Early initiation of Dapagliflozin and its effect on health related quality of life in acute heart failure: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of dapagliflozin in improving functional status and health-related quality of life in acute heart failure cases. METHODS: The prospective, randomised controlled study was conducted from July 2022 to January 2023 at the Pharmacology Department of Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in collaboration with the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, and comprised hospitalised adult patients of either gender with acute heart failure. They were randomised into two equal groups, with intervention group A receiving oral dapagliflozin 10mg daily in addition to conventional therapy, and with control group B receiving conventional therapy alone. Health-related quality of life was assessed using Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Improvement in functional status was assessed by New York Heart Association functional classification. Data was obtained at baseline and after 12-week follow-up. Data was compared using SPSS 26. RESULTS: Of the 150 patients, 75(50%) were group A; 62(82.66%) males and 13(17.3%) females with mean age 63.76±10.05 years. There were 75(50%) patients in group B; 60(80%) males and 15(20%) females with mean age 66.13±11.73 years (p>0.05). The study was completed by 73(97.3%) in group A and 69(92%) in group B. The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores improved post-intervention compared to baseline values (p<0.001) in both groups. Group A showed comparatively greater improvement in health status compared to group B (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Early initiation of dapagliflozin in patients admitted with acute heart failure was found to be associated with rapid and significant improvement in health and functional status. Clinical Trial Link: https://www.irct.ir. RCT No. (IRCT20220529055013N).

Therapeutic efficacy and drug safety comparison of one-week Vonoprazan triple therapy with two-weeks Esomeprazole triple therapy in Helicobacter pylori infection: Findings from a single-centre randomized clinical trial in population of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic efficacy and drug safety of Vonoprazan and Esomeprazole triple therapies in Helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS: The randomised clinical trial was conducted from December 2022 to January 2023 at the Department of Pharmacology, Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in collaboration with the Gastroenterology Department of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, and comprised patients found positive for Helicobacter pylori by stool antigen test. They were randomly distributed into two groups. The EAL group received twoweek triple therapy with Esomeprazole 20mgand Amoxicillin 1000mg twice daily with Levofloxacin 500mg once daily. The VAL group was prescribed one-week triple therapy with Vonoprazan 20mg and Amoxicillin 1000mg twice daily with Levofloxacin 500mg once daily. Eradication success was evaluated by stool antigen test 4 weeks after starting the treatment. Safety of the therapy was assessed by noting adverse effects at days 3 and 14 of the treatment. Data was analysed using SPSS 27. RESULTS: Of the 122 patients, there were 61(50%) in each of the 2 groups; 30(49.2%) males and 31(50.8%) females with mean age 38.40±12.25 years in group EAL, and 35(57.4%) males and 26(42.6%) females with mean age 40.98±12.13 years in VAL group. In the EAL group, 57(93.4%) patients were found to be free of Helicobacter pylori infection compared to 58(95%) in the VAL group. Nausea 14(23%), bitter taste 41(67.2%), abdominal pain 16(26.2%) and headache 20(32.8%) were the adverse effects that were significantly more common in the EAL group compared to the VAL group B. CONCLUSIONS: Vonoprazan-based triple therapy was found to be more effective with less reported adverse effects and potential benefits of better patient compliance due to shorter therapy duration. Clinical Trial Number: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20221207056738N1.

The effect of Dapagliflozin on renal functions in hospitalized patients with Acute Heart Failure.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of dapagliflozin on renal functions and diuretics use in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Methods: This comparative analytical study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi from July 2022 to November 2022. Patients were distributed equally in two groups i.e. Dapagliflozin and Conventional Groups, where patients received dapagliflozin added to conventional therapy for AHF and, only conventional therapy for AHF respectively. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum creatinine were measured and compared on admission, after 48 hours and on discharge. Weight loss during hospitalization, daily dose of furosemide and length of hospital stay was also recorded. Quantitative parameters were analyzed using t-test or Mann Whitney U test accordingly. Results: There were no significant baseline differences in renal functions. A modest decline in eGFR was observed in both groups after 48 hours. However, the variation in values of eGFR remained similar among both groups after 48 hours (p-value 0.365) and on discharge (p-value 0.768). Whereas, patients subjected to dapagliflozin treatment exhibited a more profound diuretic response expressed as greater weight loss (p-value < 0.001), achieved at comparatively lower doses of loop diuretics. Moreover, they also had a shorter duration of hospital stay (six vs eight days, p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Institution of dapagliflozin did not cause any significant deterioration of renal functions, whereas; it was associated with improved diuretic response as depicted by more pronounced weight loss at comparatively lower doses of loop diuretics.

Efficacy And Cost-Effectiveness, Comparison Of 7-Days Vonoprazan Versus 14-Days Esomeprazole Based Triple Therapies For Treating Helicobacter Pylori Infection In Pakistani Population: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative bacterium which usually resides in the mucoid lining of the stomach and may cause different gastric pathologies e.g., Gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma of the gastric system and mucoid associated lymphoma (MALT). The Objective was to compare the effect of 7-days Vonoprazan based triple therapy and 14-days Esomeprazole based triple therapy on eradication rate, compliance and cost effectiveness in Helicobacter pylori infected patients. Methods: This clinical trial was performed in the Department of Pharmacology Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) in collaboration with the Gastroenterology Department, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH) Rawalpindi from December 2022 to March 2023. A total of one hundred and twenty-two patients with dyspepsia symptoms and yielding lab results positive for Helicobacter pylori by stool antigen test were enrolled in the study. They were randomly allocated into two groups. The Esomeprazole group received 14 days of triple therapy orally with Esomeprazole 20 mg twice a day; Amoxicillin 1000 mg twice a day; and Levofloxacin 500 mg one time a day. The comparative Vonoprazan group was given 7-days triple therapy orally with Vonoprazan 20 mg twice a day; Amoxicillin 1000 mg twice a day; and Levofloxacin 500 mg one time a day. Eradication success was evaluated by stool antigen test four weeks later, as counted from the start of treatment. compliance and cost-effectiveness of both therapies were also assessed. Results: The eradication rate was (95.1%) in the Vonoprazan group with 58 out of 61 patients negative for H. pylori and (93.1%) in Esomeprazole group with 54 patients out of 58 yielding a negative result demonstrating p-value of 0.64. Compliance was 95.0% in the Esomeprazole group with p-value of 0.07. Cost effective ratio for Vonoprazan triple therapy was lower (731.8PKR) than the Esomeprazole group. Conclusion: One two-week Vonoprazan regimen demonstrated improved eradication rate, good compliance, and better tolerability in patients with less cost and a half duration of treatment in comparison with two weeks Esomeprazole regimen, attesting that one week Vonoprazan therapy is more cost efficacious in producing better results.