European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry (ESC-HF-LT): 1-year follow-up outcomes and differences across regions

Clinical findings and prognosis of patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure: Analysis of the influence of Chagas etiology and ventricular function

Aims

Explore the association between clinical findings and prognosis in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and analyze the influence of etiology on clinical presentation and prognosis.

Methods and results

Prospective cohort of 500 patients admitted with ADHF from Aug/2013-Feb/2016; patients were predominantly male (61.8%), median age was 58 (IQ_25-75% 47–66 years); etiology was dilated cardiomyopathy in 141 (28.2%), ischemic heart disease in 137 (27.4%), and Chagas heart disease in 113 (22.6%). Patients who died (154 [30.8%]) or underwent heart transplantation (53[10.6%]) were younger (56 years [IQ_25-75% 45–64 vs 60 years, IQ_25-75% 49–67], P = 0.032), more frequently admitted for cardiogenic shock (20.3% vs 6.8%, P<0.001), had longer duration of symptoms (14 days [IQ_25-75% 4–32.8 vs 7.5 days, IQ_25-75% 2–31], P = 0.004), had signs of congestion (90.8% vs 76.5%, P<0.001) and inadequate perfusion more frequently (45.9% vs 28%, P<0.001), and had lower blood pressure (90 [IQ_25-75% 80–100 vs 100, IQ_25-75% 90–120], P<0.001). In a logistic regression model analysis, systolic blood pressure (P<0.001, OR 0.97 [95%CI 0.96–0.98] per mmHg) and jugular distention (P = 0.004, OR 1.923 [95%CI 1.232–3.001]) were significant. Chagas patients were more frequently admitted for cardiogenic shock (15%) and syncope/arrhythmia (20.4%). Pulmonary congestion was rare among Chagas patients and blood pressure was lower. The rate of in-hospital death or heart transplant was higher among patients with Chagas (50.5%).

Conclusions

A physical exam may identify patients at higher risk in a contemporaneous population. Our findings support specific therapies targeted at Chagas patients in the setting of ADHF.

It is recognized that the clinical evaluation of patients remains the basis for the characterization of diseases, data interpretation, and patient care. However, incorporation of technological methods into clinical practice has challenged the way cardiologists’ value of history and clinical examination. The present study sought to analyze the importance of clinical findings in a contemporaneous cohort of patients admitted with decompensated heart failure. Our results indicate that the physical exam may identify patients at higher risk in a contemporaneous patient population, and that clinical presentation varies according to etiology—especially Chagas disease—and ventricular function. Our findings support the need of development of specific therapeutic approaches targeted at Chagas patients in the setting of acute decompensated heart failure, as they represent a more vulnerable population.

Clinical profile of patients with heart failure can predict rehospitalization and quality of life

BACKGROUND

The aim of this retrospective study was to identify clinical, humoral and echocardiographic variables predicting rehospitalization and poor quality of life (QOL) in patients with reduced or mid-range ejection fraction heart failure.

METHODS

From 2009 to 2012, 310 patients were admitted having signs and symptoms of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. All the patients were followed by phone, calling the patients or the referring general practitioner. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) was used as the instrument to evaluate QOL: MLHFQ less than 24 is a good QOL, 24-45 is moderate QOL and more than 45 is poor QOL. The primary event was poor QOL and/or rehospitalization at 4 years.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients died at median time of 21 months; 4-year survival was 72 ± 3%. Rehospitalization due to heart failure was recorded in 60 cases. Among 231 survivors, MLHFQ score was good in 99 (42%), moderate in 50 (21%) and poor in 88 (37%). Four-year freedom from death, poor QOL or rehospitalization was 51 ± 3%. Multivariable analysis identified the following risk factors: heart rate at discharge at least 70 bpm, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, hypercholesterolemia, chronic pulmonary disease, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide at discharge, severe tricuspid regurgitation and mitral regurgitation more than moderate.

CONCLUSION

Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic profile is crucial to predict long-term QOL of patients admitted for heart failure.

A systematic review of epidemiology, treatment and prognosis of heart failure in adults in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Systematic characterization of heart failure in adults in Ethiopia is lacking currently. In this review, we sought to summarize the available scientific evidence on the epidemiology, treatment and prognosis of heart failure in adults in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A systematic review of PUBMED, EMBASE and SCOPUS was conducted for studies published between January 1990 and July 2017. Studies reporting on incidence, prevalence, treatment or prognosis of heart failure in individuals older than 14 years of age were included.

RESULTS

The search yielded 66 articles, out of which nine were found to be eligible for inclusion in this review. There are no studies reporting the incidence or prevalence of heart failure in the adult population in Ethiopia. There are, however, indications that heart failure might be a significant burden in the country, and typically affects middle-aged adults. Valvular heart disease, predominantly related to rheumatic heart disease, is the most commonly identified heart failure cause across the included studies. There are very limited data on treatment and prognosis.

CONCLUSION

There is limited scientific evidence on the epidemiology, treatment and prognosis of heart failure in adults in Ethiopia. Further studies are needed for the better understanding of the burden and treatment of heart failure in the adult population in Ethiopia.

Trends in Premature Mortality Due to Heart Failure by Autonomous Community in Spain: 1999 to 2013

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem, and the prevalence increases with age. In Spain, there are considerable differences between autonomous communities. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in premature mortality due to HF between 1999 and 2013 in Spain by autonomous community.

METHODS

We analyzed data on mortality due to HF in Spanish residents aged 0 to 75 years by autonomous community between 1999 and 2013. Data were collected from files provided by the Spanish Statistics Office. Age-adjusted mortality rates were analyzed and the average annual percentage rate was estimated by Poisson models.

RESULTS

Mortality due to HF represented 10.9% of total mortality. In 2013, the national age-adjusted rate was 2.98 deaths in men and 1.29 deaths in women per 100 000 inhabitants, with an annual mean reduction of 2.27% and 4.53%, respectively. In men, average mortality showed the greatest reduction in Castile-La-Mancha (6.30%). In Cantabria, average mortality significantly increased (3.97%). In women, average mortality showed the greatest decrease in the Chartered Community of Navarre (15.17%).

CONCLUSIONS

During the study period, mortality due to HF showed an overall average decrease, both nationally and by autonomous community. This decrease was more pronounced in women than in men. Premature mortality significantly decreased in most-but not all-autonomous communities.

Negotiating renal dysfunction when treating patients with heart failure

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most prevalent comorbidities in HF, and no specific treatment is still available for the so-called cardiorenal syndrome. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to describe the interaction of heart and kidney function and the consequences of cardiorenal syndrome, focusing on the use of available therapeutics. Expert commentary: The presence of CKD has been associated with adverse outcomes in HF regardless of ejection fraction. On the other hand, cardiovascular events are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among CKD patients, reflecting the close pathophysiological crosstalk between these organs. Multiple mechanisms are involved in the development of cardiorenal syndrome, including hemodynamic, neurohormonal and inflammatory mediators. The management of several HF drugs is a challenge in the presence of CKD mainly due to blunted diuretic response and increased risk of worsening of kidney function. Therefore, finding a balance between the optimization of cardiac and renal outcomes is a real negotiation in the everyday clinical practice.

Echo- and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide-Guided Follow-Up versus Symptom-Guided Follow-Up: Comparison of the Outcome in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients

Recent European Society of Cardiology and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guidelines did not recommend biomarker-guided therapy in the management of heart failure (HF) patients. Combination of echo- and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) may be an alternative approach in guiding ambulatory HF management. Our aim was to determine whether a therapy guided by echo markers of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), lung ultrasound (LUS) assessment of B-lines, and BNP improves outcomes of HF patients. Consecutive outpatients with LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 50% have been prospectively enrolled. In Group I (n=224), follow-up was guided by echo and BNP with the goal of achieving E-wave deceleration time (EDT) ≥ 150 ms, tissue Doppler index E/e' < 13, B-line numbers < 15, and BNP ≤ 125 pg/ml or decrease >30%; in Group II (n=293), follow-up was clinically guided, while the remaining 277 patients (Group III) did not receive any dedicated follow-up. At 60 months, survival was 88% in Group I compared to 75% in Group II and 54% in Group III (χ ² 53.5; p < 0.0001). Survival curves exhibited statistically significant differences using Mantel-Cox analysis. The number needed to treat to spare one death was 7.9 (Group I versus Group II) and 3.8 (Group I versus Group III). At multivariate Cox regression analyses, major predictors of all-cause mortality were follow-up E/e' (HR: 1.05; p=0.0038) and BNP >125 pg/ml or decrease ≤30% (HR: 4.90; p=0.0054), while BNP > 125 pg/ml or decrease ≤30% and B-line numbers ≥15 were associated with the combined end point of death and HF hospitalization. Evidence-based HF treatment guided by serum biomarkers and ultrasound with the goal of reducing elevated BNP and LVFP, and resolving pulmonary congestion was associated with better clinical outcomes and can be valuable in guiding ambulatory HF management.

The mortality risk of deferring optimal medical therapy in heart failure: a systematic comparison against norms for surgical consent and patient information leaflets

AIMS

The prescription of optimal medical therapy for heart failure is often delayed despite compelling evidence of a reduction in mortality. We calculated the absolute risk resulting from delayed prescription of therapy. For comparison, we established the threshold applied by clinicians when discussing the risk for death associated with an intervention, and the threshold used in official patient information leaflets.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We undertook a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to calculate the excess mortality caused by deferral of medical therapy for 1 year. Risk ratios for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers and aldosterone antagonists were 0.80, 0.73 and 0.77, respectively. In patients who might achieve a 1-year survival rate of 90% if treated, a 1-year deferral of treatment reduced survival to 78% (i.e. an annual absolute increase in mortality of 12 in 100 patients). This corresponds to an additional absolute mortality risk per month of 1%. A survey of clinicians carried out to establish the risk threshold at which they would obtain written consent showed the majority (85%) sought written consent for interventions associated with a 12-fold lower mortality risk: one in 100 patients. A systematic review of UK patient information leaflets to establish the magnitude of risk considered sufficient to be stated explicitly showed that leaflets begin to mention death at a ∼18 000-fold lower mortality risk of just 0.0007 in 100 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Deferring heart failure treatment for 1 year carries far greater risk than the level at which most doctors seek written consent, and 18 000 times more risk than the level at which patient information leaflets begin to mention death.

Lessons learned in acute heart failure

Acute heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic with more than one million admissions to hospital annually in the US and millions more worldwide. Post-discharge mortality and readmission rates remain unchanged and unacceptably high. Although recent drug development programmes have failed to deliver novel therapies capable of reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized for worsening chronic HF, hospitalized HF registries and clinical trial databases have generated a wealth of information improving our collective understanding of the HF syndrome. This review will summarize key insights from clinical trials in acute HF and hospitalized HF registries over the last several decades, focusing on improving the management of patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction.

Heart failure

Heart failure is common in adults, accounting for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing because of ageing of the population and improved treatment of acute cardiovascular events, despite the efficacy of many therapies for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and advanced device therapies. Combined angiotensin receptor blocker neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) have been associated with improvements in hospital admissions and mortality from heart failure compared with enalapril, and guidelines now recommend substitution of ACE inhibitors or ARBs with ARNIs in appropriate patients. Improved safety of left ventricular assist devices means that these are becoming more commonly used in patients with severe symptoms. Antidiabetic therapies might further improve outcomes in patients with heart failure. New drugs with novel mechanisms of action, such as cardiac myosin activators, are under investigation for patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is a heterogeneous disorder that remains incompletely understood and will continue to increase in prevalence with the ageing population. Although some data suggest that spironolactone might improve outcomes in these patients, no therapy has conclusively shown a significant effect. Hopefully, future studies will address these unmet needs for patients with heart failure. Admissions for acute heart failure continue to increase but, to date, no new therapies have improved clinical outcomes.

Long-term safety of intravenous cardiovascular agents in acute heart failure: results from the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess long-term safety of intravenous cardiovascular agents-vasodilators, inotropes and/or vasopressors-in acute heart failure (AHF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term (ESC-HF-LT) registry was a prospective, observational registry conducted in 21 countries. Patients with unscheduled hospitalizations for AHF (n = 6926) were included: 1304 (18.8%) patients received a combination of intravenous (i.v.) vasodilators and diuretics, 833 (12%) patients received i.v. inotropes and/or vasopressors. Primary endpoint was long-term all-cause mortality. Main secondary endpoints were in-hospital and post-discharge mortality. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) showed no association between the use of i.v. vasodilator and diuretic and long-term mortality [HR 0.784, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.596-1.032] nor in-hospital mortality (HR 1.049, 95% CI 0.592-1.857) in the matched cohort (n = 976 paired patients). By contrast, adjusted HR demonstrated a detrimental association between the use of i.v. inotrope and/or vasopressor and long-term all-cause mortality (HR 1.434, 95% CI 1.128-1.823), as well as in-hospital mortality (HR 1.873, 95% CI 1.151-3.048) in the matched cohort (n = 606 paired patients). No association was found between the use of i.v. inotropes and/or vasopressors and long-term mortality in patients discharged alive (HR 1.078, 95% CI 0.769-1.512). A detrimental association with inotropes and/or vasopressors was seen in all geographic regions and, among catecholamines, dopamine was associated with the highest risk of death (HR 1.628, 95% CI 1.031-2.572 vs. no inotropes).

CONCLUSIONS

Vasodilators did not demonstrate any association with long-term clinical outcomes, while inotropes and/or vasopressors were associated with increased risk of all-cause death, mostly related to excess of in-hospital mortality in AHF.

The association between high-dose loop diuretic use at discharge and cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart failure

AIMS

Few studies have reported the impact of high-dose loop diuretics at discharge on prognosis in Japanese patients with heart failure (HF). Our purpose was to assess the relationship between the dose of loop diuretics at discharge and cardiovascular mortality in patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled decompensated HF patients who were admitted to our hospital between March 2010 and March 2015, and compared HF patients who received high-dose loop diuretics at discharge (HD group) with low-dose loop diuretics at discharge (LD group) with regard to risk of cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. High-dose loop diuretic was defined as ≥40 mg/day of oral furosemide at discharge. A total of 215 patients were enrolled to the study. The median follow-up duration was 641 days. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were significantly lower in the LD group than in the HD group (10.4% vs. 31.6%, P < 0.001; 2.2% vs. 24.6%, P < 0.001, respectively). High-dose loop diuretics were associated with cardiovascular mortality in multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio, 16.06, 95% confidence interval 3.457 to 116.8; P < 0.001). The largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.85) for cardiovascular death was obtained with a threshold of 40 mg furosemide.

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose loop diuretic use at discharge was one of the predictors of cardiovascular mortality in patients with HF. An oral furosemide dose of 40 mg daily may be defined as 'high-dose' loop diuretics in Japanese patients with chronic HF.

Characteristics, treatments and 1-year prognosis of hospitalized and ambulatory heart failure patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

AIMS

To describe the characteristics and assess the 1-year outcomes of hospitalized (HHF) and chronic (CHF) heart failure patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) enrolled in a large European registry between May 2011 and April 2013.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Overall, 1334/6920 (19.3%) HHF patients and 1322/9409 (14.1%) CHF patients were diagnosed with COPD. In both groups, patients with COPD were older, more frequently men, had a worse clinical presentation and a higher prevalence of co-morbidities. In HHF, the increase in the use of heart failure (HF) medications at hospital discharge was greater in non-COPD than in COPD for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (+13.7% vs. +7.2%), beta-blockers (+20.6% vs. +11.8%) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (+20.9% vs. +17.3%), thus widening the gap in HF treatment already existing between the two groups at admission. In CHF patients, there was a similar increase in the use of these medications after enrollment visit in the two groups, leaving a significant difference of 8.2% for beta-blockers in favour of non-COPD patients (89.8% vs. 81.6%, P < 0.001). At 1-year follow-up, the hazard ratios for COPD in multivariable analysis confirmed its independent association with hospitalizations both in HHF [all-cause: 1.16 (1.04-1.29), for HF: 1.22 (1.05-1.42)] and CHF patients [all-cause: 1.26 (1.13-1.41), for HF: 1.37 (1.17-1.60)]. The association between COPD and all-cause mortality was not confirmed in both groups after adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

COPD frequently coexists in HHF and CHF, worsens the clinical course of the disease, and significantly impacts its therapeutic management and prognosis. The matter should deserve greater attention from the cardiology community.

Multinational and multiethnic variations in health-related quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND

Assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with heart failure (HF) is an important goal of clinical care and HF research. We sought to investigate ethnic differences in perceived HRQoL and its association with mortality among patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, controlling for demographic characteristics and HF severity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We compared 5697 chronic HF patients of Indian (26%), white (23%), Chinese (17%), Japanese/Koreans (12%), black (12%), and Malay (10%) ethnicities from the HF-ACTION and ASIAN-HF multinational studies using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ; range 0-100; higher scores reflect better health status). KCCQ scores were lowest in Malay (58±22) and Chinese (60±23), intermediate in black (64±21) and Indian (65±23), and highest in white (67±20) and Japanese or Korean patients (67±22) after adjusting for age, sex, educational status, HF severity, and risk factors. Self-efficacy, which measures confidence in the ability to manage symptoms, was lower in all Asian ethnicities (especially Japanese/Koreans [60±26], Malay [66±23], and Chinese [64±28]) compared to black (80±21) and white (82±19) patients, even after multivariable adjustment (P<.001). In all ethnicities, KCCQ strongly predicted 1-year mortality (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.30-0.67 for highest vs lowest quintile of KCCQ; P for interaction by ethnicity .101).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, HRQoL is inversely and independently related to mortality in chronic HF but is not modified by ethnicity. Nevertheless, ethnic differences exist independent of HF severity and comorbidities. These data may have important implications for future global clinical HF trials that use patient-reported outcomes as endpoints.

Heart failure oral therapies at discharge are associated with better outcome in acute heart failure: a propensity-score matched study

AIMS

Heart failure oral therapies (HFOTs), including beta-blockers (BB), renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, administered before hospital discharge after acute heart failure (AHF) might improve outcome. However, concerns have been raised because early administration of HFOTs may worsen patient's condition. We hypothesized that HFOTs at hospital discharge might be associated with better post-discharge survival.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study population was composed of 19 980 AHF patients from the GREAT registry. The primary and secondary outcomes were 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality, respectively. Survival was estimated with univariate and covariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models for the whole population and after propensity-score matching. HFOTs at discharge were consistently associated with no excess mortality in the unadjusted and adjusted analyses of the whole and matched cohorts. In the matched cohort, BB and RASi at discharge were associated with lower 90-day mortality risks compared to the respective untreated groups [hazard ratio (HR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.69; and HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.42-0.66, respectively]. The favourable associations of BB and RASi at discharge with 90-day mortality were present in many subgroups including patients with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and persisted up to 1 year after discharge. The combination of RASi and BB was associated with an even lower risk of death than RASi or BB alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of HFOTs at hospital discharge is associated with better survival of AHF patients.

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Heart failure is a global public health problem that affects more than 26 million people worldwide. The global burden of heart failure is growing and is expected to increase substantially with the ageing of the population. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction accounts for approximately 50% of all cases of heart failure in the United States and is associated with substantial morbidity and reduced quality of life. Several diseases, such as myocardial infarction, certain infectious diseases and endocrine disorders, can initiate a primary pathophysiological process that can lead to reduced ventricular function and to heart failure. Initially, ventricular impairment is compensated for by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, but chronic activation of these pathways leads to worsening cardiac function. The symptoms of heart failure can be associated with other conditions and include dyspnoea, fatigue, limitations in exercise tolerance and fluid accumulation, which can make diagnosis difficult. Management strategies include the use of pharmacological therapies and implantable devices to regulate cardiac function. Despite these available treatments, heart failure remains incurable, and patients have a poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Consequently, the development of new therapies is imperative and requires further research.

Extracorporeal Ultrafiltration for Fluid Overload in Heart Failure: Current Status and Prospects for Further Research

More than 1 million heart failure hospitalizations occur annually, and congestion is the predominant cause. Rehospitalizations for recurrent congestion portend poor outcomes independently of age and renal function. Persistent congestion trumps serum creatinine increases in predicting adverse heart failure outcomes. No decongestive pharmacological therapy has reduced these harmful consequences. Simplified ultrafiltration devices permit fluid removal in lower-acuity hospital settings, but with conflicting results regarding safety and efficacy. Ultrafiltration performed at fixed rates after onset of therapy-induced increased serum creatinine was not superior to standard care and resulted in more complications. In contrast, compared with diuretic agents, some data suggest that adjustment of ultrafiltration rates to patients’ vital signs and renal function may be associated with more effective decongestion and fewer heart failure events. Essential aspects of ultrafiltration remain poorly defined. Further research is urgently needed, given the burden of congestion and data suggesting sustained benefits of early and adjustable ultrafiltration.

One-year mortality outcomes and hospital readmissions of patients admitted with acute heart failure: Data from the Trivandrum Heart Failure Registry in Kerala, India

BACKGROUND

There are sparse data on outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) from India. The objective was to evaluate hospital readmissions and 1-year mortality outcomes of patients with HF in Kerala, India.

METHODS

We followed 1,205 patients enrolled in the Trivandrum Heart Failure Registry for 1 year. A trained research nurse contacted each participant every 3 months using a structured questionnaire which included hospital readmission and mortality information.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) age was 61.2 (13.7) years, and 31% were women. One out of 4 (26%) participants had HF with preserved ejection fraction. Only 25% of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction received guideline-directed medical therapy at discharge. Cumulative all-cause mortality at 1 year was 30.8% (n = 371), but the greatest risk of mortality was in the first 3 months (18.1%). Most deaths (61%) occurred in patients younger than 70 years. One out of every 3 (30.2%) patients was readmitted at least once over 1 year. The hospital readmission rates were similar between HF with preserved ejection fraction and HF with reduced ejection fraction patients. New York Heart Association functional class IV status and lack of guideline-directed medical treatment after index hospitalization were associated with increased likelihood of readmission. Similarly, older age, lower education status, nonischemic etiology, history of stroke, higher serum creatinine, lack of adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy, and hospital readmissions were associated with increased 1-year mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Trivandrum Heart Failure Registry, 1 of 3 HF patients died within 1 year of follow-up during their productive life years. Suboptimal adherence to guideline-directed treatment is associated with increased propensity of readmission and death. Quality improvement programs aiming to improve adherence to guideline-based therapy and reducing readmission may result in significant survival benefits in the relatively younger cohort of HF patients in India.

Anemia at Hospital Admission and Its Relation to Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure (from the Polish Cohort of 2 European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Registries)

Anemia is a commonly observed co-morbidity in heart failure (HF). The aim of the study was to assess prevalence, risk factors for, and effect of anemia on short- and long-term outcomes in HF. The study included 1,394 Caucasian patients hospitalized for HF, with known hemoglobin concentration on hospital admission, participating in 2 HF registries of the European Society of Cardiology (Pilot and Long-Term). Anemia was defined as hemoglobin concentration of <13 g/dl for men and <12 g/dl for women. Primary end points were (1) all-cause death at 1 year and (2) a composite of all-cause death and rehospitalization for HF at 1 year. Secondary end points included inter alia death during index hospitalization. In addition, we investigated the effect of changes in hemoglobin concentration during hospitalization on prognosis. Anemia occurred in 33% of patients. Predictors of anemia included older age, diabetes, greater New York Heart Association class at hospital admission and kidney disease. During 1-year follow-up, 21% of anemic and 13% of nonanemic patients died (p <0.0001). Combined primary end point occurred in 45% of anemic and in 33% of nonanemic patients (p <0.0001). Anemia was strongly predictive of all the prespecified clinical end points in univariate analyses but not in multivariate analyses. Changes in hemoglobin concentration during hospitalization had no effect on 1-year outcomes. In conclusion, anemia was present in 1/3 of patients with HF. Mild-to-moderate anemia seems more a marker of older age, worse clinical condition, and a higher co-morbidity burden, rather than an independent risk factor in HF.

Repetitive use of levosimendan in advanced heart failure: need for stronger evidence in a field in dire need of a useful therapy

Patients in the latest stages of heart failure are severely compromised, with poor quality of life and frequent hospitalizations. Heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device implantation are viable options only for a minority, and intermittent or continuous infusions of positive inotropes may be needed as a bridge therapy or as a symptomatic approach. In these settings, levosimendan has potential advantages over conventional inotropes (catecholamines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors), such as sustained effects after initial infusion, synergy with beta-blockers, and no increase in oxygen consumption. Levosimendan has been suggested as a treatment that reduces re-hospitalization and improves quality of life. However, previous clinical studies of intermittent infusions of levosimendan were not powered to show statistical significance on key outcome parameters. A panel of 45 expert clinicians from 12 European countries met in Rome on November 24-25, 2016 to review the literature and envision an appropriately designed clinical trial addressing these needs. In the earlier FIGHT trial (daily subcutaneous injection of liraglutide in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction) a composite Global Rank Score was used as primary end-point where death, re-hospitalization, and change in N-terminal-prohormone-brain natriuretic peptide level were considered in a hierarchical order. In the present study, we tested the same end-point post hoc in the PERSIST and LEVOREP trials on oral and repeated i.v. levosimendan, respectively, and demonstrated superiority of levosimendan treatment vs placebo. The use of the same composite end-point in a properly powered study on repetitive levosimendan in advanced heart failure is strongly advocated.

Epidemiology and one-year outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure and preserved, mid-range and reduced ejection fraction: an analysis of the ESC Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

AIMS

The objectives of the present study were to describe epidemiology and outcomes in ambulatory heart failure (HF) patients stratified by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and to identify predictors for mortality at 1 year in each group.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry is a prospective, observational study collecting epidemiological information and 1-year follow-up data in 9134 HF patients. Patients were classified according to baseline LVEF into HF with reduced EF [EF <40% (HFrEF)], mid-range EF [EF 40-50% (HFmrEF)] and preserved EF [EF >50% (HFpEF)]. In comparison with HFpEF subjects, patients with HFrEF were younger (64 years vs. 69 years), more commonly male (78% vs. 52%), more likely to have an ischaemic aetiology (49% vs. 24%) and left bundle branch block (24% vs. 9%), but less likely to have hypertension (56% vs. 67%) or atrial fibrillation (18% vs. 32%). The HFmrEF group resembled the HFrEF group in some features, including age, gender and ischaemic aetiology, but had less left ventricular and atrial dilation. Mortality at 1 year differed significantly between HFrEF and HFpEF (8.8% vs. 6.3%); HFmrEF patients experienced intermediate rates (7.6%). Age, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV status and chronic kidney disease predicted mortality in all LVEF groups. Low systolic blood pressure and high heart rate were predictors for mortality in HFrEF and HFmrEF. A lower body mass index was independently associated with mortality in HFrEF and HFpEF patients. Atrial fibrillation predicted mortality in HFpEF patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Heart failure patients stratified according to different categories of LVEF represent diverse phenotypes of demography, clinical presentation, aetiology and outcomes at 1 year. Differences in predictors for mortality might improve risk stratification and management goals.

Registry-Based Pragmatic Trials in Heart Failure: Current Experience and Future Directions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in heart failure (HF) are becoming increasingly complex and expensive to conduct and if positive deliver expensive therapy tested only in selected populations.

RECENT FINDINGS

Electronic health records and clinical cardiovascular quality registries are providing opportunities for pragmatic and registry-based prospective randomized clinical trials (RRCTs). Simplified regulatory, ethics, and consent procedures; recruitment integrated into real-world care; and simplified or automated baseline and outcome collection allow assessment of study power and feasibility, fast and efficient recruitment, delivery of generalizable findings at low cost, and potentially evidence-based and novel use of generic drugs with low costs to society. There have been no RRCTs in HF to date. Major challenges include generating funding, international collaboration, and the monitoring of safety and adherence for chronic HF treatments. Here, we use the Spironolactone Initiation Registry Randomized Interventional Trial in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (SPIRRIT-HFpEF), to be conducted in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry, to exemplify the advantages and challenges of HF RRCTs.

New medicinal products for chronic heart failure: advances in clinical trial design and efficacy assessment

Despite the availability of a number of different classes of therapeutic agents with proven efficacy in heart failure, the clinical course of heart failure patients is characterized by a reduction in life expectancy, a progressive decline in health-related quality of life and functional status, as well as a high risk of hospitalization. New approaches are needed to address the unmet medical needs of this patient population. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is undertaking a revision of its Guideline on Clinical Investigation of Medicinal Products for the Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure. The draft version of the Guideline was released for public consultation in January 2016. The Cardiovascular Round Table of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in partnership with the Heart Failure Association of the ESC, convened a dedicated two-day workshop to discuss three main topic areas of major interest in the field and addressed in this draft EMA guideline: (i) assessment of efficacy (i.e. endpoint selection and statistical analysis); (ii) clinical trial design (i.e. issues pertaining to patient population, optimal medical therapy, run-in period); and (iii) research approaches for testing novel therapeutic principles (i.e. cell therapy). This paper summarizes the key outputs from the workshop, reviews areas of expert consensus, and identifies gaps that require further research or discussion. Collaboration between regulators, industry, clinical trialists, cardiologists, health technology assessment bodies, payers, and patient organizations is critical to address the ongoing challenge of heart failure and to ensure the development and market access of new therapeutics in a scientifically robust, practical and safe way.

Ivabradine in the treatment of systolic heart failure - A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To perform a systematic-review and meta-analysis to compare outcomes of ivabradine combined with beta-blocker to beta-blocker alone in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science for trials comparing ivabradine + beta-blocker to beta-blocker alone in HFrEF. We performed a systematic-review and meta-analysis of published literature. Primary end-point was combined end point of cardiac death and hospitalization for heart failure.

RESULTS

Six studies with 17671 patients were included. Mean follow-up was 8.7 ± 7.9 mo. Combined end-point of heart failure readmission and cardiovascular death was better in ivabradine + beta-blocker group compared to beta-blocker alone (RR: 0.93, 95%CI: 0.79-1.09, P = 0.354). Mean difference (MD) in heart rate was higher in the ivabradine + beta-blocker group (MD: 6.14, 95%CI: 3.80-8.48, P < 0.001). There was no difference in all cause mortality (RR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.89-1.07, P = 0.609), cardiovascular mortality (RR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.86-1.15, P = 0.908) or heart failure hospitalization (RR: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.68-1.11, P = 0.271).

CONCLUSION

From the available clinical trials, ivabradine + beta-blocker resulted in a significantly greater reduction in HR coupled with improvement in combined end-point of heart failure readmission and cardiovascular death but with no improvement in all cause or cardiovascular mortality. Given the limited evidence, further randomized controlled trials are essential before widespread clinical application of ivabradine + beta-blocker is advocated for HFrEF.