Sacubitril/valsartan is well tolerated in patients with longstanding heart failure and history of cancer and improves ventricular function: real-world data

Maria Klara Frey; Henrike Arfsten; Noemi Pavo; Emilie Han; Stefan Kastl; Martin Hülsmann; Mariann Gyöngyösi; Jutta Bergler-Klein

doi:10.1186/s40959-021-00121-y

Sacubitril/valsartan is well tolerated in patients with longstanding heart failure and history of cancer and improves ventricular function: real-world data

Cardiooncology. 2021 Oct 13;7(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s40959-021-00121-y.

Authors

Maria Klara Frey¹, Henrike Arfsten¹, Noemi Pavo¹, Emilie Han¹, Stefan Kastl¹, Martin Hülsmann¹, Mariann Gyöngyösi¹, Jutta Bergler-Klein²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
² Department of Cardiology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. jutta.bergler-klein@muv.ac.at.

Abstract

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan has been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations due to heart failure in patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) when compared to enalapril. Data about sacubitril/valsartan in patients with a history of cancer are scarce, as these patients were excluded from the pivotal trial, PARADIGM-HF. The aim of the current study was to assess tolerability of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with a history of cancer.

Methods: We identified 225 patients at our heart failure out-patient unit who fulfilled the indication criteria to receive sacubitril/valsartan. Out of these, 9.3% (n = 21) had a history of histologically confirmed cancer. Oncologic surgery was performed in 16 (76.2%) patients, 11 (52.4%) patients received previous antineoplastic therapy and 9 patients (42.9%) radiation.

Results: Sacubitril/valsartan was withdrawn in 3 of 21 patients (14.3%) because of dizziness (n = 2) or pruritus (n = 1). After a median follow-up of 12 months (range 1-34 months), NYHA functional class improved significantly from NYHA 3 to NYHA 2 (mean -0.6, p = 0.006) and left ventricular ejection fraction as assessed by echocardiography increased significantly from 26.8 ± 5.4% to 39.2 ± 10% (mean + 12%, CI 95% [8.4-16.4], p = 0.0004). NT-proBNP was significantly reduced (baseline median 2774 pg/ml, range 1441 - 12,982 vs follow-up 1266 pg/ml, range 199-6324, p = 0.009). There was no significant change in creatinine levels (1.18 ± 0.4 vs 1.22 ± 0.4 mg/dl; mean + 0.005 mg/dl, CI 95% [-0.21- 0.12], p = 0.566).

Conclusions: In our pilot study we show that sacubitril/valsartan is generally well tolerated in patients with HFrEF and history of cancer. Importantly, even patients with long-standing cardiotoxicity induced heart failure can be treated and up-titrated with sacubitril/valsartan to usual target dosages, leading to improvement in LV function and biomarkers. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings in cancer patients with cardiotoxicity.

Keywords: ARNI; Cancer; Cardio-oncology; Cardiotoxicity; Heart failure; Natriuretic peptides; Sacubitril-valsartan.