Sacubitril/valsartan improves both functional and echocardiographic parameters in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Objective: We evaluated the clinical efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in a group of ambulatory patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) referred to our HF clinic. Methods: Patients (n = 29; 72% males; mean age 76 years) with HFrEF in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes II–III were included in the present study. We evaluated clinical as well as echocardiographic parameters (e.g. haemodynamics, such as blood pressure and heart rate, metabolic status, echocardiographic ventricular volumes and ejection fraction [EF]), at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with sacubitril/valsartan. Results: After 6 months of sacubitril/valsartan treatment, several parameters were significantly improved. For example, EF and ventricular volumes (both diastolic and systolic) and atrial dimensions, as well as NYHA functional class (only 1 patient was still in NYHA class III) and renal impairment improved. There was no hospitalization for HF or other causes during the 6 month follow-up and no patient died. Conclusions: Based on our real-life experience, in HFrEF patients with NYHA class II–III, the new angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) sacubitril/valsartan was effective in improving HF management, both from the clinical and the echocardiographic perspective.