Effects of sildenafil on symptoms and exercise capacity for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and pulmonary hypertension (the SilHF study): a randomized placebo-controlled multicentre trial

Trond J. Cooper, John G.F. Cleland, Marco Guazzi, Pierpaolo Pellicori, Tuvia Ben Gal, Offer Amir, Abdallah Al-Mohammad, Andrew L. Clark, Alex McConnachie, Kjetil Steine, Kenneth Dickstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) may complicate heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and is associated with a substantial symptom burden and poor prognosis. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, might have beneficial effects on pulmonary haemodynamics, cardiac function and exercise capacity in HFrEF and PHT. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of sildenafil in patients with HFrEF and indirect evidence of PHT. Methods and results: The Sildenafil in Heart Failure (SilHF) trial was an investigator-led, randomized, multinational trial in which patients with HFrEF and a pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) ≥40 mmHg by echocardiography were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive sildenafil (up to 40 mg three times/day) or placebo. The co-primary endpoints were improvement in patient global assessment by visual analogue scale and in the 6-min walk test at 24 weeks. The planned sample size was 210 participants but, due to problems with supplying sildenafil/placebo and recruitment, only 69 patients (11 women, median age 68 (interquartile range [IQR] 62–74) years, median left ventricular ejection fraction 29% (IQR 24–35), median PASP 45 (IQR 42–55) mmHg) were included. Compared to placebo, sildenafil did not improve symptoms, quality of life, PASP or walk test distance. Sildenafil was generally well tolerated, but those assigned to sildenafil had numerically more serious adverse events (33% vs. 21%). Conclusion: Compared to placebo, sildenafil did not improve symptoms, quality of life or exercise capacity in patients with HFrEF and PHT.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1239-1248
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure
Volume24
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.

Funding

The Sildenafil in Heart Failure (SilHF) trial was a 36‐week, investigator‐initiated, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multinational trial, designed to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of chronic sildenafil treatment in patients with HFrEF. The design and rationale have been published. The trial was funded by local grants from Stavanger University Hospital, and other participating centres, and a ‘Cyber Grant’ from Pfizer. Pfizer also provided sildenafil and matching placebo. The trial was performed in five participating centres in Norway, United Kingdom, Italy and Israel, coordinated from Stavanger University Hospital. An external mediator (J. Kjekshus, University of Oslo) reviewed all serious adverse events (SAE) and fulfilled the role of an unblinded data safety monitoring board. The trial protocol was approved by all members of the Steering Committee (online supplementary ), and local regulatory approval was obtained by all participating centres. All patients provided written informed consent prior to enrolment in the study. 8 Appendix S1

FundersFunder number
Pfizer
Pfizer FoundationWS543154
Stavanger Universitetssjukehus

    Keywords

    • Exercise capacity
    • Heart failure
    • Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors
    • Pulmonary hypertension
    • Quality of life
    • Tolerability

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