Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Delayed Initiation of ARNI and SGLT2i in Heart Failure With Corrected Aetiology (DELAY-HF), Pilot Study
DELayed Initiation of ARNI and SGLT2i in Heart Failure With Corrected aetiologY (DELAY-HF), Pilot Study
Delayed Initiation of ARNI and SGLT2i in Heart Failure With Corrected Aetiology (DELAY-HF), Pilot Study (NCT07572032) is a Phase 4 interventional studying Heart Failure Due to Coronary Artery Disease and Valvular Cardiomyopathy, sponsored by Kyungsub Song. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
In patients with heart failure due to a reversible underlying cause-such as valvular heart disease or coronary artery disease-surgical or procedural correction of the underlying lesion (valve repair/replacement, TAVI, PCI, or CABG) frequently leads to spontaneous recovery of cardiac function, even without neurohormonal modulators. In this clinical setting, a substantial proportion of patients may not require the full set of guideline-directed medical therapies routinely prescribed for chronic HFrEF. The purpose of this study is to determine whether ARNI (angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor) and SGLT2 inhibitors are truly necessary in patients whose left ventricular function recovers spontaneously after treatment of a correctable cause of heart failure. The DELAY-HF trial (DELayed initiation of ARNI and SGLT2i in heart failure with corrected aetiologY) is a multi-center, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial evaluating whether a delayed-initiation strategy of ARNI and SGLT2i is non-inferior to immediate initiation in patients with heart failure whose underlying cause has been completely corrected by surgical or procedural intervention. Adults with a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% who have undergone successful correction of a reversible cause of heart failure-either revascularization (PCI or CABG) for ischemic cardiomyopathy or valvular surgery (including TAVI) for left-sided valvular heart disease causing volume overload-will be randomized 1:1 to (1) delayed initiation, in which ARNI/SGLT2i are withheld for 6 months and started only in patients whose LVEF remains ≤40% at the 6-month assessment, versus (2) immediate guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) including ARNI/SGLT2i started shortly after the corrective procedure. All patients are followed for 12 months. The primary outcome is the absolute change in LVEF from baseline at 12 months. Key secondary outcomes include cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalization, additional echocardiographic indices, NT-proBNP, KCCQ quality-of-life score, 6-minute walk distance, and a cost-effectiveness analysis. By comparing these two strategies, this trial will clarify the incremental contribution of ARNI and SGLT2i-both to further LVEF recovery and to clinical outcomes-in patients who have already demonstrated spontaneous improvement in cardiac function after correction of the underlying cause, and will thereby help define whether these agents are truly necessary in this population.
What Stage of Research Is This?
Phase 4 studies happen after a treatment has been approved by the FDA. They monitor long-term safety, real-world effectiveness, and any rare side effects that only emerge in larger populations over longer periods. Phase 4 results sometimes lead to label changes, additional warnings, or — rarely — withdrawal of approval.
This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.
Target enrollment of 80 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Heart Failure Due to Coronary Artery Disease subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.
Original Eligibility Criteria
View original clinical language
Treatments Being Tested
Sacubitril / Valsartan
In the delayed-initiation arm, sacubitril/valsartan is withheld for 6 months after the corrective procedure; valsartan is used for blood pressure control and background heart failure therapy. At the 6-month assessment, sacubitril/valsartan is initiated only in patients with LVEF ≤40%. Patients with LVEF \>40% continue their existing regimen without ARNI. If heart failure worsens during observation (symptomatic deterioration or a ≥10 percentage-point drop in LVEF), sacubitril/valsartan is started immediately as rescue therapy. Patients on ARNI prior to enrollment undergo a 1-week washout before randomization.
SGLT-2 inhibitor
In the delayed-initiation arm, the SGLT2 inhibitor (dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or empagliflozin 10 mg once daily) is withheld during the first 6 months and initiated at the 6-month assessment only in patients whose LVEF remains ≤40%; patients whose LVEF has recovered to \>40% continue without SGLT2i under observation. If heart failure worsens during the observation period, the SGLT2 inhibitor is started immediately as rescue therapy. Patients receiving SGLT2i prior to enrollment undergo a 1-week washout before randomization.
Sacubitril / Valsartan
In the immediate-initiation arm, sacubitril/valsartan is started within 7 days after the corrective procedure, once the patient is hemodynamically stable and euvolemic. The starting dose is selected based on baseline blood pressure (25 mg to 200 mg twice daily) and titrated to the maximally tolerated dose (target 200 mg twice daily), continued throughout the 12-month follow-up.
SGLT2 Inhibition
An SGLT2 inhibitor (dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or empagliflozin 10 mg once daily, at the discretion of the treating physician) is used as one of the foundational therapies of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure. In the immediate-initiation arm, the SGLT2 inhibitor is started after correction of the underlying cause of heart failure and continued throughout the 12-month follow-up.
Locations (4)
Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07572032), the sponsor (Kyungsub Song), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.
Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.
Authoritative Sources
The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCT07572032 clinical trial studying?
In patients with heart failure due to a reversible underlying cause-such as valvular heart disease or coronary artery disease-surgical or procedural correction of the underlying lesion (valve repair/replacement, TAVI, PCI, or CABG) frequently leads to spontaneous recovery of cardiac function, even without neurohormonal modulators. In this clinical setting, a substantial proportion of patients may not require the full set of guideline-directed medical therapies routinely prescribed for chronic HFrEF. The purpose of this study is to determine whether ARNI (angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibit… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT07572032?
Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.
How do I contact the trial site for NCT07572032?
Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.
Is participating in a clinical trial safe?
Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.
Where can I verify the data on this page?
Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.
How This Page Is Built
Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT07572032. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07572032. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."
Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.
Last updated 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.