The treatment with sacubitril/valsartan in patients suffering from chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction increases left ventricular ejection fraction and decreases the risk of sudden cardiac death. We conducted a retrospective analysis regarding the impact of age differences on the treatment outcome of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Patients were defined as adults if ≤65 years (n = 51) and older if >65 years of age (n = 76). The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias at 1-year follow-up was comparable in both groups (30.8 vs 26.5%; p = 0.71). The mortality rate in adult patients is significantly lower as compared with older patients (2 vs 14.5%; log-rank = 0.04). Older patients may suffer remarkably more side effects than adult patients (21.1 vs 11.8%; p = 0.03).
Keywords: adult patients; age; mortality rate; older patients; sacubitril/valsartan.
Lay abstract Many patients still die from heart failure (HF). Better drugs for this condition were developed over the past 20 years. The drug combination sacubitril/valsartan improves heart function and might lower the risk of sudden cardiac death from a fast heart rate (ventricular arrythmia). More research is needed on the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on older patients with HF. We wanted to see how sacubitril/valsartan affects older patients with HF. Seventy-six patients above 65 years of age were compared with 51 patients below 65 years. A year later, the number of ventricular arrhythmias was similar in both groups. Side effects were more common in older patients. At 2 years, there were more deaths in the older group. In summary, side effects of sacubitril/valsartan could be an obstacle to treating older patients. Finding better concepts to treat older patients with a weak heart remains necessary.