Nitrate’s Effect on Activity Tolerance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction - NEAT-HFpEF
Description:
The goal of the trial was to evaluate treatment with a long-acting nitrate compared with placebo among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Contribution to the Literature: The NEAT-HFpEF trial failed to show that long-acting nitrates in HFpEF improved exercise tolerance.
Study Design
- Randomized
- Parallel
- Double-blind
- Placebo
- Crossover
Patients with HFpEF were randomized to a long-acting nitrate (n = 51) versus placebo (n = 59). Study medication (isosorbide mononitrate or placebo) was up-titrated to 120 mg over a 6-week period. After a 2-week washout period, subjects crossed over to the opposite treatment assignment with up-titration for 6 weeks.
- Total number of enrollees: 110
- Duration of follow-up: 12 weeks
- Mean patient age: 69 years
- Percentage female: 57%
- Percentage diabetics: 36%
Inclusion criteria:
- Patients ≥50 years of age with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV symptoms and left ventricular EF (LVEF) ≥50%
- HF symptoms are the primary factor for exercise intolerance
At least one of the following:
- HF hospitalization
- Elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or NT-proBNP
- Elevated rest of exercise pulmonary artery wedge pressure on right heart catheterization
- Diastolic dysfunction on echocardiography
Other salient features/characteristics:
- Chronic kidney disease: 54%
- Mean systolic blood pressure: 132 mm Hg
- Mean LVEF: 63%
Exclusion criteria:
- Systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg
- Adverse reaction or current use of a long-acting nitrate
- Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor therapy
Principal Findings:
The primary outcome, average daily accelerometer units (ADAU), was nonsignificantly less for the 120 mg long-acting nitrate dose compared with placebo (-381 ADAU, p = 0.06).
Secondary outcomes:
- Hours active/day: -0.3 hours for long-acting nitrate vs. placebo (p = 0.02)
- Six-minute walk: 0.57 m for long-acting nitrate vs. placebo (p = 0.91)
- Discontinuation of study medication: 16 patients in the long-acting nitrate group vs. 9 patients in the placebo group
Interpretation:
Among individuals with HF due to pEF, long-acting nitrates failed to improve exercise tolerance compared with placebo. More patients in the long-acting nitrate group discontinued study medication due to side effects. Optimal treatment of HF due to pEF remains challenging and poorly defined.
References:
Redfield MM, Anstrom KJ, Levine JA, et al. Isosorbide mononitrate in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med 2015;Nov 8:[Epub ahead of print].
Presented by Dr. Margaret M. Redfield at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Orlando, FL, November 8, 2015.
Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Prevention, Acute Heart Failure, Exercise
Keywords: Exercise Tolerance, Heart Failure, Isosorbide Dinitrate, Nitrates, Nitrogen Oxides, Stroke Volume, Walking, AHA Annual Scientific Sessions
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