Is it possible to start quadruple therapy in patients with a new diagnosis of HF and reduced ejection fraction? Real-life data from the TIDY-HF registry

Background

The 2021 European heart failure (HF) guidelines recommended treatment with an inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis (RAAS), a beta-blocker (BB), a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), and a cotransporter sodium-glucose type 2 inhibitor (SGLT2) in patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%. However, there is little evidence on implementing quadruple therapy in clinical practice.

Purpose

Study the implementation of quadruple therapy in patients with a new diagnosis of HF and reduced ejection fraction in clinical practice.

Methods

A prospective multicenter registry (38 centers in Spain) was carried out, including all patients newly diagnosed with HF with LVEF ≤40% in clinical practice. Their baseline and laboratory characteristics were recorded and their pharmacological treatment: at baseline (discharged from hospitalization or first outpatient visit within a maximum period of 1 month after the echocardiographic diagnosis), one month, and 3 months later.

Results

On 1th of March 2022, 349 patients were included, with baseline treatment data in 289. The mean age was 65.0±14.2 years, and 72.1% were men. The mean LVEF was 28.5±7.3%, with 57.6% in NYHA II and 29.1% in NYHA III–IV. The most frequent causes of cardiomyopathy were: ischemic (25.1%), tachycardiomyopathy (16.6%), and idiopathic (15.7%). 46.4% were dyslipidemic, 57.5% hypertensive and 33.3% diabetic. 65.1% of the patients were in sinus rhythm. Before HF diagnosis, 44.6% had been treated with RAASi, 22.8% with BB, 7.8% with MRA, 8.1% with iSGLT2, and 24.5% with diuretics. The drugs used at baseline and the changes during follow-up are shown in Table 1.

Conclusions

According to our cohort, almost 60% of newly diagnosed patients with HF and reduced LVEF start quadruple therapy during the first month after diagnosis, with sacubitril/valsartan being the preferred RAASi in most cases. The implementation of drugs with prognostic benefit is above 70% at baseline and exceeds 80% at one month of follow-up, with a progressive reduction in loop diuretics during follow-up.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Spanish Society of Cardiology