Key result
Sacubitril/valsartan therapy for 1 month in 5 patients with HFrEF increased the mean 6-minute walk test distance from 129 m at baseline to 436 m (mean difference 305 m).
Why the study?
Does sacubitril/valsartan improve physical functional capacity as assessed by the 6-minute walk test in patients with HFrEF?
Case Report (n=5)
Does sacubitril/valsartan improve physical functional capacity as assessed by the 6-minute walk test in patients with HFrEF?
Mean Difference: 305
Absolute Event Rate: 436% vs 129%
In a small case series, 1 month of sacubitril/valsartan therapy was associated with a clinically relevant improvement in 6-minute walk test distance in HFrEF patients.
May indicate 6MWT gains with sacubitril/valsartan in HF; leaves open need for randomized confirmation.
The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a simple and inexpensive exercise test to evaluate physical functional capacity that is widely used in heart failure (HF) patients. With the 6MWT, a distance <350 m is associated with increased mortality in patients with HF, and change in walking distance >50 m is considered clinically relevant. To our knowledge, information on improvement in physical functional capacity with sacubitril/valsartan, as assessed by the 6MWT, is still scant. In our daily practice, we apply this test to all patients whenever possible; therefore, we report here the findings observed in a small series of 5 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction after a 1-month treatment with sacubitril/valsartan at full dose. The mean distance walked on the 6MWT at baseline was 129 m (±64 SD), and this value increased to 436 m (±156) after 1 month of therapy with sacubitril/valsartan 97/103 mg b.i.d. The mean difference from baseline was 305 m (±110). According to these preliminary findings, in clinical practice, a 1-month therapy of sacubitril/valsartan optimized at a 97/103-mg b.i.d. dose appears to be associated with a relevant improvement in the 6MWT.
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Sgorbini et al. (2017) conducted a case report in Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (n=5). Sacubitril/valsartan vs. Baseline was evaluated on 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance (MD 305 m). Sacubitril/valsartan therapy for 1 month in 5 patients with HFrEF increased the mean 6-minute walk test distance from 129 m at baseline to 436 m (mean difference 305 m).
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