Post-hoc analysis of Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) suggests quality of life benefits for patients with heart failure- Novartis

A new post-hoc analysis demonstrates that the decline in health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores associated with a heart failure (HF) hospitalization among patients taking Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan), from Novartis, was lower - approximately 50% less of a decline - compared to those taking ACE inhibitor enalapril. A second post-hoc analysis in the overall study population shows an association between decline in HRQL score and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) death and HF hospitalization. The findings are based on data from PARADIGM-HF, the largest clinical trial ever conducted in HF.

Regardless of treatment, patients experienced a decrease in HRQL following a HF hospitalization. The first analysis demonstrated that the decline in HRQL associated with a HF hospitalization among Entresto patients was significantly less compared to that of patients taking enalapril. 6,981 patients in PARADIGM-HF completed a Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) to measure HRQL at baseline and at eight months of treatment; during those eight months, 305 patients were hospitalized for HF. Among patients who had been hospitalized for HF, those on Entresto experienced lower declines in HRQL (approximately half) compared to those on enalapril (5.11 point decline vs. 10.77 point decline in KCCQ Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ-CSS) for Entresto and enalapril, respectively).

These analyses suggest that sacubitril-valsartan may help mitigate the impact of heart failure hospitalization on a patient's health-related quality of life, and make a case for it as part of treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Data are being presented at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA)'s 20th Annual Scientific Meeting.