Underutilization of Mineralocorticoid Antagonists in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

• BACKGROUND It is unknown how the efficacy and safety of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists vary according to duration of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).OBJECTIVES In this study, we sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of eplerenone according to duration of HFrEF. METHODS In the EMPHASIS-HF trial, 3 patient groups were created according to HFrEF duration: <1 year, 1 to <5 years, and >= 5 years. The primary outcome was the composite of heart failure (HF) hospitalization or cardiovascular death. Outcomes were adjusted for prespecified prognostic variables and examined with the use of Cox regression models.RESULTS The numbers of patients in each group were: 975, <1 year; 769, 1 to <5 years; and 988, >= 5 years. Patients with longer-standing HF were older and more frequently had cardiovascular and noncardiovascular comorbidities. The rate of the primary outcome (per 100 person-years) increased with HFrEF duration: 9.8 (95% CI: 8.4-11.4) for <1 year, 13.5 (95% CI: 11.6-15.7) for 1 to <5 years, and 17.6 (95% CI: 15.6-19.8) for >= 5 years. The benefits of eplerenone were consistent across HF duration: HRs for the primary outcome were 0.57 (95% CI: 0.42-0.79) for <1 year, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.60-1.10) for 1 to <5 years, and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.48-0.78) for >= 5 years; Pinteraction 1/4 0.24. The absolute benefit was greatest in the longest-duration group: the number needed to treat for the primary outcome was 14 for <1 year, 13 for 1 to <5 years, and 10 for >= 5 years duration. CONCLUSIONS Patients with longer-standing HFrEF had worse clinical status and a higher rate of events, but the benefit of eplerenone was consistent regardless of HFrEF duration. (A Comparison of Outcomes in Patients in NYHA Class II Heart Failure When Treated With Eplerenone or Placebo in Addition to Standard Heart Failure Medicines [EMPHASIS-HF]; NCT00232180) (J Am Coll Cardiol 2023;82:1080-1091)

Subject headings

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

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

aldosterone antagonist

duration of heart failure

guideline-directed medical therapy

heart failure and reduced ejection fraction

mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists

optimal medical therapy

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)