Isosorbide Mononitrate in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

N Engl J Med. 2015 Dec 10;373(24):2314-24. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1510774. Epub 2015 Nov 8.

Abstract

Background: Nitrates are commonly prescribed to enhance activity tolerance in patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction. We compared the effect of isosorbide mononitrate or placebo on daily activity in such patients.

Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, crossover study, 110 patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction were randomly assigned to a 6-week dose-escalation regimen of isosorbide mononitrate (from 30 mg to 60 mg to 120 mg once daily) or placebo, with subsequent crossover to the other group for 6 weeks. The primary end point was the daily activity level, quantified as the average daily accelerometer units during the 120-mg phase, as assessed by patient-worn accelerometers. Secondary end points included hours of activity per day during the 120-mg phase, daily accelerometer units during all three dose regimens, quality-of-life scores, 6-minute walk distance, and levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).

Results: In the group receiving the 120-mg dose of isosorbide mononitrate, as compared with the placebo group, there was a nonsignificant trend toward lower daily activity (-381 accelerometer units; 95% confidence interval [CI], -780 to 17; P=0.06) and a significant decrease in hours of activity per day (-0.30 hours; 95% CI, -0.55 to -0.05; P=0.02). During all dose regimens, activity in the isosorbide mononitrate group was lower than that in the placebo group (-439 accelerometer units; 95% CI, -792 to -86; P=0.02). Activity levels decreased progressively and significantly with increased doses of isosorbide mononitrate (but not placebo). There were no significant between-group differences in the 6-minute walk distance, quality-of-life scores, or NT-proBNP levels.

Conclusions: Patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction who received isosorbide mononitrate were less active and did not have better quality of life or submaximal exercise capacity than did patients who received placebo. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02053493.).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Accelerometry
  • Aged
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Exercise Tolerance
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Isosorbide Dinitrate / adverse effects
  • Isosorbide Dinitrate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Isosorbide Dinitrate / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / blood
  • Peptide Fragments / blood
  • Quality of Life
  • Stroke Volume
  • Vasodilator Agents / adverse effects
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Walking

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
  • Isosorbide Dinitrate
  • isosorbide-5-mononitrate

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02053493