Effect of low-dose sacubitril/valsartan on body composition, bioelectrical impedance analysis, heart rate variability and T-peak to T-end index in elderly patients with severe chronic heart failure: a pilot experience

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the role of sacubitril/valsartan in heart rate variability, T-peak to T-end index, external cell mass, internal cell mass and total body water in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: Eleven elderly patients (9 males; mean age 77 years, range 70-87; 2 females, mean age 60 years, range 50-71) with HFrEF (<35%) were included in this analysis. Four patients presented moderate chronic kidney failure (creatinine clearance [CrCl] 30-59 mL/min) and four patients with diabetes (HbA1c >6.5%). All patients had hypertension and dyspnoea due to HF. Clinical outcomes of this investigation were kidney function, glucose, brain-natriuretic peptide, heart rate variability, T-peak to T-end index and markers of body water composition with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). RESULTS: One-month therapy with sacubitril/valsartan 24/26 mg/bid was associated with an improved redistribution of body water (extracellular mass: 19.4 ± 3.0 at baseline vs 18.4 ± 2.6 Kg/m at 1 month; p = .001), body weight reduction (81 ± 8 vs 78 ± 8 Kg; p = .002) and improved clinical outcomes (i.e. reduction of dyspnoea, mean duration of symptoms and walking test). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our preliminary results, sacubitril/valsartan could be a new effective approach in the treatment of elderly patients with chronic HFrEF. However, further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.