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Published on: April 8, 2013
[Sacubitril / Valsartan in patients with diabetes and heart failure]
Insights
Sacubitril/valsartan effectively reduces heart failure hospitalizations and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). This treatment is also a viable option for diabetic HFREF patients, despite concerns about disease interactions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Diabetology
Background:
- Sacubitril/valsartan is recommended for symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) patients.
- A significant overlap exists between HFREF and diabetes mellitus.
- Concerns have been raised regarding potential interactions between diabetes and sacubitril/valsartan efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in HFREF patients with diabetes.
- To discuss current evidence regarding the use of sacubitril/valsartan in this specific cohort.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical evidence and guidelines.
- Analysis of potential drug-disease interactions.
Main Results:
- Sacubitril/valsartan demonstrates efficacy in reducing heart failure hospitalizations and mortality compared to enalapril in HFREF patients.
- Evidence suggests sacubitril/valsartan remains a treatment option for HFREF patients with diabetes.
Conclusions:
- Sacubitril/valsartan is a beneficial treatment for HFREF patients, including those with diabetes.
- Diabetic cardiomyopathy should be recognized as a distinct clinical entity.
Abstract:
Sacubitril / Valsartan proofed to be an effective treatment compared to enalapril in reducing heart failure hospitalisations and mortality in patients with severe "Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction" (HFREF). Recent European cardiology guidelines attributed a class IB recommendation for Sacubitril / Valsartan in HFREF patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal treatment with ACE-I, a beta-blocker, and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist. There is a significant overlap between diabetic and HFREF patients and thus, efficacy assessment of Sacubitril / Valsartan is a clinically meaningful issue in the large subgroup of HFREF patients with diabetes. We discuss the present evidence why local authorities speculated about a potential interaction between the two diseases decreasing the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in terms of reducing relevant end-points in this cohort. Overall, Sacubitril / Valsartan is obviously a treatment option in diabetics with HFREF. However, diabetic cardiomyopathy needs to be recognised as a specific disease condition.
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