Global Differences in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: The PARAGON-HF Trial

Circ Heart Fail. 2021 Apr;14(4):e007901. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.120.007901. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Abstract

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a global public health problem with important regional differences. We investigated these differences in the PARAGON-HF trial (Prospective Comparison of Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor With Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Global Outcomes in HFpEF), the largest and most inclusive global HFpEF trial.

Methods: We studied differences in clinical characteristics, outcomes, and treatment effects of sacubitril/valsartan in 4796 patients with HFpEF from the PARAGON-HF trial, grouped according to geographic region.

Results: Regional differences in patient characteristics and comorbidities were observed: patients from Western Europe were oldest (mean 75±7 years) with the highest prevalence of atrial fibrillation/flutter (36%); Central/Eastern European patients were youngest (mean 71±8 years) with the highest prevalence of coronary artery disease (50%); North American patients had the highest prevalence of obesity (65%) and diabetes (49%); Latin American patients were younger (73±9 years) and had a high prevalence of obesity (53%); and Asia-Pacific patients had a high prevalence of diabetes (44%), despite a low prevalence of obesity (26%). Rates of the primary composite end point of total hospitalizations for HF and death from cardiovascular causes were lower in patients from Central Europe (9 per 100 patient-years) and highest in patients from North America (28 per 100 patient-years), which was primarily driven by a greater number of total hospitalizations for HF. The effect of treatment with sacubitril-valsartan was not modified by region (interaction P>0.05).

Conclusions: Among patients with HFpEF recruited worldwide in PARAGON-HF, there were important regional differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes, which may have implications for the design of future clinical trials. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01920711.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; coronary artery disease; heart failure; prevalence; risk factors.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aminobutyrates / therapeutic use*
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Global Health*
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / mortality*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neprilysin / therapeutic use*
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke Volume*
  • Valsartan / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Aminobutyrates
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Drug Combinations
  • Valsartan
  • Neprilysin
  • sacubitril and valsartan sodium hydrate drug combination

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01920711