Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesRandomised controlled trial

Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate for Management of Hyperkalemia During Spironolactone Optimization in Patients With Heart Failure

J Am Coll CardiolPublished

  • Randomised controlled trial
  • double-blind
  • randomized-withdrawal
  • open-label run-in

Authors' conclusion

In participants with HFrEF and hyperkalemia, SZC led to large improvements in the percentage of participants with normokalemia while on optimal spironolactone dose, and reduced risk of hyperkalemia and down-titration/discontinuation of spironolactone.

Study context

Population
Heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (NYHA II–IV; LVEF ≤40%) on optimal guideline-directed therapy (except mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA)) with prevalent or incident MRA-induced hyperkalemia, normokalemic on sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) and spironolactone ≥25 mg/day after run-inrandomized
Participants
203 participants
Comparison
SZC vs placebo during spironolactone optimization
  • SZCn = 102
  • Placebon = 101reference
Primary endpoint
Optimal treatment response (normokalemia on spironolactone ≥25 mg/day without rescue therapy for hyperkalemia)
Follow-up
Months 1-6

Primary result

As reported in the abstract

Odds ratio

4.45

95% CI 2.89–6.86

P < 0.001

By group

SZC vs Placebo
OR 4.45 (95% CI 2.89–6.86); P < 0.001

Secondary outcomes

OutcomeSZCPlaceboEstimateP value
Normokalemia on randomisation dose of spironolactone without rescue therapy · hierarchically tested secondary endpoint58%23%OR 4.58 (95% CI 2.78–7.55)P < 0.001
Receiving spironolactone ≥25 mg/day81%50%OR 4.33 (95% CI 2.50–7.52)P < 0.001
Time to hyperkalemiaHR 0.51 (95% CI 0.37–0.71)P < 0.001
Time to decrease/discontinuation of spironolactone due to hyperkalemiaHR 0.37 (95% CI 0.17–0.73)P = 0.006

KCCQ Clinical Summary Score · 6 months

No between-group difference in KCCQ-Clinical Summary Score at 6 months
−1.01 points; 95% CI: −6.64 to 4.63; P = 0.72

Safety

Adverse events

Serious adverse events

Original publication

Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate for Management of Hyperkalemia During Spironolactone Optimization in Patients With Heart Failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 18 November 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2024.11.014

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it