{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nHeart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains challenging to manage, particularly in Asian populations. Although vericiguat may complement guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), the safety and tolerability of rapid initiation and titration in Chinese patients with HFrEF require further evaluation.Methods\n\nThis single-center, prospective, single-arm, self-controlled cohort study included 140 patients who received at least 1 dose of vericiguat 5 mg and constituted the treated population; 133 had evaluable 14-day titration and short-term safety data. Patients were monitored for dose-titration success, blood pressure, renal function, electrolytes, hepatic function, hemoglobin, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) over 14 days. Echocardiography was performed at 12 and 20 weeks.Results\n\nThe mean age was 61.5 ± 14.2 years, and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 32.87 ± 8.51%. On a treated-population basis, 131 of 140 patients (93.6%) achieved the target vericiguat dose of 10 mg by day 14; among patients with evaluable titration data, 131 of 133 (98.5%) achieved target-dose uptitration. Median NT-proBNP decreased by 44.0% from baseline to day 14 (p < 0.001), without clinically notable blood pressure changes on the day after vericiguat initiation. At 20 weeks, LVEF increased by 8.26% (p < 0.001), accompanied by reductions in left ventricular diastolic diameter and left atrial diameter. No significant renal, hepatic, or electrolyte safety signals were observed.Conclusions\n\nRapid initiation of vericiguat 5 mg alongside GDMT optimization showed acceptable short-term safety and tolerability in Chinese patients with HFrEF. These findings support further randomized controlled trials to clarify the independent contribution of vericiguat to cardiac remodeling.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of the Cardiovascular Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, C71 Xinmin Street, Jilin Province, 130021, Changchun City, P.R. China.",
    "Department of the Cardiovascular Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, C71 Xinmin Street, Jilin Province, 130021, Changchun City, P.R. China. yushi@jlu.edu.cn."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lu Gao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Botao Shen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Haoxuan Chu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhen Guo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yushi Wang",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6206-5940"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9wph13brdark9.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s13019-026-04518-7",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13700269",
  "id": "9wph13brdark9",
  "issns": [
    "1749-8090"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928201",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2705|Heart Failure Treatment and Management"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7171723956",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13700269?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13700269",
  "pmid": "42928201",
  "published": "2026-07-29",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9wph13brdark9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:20Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42928201",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928201"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2705|Heart Failure Treatment and Management",
      "subfield": "cardiovascular"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Safety and tolerability of rapid vericiguat initiation and titration alongside GDMT optimization in HFrEF: a prospective cohort study.",
  "title_text": "Safety and tolerability of rapid vericiguat initiation and titration alongside GDMT optimization in HFrEF: a prospective cohort study.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:20Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9wph13brdark9",
  "venue": "Journal of cardiothoracic surgery",
  "versions": []
}