Effects of the valsartan recall on heart failure patients: A nationwide analysis

• Published in: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety 2024-04, Vol.33 (4), p.e5777-n/a
• Main Authors: Devine, Joshua W., Tadrous, Mina, Hernandez, Inmaculada, Mukhopadhyay, Nandita, Rothenberger, Scott D., Callaway Kim, Katherine, Gellad, Walid F., Suda, Katie J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Angiotensin; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers - adverse effects; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists - adverse effects; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - adverse effects; Antihypertensives; Cerebral infarction; Cohort Studies; Congestive heart failure; drug recall; drug shortages; Emergency medical care; Heart failure; Heart Failure - chemically induced; Heart Failure - drug therapy; Heart Failure - epidemiology; Humans; Impurities; Ischemia; Medicare; Myocardial infarction; Peptidyl-dipeptidase A; Tetrazoles - adverse effects; Transient ischemic attack; United States; valsartan; Valsartan - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1053-8569; 1099-1557; 1099-1557
• DOI: 10.1002/pds.5777

Background Valsartan is commonly used for cardiac conditions. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration recalled generic valsartan due to the detection of impurities. Our objective was to determine if heart failure patients receiving valsartan at the recall date had a greater likelihood of unfavorable outcomes than patients using comparable antihypertensives. Methods We conducted a cohort study of Optum's de‐identified Clinformatics® Datamart (July 2017–January 2019). Heart failure patients with commercial or Medicare Advantage insurance who received valsartan were compared to persons who received non‐recalled angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin converting enzyme‐inhibitors (ACE‐Is) for 1 year prior and including the recall date. Outcomes included a composite for all‐cause hospitalization, emergency department (ED), and urgent care (UC) use and a measure of cardiac events which included hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction and hospitalizations/ED/UC visits for stroke/transient ischemic attack, heart failure or hypertension at 6‐months post‐recall. Cox proportional hazard models with propensity score weighting compared the risk of outcomes between groups. Results Of the 87 130 adherent patients, 15% were valsartan users and 85% were users of non‐recalled ARBs/ACE‐Is. Valsartan use was not associated with an increased risk of all‐cause hospitalization/ED/UC use six‐months post‐recall (HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.96–1.03), compared with individuals taking non‐recalled ARBs/ACE‐Is. Similarly, cardiac events 6‐months post‐recall did not differ between individuals on valsartan and non‐recalled ARBs/ACE‐Is (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.97–1.12). Conclusions The valsartan recall did not affect short‐term outcomes of heart failure patients. However, the recall potentially disrupted the medication regimens of patients, possibly straining the healthcare system.