled 23,292 patients with HF (32% inpatients, 61% men) from 40 countries in the Global Congestive Heart Failure Study. We recorded HRQL at baseline using Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ)-12. In a cross-sectional analysis, we compared age- and sex-adjusted mean KCCQ-12 summary scores (SS: 0-100, higher=better) between patients from different country income levels. We used multivariable linear regression examining correlations (estimated coefficients) of KCCQ-12-SS with sociodemographic-, comorbidity-, treatment- and symptom-covariates. The adjusted model (37 covariates) was informed by univariable findings, clinical importance and backward selection. Mean age was 63 years and 40% were in NYHA class III-IV. Average HRQL was 55±0.5. It was 62.5 (95% CI 62.0-63.1) in HIC, 56.8 (56.1-57.4) in UMIC, 48.6 (48.0-49.3) in LMIC, and 38.5 (37.3-39.7) in LICs (p

Background: \ud The Anemia Studies in chronic kidney disease (CKD): Erythropoiesis via a Novel prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (PHI) Daprodustat-Dialysis (ASCEND-D) trial will test the hypothesis that daprodustat is non-inferior to comparator epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa for two co-primary endpoints: haemoglobin efficacy and cardiovascular safety.\ud \ud Methods: \ud We report the trial design, key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, and baseline therapies of 2964 patients randomised in the open-label (sponsor-blinded) active-controlled, parallel-group, randomised ASCEND-D clinical trial. We also compare baseline characteristics of ASCEND-D patients with patients who are on dialysis (CKD G5D) enrolled in other large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) and in the most relevant registries.\ud \ud Results: \ud The median age of patients was 58 years, 43% were female; 67% were white and 16% were black. The median haemoglobin at baseline was 10.4 g/dL. Among randomised patients, 89% were receiving haemodialysis and 11% peritoneal dialysis. Among key co-morbidities, 42% reported a history of diabetes mellitus, and 45% a history of cardiovascular disease. Median blood pressure was 134/74 mmHg. The median weekly dose of epoetin was 5751 units. Intravenous and oral iron use was noted in 64% and 11% of patients, respectively. Baseline demographics were similar to patients with CKD G5D enrolled in other CVOTs and renal patient registries.\ud \ud Conclusion: \ud ASCEND-D will evaluate the efficacy and safety of daprodustat compared with epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa in the treatment of patients with anaemia with CKD G5D.

Aims: \ud The new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation for estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), based on serum creatinine, that does not incorporate race may reclassify individuals, irrespective of race, from one eGFR category to another, with implications for eligibility for treatments in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).\ud \ud Methods and results: \ud A total of 43,138 ambulatory patients with HFrEF from 12 clinical trials were included (mean age 64.3 years; 9,580 (22.2%) women). Mean eGFR was 67 (SD 21) ml/min/1.73m2 and 70 (SD 21) ml/min/1.73m2 using the original and new CKD-EPI equations, respectively (mean difference 3.20 [95%CI, 3.17-3.23] ml/min/1.73m2, P

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction will experience multiple hospitalizations for heart failure during the course of their disease. We assessed the efficacy of dapagliflozin on reducing the rate of total (ie, first and repeat) hospitalizations for heart failure in the DAPA-HF trial (Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse-Outcomes in Heart Failure). Methods: The total number of HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths was examined by using the proportional-rates approach of Lei-Wei-Yang-Ying and a joint frailty model for each of recurrent HF hospitalizations and time to cardiovascular death. Variables associated with the risk of recurrent hospitalizations were explored in a multivariable Lei-Wei-Yang-Ying model. Results: Of 2371 participants randomly assigned to placebo, 318 experienced 469 hospitalizations for HF; of 2373 assigned to dapagliflozin, 230 patients experienced 340 admissions. In a multivariable model, factors associated with a higher risk of recurrent HF hospitalizations included higher heart rate, higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and New York Heart Association class. In the Lei-Wei-Yang-Ying model, the rate ratio for the effect of dapagliflozin on recurrent HF hospitalizations or cardiovascular death was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65–0.88), P=0.0002. In the joint frailty model, the rate ratio for total HF hospitalizations was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61–0.82), P

New guidelines have emphasized the primacy of starting the four key life-saving therapies for patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction as quickly as possible, with titration to ‘target dose’ of these, as secondary consideration. In this article, we examine the reasons for this change in emphasis and revisit the evidence regarding the dosing of pharmacological therapy in heart failure. We demonstrate the early benefits obtained with even low doses of most of the foundational therapies for heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. We also clarify that the ‘target dose’ of those therapies requiring titration was a goal based on tolerability and often not reached in trials, i.e. the proven benefits of our foundational therapies were demonstrated with an average dose that was less than target and many patients in these trials were treated with sub-target doses.