Safety and efficacy of eplerenone in patients at high-risk for hyperkalemia and/or worsening renal function: Analyses of EMPHASIS-HF study subgroups

• OBJECTIVES: We investigated the safety and efficacy of eplerenone in patients at high-risk for hyperkalemia or worsening renal function (WRF) in EMPHASIS-HF, a trial which enrolled patients aged at least 55 years with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), in NYHA functional class II and with an eGFR>30ml/min/1.73m2 and serum potassium <5.0 mmol/l. Patients were receiving optimal therapy and most had been hospitalized for a cardiovascular reason within 180 days of inclusion. BACKGROUND: Underuse of eplerenone in patients with HF-REF may be due to fear of inducing hyperkalemia or WRF in high-risk patients. METHODS: This was a pre-specified analysis of subgroups of patients at high-risk of hyperkalemia or WRF (patients >/=75years, with diabetes, with eGFR<60ml/min/1.73m2, and with systolic blood pressure 5.5, >6.0 and <3.5mmol/l; hyperkalemia leading to study-drug discontinuation or hospitalization; and hospitalization for WRF) as well as the primary outcome (hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular mortality). RESULTS: In all high-risk subgroups, patients treated with eplerenone had an increased risk of potassium >5.5mmol/l but not of potassium >6.0mmol/l, and of hospitalization for hyperkalemia or discontinuation of study medication due to adverse events. Eplerenone was effective in reducing the primary composite endpoint in all sub-groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic HF-REF, in NYHA class II and meeting specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, including an eGFR >30ml/min/1.73m2 and potassium <5.0 mmol/l, eplerenone was both efficacious and safe when carefully monitored, even in subgroups at high-risk of developing hyperkalemia or WRF.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

chronic kidney disease; diabetes; efficacy; elderly; eplerenone; safety

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)