Effects and Safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Refractory Hypertension

Background Resistant hypertension (RH) accounted for a considerable proportion of patients with hypertension. It has been revealed to impose certain adverse effects on the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular diseases. The antihypertensive effect of sacubitril/valsartan being fully confirmed in previous studies, there were no related randomized controlled trials (RCT) about this potency among Chinese patients with RH. Purpose Describing the design of the Effects of Sacubitril/valsartan Versus Valsartan on Refractory Hypertension (EOSORH) trial. Methods and analysis This is a monocentric, randomized, parallel-group, controlled trial which will investigate the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in the treatment of Chinese patients with RH. A total of 138 patients will be enrolled who are diagnosed with RH according to the Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension in China (2018 revision). After a washout period, subjects will be randomized to sacubitril/valsartan group or valsartan group in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is the change in 24 hours average ambulatory systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to 8 weeks after randomization, comparing the sacubitril/valsartan group with valsartan group. The secondary outcomes including change in 24 hours average ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (DBP), clinic blood pressure and series of cardiac and renal hematologic indicators. Safety endpoints will also be evaluated, covered changes in blood potassium level, renal function, hypotension, etc. Full Analysis Set (FAS), per-protocol set (PPS) and safety set (SS) will be defined. Baseline data will be analyzed by using data from FAS whereas the analysis of primary outcome will be based on FAS and PPS but the conclusions of FAS are dominant. Ethics and dissemination The research protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. This research is designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in Chinese RH patients. Findings will be shared by Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, policymakers and the academic community to promote the clinical pharmacal therapy of RH in China. Discussion The effects of sacubitril/valsartan on hypertension have been widely reported by a series of large RCT in recent years, while its application in RH patients is still elusive. The study will provide a new pharmacal strategy for the treatment of RH.