Grodin, Justin L.

Background Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR‐CM) is a progressive, fatal disease associated with a substantial health care system burden. The aim of this study was to compare health care resource utilization and associated costs among individuals with ATTR‐CM, with non‐amyloid heart failure (HF), and without HF in the United States. Methods Optum's de‐identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (January 2016 to September 2023) was used to identify patients with ATTR‐CM based on HF and/or cardiomyopathy claims within 2 years of the first ATTR diagnosis. Patients with ATTR‐CM were matched to patients with non‐amyloid HF (HF/cardiomyopathy without ATTR) and non‐HF controls using 1:1 propensity score matching. All‐cause and cardiovascular‐related hospitalizations and costs were compared during follow‐up. Results Each matched cohort included 4571 patients (mean age, 75.3–75.5 years; 56.0%–56.6% male; mean follow‐up: 2.9–3.2 years). The ATTR‐CM, non‐amyloid HF, and non‐HF cohorts had 3.3, 2.7, and 1.5 all‐cause hospitalizations per patient during follow‐up, respectively. Compared with non‐amyloid HF, patients with ATTR‐CM had a longer mean length of stay per hospitalization (all‐cause and cardiovascular‐related: 8.0 versus 7.5 days; P <0.001), more mean days hospitalized annually per patient (all‐cause: 10.6 versus 8.4; cardiovascular‐related: 10.5 versus 8.3 [both P <0.001]), and higher mean annual inpatient hospitalization costs per patient (all‐cause: $42 868 versus $36 061; cardiovascular‐related: $42 841 versus $36 027 [both P <0.001]). In ATTR‐CM subgroups, mean cardiovascular‐related length of stay and days hospitalized were higher among patients aged 46 to 64 years and 65 to 80 years (versus >80 years), Black patients (versus White patients), and patients in the Northeast or South US regions (versus West regions). Conclusions ATTR‐CM is associated with a higher health care resource utilization/cost burden than non‐amyloid HF and the general population.

Introduction: Patients with variant transthyretin (TTR) amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRv-CM) experience early onset disease, rapid progression, and poor outcomes due to amyloid aggregated from destabilized tetrameric TTR. Acoramidis, a highly selective, oral TTR stabilizer, achieves ≥90% TTR stabilization and is approved in the USA, EU, Japan, and UK for adults with wild-type (ATTRwt-CM) or ATTRv-CM. In the phase 3 ATTRibute-CM study and its open-label extension (OLE), acoramidis reduced both the risk of all-cause mortality (ACM) or first cardiovascular-related hospitalization (CVH) through Month 30 and risk of ACM through Month 42 by 36%. Research Question: Is acoramidis efficacy in ATTRv-CM consistent with that observed in the overall ATTRibute-CM population? Methods: In ATTRibute-CM, participants with ATTR-CM were randomized 2:1 to acoramidis HCl 800 mg or PBO, twice daily (BID) for 30 months. After Month 30, all participants enrolled in the OLE received acoramidis HCl 800 mg BID. Genotype (ATTRwt-CM or ATTRv-CM) was captured at randomization; efficacy was analyzed separately in ATTRv-CM. Time-to-event analyses used a stratified Cox model with terms for treatment, baseline 6MWT, genotype, genotype×treatment interaction, stratified by randomization NT-proBNP and eGFR levels. ACM was analyzed at Month 42 (ATTRibute-CM 30 months + OLE 12 months). Results: The ATTRv-CM group comprised 59 patients (39 acoramidis, 20 PBO). Baseline characteristics were mostly similar in both groups ( Table ). The three most common variants reported were p.V142I (n=35), p.I88L (n=7), and p.T80A (n=5). Compared with PBO, acoramidis reduced the risk of ACM/first CVH through Month 30 by 59% (acoramidis, 46.2%; PBO, 75.0%; HR 0.41; 95% CI 0.21–0.81; P =0.011; Fig 1 ) and ACM through Month 42 by 59% (continuous acoramidis, 30.8%; PBO to acoramidis, 60.0%; HR 0.41; 95% CI 0.19–0.93; P =0.032; Fig 2 ) , with Kaplan–Meier curves separating at Months 5 and 10, respectively. Conclusions: In ATTRibute-CM, acoramidis use was associated with clinical benefit in the ATTRv-CM group as demonstrated by a 59% risk reduction in both ACM/first CVH at Month 30, and ACM at Month 42 compared to PBO. These previously unreported findings support the hypothesis that near complete TTR stabilization observed experimentally with acoramidis across multiple TTR mutations translates into improvement in long-term outcomes. Further validation by individual TTR variant is warranted.

Introduction: Patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) typically have low serum transthyretin (sTTR) levels, worsening heart failure, and increased mortality. A recent study has shown the association of sTTR levels ≥20mg/dL with reduced risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (CVM). It has also been shown that regardless of baseline sTTR level, greater increases in sTTR levels are associated with greater improvements in cardiovascular outcomes. Acoramidis, a near-complete (≥90%) TTR stabilizer, demonstrated a rapid and sustained increase from baseline in sTTR by Day 28 and reduced risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ATTR-CM. Hypothesis: Acoramidis-mediated early increase in sTTR levels ≥20 mg/dL (lower limit of normal) at Day 28 reduces risks of CVM and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations (CVH) in patients with ATTR-CM. Methods: Analyses were conducted in the ATTRibute-CM modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population (acoramidis: 409; placebo: 202). The sTTR concentrations (normal range is 20-40 mg/dL) were assessed using an immunoturbidimetric method (Abbott ARCHITECT system) in a central laboratory. The proportion of participants with sTTR levels below normal at baseline and Day 28 were determined. The relationship between sTTR levels <20 or ≥20 mg/dL, at Day 28 across the pooled acoramidis and placebo treatment groups, and subsequent risk of CVM and of CVH over 30 months were analyzed using a stratified log-rank test. Results: At baseline about 25% of study participants had sTTR levels below normal in both treatment groups. At Day 28, less than 2% of participants had sTTR levels <20 mg/dL in the acoramidis arm compared with 26% in the placebo arm ( Table 1 ). When acoramidis and placebo treatment groups were pooled based on sTTR levels <20 or ≥20 mg/dL at Day 28, participants with sTTR ≥20 mg/dL were associated with a lower risk of the composite endpoint of CVM or first CVH at Month 30 in comparison with <20 mg/dL ( p <0.0001) ( Figure 1A ). Comparable findings were observed for the individual components (CVM, first CVH) ( Figure 1B and C ). Conclusion: Across treatment groups, sTTR levels above normal range (≥20 mg/dL) at Day 28 were associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes at Month 30, when compared with sTTR levels below normal range (<20 mg/dL). Thus, these observations demonstrate that higher sTTR levels over time may have the potential for clinical benefits in both CVM and CVH.

Introduction: Acoramidis, an oral transthyretin (TTR) stabilizer achieving near-complete (≥90%) TTR stabilization, is now approved in the USA, EU, Japan, and UK for the treatment of TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). In the 30-month phase 3 ATTRibute-CM study, acoramidis reduced all-cause mortality (ACM) or first cardiovascular-related hospitalization (CVH) vs placebo. Through Month 42 (M42) of the open-label extension (OLE; 30 months ATTRibute-CM + 12 months OLE), the clinical benefit of acoramidis was sustained, resulting in a 36% and 43% risk reduction in ACM and ACM/first CVH, respectively, compared with the placebo to acoramidis group Research Question: Are the long-term clinical benefits of acoramidis on ACM and ACM/first CVH in ATTR-CM over 42 months consistent across patient subgroups? Methods: ATTRibute-CM study design has been previously described. At the end of the 30-month double-blind period, patients enrolled into OLE continued acoramidis or switched from placebo to acoramidis; all patients received open-label acoramidis HCI 800 mg BID. Data cut was performed after 12 months in OLE. Subgroup analysis for ACM and ACM/first CVH through M42 were conducted for randomization stratification factors (genotype, NT-proBNP, and eGFR levels) and other pre-specified subgroups. ACM included death due to any cause, cardiac mechanical assist device placement, and heart transplant. CVH included CV hospitalizations (≥24 h) and urgent visits (<24 h) for decompensated heart failure requiring IV diuretics and was adjudicated by an independent Clinical Events Committee. Results: Overall, 389 patients enrolled in the OLE (263 continuous acoramidis and 126 placebo to acoramidis). The analyses of ACM/first CVH ( Figure 1 ) and ACM ( Figure 2 ) through M42 consistently favored patients initially randomized to acoramidis across all patient subgroups, including those based on sex, age, country, ATTR-CM genotype, baseline NT-proBNP, baseline eGFR, NYHA class, and NAC stage. The largest effect size for the reduction in ACM/first CVH (HR <0.50) was observed in the following subgroups: female, non-Caucasian patients, variant ATTR-CM, or NAC stage 2. Conclusions: The long-term benefit of acoramidis was consistently shown in patients initially randomized to acoramidis treatment compared with placebo to acoramidis switch after 30 months across multiple clinically relevant subgroups, underscoring the importance of early initiation of acoramidis to reduce the long-term risk of ACM or CVH.

Abstract Aims We recently demonstrated the combined prognostic value of the following two simple non-invasive parameters obtained from treadmill exercise testing in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction: the Haemodynamic Gain Index (HGI) and peak rate-pressure product (RPP). However, their prognostic value is yet to be validated in patients with undifferentiated HF syndrome. Methods and results We identified consecutive HF patients undergoing treadmill exercise testing for symptom evaluation between January 1991 and February 2015. The HGI was calculated from [(SBPpeak × heart ratepeak) – (SBPrest × heart raterest)]/(SBPrest × heart raterest), and the peak RPP was calculated from SBPpeak × heart ratepeak. Hazard ratios per standard deviation increase of the HGI and peak RPP for all-cause mortality were estimated using multivariable Cox regression models with adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and exercise-testing parameters (Chronotropic Reserve Index, estimated metabolic equivalents, abnormal heart rate recovery, and total exercise time). In our cohort of 5940 patients with symptomatic HF diagnosis with a median follow-up of 7.1 years, 2222 (37.4%) patients died. Higher values of both HGI and peak RPP were associated with a lower risk of mortality [adjusted hazard ratio per standard deviation increase 0.80 (0.73–0.88) and 0.85 (0.78–0.91), respectively, all P &lt; 0.001]. Optimal cut-off values for HGI and peak RPP for discriminating all-cause mortality were 1.06 and 180 966, respectively. Conclusion Both HGI and peak RPP are predictors of mortality in patients with chronic HF and may be tools to signal the need for advanced HF therapy evaluation.

BACKGROUND: In the phase 3 randomized controlled study ATTRibute-CM (Efficacy and Safety of AG10 in Subjects With Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy), acoramidis, a transthyretin stabilizer, demonstrated significant efficacy on the primary end point. Participants with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy who completed ATTRibute-CM were invited to enroll in an open-label extension study (OLE). We report the efficacy and safety data of acoramidis in participants who completed ATTRibute-CM and enrolled in the ongoing OLE. METHODS: Participants who previously received acoramidis through month 30 in ATTRibute-CM continued to receive it (continuous acoramidis), and those who received placebo through month 30 were switched to acoramidis (placebo to acoramidis). Participants who received concomitant tafamidis in ATTRibute-CM were required to discontinue it to be eligible to enroll in the OLE. Clinical efficacy outcomes analyzed through month 42 included time to event for all-cause mortality (ACM) or first cardiovascular-related hospitalization (CVH), ACM alone, first CVH alone, ACM or recurrent CVH, change from baseline in NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), 6-minute walk distance, serum transthyretin, and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary score. Safety outcomes were analyzed through month 42. RESULTS: Overall, 438 of 632 participants in ATTRibute-CM completed treatment, and 389 enrolled in the ongoing OLE (263 continuous acoramidis and 126 placebo to acoramidis). The hazard ratio for ACM or first CVH was 0.57 (95% CI, 0.46–0.72) at month 42 based on a stratified Cox proportional hazards model ( P <0.0001) favoring continuous acoramidis. Similar analyses were performed on ACM alone and first CVH alone, with hazard ratios of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.47–0.88) and 0.53 (95% CI, 0.41–0.69), respectively, at month 42. Treatment effects for NT-proBNP and 6-minute walk distance also favored continuous acoramidis. On initiation of open-label acoramidis in the placebo-to-acoramidis arm, there was a prompt increase in serum transthyretin. Quality of life assessed by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary score was well preserved in continuous-acoramidis participants compared with the placebo-to-acoramidis participants. No new clinically important safety issues were identified in this long-term evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Early initiation and continuous use of acoramidis in the ATTRibute-CM study through month 42 of the ongoing OLE study were associated with sustained clinical benefits in a contemporary transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy cohort, with no clinically important safety issues newly identified. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT04988386.

Background: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a progressive, fatal condition characterized by worsening heart failure (HF), exercise intolerance, cardiac arrhythmias, aortic stenosis, and orthopedic manifestations. Recent analyses have shown ATTR-CM presents a significant burden to the healthcare system, but data on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) comparing ATTR-CM to non-ATTR HF in the US are lacking. Aim: To compare HCRU and costs in patients (pts) with ATTR-CM to that of pts with non-ATTR HF using medical and pharmacy claims. Methods: Using the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart (Jan 2016-Sep 2023), pts with ATTR-CM were identified based on presence of HF and/or cardiomyopathy (CM) occurring within 2 years of first amyloidosis diagnosis (excluding light-chain amyloidosis) and followed for at least 12 months after first HF/CM diagnosis. ATTR-CM pts were matched 1:1 to non-ATTR HF pts using propensity score matching. After index diagnosis, both groups were assessed for HCRU, including inpatient acute cardiovascular (CV) hospitalizations (CVH), length of stay, and cost. Hospitalizations were considered CV if a pt received a CV diagnosis during the hospitalization period. Results: There were 4581 pts with ATTR-CM (mean [±SD] age: 76 [9.13] years; 56.2% male) who met inclusion criteria and were matched to 4581 non-ATTR HF pts (mean [±SD] age: 76 [8.86] years; 56.0% male) for comparison (Table). ATTR-CM pts had a higher trend of CVH and a higher number of total CVHs and mean hospitalizations per pt compared to non-ATTR HF pts (p<0.001). The mean cost per hospitalization (p=0.00463) and mean cost per annual hospitalizations per pt (p<0.001) were higher for ATTR-CM compared to non-ATTR HF. ATTR-CM pts were also hospitalized for more mean days annually for CV-related reasons compared to non-ATTR HF pts (p<0.001). On average, pts with ATTR-CM spent 2.3 days more than matched non-ATTR HF pts in the hospital each year. Conclusion: Compared to non-ATTR HF, ATTR-CM is associated with a greater burden on the healthcare system as evaluated by hospitalization rate, costs per hospitalization, annual hospitalization costs, and days hospitalized annually.

AbstractBackgroundSome cardiac transplant programs may upgrade listed patients to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) 1A‐status during the holidays. Whether more transplants actually occur during holidays is unknown.MethodsWe assessed rates of single‐organ heart transplantation from 2001 to 2010 for recipients age ≥18 yr using the UNOS database. Patients were stratified by transplantation during holiday (±3 d, n = 2375) and non‐holiday periods (n = 16 112). Holidays included Easter/Spring break, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas/New Years (winter holidays). Secondary analysis assessing transplant rates across seasons was also completed.ResultsDonor and recipient characteristics were similar between groups. Compared with non‐holidays, July 4th had higher transplant rates (5.69 vs. 5.09 transplants/d, p = 0.03) while the winter holiday had lower transplant rates (4.50 vs. 5.09 transplants/d, p < 0.01). There was a trend toward lower transplant rates for all holidays compared with non‐holidays (p = 0.06). Transplant rates were significantly different across seasons with greater rates in spring and summer (p < 0.01).ConclusionHeart transplant rates were higher during the July 4th and lower during the winter holidays. Although there was a higher likelihood of transplantation during the spring and summer seasons, upgrading patients to 1A status during most holidays may not improve their chances for transplantation.