Improving Heart Failure Treatment in Rural Tanzania - "Sacubitril-Valsartan Interventional Study"

The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), in collaboration with Swiss TPH, has launched a new interventional study evaluating the effectiveness of a drug called Sacubitril-valsartan in improving the health status of symptomatic patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in rural Tanzania.

Background

Heart failure is one among chronic conditions that significantly accounts for high burden of disease contributed by Non communicable diseases(NCDs) globally. Studies have reported that Sacubitril-valsartan, a combination of neprilysin and angiotensin II receptor inhibition— has been effective in improving quality of life, and reducing hospitalizations and deaths among heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

However, over the years most large-scale randomized clinical trials have included few participants from Africa, creating a knowledge gap about how effective the drug is in improving the health status of heart failure patients among African populations, especially in rural settings with different patient profiles and healthcare conditions.

Study Objectives and procedure

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan in improving health outcomes in symptomatic participants with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) under a stable heart failure therapy.

The study will recruit 238 symptomatic adult patients diagnosed with HFrEF who have been on stable heart failure treatment for at least three months. The study will take place at the Heart and Lung Clinic of the St. Francis Regional Referral Hospital in Ifakara over a period of 30 months, with each participant followed for 10 months. Enrollment is expected to begin in January 2026.

Why This Study Matters

This research will be the first of its kind in Tanzania and among the few in sub-Saharan Africa to evaluate the effectiveness of sacubitril-valsartan in improving health status of symptomatic adult patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in real-world clinical settings. The findings will help bridge the evidence gap for African populations and support health authorities in refining treatment guidelines for heart failure.

Beyond the research outcomes, the project also supports capacity building by training local healthcare providers in the study outcomes, clinical follow up of the study participants, and heart failure management.

Project Team

The study will be led by Dr. Samuel Salvatory, the Principal Investigator, and Dr. Martin Rohacek, the Project Leader, from the Heart and Lung Clinic at St. Francis Regional Referral Hospital, Ifakara. The study is registered under ClinicalTrail.gov NCT06704633 .