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OBJECTIVES This study sought to further understand the mechanisms underlying effect of spironolactone and assessed its impact on multiple plasma protein biomarkers and their respective underlying biologic pathways.BACKGROUND In addition to their beneficial effects in established heart failure (HF), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may act upstream on mechanisms, preventing incident HF. In people at risk for developing HF, the HOMAGE (Heart OMics in AGEing) trial showed that spironolactone treatment could provide antifibrotic and antiremodeling effects, potentially slowing the progression to HF.METHODS Baseline, 1-month, and 9-month (or last visit) plasma samples of HOMAGE participants were measured for protein biomarkers (n = 276) by using Olink Proseek-Multiplex cardiovascular and inflammation panels (Olink, Uppsala, Sweden). The effect of spironolactone on biomarkers was assessed by analysis of covariance and explored by knowledgebased network analysis. RESULTS A total of 527 participants were enrolled; 265 were randomized to spironolactone (25 to 50 mg/day) and 262 to standard care ("control"). The median (interquartile range) age was 73 years (69 to 79 years), and 26% were female. Spironolactone reduced biomarkers of collagen metabolism (e.g., COL1A1, MMP-2); brain natriuretic peptide; and biomarkers related to metabolic processes (e.g., PAPPA), inflammation, and thrombosis (e.g., IL17A, VEGF, and urokinase). Spironolactone increased biomarkers that reflect the blockade of the mineralocorticoid receptor (e.g., renin) and increased the levels of adipokines involved in the anti-inflammatory response (e.g., RARRES2) and biomarkers of hemostasis maintenance (e.g., tPA, UPAR), myelosuppressive activity (e.g., CCL16), insulin suppression (e.g., RETN), and inflammatory regulation (e.g., IL-12B).CONCLUSIONS Proteomic analyses suggest that spironolactone exerts pleiotropic effects including reduction in fibrosis, inflammation, thrombosis, congestion, and vascular function improvement, all of which may mediate cardiovascular protective effects, potentially slowing progression toward heart failure. (HOMAGE [Bioprofiling Response to Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists for the Prevention of Heart Failure]; NCT02556450) (C) 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Importance: Cardiovascular accumulation of collagen (fibrosis) may contribute to the progression from ventricular dysfunction to heart failure. Galectin-3, a potential marker of pro-fibrotic activity, might identify those at greater risk.\ud Objective: To investigate the effects of spironolactone, according to serum galectin-3 concentration, on serum markers of fibrosis and on cardiac structure and function, in people at increased risk of developing heart failure.\ud Design: Prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) trial.\ud Setting: Clinical research facilities in ten European hospitals.\ud Participants: People with, or at high-risk of, coronary disease with increased plasma concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP or NT-proBNP).\ud Interventions: spironolactone (up to 50 mg/day) or control for up to nine months.\ud Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the interaction between baseline serum galectin-3 and change in serum procollagen type-III N-terminal pro-peptide (PIIINP), a by-product of type-III collagen synthesis. Serum procollagen type-I C-terminal pro-peptide (PICP) and collagen type-1 C-terminal telopeptide (CITP), respectively reflecting synthesis and degradation of type-I collagen, were also measured.\ud Results: Of 527 participants, the median age was 73 years and 26% were women. Median follow-up was 267 days. Changes in PIIINP were similar for those assigned to spironolactone and control (mean difference -0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.44 to 0.15 μg/L; p=0.32) and did not differ when serum galectin-3 was above or below median. Those assigned to spironolactone had greater declines in PICP (mean difference -8.1; -95% CI -11.9 to -4.3 μg/L; p

AIMS: Guidelines support the role of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) for risk stratification of patients in programmes to prevent heart failure (HF). Although biologically formed in a 1:1 ratio, the ratio of NT-proBNP to BNP exhibits wide inter-individual variability. A report on an Asian population suggests that molar NT-proBNP/BNP ratio is associated with incident HF. This study aims to determine whether routine, simultaneous evaluation of both BNP and NT-proBNP is warranted in a European, Caucasian population.METHODS AND RESULTS: We determined BNP and NT-proBNP levels for 782 Stage A/B HF patients in the STOP-HF programme. The clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical associates of molar NT-proBNP/BNP ratio were analysed. The primary endpoint was the adjusted association of baseline molar NT-proBNP/BNP ratio with new-onset HF and/or progression of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). We estimated the C-statistic, integrated discrimination improvement, and the category-free net reclassification improvement metric for the addition of molar NT-proBNP/BNP ratio to adjusted models. The median age was 66.6 years [interquartile range (IQR) 59.5-73.1], 371 (47.4%) were female, and median molar NT-proBNP/BNP ratio was 1.91 (IQR 1.37-2.93). Estimated glomerular filtration rate, systolic blood pressure, left ventricular mass index, and heart rate were associated with NT-proBNP/BNP ratio in a linear regression model (all P < 0.05). Over a median follow-up period of 5 years (IQR 3.4-6.8), 247 (31.5%) patients developed HF or progression of LVD. Log-transformed NT-proBNP/BNP ratio is inversely associated with HF and LVD risk when adjusted for age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, vascular disease, obesity, heart rate, number of years of follow-up, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and baseline NT-proBNP (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.91; P = 0.008). However, molar NT-proBNP/BNP ratio did not increase the C-statistic (Δ -0.01) and net reclassification improvement (0.0035) for prediction of HF and LVD compared with NT-proBNP or BNP alone. Substitution of NT-proBNP for BNP in the multivariable model eliminated the association with HF and LVD risk.CONCLUSIONS: This study characterized, for the first time in a Caucasian Stage A/B HF population, the relationship between NT-proBNP/BNP ratio and biological factors and demonstrated an inverse relationship with the future development of HF and LVD. However, this study does not support routine simultaneous BNP and NT-proBNP measurement in HF prevention programmes amongst European, Caucasian patients.

Background Hypertension is a known risk factor for heart failure (HF), possibly via the mechanism of cardiac remodeling and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We studied the extent to which blood pressure (BP) change and evolving LVH contribute to the effect that lisinopril, doxazosin, and amlodipine have on HF compared with chlorthalidone. Methods and Results We conducted causal mediation analysis of ALLHAT (Antihypertensive and Lipid‐Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial) data (1994‐2002; in‐trial follow‐up). ALLHAT participants with available serial ECGs and BP measurements were included (n=29 892; mean age 67±4 years; 32% black; 56% men): 11 008 were randomized to chlorthalidone, 5967 to doxazosin, 6593 to amlodipine, and 6324 to lisinopril. Evolving ECG LVH and BP lowering served as mediators. Incident symptomatic HF was the primary outcome. Linear regression (for mediator) and logistic regression (for outcome) models were adjusted for mediator‐outcome confounders (demographic and clinical characteristics known to be associated both with both LVH/hypertension and HF). A large majority of participants (96%) had ECG LVH status unchanged, but 4% developed evolving ECG LVH. On average, BP decreased by 11/7 mm Hg. In adjusted Cox regression analyses, progressing ECG LVH (hazard ratio [HR] 1.78 [95% CI 1.43‐2.22]), resolving ECG LVH (HR 1.33 [95% CI 1.03‐1.70]), and baseline ECG LVH (1.17 [95% CI 1.04‐1.31]) carried risk of incident HF. After full adjustment, evolving ECG LVH mediated 4% of the effect of doxazosin on HF. Systolic BP lowering mediated 12% of the effect of doxazosin, and diastolic BP lowering mediated 10% of the effect of doxazosin, 7% of the effect of amlodipine, and borderline 9% of the effect of lisinopril on HF. Conclusions Evolving ECG LVH and BP change account for 4% to 13% of the mechanism by which antihypertensive medications prevent HF. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00000542., See Editorial Ferdinand and Maraboto

Background Heart failure has become one of the major causes of hospitalization worldwide. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia are the major causes of heart failure. In order to effectively prevent heart failure, blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels shall be closely monitored and controlled as well as medication adherence. This study aimed to investigate the role of pharmacist intervention in prevention of heart failure in high risk elderly patients in the community of Hong Kong. Aim This study aimed to investigate the role of pharmacist intervention in prevention of heart failure in highrisk elderly patients in the community of Hong Kong. Methods This prospective uncontrolled study was conducted between July 2012 and April 2013 with two revisits every 3 to 4 months to review elderly patients’ medication profiles as well as assess their blood pressure (BP), random capillary blood glucose (RCBG) level, cholesterol levels, signs and symptoms of heart failure and the compliance level. The results collected at the baseline data were analyzed and compared with those collected at the last follow-up visit. Result A significant increase in number of subjects free of symptoms of heart failure (31.88%, p