OBJECTIVES: Sacubitril/valsartan is reimbursed in Portugal for the treatment of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the functional classes NYHA II and III with previous treatment for at least one month with an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). The aim of this study was to characterize the sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic profile of patients being prescribed with sacubitril/valsartan in Portugal.

METHODS: The PRiMe study is a cross-sectional and multicenter study. Adult patients (≥18years) or caregivers with a prescription (initial or refill) of sacubitril/valsartan were recruited through Portuguese community pharmacies. All community pharmacies associated with the Portuguese National Association of Pharmacies (~2,600) were invited to participate. A structured two-part questionnaire (the 1^st delivered by a trained pharmacist; the 2^nd filled in by the patient) was applied. Additional data were collected through the pharmacy’s software and patient’s echocardiogram report (the last available before sacubitril/valsartan initiation).

RESULTS: As of May 2019, 262 eligible patients were recruited (23.3% through their caregiver). The mean age of patients was 71.0 years (SD=11.9) and 64.1% were male. The mean time since HF diagnosis was 8.0 years (SD=9.2). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (68.6%), atrial fibrillation (54.8%) and hypercholesterolemia (53.3%). Cardiologists were the first prescribers of sacubitril/valsartan in 82.3% of the patients. A total of 76.0% of the patients were taking ACEI or ARB at least one month before starting sacubitril/valsartan. According to the self-assessed NYHA, 67.3% of the patients were in NYHA II-III. A total of 53.3% and 68.5% of the patients had reduced ejection fraction, ≤35% and ≤40%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that most of the patients prescribed with sacubitril/valsartan have HFrEF with NYHA II-III and that a great proportion had previous treatment for HF. These characteristics match the defined reimbursement characteristics for sacubitril/valsartan in Portugal.