Biomedical subjects

Misato Chimura

Publications and source records attributed to Misato Chimura.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

EMPEROR-Preserved Risk Model and Outcomes in the FINEARTS-HF Trial: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis of FINEARTS-HF.

IMPORTANCE: Patients with heart failure (HF) and mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) or preserved EF (HFpEF) show substantial heterogeneity in prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of biomarker-driven prognostic models derived from the Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved) Trial in the Finerenone Trial to Investigate Efficacy and Safety Superior to Placebo in Patients With Heart Failure (FINEARTS-HF) and to examine whether baseline risk modified the therapeutic effect of finerenone. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This is a prespecified secondary analysis of the FINEARTS-HF trial, which was conducted across 653 sites in 37 countries among adults aged 40 years and older with symptomatic HF and left ventricular EF (LVEF) of 40% or greater. Patients were randomized between September 2020 and January 2023, and data analysis for this study was conducted from September to October 2025. The median (IQR) follow-up period was 32 (23-37) months. INTERVENTION: Finerenone (titrated to 20 mg or 40 mg) or placebo. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: EMPEROR-Preserved risk scores for the outcomes of first HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death were calculated in FINEARTS-HF using models incorporating N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, New York Heart Association functional class, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes, insulin use, and-depending on outcome-age, hemoglobin and albumin levels, HF duration, time from prior HF hospitalization, and sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitor use. Estimated risks were compared with observed event rates, and model performance was assessed using Harrell C statistic. Treatment effects were evaluated across risk quintiles (Q1 to Q5) and across the continuous risk distribution. RESULTS: Among 6001 patients (mean [SD] age, 72.0 [9.6] years; 2732 [45.5%] women; 3003 randomized to finerenone and 2998 randomized to placebo), the EMPEROR-Preserved risk model estimated risk of outcomes, with Q5 vs Q1 hazard ratios (HRs) of 10.49 (95% CI, 8.14-13.52) for the composite of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death and 13.47 (95% CI, 8.79-20.64) for cardiovascular death. The model demonstrated good discrimination. The treatment effect of finerenone was consistent across risk quintiles for first HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death (Q1: HR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.58-1.49]; Q2: HR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.76-1.43]; Q3: HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.62-1.07]; Q4: HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.65-1.01]; and Q5: HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.74-1.05]; P for interaction = .68) and remained uniform across the continuous risk spectrum. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The EMPEROR-Preserved risk models demonstrated good performance in FINEARTS-HF. Baseline risk did not modify the relative treatment effect of finerenone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04435626.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Efficacy and Safety of the Kidney Function-Based Finerenone Dosing Strategy Used in FINEARTS-HF.

BACKGROUND: Given that mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have the potential to impair renal function and induce hyperkalemia, close monitoring of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum potassium levels is essential to ensure the safe administration of this therapy. OBJECTIVES: In this prespecified analysis, the authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of the kidney function-based finerenone dosing strategy used in the FINEARTS-HF trial. METHODS: In FINEARTS-HF, patients with an eGFR of 25 to 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline were stratified at randomization to the low-dose group and started on 10 mg of finerenone once daily (titrated to a maximum 20 mg/d) or matching placebo, whereas those with an eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline were stratified to the high-dose group and started on 20 mg of finerenone once daily (titrated to a maximum 40 mg/d) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was the composite of total (first and recurrent) heart failure events and cardiovascular death. RESULTS: Among 5,986 (99.8%) analyzable patients, 3,159 were assigned to the higher eGFR/high-dose stratum and 2,827 to the lower eGFR/low-dose stratum group. The mean ± SD achieved dose was 32.3 ± 9.1 mg (finerenone) and 34.4 ± 7.8 mg (placebo) in the higher eGFR/high-dose stratum, and 15.6 ± 4.3 mg (finerenone) and 16.7 ± 4.0 mg (placebo) in the lower eGFR/low-dose stratum. The effect of finerenone on the primary outcome was consistent across the 2 dosing strata (higher eGFR/high-dose stratum: rate ratio: 0.77 [95% CI: 0.63-0.94] vs lower eGFR/low-dose stratum: rate ratio: 0.87 [95% CI: 0.74-1.03]; P for interaction = 0.34). Consistent benefits were observed for the components of the primary outcome and all-cause death. Safety was also consistent between dosing strata, except for hypokalemia, where the reduction in the odds of hypokalemia with finerenone compared to placebo was greater in the higher eGFR/high-dose stratum (P-interaction < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In FINEARTS-HF, an eGFR-based dosing strategy allowed effective and safe use of finerenone in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction/ heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with a baseline eGFR as low as 25 mL/min/1.73 m2. We recommend that clinicians implement the trial-validated dosing strategy and incorporate appropriate uptitration to the target dose to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes. (FINEARTS-HF [Study to Evaluate the Efficacy (Effect on Disease) and Safety of Finerenone in Participants With Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (Proportion of Blood Expelled Per Heart Stroke) Greater or Equal to 40%; NCT04435626).

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Lactate Dehydrogenase and Outcomes in Patients With HF and Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insights From GALACTIC-HF.

BACKGROUND: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a cytoplasmic enzyme found in most cells. Increased LDH levels are a nonspecific measure of cellular injury and may be prognostically important in heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the relationship between LDH and clinical characteristics and outcomes in heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: Using data from GALACTIC-HF, a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) in patients with HFrEF, the relationship between LDH and clinical outcomes was analyzed. The incremental value of LDH added to a validated prognostic model (PREDICT-HF) was also calculated using Harrell's C statistic, integrated discrimination index (IDI), and net reclassification index (NRI). RESULTS: In GALACTIC-HF, baseline LDH data were available for 8,179 patients, including 6,138 outpatients. Patients with higher LDH were more frequently female and had worse HF status. They were also more likely to have elevated serum creatinine, liver enzymes, creatine kinase, NT-proBNP, and high-sensitivity troponin I. Compared with patients in the lowest LDH (Q1: 155 U/L [25th-75th percentile: 144-163 U/L]), the HRs for the primary outcome (first HF event or cardiovascular death) were Q2: 183 U/L (25th-75th percentile: 177-188 U/L); HR: 1.15 [95% CI: 1.02-1.31]; Q3: 207 U/L (25th-75th percentile: 201-215 U/L); HR: 1.39 [95% CI: 1.23-1.58]; and Q4: 253 U/L (25th-75th percentile: 236-280 U/L); HR: 1.84 [95% CI: 1.62-2.08], respectively. Even after adjustment, elevated LDH remained independently associated with higher HR. When added to the PREDICT-HF risk model, baseline LDH improved Harrell's C statistic, IDI, and NRI for the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In GALACTIC-HF, higher LDH levels were independently associated with a higher risk of clinical outcomes in HFrEF. (Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure [GALACTIC-HF]; NCT02929329; EudraCT number: 2016-002299-28).

Humans↗