Effect of Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor versus Valsartan on Cardiac Status in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh

Background: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction has a significant association with considerable morbidity and mortality, but there is still inadequacy in appropriate treatment to prevent this condition. We observed the effect of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) with such disorder compared to valsartan. Methods: In this single-blind trial, the patients were enrolled with chronic HF aged on or above 40 years, symptomatic NYHA class II - IV, an elevated NT-proBNP above 400 pg/ml level and a reduced LVEF of 40% or less. The patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to the treatment arms either ARNi (50 mg titrated to 100 mg twice a day) or valsartan (40 mg titrated to 80 mg twice a day) and followed for a median of 88 days. The primary outcome was mode of cardiovascular death and re-hospitalization for heart failure. Changes in the level of NT-proBNP and rate of ejection fraction were also measured. Results: Cardiovascular deaths occurred 4 (8%) in the ARNi treatment arm, while 11 (22%) in the valsartan treatment arm with significant hazard ratio in the ARNi group [Hazard Ratio = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.64; p = 0.042] during a median of 88 days of follow up period and 2 (4%) of the patients from the ARNi treatment arm were hospitalized due to HF, while in the valsartan treatment arm, 10 (20%) patients were hospitalized due to HF followed by receiving treatment respectively with hazard ratio in the ARNi group [Hazard Ratio = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.92; p < 0.037]. Furthermore, a significant effect was found to have in LVEF and NT-proBNP at 95% level of significance (p < 0.05). These effects resulted from somewhat increased in LVEF (30.4% ± 6.7% to 38.8% ± 8.1%) and intensely decreased in NT-proBNP (3066.5 ± 1882.1 pg/ml to 808.2 ± 592.5 pg/ml) in the ARNi group, as compared to valsartan group in LVEF (30.6% ± 6.0% to 35% ± 7.9%) and in NT-proBNP (3488.2 ± 2912.2 pg/ml to 1886.4 ± 1017.8 pg/ml). Conclusion: Chronic treatment with the angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) strongly decreases the NT-proBNP as well as morbidity and mortality and increases LVEF in patients with heart failure compared to valsartan.