Neurohormonal therapies at baseline and follow-up and survival in wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

Background – Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) typically manifests with heart failure. Discontinuing beta-blockers and avoiding angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB) in patients with ATTR-CA has been recommended. Methods – We investigated the prescription of neurohormonal therapies and their relationship with all-cause mortality in a multicenter cohort. Results – Patients (n = 926) had a median age of 79 years (interquartile range 74–83), 90% were men, 17% had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 40% or less, and 27% were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV. At diagnosis, 60% of patients were on beta-blockers, 58% on ACEi/ARB/ARNI, and 35% on MRA. Patients on beta-blockers had more often NYHA class III/IV, a greater burden of comorbidities, and lower LVEF, and those on ACEi/ARB/ARNI had more comorbidities. Nonetheless, the survival of patients on beta-blockers or ACEi/ARB/ARNI was not significantly shorter over a 2.5-year follow-up (1.6–3.8) (P = 0.577 and P = 0.977, respectively), and patients on both drugs did not have a worse outcome than those not receiving any neurohormonal drug (P = 0.575). During the entire follow-up, the number of neurohormonal drugs remained unchanged in 54%, decreased in 27%, and increased in 19%. Patients with a number of neurohormonal drugs either unchanged or increased had a lower risk of mortality (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.53–0.95, P = 0.023). Conclusion – ATTRwt-CA patients on beta-blockers or ACEi/ARB/ARNI at diagnosis did not have a shorter survival. Beta-blockers were discontinued less often than were ACEi/ARB/ARNI. There was no sign of better outcomes in patients discontinuing these therapies, or worse outcomes in those starting them.