REDFIELD, M

Abstract Background NT-proBNP levels are associated with disease severity and outcomes in patients with HF across the spectrum of LVEF. Recently, it has been suggested that the effectiveness of certain treatments may vary by NT-proBNP level with greater benefit from omecamtiv mecarbil, and smaller benefit from vericiguat, in patients with higher NT-proBNP levels. We examined the benefit of sacubitril/valsartan on outcomes across the range of NT-proBNP levels in patients with HFrEF/HFmrEF/HFpEF. Purpose To evaluate clinical outcomes, and the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan, according to NT-proBNP levels, in patients with HFrEF/HFmrEF/HFpEF, using the pooled dataset of participants in the PARADIGM-HF and PARAGON-HF trials. Methods The PARADIGM-HF (n=8399) and PARAGON-HF (n=4822) trials enrolled patients with HF, functional limitation, and elevated NT-proBNP levels. Patients with LVEF ≤40% were randomized to sacubitril/valsartan 200 mg twice daily or enalapril 10mg twice daily in PARADIGM-HF, and those with LVEF ≥45% to sacubitril/valsartan 200 mg twice daily or valsartan 160mg twice daily in PARAGON-HF. Patients were categorized by quintiles of NT-proBNP level and using NT-proBNP as a continuous variable, analysed using restricted cubic splines. The primary outcome in the present study was the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization. Results Among the 13195 patients in the pooled PARADIGM-HF and PARAGON-HF dataset, 13142 (99.6%) patients with baseline NT-proBNP were analysed. Patients with higher NT-proBNP levels were more often male, had lower body mass index and LVEF, worse New York Heart Association functional class, worse kidney function, and more atrial fibrillation, while age was similar across NT-proBNP levels. The rate of the primary outcome (per 100 person-years) increased with NT-proBNP level: quintile 1, 5.9 (95%CI 5.3-6.5); quintile 2, 7.5 (95%CI 6.9-8.2); quintile 3, 9.0 (95%CI 8.2-9.7); quintile 4, 12.0 (95%CI 11.1-12.9); and quintile 5, 20.8 (95%CI 19.6-22.2) (Figure 1). Similar trends were observed for other outcomes. The benefit of sacubitril/valsartan was consistent across NT-proBNP levels: the hazard ratio for the primary outcome in NT-proBNP quintile 1 was 0.79 (95%CI 0.65-0.96); quintile 2, 0.87 (95%CI 0.72-1.04); quintile 3, 0.79 (95%CI 0.66-0.93); quintile 4, 0.85 (95%CI 0.73-0.99); and quintile 5, 0.86 (95%CI 0.76-0.97), P-interaction=0.86. The consistent benefit of sacubitril/valsartan was also seen when NT-proBNP was analysed as a continuous variable (Figure 2). The absolute benefit was greatest in quintile 5 of NT-proBNP; the number needed to treat for quintile 5 was 16 versus 37 for the quintile 1 for the primary endpoint. Conclusions Patients with higher NT-proBNP had worse outcomes, but the benefits of sacubitril valsartan were consistent across the range of NT-proBNP levels of participants in PARADIGM-HF and PARAGON-HF.Kaplan-Meier curvesEffect of sac/val across NT-proBNP range

BACKGROUND Recent studies have reported that asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD) in humans is characterized by early neurohumoral activation. Specifically, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and norepinephrine are activated without activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The current study describes hemodynamic and renal function associated with this neurohumoral profile in a canine model of early and presumably "asymptomatic" ventricular dysfunction. We hypothesized that the neurohumoral profile observed in ALVD is associated with preservation of renal function despite significant hemodynamic compromise. METHODS AND RESULTS ALVD was produced by ventricular pacing at 180 beats per minute for 10 days. Intravascular volume expansion was performed before and after producing ALVD in eight conscious dogs. The model of ALVD was characterized by decreases in ejection fraction (48 +/- 2 to 29 +/- 4%), cardiac output (4.64 +/- 0.29 to 2.89 +/- 0.17 L/min), and mean arterial pressure (119 +/- 4 to 108 +/- 4 mm Hg). Atrial pressures and systemic vascular resistance were increased. ANF (60 +/- 19 to 165 +/- 27 pg/mL) and norepinephrine (382 +/- 127 to 690 +/- 211 pg/mL) were activated, whereas the RAAS was not. Creatinine clearance and sodium excretion (UNa V) were unchanged after producing ALVD. The natriuretic response to volume expansion in ALVD was completely intact, with increases in UNa V similar to that observed with volume expansion in ALVD was completely intact, with increases in UNa V similar to that observed with volume expansion before producing ALVD. CONCLUSIONS The current study demonstrates that significant ventricular dysfunction with peripheral vasoconstriction can be associated with normal renal function and thus suggests an important functional role for the neurohumoral profile of ALVD in preserving sodium balance.