METHODS: A prospective, multi-centre, multi-country study including patients hospitalized with AHF was conducted. Clinical characteristics, echocardiogram, BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide), socioeconomic status, management, 1-month, and 1-year outcomes are reported.

RESULTS: Between April 2019 and June 2020, a total of 1258 adults with AHF from 16 Arab countries were recruited. Their mean age was 63.3 (±15) years, 56.8% were men, 65% had monthly income ≤US$ 500, and 56% had limited education. Furthermore, 55% had diabetes mellitus, 67% had hypertension; 55% had HFrEF (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction), and 19% had HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction). At 1 year, 3.6% had a heart failure-related device (0-22%) and 7.3% used an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (0-43%). Mortality was 4.4% per 1 month and 11.77% per 1-year post-discharge. Compared with higher-income patients, lower-income patients had a higher 1-year total heart failure hospitalization rate (45.6 vs 29.9%, p=0.001), and the 1-year mortality difference was not statistically significant (13.2 vs 8.8%, p=0.059).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with symptomatic HF, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥40%, estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 25 ml/min/1.73 m2, elevated natriuretic peptide levels and evidence of structural heart disease were enrolled and randomized to finerenone titrated to a maximum of 40 mg once daily or matching placebo. We validly randomized 6001 patients to finerenone or placebo (mean age 72 ± 10 years, 46% women). The majority were New York Heart Association functional class II (69%). The baseline mean LVEF was 53 ± 8% (range 34-84%); 36% of participants had a LVEF <50% and 64% had a LVEF ≥50%. The median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was 1041 (interquartile range 449-1946) pg/ml. A total of 1219 (20%) patients were enrolled during or within 7 days of a worsening HF event, and 3247 (54%) patients were enrolled within 3 months of a worsening HF event. Compared with prior large-scale HFmrEF/HFpEF trials, FINEARTS-HF participants were more likely to have recent (within 6 months) HF hospitalization and greater symptoms and functional limitations. Further, concomitant medications included a larger percentage of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors than previous trials.

METHODS: In this international, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned patients with heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or greater, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive finerenone (at a maximum dose of 20 mg or 40 mg once daily) or matching placebo, in addition to usual therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of total worsening heart failure events (with an event defined as a first or recurrent unplanned hospitalization or urgent visit for heart failure) and death from cardiovascular causes. The components of the primary outcome and safety were also assessed.

RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 32 months, 1083 primary-outcome events occurred in 624 of 3003 patients in the finerenone group, and 1283 primary-outcome events occurred in 719 of 2998 patients in the placebo group (rate ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 0.95; P = 0.007). The total number of worsening heart failure events was 842 in the finerenone group and 1024 in the placebo group (rate ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.94; P = 0.006). The percentage of patients who died from cardiovascular causes was 8.1% and 8.7%, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.11). Finerenone was associated with an increased risk of hyperkalemia and a reduced risk of hypokalemia.