Advanced chronic heart failure: A position statement from the Study Group on Advanced Heart Failure of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology

Understanding Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a growing global health concern that affects more than 20 million people worldwide. With an ever-growing segment of the population over the age of 65, the prevalence of HF and its associated costs are expected to increase exponentially over the next decade. Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of HF have resulted in the ability to enhance both the quantity and the quality of life of patients with HF. This article reviews the current understanding of the pathophysiology, cause, classification, and treatment of HF and describes areas of uncertainty that demand future study.

[Rise of the machines? Left ventricular assist devices for treatment of severe heart failure]

The use of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as a treatment for severe heart failure has gained momentum in recent years. Even at this stage the number of worldwide LVAD implantations far exceeds the volume of heart transplantations in view of the chronic shortage of donor organs. Third generation continuous flow assist devices have helped to improve survival, quality of life and symptom burden of heart failure patients in comparison to a regimen of optimal medication management. Alongside bridging to transplantation, destination therapy has become an established strategy of LVAD implantation. A careful patient selection process is crucial for a good clinical outcome after device implantation and risk assessment for postoperative right ventricular failure is of particular importance in this context. The rate of hospitalization during LVAD support is still high, despite the step-wise attempts to widen the indications to less severely ill heart failure patients. An effective perioperative and postoperative management will help to lower the incidence of complications (e.g. bleeding, infections, thromboembolic events and right ventricular failure) and to improve the encouraging results of mechanical circulatory support.

Background and design of the profiling biobehavioral responses to mechanical support in advanced heart failure study

BACKGROUND

Unexplained heterogeneity in response to ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation for the management of advanced heart failure impedes our ability to predict favorable outcomes, provide adequate patient and family education, and personalize monitoring and symptom management strategies. The purpose of this article was to describe the background and the design of a study entitled "Profiling Biobehavioral Responses to Mechanical Support in Advanced Heart Failure" (PREMISE).

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

PREMISE is a prospective cohort study designed to (1) identify common and distinct trajectories of change in physical and psychological symptom burden; (2) characterize common trajectories of change in serum biomarkers of myocardial stress, systemic inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction; and (3) quantify associations between symptoms and biomarkers of pathogenesis in adults undergoing VAD implantation. Latent growth mixture modeling, including parallel process and cross-classification modeling, will be used to address the study aims and will entail identifying trajectories, quantifying associations between trajectories and both clinical and quality-of-life outcomes, and identifying predictors of favorable symptom and biomarker responses to VAD implantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Research findings from the PREMISE study will be used to enhance shared patient and provider decision making and to shape a much-needed new breed of interventions and clinical management strategies that are tailored to differential symptom and pathogenic responses to VAD implantation.

Clinical value of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide assay in pediatric pneumonia accompanied by heart failure

Previous studies have shown that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is useful in differentiating cardiac from pulmonary causes of dyspnea in adults. To date, international guidelines have recommended measurements of circulating BNP as a biomarker for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, as well as therapeutic monitoring, in adults with cardiac diseases, particularly those suffering from acute and chronic heart failure (HF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the differential diagnostic and therapeutic analysis of BNP levels assayed in pediatric pneumonia accompanied by HF. The clinical data of 80 patients with pneumonia, aged 1-3 years, were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: Simple pneumonia (46 cases) and pneumonia accompanied by HF (34 cases). All patients underwent two plasma BNP assays: The first one upon admission to the hospital and the second one prior to discharge. The plasma BNP levels of 20 healthy children were used as the negative control. Plasma BNP levels were measured using the Triage® BNP automated immunoassay systems and reagents. Statistical analysis showed that the plasma BNP levels of the patients upon admission were higher in the pneumonia accompanied by HF group compared with those in the simple pneumonia group (750±120 vs. 135±50 pg/ml; P<0.05). In addition, in the pneumonia accompanied by HF group, the plasma BNP levels of the patients were higher upon admission to the hospital than they were prior to discharge (750±120 vs. 115±45 pg/ml; P<0.05); therefore, plasma BNP may comprise a sensitive diagnostic and therapeutic evaluative marker for pediatric patients with pneumonia accompanied by HF. This finding could prove invaluable in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Long-term survival and preprocedural predictors of mortality in high surgical risk patients undergoing percutaneous mitral valve repair

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate long-term survival in high surgical risk patients undergoing percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR) using the MitraClip(®) system and to identify preprocedural predictors of long-term mortality.

BACKGROUND

Data for long-term survival and preprocedural predictors of mortality after percutaneous MVR in high surgical risk patients are sporadic.

METHODS

From January 2009 to April 2013, 136 consecutive high surgical risk patients, with symptomatic moderate-to-severe or severe mitral regurgitation (MR), underwent percutaneous MVR using the MitraClip system. Cardiac and overall survival was determined at one and 2 years postprocedure. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify preprocedural predictors of long-term mortality.

RESULTS

One year postprocedure, cardiac and overall survival was 86.7% and 84.6%, respectively and at 2 years cardiac and overall survival was 77.7% and 74.8%, respectively. In univariate analysis advanced age, lower body mass index, impaired renal function, elevated levels of log-N-terminal-pro-brain-natriuretic-peptide (log-NTproBNP), poor performance in functional tests (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class) and high logistic Euroscore (LES) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score were identified as preprocedural predictors of long-term cardiac mortality. In multivariate analysis preoperative NYHA class III and IV, elevated levels of log-NTproBNP and advanced age predicted long-term cardiac mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous MVR using the MitraClip system has favorable long-term survival rates in high surgical risk patients. Preprocedural NYHA functional class III and IV, elevated log-NTproBNP levels and advanced age predict higher long-term cardiac mortality and should be considered during patient selection.

Paced QRS duration and myocardial scar amount: predictors of long-term outcome of right ventricular apical pacing

Long-term right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP) is reportedly associated with heart failure (HF) development. However, the predictors of pacing-induced HF (PHF) remained unclear. We retrospectively enrolled 234 patients without structural heart disease who underwent a permanent pacemaker implantation with RVAP between 1982 and 2004. RVAP-induced HF was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction decrease >5 % with HF symptom without other HF development etiology. The QRS duration of a paced beat (pQRSd) and myocardial scar score were analyzed from each patient's 12-lead ECG. During a mean 15.6 years (range 3.3-30.0 years), 48 patients (20.5 %) patients developed RVAP-induced HF. The PHF group patients had a longer pQRSd (192.4 ± 13.5 vs. 175.7 ± 14.7 ms in non-PHF patients, p < 0.001) and a higher myocardial scar score (5.2 ± 1.9 vs. 2.7 ± 1.9, respectively p < 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, old age at implantation [Hazard ratio (HR) 1.62, 95 % confidential interval (CI) 1.22-2.16, p = 0.001], a longer pQRSd (HR 1.54, 95 % CI 1.15-2.05, p = 0.003), a higher myocardial scar score (HR 1.23, 95 % CI 1.03-1.49, p = 0.037), and a higher percentage of ventricular pacing (HR 1.31, 95 % CI 1.01-1.49, p = 0.010) were independent predictors of PHF. Based on the results of the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the pQRSd cutoff was 185 ms (AUC 0.79, sensitivity 66.7 %, specificity 76.3 %) and myocardial scar score cutoff value was 4 (AUC 0.81, sensitivity 81.3 %, specificity 66.1 %). The pQRSd was positively correlated with scar score (r = 0.70, p < 0.001). pQRSd ≥185 ms and/or myocardial scar score ≥4 might be independent long-term prognostic markers of PHF.

Clinical and prognostic role of ammonia in advanced decompensated heart failure. The cardio-abdominal syndrome?

BACKGROUND

Advanced heart failure is associated with end-organ damage. Recent literature suggested an intriguing crosstalk between failing heart, abdomen and kidneys. Venous ammonia, as a by-product of the gut, could be a marker of abdominal injury in heart failure patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical and prognostic role of ammonia in patients with advanced decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

METHODS & RESULTS

90 patients admitted with ADHF were prospectively studied. The prognostic role of ammonia at admission was evaluated. Primary end-points were: a composite of cardiac death, urgent heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at 3 months and need for renal replacement therapies (RRT). In the study cohort (age 59.0 ± 12.0 years, FE 21.6 ± 9.0%, INTERMACS profile 3.7 ± 0.9, creatinine 1.71 ± 0.95 mg/dl) 27 patients (30%) underwent the cardiac composite endpoint, while 9 patients (10%) needed RRT. At ROC curve analysis ammonia ≥ 130 μg/dl (abdominal damage) showed the best diagnostic accuracy. At multivariate analysis abdominal damage predicted the cardiac composite endpoint. Abdominal damage further increased risk among patient with cold profile at admission (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1-7.0, p = 0.046). At multivariate analysis abdominal damage also predicted need for RRT (OR 10.8, 95% CI 1.5-75.8, p = 0.017). The combined use of estimated right atrial pressure and ammonia showed the highest diagnostic accuracy and a very high specificity in prediction of need for RRT.

CONCLUSION

In a selected population admitted for ADHF ammonia, as a marker of abdominal derangement, predicted adverse cardiac events and need for RRT.

Advanced (stage D) heart failure: a statement from the Heart Failure Society of America Guidelines Committee

We propose that stage D advanced heart failure be defined as the presence of progressive and/or persistent severe signs and symptoms of heart failure despite optimized medical, surgical, and device therapy. Importantly, the progressive decline should be primarily driven by the heart failure syndrome. Formally defining advanced heart failure and specifying when medical and device therapies have failed is challenging, but signs and symptoms, hemodynamics, exercise testing, biomarkers, and risk prediction models are useful in this process. Identification of patients in stage D is a clinically important task because treatments are inherently limited, morbidity is typically progressive, and survival is often short. Age, frailty, and psychosocial issues affect both outcomes and selection of therapy for stage D patients. Heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support devices are potential treatment options in select patients. In addition to considering indications, contraindications, clinical status, and comorbidities, treatment selection for stage D patients involves incorporating the patient's wishes for survival versus quality of life, and palliative and hospice care should be integrated into care plans. More research is needed to determine optimal strategies for patient selection and medical decision making, with the ultimate goal of improving clinical and patient centered outcomes in patients with stage D heart failure.

Left Ventricular Assist Devices in the Management of Heart Failure

Mechanical circulatory support has emerged as an important therapy for advanced heart failure, with more than 18,000 continuous flow devices implanted worldwide to date. These devices significantly improve survival and quality of life and should be considered in every patient with end-stage heart failure with reduced ejection fraction who has no other life-limiting diseases. All candidates for device implantation should undergo a thorough evaluation in order to identify those who could benefit from device implantation. Long-term management of ventricular assist device patients is challenging and requires knowledge of the characteristic complications with their unique clinical presentations.

Palliative care needs in patients hospitalized with heart failure (PCHF) study: rationale and design

Aims

The primary aim of this study is to provide data to inform the design of a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) of a palliative care (PC) intervention in heart failure (HF). We will identify an appropriate study population with a high prevalence of PC needs defined using quantifiable measures. We will also identify which components a specific and targeted PC intervention in HF should include and attempt to define the most relevant trial outcomes.

Methods

An unselected, prospective, near‐consecutive, cohort of patients admitted to hospital with acute decompensated HF will be enrolled over a 2‐year period. All potential participants will be screened using B‐type natriuretic peptide and echocardiography, and all those enrolled will be extensively characterized in terms of their HF status, comorbidity, and PC needs. Quantitative assessment of PC needs will include evaluation of general and disease‐specific quality of life, mood, symptom burden, caregiver burden, and end of life care. Inpatient assessments will be performed and after discharge outpatient assessments will be carried out every 4 months for up to 2.5 years. Participants will be followed up for a minimum of 1 year for hospital admissions, and place and cause of death. Methods for identifying patients with HF with PC needs will be evaluated, and estimates of healthcare utilisation performed.

Conclusion

By assessing the prevalence of these needs, describing how these needs change over time, and evaluating how best PC needs can be identified, we will provide the foundation for designing an RCT of a PC intervention in HF.

Physical and psychological symptom profiling and event-free survival in adults with moderate to advanced heart failure

: Heart failure (HF) is a heterogeneous symptomatic disorder. The goal of this study was to identify and link common profiles of physical and psychological symptoms to 1-year event-free survival in adults with moderate to advanced HF.

METHODS

Multiple valid, reliable, and domain-specific measures were used to assess physical and psychological symptoms. Latent class mixture modeling was used to identify distinct symptom profiles. Associations between observed symptom profiles and 1-year event-free survival were quantified using Cox proportional hazards modeling.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants (n = 202) was 57 ± 13 years, 50% were men, and 60% had class III/IV HF. Three distinct profiles, mild (41.7%), moderate (30.2%), and severe (28.1%), that captured a gradient of both physical and psychological symptom burden were identified (P < .001 for all comparisons). Controlling for the Seattle HF Score, adults with the moderate symptom profile were 82% more likely (hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-3.11; P = .028) and adults with the severe symptom profile were more than twice as likely (hazard ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-3.52; P = .001) to have a clinical event within 1 year than patients with the mild symptom profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Profiling patterns among physical and psychological symptoms identifies HF patient subgroups with significantly worse 1-year event-free survival independent of prognostication based on objective clinical HF data.

Prognostic value of noninvasive hemodynamic evaluation of the acute effect of levosimendan in advanced heart failure

AIMS

Optimization of inotropic treatment in worsening heart failure sometimes requires invasive hemodynamic assessment in selected patients. Impedance cardiography (ICG) may be useful for a noninvasive hemodynamic evaluation.

METHODS

ICG was performed in 40 patients (69 ± 8 years; left ventricular ejection fraction 27.5 ± 5.6%; New York Heart Association 3.18 ± 0.34; Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support 5.48 ± 0.96, before and after infusion of Levosimendan (0.1–0.2 µg/kg per min for up to 24 h). Echocardiogram, ICG [measuring cardiac index (CI), total peripheral resistances (TPRs) and thoracic fluid content (TFC)] and plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were obtained; in nine patients, right heart catheterization was also carried out.

RESULTS

When right catheterization and ICG were performed simultaneously, a significant relationship was observed between values of CI and TPR, and between TFC and pulmonary wedge pressure. ICG detected the Levosimendan-induced recovery of the hemodynamic status, associated with improved systolic and diastolic function and reduction in BNP levels. One-year mortality was 4.4%. At multivariate analysis, independent predictors of mortality were: no improvement in the severity of mitral regurgitation, a persistent restrictive filling pattern (E/E’ > 15), a reduction of BNP levels below 30% and a change below 10% in CI, TPR and TFC. When combined, absence of hemodynamic improvement at ICG could predict 1-year mortality with better sensitivity (86%) and specificity (85%) than the combination of echocardiographic and BNP criteria only (sensitivity 80% and specificity 36%).

CONCLUSION

Noninvasive hemodynamic evaluation of heart failure patients during infusion of inodilator drugs is reliable and may help in their prognostic stratification.

Hold or fold--proteins in advanced heart failure and myocardial recovery

Advanced heart failure (AHF) describes the subset of heart failure patients refractory to conventional medical therapy. For some AHF patients, the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) provides an intermediary "bridge" step for transplant-eligible patients or an alternative therapy for transplant-ineligible patients. Over the past 20 years, clinical observations have revealed that approximately 1% of patients with MCS undergo significant reverse remodeling to the point where the device can be explanted. Unfortunately, it is unclear why some patients experience durable, sustained myocardial remission, while others redevelop heart failure (i.e. which hearts "hold" and which hearts "fold"). In this review, we outline unmet clinical needs related to treating patients with MCS, provide an overview of protein dynamics in the reverse-remodeling process, and propose specific areas where we expect MS and proteomic analyses will have significant impact on our understanding of disease progression, molecular mechanisms of recovery, and provide new markers with prognostic value that can positively impact patient care. Complimentary perspectives are provided with the goal of making this important topic accessible and relevant to both a clinical and basic science audience, as the intersection of these disciplines is required to advance the field.

Adult heart transplant: indications and outcomes

Cardiac transplantation is the treatment of choice for many patients with end-stage heart failure (HF) who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. For carefully selected patients, heart transplantation offers markedly improved survival and quality of life. Risk stratification of the large group of patients with end-stage HF is essential for identifying patients who are most likely to benefit, particularly as the number of suitable donors is insufficient to meet demand. The indications for heart transplant and review components of the pre-transplant evaluation, including the role for exercise testing and risk scores such as the Heart Failure Survival Score (HFSS) and Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM) are summarized. Common contraindications are also discussed. Outcomes, including survival and common complications such as coronary allograft vasculopathy are reviewed.

Prediction of clinical outcomes using B-type natriuretic peptides in the general population: a systematic review

The use of B-type natriuretic peptides to predict outcomes in general populations has been investigated in a number of primary studies. A previous systematic review considering natriuretic peptides in cardiovascular disease included a subgroup of general population studies, which suggested an association with a number of clinical outcomes. We electronically searched Medline, Embase, AMED, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL for English-language articles published between 1989 and mid-2012. We utilized trained reviewers and standardized forms to screen articles for inclusion and extract data from included articles. All included studies (n = 7) were summarized in narrative and tabular form. A general population was defined as one that was randomly selected from a community setting where no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria were specified. The seven included studies all used FDA approved assays for NT-proBNP. The range of clinical outcomes and heterogeneity did not allow for meta-analysis. The hazard ratios for predicting outcomes in the included studies ranged from 1.0 to 4.1 (all p values <0.05). The discrimination statistics reported in four studies all demonstrated statistically significant improvements in predicting outcomes. NT-proBNP is associated with heart failure, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and other combined cardiovascular events in a general unselected population. The discrimination statistics suggest modest improvements in risk stratification. No prospective studies exist to demonstrate the clinical utility of using B-type natriuretic peptides to predict clinical outcomes in a general population.

Rationale and design of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter trial to study efficacy, security, and long term effects of intermittent repeated levosimendan administration in patients with advanced heart failure: LAICA study

BACKGROUND

Advanced heart failure (HF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality; it represents a major burden for the health system. Episodes of acute decompensation requiring frequent and prolonged hospitalizations account for most HF-related expenditure. Inotropic drugs are frequently used during hospitalization, but rarely in out-patients. The LAICA clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of monthly levosimendan infusion in patients with advanced HF to reduce the incidence of hospital admissions for acute HF decompensation.

METHODS

The LAICA study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial. It aims to recruit 213 out-patients, randomized to receive either a 24-h infusion of levosimendan at 0.1 μg/kg/min dose, without a loading dose, every 30 days, or placebo.

RESULTS

The main objective is to assess the incidence of admission for acute HF worsening during 12 months. Secondarily, the trial will assess the effect of intermittent levosimendan on other variables, including the time in days from randomization to first admission for acute HF worsening, mortality and serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

The LAICA trial results could allow confirmation of the usefulness of intermittent levosimendan infusion in reducing the rate of hospitalization for HF worsening in advanced HF outpatients.

Current indications for heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device: a practical point of view

Heart transplantation (HTx) is considered the "gold standard" therapy of refractory heart failure (HF), but it is accessible only to few patients because of the paucity of suitable heart donors. On the other hand, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have proven to be effective in improving survival and quality of life in patients with refractory HF. The challenge encountered by multidisciplinary teams in dealing with advanced HF lies in identifying patients who could benefit more from HTx as compared to LVAD implantation and the appropriate timing. The decision-making is based on clinical parameters, imaging-based data and risk scores. Current outcome of HF patients supported by LVAD (2-year survival around 70%) is rapidly improving and leads the way to a new therapeutic strategy. Patients who have a low likelihood to gain access to the heart graft pool could benefit more from LVAD implantation (defined as bridge to transplantation indication) than from remaining on HTx waiting list with the likely risk of clinical deterioration or removal from the list because patients are no longer suitable for transplantation. LVAD has also demonstrated to be effective in patients who are not considered eligible candidates for HTx with a destination therapy indication. HTx should be reserved to those patients for whom the maximum clinical benefit can be expected, such as young patients with no comorbidities. Here we discuss the current listing criteria for HTx and indications to implant of LVAD for patients with refractory acute and chronic HF based on the guidelines and the practical experience of our center.

Comprehensive Guideline for Care of Patients With Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that results from any structural or functional impairment of ventricular filling or ejection of blood. More than 5.1 million people are living with HF in the United States today. This number will continue to rise with the increase in the aging population. With so many people living with HF, nurses need to be well versed on how best to care for them. The 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association guideline for the management of HF is a comprehensive guide for all clinicians caring for patients with HF. The updated guideline was developed to assist providers in decision making in the diagnosis and treatment of HF. The goals of the writing committee were to improve quality of care for patients with HF, optimize their outcomes, and improve the efficient use of various resources in the treatment of patients with HF.

Prognostic value of brain natriuretic peptide in patients with heart failure and reserved left ventricular systolic function

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used as a prognostic biomarker for patients with heart failure (HF) in clinical practice, however, the correlation between BNP levels and the prognosis of HF in patients with reserved left ventricular systolic function (RLVSF) is not clear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the added value of BNP in the prognosis of HF patients with RLVSF. Inpatients with cardiovascular disease (mean age, 65.7 years; male, 790; female, 625) admitted to the Division of Cardiology at Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University (Shanghai, China) between June 2006 and December 2009 underwent follow-up examinations. Plasma BNP levels were analyzed and measurements of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were performed by echocardiography. Evaluations of the patients with HF were performed according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification system. The duration of the follow-up period ranged between 21 and 63 months (average duration, 35.8 months) and key events included cardiovascular mortality, readmission due to cardiovascular disease or mortality due to other reasons. Survival times decreased with increasing BNP levels in all the follow-up patients (Spearman's ρ, -0.1877; P<0.0001). Among the 1,415 patients, 1,312 underwent echocardiographic detection. A total of 395 patients with NYHA classes II-IV and a LVEF ≥45% were selected. The incidence of compound endpoint events was significantly higher in the patients that had BNP levels of >100 pg/ml when compared with the patients that had BNP levels of ≤100 pg/ml (37.07 vs. 23.93%; relative risk, 1.55); consequently the survival times were significantly reduced (P=0.0039). A negative correlation was identified between the BNP levels and the survival times in these patients (Spearman's ρ, -0.1738; P=0.0005). These results indicated that the levels of BNP may be used to predict the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease. The prognoses of patients with higher BNP levels were worse compared with the patients with lower BNP levels. Furthermore, significant correlations were confirmed in the HF patients with RLVSF.

Comparison of single-dose and repeated levosimendan infusion in patients with acute exacerbation of advanced heart failure

BACKGROUND

Levosimendan (LS) is a novel inodilator that improves cardiac performance, central hemodynamics, and symptoms of patients with decompensated chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of single and repeated LS infusion on left ventricular performance, biomarkers, and neurohormonal activation in patients with acute heart failure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-nine consecutive patients with acute exacerbation of advanced heart failure were included in this study. LS was initiated as a bolus of 6 μg/kg followed by a continuous infusion of 0.1 μg/kg/min for 24 hours in both groups who received intravenous single and repeated (baseline and at 1 and 3 months) treatment. Physical examination, echocardiography, and biochemical tests (brain natriuretic peptide, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, 2, and 6) were performed before treatment and on 3 day of the treatment. The last evaluation was performed at 6 month after the baseline treatment.

RESULTS

Twenty male and 9 female patients with mean age of 60.2 ± 7.4 years were included in this study. A significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional status and myocardial performance index was detected only in the repeated LS treated patients at 6 month compared to the pretreatment status (p=0.03 and p<0.001; respectively). In addition, a significant decrease in brain natriuretic peptide (p<0.01) and plasma interleukin-6 (p=0.05) levels were also achieved only in patients who were given repeated LS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that repeated LS treatment is more effective compared to the single dose LS treatment in improving clinical status, hemodynamic and laboratory parameters in patients with acute exacerbation of advanced heart failure.

Intermittent levosimendan improves mid-term survival in chronic heart failure patients: meta-analysis of randomised trials

AIMS

Standard inotropic treatment is often necessary in end-stage heart failure but may be harmful. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to investigate the effect of repeated administration of levosimendan on survival in patients with chronic heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Four investigators independently searched in CENTRAL, Google Scholar MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register of clinical trials to identify any randomized study ever performed with intermittent levosimendan intravenous administration in adult patients with chronic heart failure with no restrictions on dose or time of administration. Data from a total of 326 patients from six randomized controlled studies using intermittent levosimendan in a cardiological setting were included in the analysis. Levosimendan was associated with a significant reduction in mortality at the longest follow-up available [32 of 168 (19 %) in the levosimendan group 46 of 133 (35 %) in the control arm, RR = 0.55 (95 % CI 0.37-0.84), p for effect = 0 0.005, p for heterogeneity = 0.3, I (2) = 23.4 %, NNT = 6 with 5 studies included]. Brain natriuretic peptide values, ejection fraction and number of patients with New York Heart Association ≥ III status were similar in survivors of both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A large randomized trial is necessary to confirm the promising beneficial effects of intermittent levosimendan administration on the mid-term survival of patients with chronic heart failure.

Risk factors for onset of depression after heart failure hospitalization

BACKGROUND

Depression is common in chronic heart failure (CHF) and associated with adverse outcomes. Knowing the risk factors for the development of depression at the early post-hospitalization phase may be a key factor of successful disease management programs. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the risk factors related to the onset of depression after heart failure hospitalization in patients with CHF.

METHODS

The study population included participants with an admission diagnosis of acute heart failure or exacerbation of CHF from a multicenter prospective cohort study. Patients completed clinical evaluation at discharge and functional and social status assessment at 1 month after discharge, and depressive symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) at discharge and 1-year later.

RESULTS

Of the 131 patients without depression at discharge, 29 (22.1%) had developed significant depressive symptoms (HADS-D ≥ 8) at 1-year follow-up. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that previous ischemic heart disease [odds ratio (OR) 3.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-8.33], participation restrictions (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.26-0.70), and lack of satisfaction with social support (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29-0.79) were independent predictors of developing depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The three clinically accessible variables and targets for interventions identified as predictors in this study may help to guide the optimal post-discharge disease management planning for these patients who are at high risk for depression.