The association of vascular access flow with sacubitril/valsartan and left ventricular ejection fraction in hemodialysis patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Abstract

Background. Sacubitril/valsartan improves heart function in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction of <40% (HFrEF). However, the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on vascular access flow (Qa) in this population is still unclear. Methods. Hemodialysis patients with HFrEF were enrolled and divided into sacubitril/valsartan and non-sacubitril/valsartan treatment groups and received echocardiographic and Qa measurements at baseline and after 12 months. We compared the changes in Qa (∆Qa) and echocardiographic parameters after 12 months. Correlations between ∆Qa and echocardiographic parameters were also examined. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to predict ∆Qa. Results. Thirty-three HD patients with HFrEF were enrolled. Sixteen patients received sacubitril/valsartan treatment. Their mean Qa significantly increased from 633.8 to 948.8 mL/min (P