Mode of Death Among Japanese Adults With Heart Failure With Preserved, Midrange, and Reduced Ejection Fraction

Factors associated with risk analysis for asymptomatic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in nondialysis patients with chronic kidney disease

Heart failure (HF) constitutes a major determinant of outcome in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The main pattern of HF in CKD patients is preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a frequent pathophysiological mechanism and specific preclinical manifestation of HFpEF. Therefore, exploring and intervention of the factors associated with risk for LVDD is of great importance in reducing the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications in CKD patients. We designed this retrospective cross-sectional study to collect clinical and echocardiographic data from 339 nondialysis CKD patients without obvious symptoms of HF to analyze the proportion of asymptomatic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (ALVDD) and its related factors associated with risk by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Among the 339 nondialysis CKD patients, 92.04% had ALVDD. With the progression of CKD stage, the proportion of ALVDD gradually increased. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increased age (OR 1.237; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.108-1.381, per year), diabetic nephropathy (DN) and hypertensive nephropathy (HTN) (OR 25.000; 95% CI 1.355-48.645, DN and HTN vs chronic interstitial nephritis), progression of CKD stage (OR 2.785; 95% CI 1.228-6.315, per stage), increased mean arterial pressure (OR 1.154; 95% CI 1.051-1.268, per mmHg), increased urinary protein (OR 2.825; 95% CI 1.484-5.405, per g/24 h), and low blood calcium (OR 0.072; 95% CI 0.006-0.859, per mmol/L) were factors associated with risk for ALVDD in nondialysis CKD patients after adjusting for other confounding factors. Therefore, dynamic monitoring of these factors associated with risk, timely diagnosis and treatment of ALVDD can delay the progression to symptomatic HF, which is of great importance for reducing CVD mortality, and improving the prognosis and quality of life in CKD patients.

Three-year outcomes following non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation, stratified by patient age (under and over 75 years) and left ventricular ejection fraction: A prospective cohort study

Due to limited published data, we investigated 3-year outcomes according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients older and younger than 75 years with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who underwent successful newer-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. This research analyzed the data of 4558 patients (1032 older adults [≥75 years] and 3526 younger adults [<75 years]) from the Korea Acute MI Registry-NIH. We further divided the older group based on LVEF: heart failure (HF) with reduced EF (HFrEF, ≤40%, n = 196; group A), HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF, 41-49%, n = 228; group B), and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF, ≥50%, n = 608; group C). Similarly, the younger group was divided into HFrEF (group D, n = 353), HFmrEF (group E, n = 577), and HFpEF (group F, n = 2596). The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 3 years, including all-cause death, recurrent MI, any repeat revascularization, or hospitalization for HF. MACE rates were highest in the HFrEF groups (A and D), followed by the HFmrEF groups (B and E), and lowest in the HFpEF groups (C and F) for both age groups. All-cause death, cardiac death (CD), all-cause death or MI, and hospitalization for HF rates were higher in group A than in groups B and C, and higher in group D than in groups E and F. Across all LVEF categories, MACE, all-cause death, CD, and non-CD, and all-cause death or MI rates were higher in the older group. This multicenter cohort study demonstrates that older patients have higher mortality rates compared to younger patients. Additionally, MACE rates were highest in the HFrEF group, followed by the HFmrEF group, and lowest in the HFpEF group across both age groups. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Rates and predictors of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

AIMS

The detailed sub-categories of death and hospitalization, and the impact of comorbidities on cause-specific outcomes, remain poorly understood in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We sought to evaluate rates and predictors of cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV outcomes in HFpEF.

METHODS

The Karolinska-Rennes study was a bi-national prospective observational study designed to characterize HFpEF (ejection fraction ≥45%). Patients were followed for cause-specific death and hospitalization. Baseline characteristics were pre-selected based on clinical relevance and potential eligibility criteria for HFpEF trials. The associations between characteristics and cause-specific outcomes were assessed with univariable and multivariable Cox regressions.

RESULTS

Five hundred thirty-nine patients [56% females; median (inter-quartile range) age 79 (72-84) years; NT-proBNP/BNP 2448 (1290-4790)/429 (229-805) ng/L] were included. Over 1196 patient-years follow-up [median (min, max) 744 days (13-1959)], there were 159 (29%) deaths (13 per 100 patient-years: CV 5.1 per 100, dominated by HF 3.9 per 100; and non-CV 5.8 per 100, dominated by cancer, 2.3 per 100). There were 723 hospitalizations in 338 patients (63%; 60 per 100 patient-years: CV 33 per 100, dominated by HF 17 per 100; and non-CV 27 per 100, dominated by lung disease 5 per 100). Higher age and natriuretic peptides, lower serum natraemia and NYHA class III-IV were independent predictors of CV death; lower serum natraemia, anaemia and stroke of non-CV death; and anaemia and lower serum natraemia of non-CV death or hospitalizations. There were no apparent predictors of CV death or hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

In a clinical cohort hospitalized and diagnosed with HFpEF, death and hospitalization rates were roughly similar for CV and non-CV causes. CV deaths were predicted primarily by severity of HF; non-CV deaths primarily by anaemia and prior stroke. Lower serum sodium predicted both. Hospitalizations were difficult to predict.

Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Stratification in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) poses a significant clinical challenge, with sudden cardiac death (SCD) emerging as one of the leading causes of mortality. Despite advancements in cardiovascular medicine, predicting and preventing SCD in HFpEF remains complex due to multifactorial pathophysiological mechanisms and patient heterogeneity. Unlike heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, where impaired contractility and ventricular remodeling predominate, HFpEF pathophysiology involves heavy burden of comorbidities such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Diverse mechanisms, including diastolic dysfunction, microvascular abnormalities, and inflammation, also contribute to distinct disease and SCD risk profiles. Various parameters such as clinical factors and electrocardiogram features have been proposed in SCD risk assessment. Advanced imaging modalities and biomarkers offer promise in risk prediction, yet comprehensive risk stratification models specific to HFpEF ar0e lacking. This review offers recent evidence on SCD risk factors and discusses current therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing SCD risk in HFpEF.

Activated rate-response is associated with increased mortality risk in cardiac device carriers with acute heart failure

AIMS

This study investigated whether an activated R-mode in patients carrying a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) is associated with worse prognosis during and after an episode of acutely decompensated heart failure (AHF).

METHODS

Six hundred and twenty-three patients participating in an ongoing prospective cohort study that phenotypes and follows patients admitted for AHF were studied. We compared CIED carriers with activated R-mode stimulation (CIED-R) to CIED carriers not in R-mode (CIED-0) and patients without CIEDs (no-CIED). The independent impact of R-mode activation on 12-month all-cause death was examined using uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression taking into account potential confounders, and hazard ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.

RESULTS

Mean heart rate on admission was lower in CIED-R (n = 37, 16% women) vs. CIED-0 (n = 64, 23% women) or no-CIED (n = 511, 43% women): 70 bpm vs. 80 bpm or 82 bpm; both p<0.001. In-hospital mortality was similar across groups, but age- and sex-adjusted all-cause 12-month mortality risk was differentially affected by R-mode activation; CIED-R vs. CIED-0: HR 2.44, 95%CI 1.25-4.74; CIED-R vs. no-CIED: HR 2.61, 95%CI 1.59-4.29. These effects persisted after multivariable adjustment for potential confounders. Within CIED-R, mortality risk was similar in patients with pacemakers vs. ICDs and in subgroups with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% vs. ≥50%.

CONCLUSION

In patients admitted with AHF, R-mode stimulation was associated with a significantly increased 12-month mortality risk. Our findings shed new light on "admission heart rate" as a potentially treatable target in AHF. Our data are compatible with the concept that chronotropic incompetence contributes to an adverse outcome in these patients and may not be adequately treated through accelerometer-based R-mode stimulation.

Prognostic implications of premature ventricular contractions and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in light-chain cardiac amyloidosis

AIMS

Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) are commonly observed in light chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA), but their association with prognosis is still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of PVCs and NSVT in patients with moderate-to-advanced AL-CA.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively included patients with AL-CA at modified 2004 Mayo stages II-IIIb between February 2014 and December 2020. Twenty-four-hour Holter recordings were assessed on admission. The outcomes included (i) new onset of adverse ventricular arrhythmia (VA) or sudden cardiac death (SCD) and (ii) cardiac death during follow-up. Of the 143 patients studied (60.41 ± 11.06 years, male 64.34%), 132 (92.31%) had presence of PVC, and 50 (34.97%) had NSVT on Holter. Twelve (8.4%) patients died in hospital and 131 patients were followed up (median 24.4 months), among whom 71 patients had cardiac death, and 15 underwent adverse VA/SCD. NSVT [hazard ratio (HR): 13.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.06-60.18, P < 0.001], log-transformed PVC counts (HR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.15-1.86, P = 0.002) and PVC burden (HR: 1.43 95%CI:1.14-1.80, P = 0.002) were predictive of new onset of adverse VA/SCD. The highest tertile of PVC counts (HR: 2.33, 95%CI: 1.27-4.28, P = 0.006) and PVC burden (HR: 2.58, 95%CI: 1.42-4.69, P = 0.002), rather than NSVT (HR: 1.16, 95%CI: 0.67-1.98, P = 0.603), was associated with cardiac death. Higher PVC counts/burden provided incremental value on modified 2004 Mayo stage in predicting cardiac death, with C index increasing from 0.681 to 0.712 and 0.717, respectively (P values <0.05).

CONCLUSION

PVC count, burden, and NSVT significantly correlated with adverse VA/SCD during follow-up in patients with AL-CA. Higher PVC counts/burdens added incremental value for predicting cardiac death.

Shared and Reciprocal Mechanisms Between Heart Failure and Cancer - An Emerging Concept of Heart-Cancer Axis

Epidemiological evidence of increased risks of cancer in heart failure (HF) patients and HF in cancer patients has suggested close relationships between the pathogenesis of both diseases. Indeed, HF and cancer share common risk factors, including aging and unhealthy lifestyles, and underlying mechanisms, including activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, chronic inflammation, and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential. Mechanistically, HF accelerates cancer development and progression via secreted factors, so-called cardiokines, and epigenetic remodeling of bone marrow cells into an immunosuppressive phenotype. Reciprocally, cancer promotes HF via cachexia-related wasting and metabolic remodeling in the heart, and possibly via cancer-derived extracellular vesicles influencing myocardial structure and function. The novel concept of the "heart-cancer axis" will help in our understanding of the shared and reciprocal relationships between HF and cancer, and provide innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for both diseases.

Long-Term Treatment With Sacubitril/Valsartan in Japanese Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction - Open-Label Extension of the PARALLEL-HF Study

BACKGROUND

The PARALLEL-HF study assessed the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan vs. enalapril in Japanese patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This open-label extension (OLE) assessed long-term safety with sacubitril/valsartan.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study enrolled 150 patients who received sacubitril/valsartan 50 or 100 mg, b.i.d., in addition to optimal background heart failure (HF) therapy. A dose level of sacubitril/valsartan 200 mg, b.i.d., was targeted by Week 8. At OLE baseline, higher concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and urine cGMP, and lower concentrations of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), were observed in the sacubitril/valsartan core group (patients who received sacubitril/valsartan in both the core and extension study) than in the enalapril core group (patients who received enalapril in the core study and were then transitioned to sacubitril/valsartan). The mean exposure to study drug was 98.9%. There was no trend of worsening of HF at Month 12. No obvious changes in cardiac biomarkers were observed, whereas BNP and urine cGMP increased and NT-proBNP decreased in the enalapril core group, which was evident at Weeks 2-4 and sustained to Month 12.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term sacubitril/valsartan at doses up to 200 mg, b.i.d., has a positive risk-benefit profile; it was safe and well tolerated in Japanese patients with chronic HFrEF.

Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Cause-specific Outcomes in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic affecting 64 million people worldwide. HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has traditionally received less attention than its main counterpart, HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The incidence and prevalence of HFpEF show geographic variation and are increasing over time, soon expected to surpass those of HFrEF. Morbidity and mortality rates of HFpEF are considerable, albeit lower than those of HFrEF. This review focuses on the burden of HFpEF, providing contemporary data on epidemiology, clinical characteristics and comorbidities, cause-specific outcomes, costs and pharmacotherapy.

Impact of Cardiovascular Disease on the Death Certificate Diagnosis of Heart Failure, Ischemic Heart Disease, and Cerebrovascular Disease - The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

There is considerable interest in the trending discrepancy between ischemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure (HF) in vital statistics. Clinically, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke are closely associated with HF, but their contribution to HF as the underlying cause of death (UCD) is unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 1990 and 1992-1993, we enrolled a total of 140,420 residents of Japanese nationality (aged 40-69 years) from 11 public health center areas. We prospectively examined the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including AMI, sudden cardiac death within 1 h (SCD), and stroke, and analyzed the 14,375 participants without a history of CVD at baseline who died during the 20-year follow-up. A time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratios and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of AMI, AMI+SCD, stroke, and CVD for deaths due to HF, IHD, and cerebrovascular disease as the UCD, adjusted for individuals' lifestyles and comorbid conditions. The PAF of AMI for HF deaths was 2.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-2.9%), which increased to 12.0% (95% CI 11.6-12.2%) for AMI+SCD. The PAF of CVD-attributed HF deaths was estimated to be 17.6% (95% CI 15.9-18.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

HF as the UCD was partly explained by CVD. The data imply that most HF deaths reported in vital statistics may be associated with underlying causes other than CVD.

Acute heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction and myocardial infarction: a multi-institutional cohort study

BACKGROUND

Little research has been done on ischemic outcomes related to left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2001 and 2021 using the Chang Gung Research Database. ADHF Patients discharged from hospitals between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2019. Cardiovascular (CV) mortality and heart failure (HF) rehospitalization are the primary outcome components, along with all-cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke.

RESULTS

A total of 12,852 ADHF patients were identified, of whom 2,222 (17.3%) had HFmrEF, the mean (SD) age was 68.5 (14.6) years, and 1,327 (59.7%) were males. In comparison with HFrEF and HFpEF patients, HFmrEF patients had a significant phenotype comorbid with diabetes, dyslipidemia, and ischemic heart disease. Patients with HFmrEF were more likely to experience renal failure, dialysis, and replacement. Both HFmrEF and HFrEF had similar rates of cardioversion and coronary interventions. There was an intermediate clinical outcome between HFpEF and HFrEF, but HFmrEF had the highest rate of AMI (HFpEF, 9.3%; HFmrEF, 13.6%; HFrEF, 9.9%). The AMI rates in HFmrEF were higher than those in HFpEF (AHR, 1.15; 95% Confidence Interval, 0.99 to 1.32) but not in HFrEF (AHR, 0.99; 95% Confidence Interval, 0.87 to 1.13).

CONCLUSION

Acute decompression in patients with HFmrEF increases the risk of myocardial infarction. The relationship between HFmrEF and ischemic cardiomyopathy, as well as optimal anti-ischemic treatment, requires further research on a large scale.

Role of hospitalists in Japan for heart failure in the elderly: single center retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

In Japan, the benefits of hospitalist physician-led care after heart failure have not been sufficiently demonstrated. We evaluated quality of care by the general internal medicine hospitalist (GIM-H) system for patients after acute heart failure and compared it with care by cardiologists.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study enrolled adult patients from within a two-year period who were admitted to our institution for heart failure. Primary outcome measures were medico-economic indicators: length of hospital stay and medical costs. Secondary outcomes included readmission within 30 days of discharge, death within 30 days of admission, rate of prescription of ACEI/ARB and beta-blockers for heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and the percentage of patients receiving bespoke written treatment plans after discharge. This was thought to represent quality of heart failure-specific care. Outcomes between the groups were compared by adjusting for background factors using a propensity score.

RESULTS

We enrolled 404 patients, and 81 were assigned to each group after matching (mean age: 86 years, female: 64.2%, mean left ventricular ejection fraction: 53.2%). The GIM-H-treated group had a significantly shorter hospital stay (13.7 days vs. 21.8 days, P < 0.001), a significantly lower total medical cost (618,805 JPY vs. 867,857 JPY, P < 0.05) but a higher medical cost per day (48,010 JPY vs 42,813 JPY, P < 0.05) than the cardiologist-treated group. Other indicators were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

: GIM-H physicians in Japan are suggested to be useful and effective in care of patients with heart failure. The hospitalist system may positively impact the health economic outcomes of such patients.

Cardiovascular vs. non-cardiovascular deaths after heart failure hospitalization in young, older, and very old patients

AIMS

The long-term outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) after hospitalization may vary substantially depending on their age and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We aimed to assess the relative rates of cardiovascular death (CVD) and non-CVD based on the age and how the rates differ under the updated LVEF classification system.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Consecutively registered hospitalized patients with HF (N = 3558; 39.7% women with a mean age of 73.9 ± 13.3 years) were followed for a median of 2 (interquartile range, 0.8-3.1) years. The CVDs and non-CVDs were evaluated based on age [young (<65 years), older (65-84 years), and very old (≥85 years)] and LVEF classification [HF with preserved EF (HFpEF; LVEF ≥50%) and non-HFpEF (LVEF <50%)]. The adverse clinical events were adjudicated independently by a central committee. Overall, 1505 (42.3%) had HFpEF [young: n = 182 (12.1%), older: n = 894 (59.4%), very old: n = 429 (28.5%)], and 2053 (57.7%) had non-HFpEF [young: n = 575 (28.0%), older: n = 1159 (56.5%), very old: n = 319 (15.5%)]. During the follow-up, the crude incidence of all-cause death was higher in non-HFpEF than in HFpEF across all age groups (non-HFpEF vs. HFpEF, young: 10.4% vs. 5.5%, log-rank P = 0.10; older: 26.6% vs. 20.9%, log-rank P = 0.002; very old: 36.7% vs. 31.7%, log-rank P = 0.043). CVDs accounted for more than half of all deaths in non-HFpEF (young 65.0%, older 64.2%, and very old 55.6%), whereas the proportion of CVDs remained less than half in HFpEF (young 50.0%, older 41.2%, very old 38.2%). HF readmission was associated with subsequent all-cause death in non-HFpEF [hazard ratio (HR): 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41-2.09, P < 0.001], but not in HFpEF (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.87-1.43, P = 0.39).

CONCLUSIONS

The probability of a non-CVD increases in both LVEF categories with advancing age, but that it is greater in the HFpEF category. The findings indicate that mitigating CV-related outcomes alone may be insufficient for treating HF in older population, particularly in the HFpEF category.

Arrhythmic Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Mechanisms, Genetics, and Future Directions

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an increasingly recognized disorder. Many clinical trials have failed to demonstrate benefit in patients with HFpEF but have recognized alarming rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Genetic testing has become standard in the workup of patients with otherwise unexplained cardiac arrest, but the genetic architecture of HFpEF, and the overlap of a genetic predisposition to HFpEF and arrhythmias, is poorly understood. An understanding of the genetics of HFpEF and related SCD has the potential to redefine and generate novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools. In this review, we examine recent pathophysiological and clinical advancements in our understanding of HFpEF, which reinforce the heterogeneity of the condition. We also discuss data describing SCD events in patients with HFpEF and review the current literature on genetic underpinnings of HFpEF. Mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis which may lead to SCD in this population are also explored. Lastly, we outline several areas of promise for experimentation and clinical trials that have the potential to further advance our understanding of and contribute to improved clinical care of this patient population.

Time-sensitive prognostic performance of an afterload-integrated diastolic index in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a prospective multicentre observational study

OBJECTIVES

The prognostic significance of an afterload-integrated diastolic index, the ratio of diastolic elastance (Ed) to arterial elastance (Ea) (Ed/Ea=[E/e']/[0.9×systolic blood pressure]), is valid for 1 year after discharge in older patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed to clarify the association with changes in Ed/Ea from enrolment to 1 year and prognosis thereafter in patients with HFpEF.

SETTING

A prospective, multicentre observational registry of collaborating hospitals in Osaka, Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

We enrolled 659 patients with HFpEF hospitalised for acute decompensated heart failure (men/women: 296/363). Blood tests and transthoracic echocardiography were performed before discharge and at 1 year after.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

All-cause mortality and/or re-admission for heart failure were evaluated after discharge.

RESULTS

High Ed/Ea assessed before discharge was a significant prognostic factor during the first, but not the second, year after discharge in all-cause mortality or all-cause mortality and/or re-admission for heart failure. When re-analysis was performed using the value of Ed/Ea at 1 year after discharge, high Ed/Ea was significant for the prognosis during the second year for both end points (p=0.012 and p=0.033, respectively). The poorest mortality during 1‒2 years after enrolment was observed in those who showed a worsening Ed/Ea during the first year associated with larger left ventricular mass index and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. In all-cause mortality and/or re-admission for heart failure, the event rate during 1‒2 years was highest in those with persistently high Ed/Ea even after 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Time-sensitive prognostic performance of Ed/Ea, an afterload-integrated diastolic index, was observed in older patients with HFpEF.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000021831.

Role of m6A Methylation in the Occurrence and Development of Heart Failure

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is one of the most common epigenetic modifications in RNA nucleotides. It is known that m6A methylation is involved in regulation, including gene expression, homeostasis, mRNA stability and other biological processes, affecting metabolism and a variety of biochemical regulation processes, and affecting the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. Cardiovascular disease has high morbidity, disability rate and mortality in the world, of which heart failure is the final stage. Deeper understanding of the potential molecular mechanism of heart failure and exploring more effective treatment strategies will bring good news to the sick population. At present, m6A methylation is the latest research direction, which reveals some potential links between epigenetics and pathogenesis of heart failure. And m6A methylation will bring new directions and ideas for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. The purpose of this paper is to review the physiological and pathological mechanisms of m6A methylation that may be involved in cardiac remodeling in heart failure, so as to explain the possible role of m6A methylation in the occurrence and development of heart failure. And we hope to help m6A methylation obtain more in-depth research in the occurrence and development of heart failure.

Patient characteristics, short-term and long-term outcomes after incident heart failure admissions in a regional Australian setting

AIMS

This study aims to (1) define the characteristics of patients with a first admission for heart failure (HF), stratified by type (reduced (HFrEF) vs preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction) in a regional Australian setting; (2) compare the outcomes in terms of mortality and rehospitalisation and (3) assess adherence to the treatment guidelines.

METHODS

We identified all index hospitalisations with HF to John Hunter Hospital and Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital in the Hunter New England Local Health District over a 12 months. We used the recent Australian HF guidelines to classify HFrEF and HFpEF and assess adherence to guideline-directed therapy. The primary outcome of the study was to compare short-term (1 year) and long-term all-cause mortality and the composite of all-cause hospitalisation or all-cause mortality of patients with HFrEF and HFpEF.

RESULTS

There were 664 patients who had an index HF admission to John Hunter and Tamworth hospitals in 2014. The median age was 80 years, 47% were female and 22 (3%) were Aboriginal. In terms of HF type, 29% had HFrEF, 37% had HFpEF, while the remainder (34%) did not have an echocardiogram within 1 year of admission and could not be classified. The median follow-up was 3.3 years. HFrEF patients were predominantly male (64%) and in 48% the aetiology was ischaemic heart disease. The 1-year all-cause mortality was 23% in HFpEF subgroup and 29% in HFrEF subgroup (p=0.15). Five-year mortality was 61% in HFpEF and HFrEF patients. Of the HFrEF patients, only 61% were on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockers, 74% were on β-blockers and 39% were on aldosterone antagonist.

CONCLUSION

HF patients are elderly and about evenly split between HFrEF and HFpEF. In this regional cohort, both HF types are associated with similar 1-year and 5-year mortality following incident HF hospitalisation. Echocardiography and guideline-directed therapies were underused.

Public assistance in patients with acute heart failure: a report from the KCHF registry

Aims

There is a scarcity of data on the post‐discharge prognosis in acute heart failure (AHF) patients with a low‐income but receiving public assistance. The study sought to evaluate the differences in the clinical characteristics and outcomes between AHF patients receiving public assistance and those not receiving public assistance.

Methods and results

The Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure registry was a physician‐initiated, prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study enrolling 4056 consecutive patients who were hospitalized due to AHF for the first time between October 2014 and March 2016. The present study population consisted of 3728 patients who were discharged alive from the index AHF hospitalization. We divided the patients into two groups, those receiving public assistance and those not receiving public assistance. After assessing the proportional hazard assumption of public assistance as a variable, we constructed multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the risk of the public assistance group relative to the no public assistance group. There were 218 patients (5.8%) receiving public assistance and 3510 (94%) not receiving public assistance. Patients in the public assistance group were younger, more frequently had chronic coronary artery disease, previous heart failure hospitalizations, current smoking, poor medical adherence, living alone, no occupation, and a lower left ventricular ejection fraction than those in the no public assistance group. During a median follow‐up of 470 days, the cumulative 1 year incidences of all‐cause death and heart failure hospitalizations after discharge did not differ between the public assistance group and no public assistance group (13.3% vs. 17.4%, P = 0.10, and 28.3% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.25, respectively). After adjusting for the confounders, the risk of the public assistance group relative to the no public assistance group remained insignificant for all‐cause death [hazard ratio (HR), 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69–1.32; P = 0.84]. Even after taking into account the competing risk of all‐cause death, the adjusted risk within 180 days in the public assistance group relative to the no public assistance group remained insignificant for heart failure hospitalizations (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.64–1.34; P = 0.69), while the adjusted risk beyond 180 days was significant (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.07–2.29; P = 0.02).

Conclusions

The AHF patients receiving public assistance as compared with those not receiving public assistance had no significant excess risk for all‐cause death at 1 year after discharge or a heart failure hospitalization within 180 days after discharge, while they did have a significant excess risk for heart failure hospitalizations beyond 180 days after discharge.

Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02334891 (NCT02334891) and https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi‐open‐bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000017241 (UMIN000015238)

Characteristics and long-term prognosis of patients with reduced, mid-range, and preserved ejection fraction: A systemic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Patients with heart failure (HF) have a poor prognosis and are categorized by ejection fraction. We performed a meta-analysis to compare baseline characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with heart failure with reduced (HFrEF), mid-range (HFmrEF), and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 27 prospective studies were included. Patients with HFpEF were older and had a higher proportion of females, hypertension, diabetes, and insufficient neuroendocrine antagonist treatments, while patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF had a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease and chronic kidney disease. After more than 1-year of follow-up, all-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients with HFmrEF 9388/25 042 (37.49%) than those with HFrEF 39 333/90 023 (43.69%) and HFpEF 24 828/52 492 (47.30%) (p < .001). Cardiovascular mortality was lowest in patients with HFpEF 1130/9904 (11.41%), highest in patients with HFrEF 3419/16 277 (21.07%) mainly coming from HF death and sudden cardiac death, and middle in patients with HFmrEF 699/5171 (13.52%) and the non-cardiovascular mortality was on the contrary. Subgroup analysis showed that in high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation, the all-cause mortality of HFpEF was significantly higher than both HFrEF and HFmrEF (p < .001). HF hospitalization was lowest in patients with HFmrEF 1822/5285 (34.47%), highest in patients with HFrEF 12 607/28 590 (44.10%) and middle in patients with HFpEF 8686/22 763 (38.16%) and the composite of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization was also observed similar results.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, patients with HFmrEF had the lowest incidence of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization, while the highest all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization rates were HFpEF and HFrEF patients, respectively.

Burden of kidney disease on the discrepancy between reasons for hospital admission and death: An observational cohort study

Background

Physicians have long noted a substantial discrepancy between the reasons for hospital admission and ultimate causes of death, particularly among older adults or patients with complex underlying diseases. However, objective data on this phenomenon are lacking. We aimed to examine the risk of in-hospital death caused by a reason other than the original reason for hospitalization and its association with underlying kidney disease in a nationwide inpatient database.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we studied 639,556 Japanese adults who died in the hospital from 2012 to 2015, using data from Japan’s Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. We analyzed the discrepancy rate between reasons for hospital admission and death and associated factors using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic codes and seven related categories.

Results

Among non-chronic kidney disease (CKD) (590,551), CKD (24,708), and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) (24,297) patients, the median age was 77 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 67–84 years), 83 years (IQR: 75–88), and 75 years (IQR: 67–81), and 25.7%, 30.3%, and 41.6% died from a reason other than the original reason for hospitalization, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses determined CKD/ESKD as the predominant risk factor for this discrepancy, rather than older age, male sex, obesity, and other comorbidities. Sankey diagrams that presented diagnostic changes from hospital admission to death revealed multiple wider segments connecting to different disease classifications, particularly to congestive and septic death in CKD and ESKD patients, respectively. Death owing to another disease classification led to an increase in the median length of hospital stay by 5–7 days and to a 1.3-–1.4-fold increase in medical costs across the populations.

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of patients with CKD and ESKD died during hospitalization for a reason other than their original reason for admission, leading to increased length of hospital stay and cost.

Incidence and predictors of early and late sudden cardiac death in hospitalized Japanese patients with new-onset systolic heart failure

BACKGROUND

Patients with heart failure (HF) and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are at high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Optimal HF treatment can improve LVEF and reduce the risk of SCD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of SCD in Japanese patients with new-onset systolic HF and to investigate factors that affect LVEF improvement.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 174 consecutive hospitalized patients with new-onset HF and LVEF ≤35% (median age, 66 years; men, 71%). The primary outcome was a composite of SCD, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, and appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.

RESULTS

The cumulative rates of meeting of the primary outcome at 3, 12, and 36 months after discharge were 3.9%, 8.1%, and 10.5%, respectively. Atrial fibrillation was a significant predictor of the primary outcome within 12 months after discharge (odds ratio, 5.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-21.57). Among 104 patients who completed follow-up echocardiography within 12 months after discharge, changes in LVEF were inversely associated with SCD (odds ratio/1% increase, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.93). A QRS duration <130 ms and a B-type natriuretic peptide level <170 pg/mL were predictors of LVEF improvement to >35% (odds ratio, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.15-11.77; odds ratio, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.33-7.69, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed a high incidence of meeting of the primary outcome within 12 months after discharge in hospitalized patients with new-onset systolic HF. An improved LVEF may reduce the risk of late SCD.

Use of Echocardiography and Heart Failure In-Hospital Mortality from Registry Data in Japan

Background: Echocardiography requires a high degree of skill on the part of the examiner, and the skill may be more improved in larger volume centers. This study investigated trends and outcomes associated with the use and volume of echocardiographic exams from a real-world registry database of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations. Methods: This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Datasets (JROAD-DPC). A first analysis was performed to assess the trend of echocardiographic examinations between 2012 and 2016. A secondary analysis was performed to assess whether echocardiographic use was associated with in-hospital mortality in 2015. Results: During this period, the use of echocardiography grew at an average annual rate of 6%. Patients with echocardiography had declining rates of hospital mortality, and these trends were associated with high hospitalization costs. In the 2015 sample, a total of 52,832 echocardiograms were examined, corresponding to 65.6% of all HF hospital admissions for that year. We found that the use and volume of echocardiography exams were associated with significantly lower odds of all-cause hospital mortality in heart failure (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.48 for use of echocardiography and 0.78 for the third tertile; both p < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of echocardiography was associated with decreased odds of hospital mortality in HF. The volumes of echocardiographic examinations were also associated with hospital mortality.

Admission systolic blood pressure as a prognostic predictor of acute decompensated heart failure: A report from the KCHF registry

Background

Admission systolic blood pressure has emerged as a predictor of postdischarge outcomes of patients with acute decompensated heart failure; however, its validity in varied clinical conditions of this patient subset is unclear. The aim of this study was to further explore the prognostic value of admission systolic blood pressure in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Methods

The Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure (KCHF) registry is a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study enrolling consecutive patients with acute decompensated heart failure from 19 participating hospitals in Japan. Clinical characteristics at baseline and prognosis were examined by the following value range of admission systolic blood pressure: <100, 100–139, and ≥140 mmHg. The primary outcome measure was defined as all-cause death after discharge. Subgroup analyses were done for prior hospitalization for heart failure, hypertension, left ventricular ejection fraction, and medications at discharge. We excluded patients with acute coronary syndrome or insufficient data.

Results

We analyzed 3564 patients discharged alive out of 3804 patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure. In the entire cohort, lower admission systolic blood pressure was associated with poor outcomes (1-year cumulative incidence of all-cause death: <100 mmHg, 26.8%; 100–139 mmHg, 20.2%; and ≥140 mmHg, 15.1%, p<0.001). The magnitude of the effect of lower admission systolic blood pressure for postdischarge all-cause death was greater in patients with prior hospitalization for heart failure, heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and β-blocker use at discharge than in those without.

Conclusions

Admission systolic blood pressure is useful for postdischarge risk stratification in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Its magnitude of the effect as a prognostic predictor may differ across clinical conditions of patients.

Left ventricular hypertrophy and sudden cardiac death

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is among the leading causes of death worldwide, and it remains a public health problem, as it involves young subjects. Current guideline-directed risk stratification for primary prevention is largely based on left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF), and preventive strategies such as implantation of a cardiac defibrillator (ICD) are justified only for documented low LVEF (i.e., ≤ 35%). Unfortunately, only a small percentage of primary prevention ICDs, implanted on the basis of a low LVEF, will deliver life-saving therapies on an annual basis. On the other hand, the vast majority of patients that experience SCD have LVEF > 35%, which is clamoring for better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. It is mandatory that additional variables be considered, both independently and in combination with the EF, to improve SCD risk prediction. LV hypertrophy (LVH) is a strong independent risk factor for SCD regardless of the etiology and the severity of symptoms. Concentric and eccentric LV hypertrophy, and even earlier concentric remodeling without hypertrophy, are all associated with increased risk of SCD. In this paper, we summarize the physiology and physiopathology of LVH, review the epidemiological evidence supporting the association between LVH and SCD, briefly discuss the mechanisms linking LVH with SCD, and emphasize the need to evaluate LV geometry as a potential risk stratification tool regardless of the LVEF.

Are HFpEF and HFmrEF So Different? The Need to Understand Distinct Phenotypes

Traditionally, patients with heart failure (HF) are divided according to ejection fraction (EF) threshold more or <50%. In 2016, the ESC guidelines introduced a new subgroup of HF patients including those subjects with EF ranging between 40 and 49% called heart failure with midrange EF (HFmrEF). This group is poorly represented in clinical trials, and it includes both patients with previous HFrEF having a good response to therapy and subjects with initial preserved EF appearance in which systolic function has been impaired. The categorization according to EF has recently been questioned because this variable is not really a representative of the myocardial contractile function and it could vary in relation to different hemodynamic conditions. Therefore, EF could significantly change over a short-term period and its measurement depends on the scan time course. Finally, although EF is widely recognized and measured worldwide, it has significant interobserver variability even in the most accredited echo laboratories. These assumptions imply that the same patient evaluated in different periods or by different physicians could be classified as HFmrEF or HFpEF. Thus, the two HF subtypes probably subtend different responses to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Similarly, the adaptation to hemodynamic stimuli and to metabolic alterations could be different for different HF stages and periods. In this review, we analyze similarities and dissimilarities and we hypothesize that clinical and morphological characteristics of the two syndromes are not so discordant.

Changes in the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Outcomes in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients with Mid-range Ejection Fraction: A Prospective Observational Study

Objective Current clinical guidelines have proposed heart failure (HF) with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF), defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 40-49%, but the proportion and prognosis of patients transitioning toward HF with a reduced LVEF (LVEF <40%, HFrEF) or HF with a preserved LVEF (LVEF ≥50%, HFpEF) are not fully clear. The present study prospectively evaluated the changes in the LVEF one year after discharge and the outcomes of hospitalized patients with HFmrEF. Methods We prospectively studied 259 hospitalized patients with HFmrEF who were discharged alive at our institutions between 2015 and 2019. Among them, 202 patients with HFmrEF who underwent echocardiography at the one-year follow-up were included in this study. Patient characteristics, echocardiographic data and all-cause death were collected. Results Eighty-seven (43%) patients transitioned to HFpEF (improved group), and 35 (17%) transitioned to HFrEF (worsened group). During a median follow-up of 33 months, 27 (13%) patients died. After adjustment, patients in the worsened group had an increased risk of all-cause mortality compared with those in the improved group [hazard ratio 7.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-43.48]. The baseline LVEF (per 1% decrease) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (per 1 mm decrease) were independent predictors of the worsened LVEF category (odds ratio 2.13, 95% CI 1.25-3.63 and odds ratio 1.31, 95% CI 1.01-1.70, respectively). Conclusion Our study showed that a worsened LVEF one year after discharge was associated with a poor prognosis in hospitalized patients with HFmrEF.

Long-term prognostic value of myocardin expression levels in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

The mortality of patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) remains substantial. We evaluated gene expression levels of myocardin, an early cardiac gene, in the peripheral blood cells of NIDCM patients as a prognostic biomarker in their long-term outcome and mortality from congestive HF (CHF). We retrospectively analyzed 101 consecutives optimally treated NIDCM patients of Cretan origin who were enrolled from the HF clinic of our hospital from November 2005 to December 2008. Our patient data were either taken from their medical files or recorded during visits to the HF unit or hospitalizations. Follow-up was carried out by telephone interview and by accessing information from general practitioners and cardiologists in private practice. The median follow-up period was 8 years (mean follow-up 7 ± 3.4 years). The overall mortality during follow-up was 61.4%, while mortality due to congestive heart failure (CHF) was 49.5%. Higher CHF and all-cause mortality were observed in patients with myocardin levels < 14.26 (p < 0.001 for both CHF and all-cause mortality). A multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that myocardin level of expression had independent significant prognostic value for the risk of death from CHF (HR 14.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3-39) in those patients. Peripheral blood cells gene expression of myocardin, an early myocardial marker, may serve as prognostic biomarkers of the long-term outcome of patients with NIDCM. Our findings open new prospects in the risk stratification of these patients.

Prognostic value of reduction in left atrial size during a follow-up of heart failure: an observational study

OBJECTIVE

The association between sequential changes in left atrial diameter (LAD) and prognosis in heart failure (HF) remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the link between reduction in LAD and clinical outcomes in patients with HF.

DESIGN

A multicentre prospective cohort study.

SETTING

This study was nested from the Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure registry including consecutive patients admitted for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in 19 hospitals throughout Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

The current study population included 673 patients with HF who underwent both baseline and 6-month follow-up echocardiography with available paired LAD data. We divided them into two groups: the reduction in the LAD group (change <0 mm) (n=398) and the no-reduction in the LAD group (change ≥0 mm) (n=275).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES

The primary outcome measure was a composite of all-cause death or hospitalisation for HF during 180 days after 6-month follow-up echocardiography. The secondary outcome measures were defined as the individual components of the primary composite outcome measure and a composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for HF.

RESULTS

The cumulative 180-day incidence of the primary outcome measure was significantly lower in the reduction in the LAD group than in the no-reduction in the LAD group (13.3% vs 22.2%, p=0.002). Even after adjusting 15 confounders, the lower risk of reduction in LAD relative to no-reduction in LAD for the primary outcome measure remained significant (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.97 p=0.04).

CONCLUSION

Patients with reduction in LAD during follow-up after ADHF hospitalisation had a lower risk for a composite endpoint of all-cause death or HF hospitalisation, suggesting that the change of LAD might be a simple and useful echocardiographic marker during follow-up.

C-reactive protein at discharge and 1-year mortality in hospitalised patients with acute decompensated heart failure: an observational study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association of a high C-reactive protein (CRP) level at discharge from an acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) hospitalisation with the 1-year clinical outcomes.

DESIGN

A post-hoc subanalysis of a prospective cohort study of patients hospitalised for ADHF (using the Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure (KCHF) registry) between October 2014 and March 2016 with a 1-year follow-up.

SETTING

A physician-initiated multicentre registry enrolled consecutive hospitalised patients with ADHF for the first time at 19 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Among the 4056 patients enrolled in the KCHF registry, the present study population consisted of 2618 patients with an available CRP value both on admission and at discharge and post-discharge clinical follow-up data. We divided the patients into two groups, those with a high CRP level (>10 mg/L) and those with a low CRP level (≤10 mg/L) at discharge from the index hospitalisation.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was all-cause death after discharge from the index hospitalisation. The secondary outcome measures were heart failure hospitalisations, cardiovascular death and non-cardiovascular death.

RESULTS

The high CRP group and low CRP group included 622 patients (24%) and 1996 patients (76%), respectively. During a median follow-up period of 468 days, the cumulative 1-year incidence of the primary outcome was significantly higher in the high CRP group than low CRP group (24.1% vs 13.9%, log-rank p<0.001). Even after a multivariable analysis, the excess mortality risk in the high CRP group relative to the low CRP group remained significant (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.71; p<0.001). The excess mortality risk was consistent regardless of the clinically relevant subgroup factors.

CONCLUSIONS

A high CRP level (>10 mg/L) at discharge from an ADHF hospitalisation was associated with an excess mortality risk at 1 year. TRIAL REGISTRATION DETAILS: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02334891 (NCT02334891) https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000017241 (UMIN000015238).

Association of an increase in serum albumin levels with positive 1-year outcomes in acute decompensated heart failure: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

Despite the prognostic importance of hypoalbuminemia, the prognostic implication of a change in albumin levels has not been fully investigated during hospitalization in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

METHODS

Using the data from the Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure registry on 3160 patients who were discharged alive for acute heart failure hospitalization and in whom the change in albumin levels was calculated at discharge, we evaluated the association with an increase in serum albumin levels from admission to discharge and clinical outcomes by a multivariable Cox hazard model. The primary outcome measure was a composite of all-cause death or hospitalization for heart failure.

FINDINGS

Patients with increased albumin levels (N = 1083, 34.3%) were younger and less often had smaller body mass index and renal dysfunction than those with no increase in albumin levels (N = 2077, 65.7%). Median follow-up was 475 days with a 96% 1-year follow-up rate. Relative to the group with no increase in albumin levels, the lower risk of the increased albumin group remained significant for the primary outcome measure (hazard ratio: 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.90: P = 0.0004) after adjusting for confounders including baseline albumin levels. When stratified by the quartiles of baseline albumin levels, the favorable effect of increased albumin was more pronounced in the lower quartiles of albumin levels, but without a significant interaction effect (interaction P = 0.49).

CONCLUSIONS

Independent of baseline albumin levels, an increase in albumin during index hospitalization was associated with a lower 1-year risk for a composite of all-cause death and hospitalization in patients with acute heart failure.

Diastolic index as a short-term prognostic factor in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

OBJECTIVE

During follow-up time, the value of prognostic factors may change, especially in the elderly patients, and the altered extent may affect the prognosis. We aimed to clarify the significance of the ratio of diastolic elastance (Ed) to arterial elastance (Ea), (Ed/Ea=(E/e')/(0.9×systolic blood pressure)), an afterload-integrated diastolic index, in relation to follow-up periods and other laboratory factors, on the prognosis of elderly patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

METHODS

We studied 552 HFpEF patients hospitalised for acute decompensated heart failure (men/women: 255/297). Blood testing and transthoracic echocardiography were performed before discharge. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 508 days, 88 patients (men/women: 39/49) had all-cause mortality. During the first year after discharge, Ed/Ea (p=0.045) was an independent prognostic factor in association with albumin (p<0.001) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, p=0.005) levels after adjusting for age and sex in the multivariate Cox hazard analysis. However, at 1 to 3 years after discharge, no other significant prognostic factors, except for albumin level (p=0.046), were detected. In the subgroup analysis, albumin, but not NT-proBNP level, showed a significant interaction with Ed/Ea for prognosis (p=0.047).

CONCLUSION

The prognostic significance of a haemodynamic parameter such as Ed/Ea may be valid only during a short-term period, but that of albumin was persisting during the entire follow-up period in the elderly patients. The clinical significance of prognostic factors in HFpEF patients may differ according to the follow-up period.

Developing and validating models to predict sudden death and pump failure death in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

Sudden death (SD) and pump failure death (PFD) are leading modes of death in heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Risk stratification for mode-specific death may aid in patient enrichment for new device trials in HFpEF.

METHODS

Models were derived in 4116 patients in the Irbesartan in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction trial (I-Preserve), using competing risks regression analysis. A series of models were built in a stepwise manner, and were validated in the Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM)-Preserved and Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trials.

RESULTS

The clinical model for SD included older age, men, lower LVEF, higher heart rate, history of diabetes or myocardial infarction, and HF hospitalization within previous 6 months, all of which were associated with a higher SD risk. The clinical model predicting PFD included older age, men, lower LVEF or diastolic blood pressure, higher heart rate, and history of diabetes or atrial fibrillation, all for a higher PFD risk, and dyslipidaemia for a lower risk of PFD. In each model, the observed and predicted incidences were similar in each risk subgroup, suggesting good calibration. Model discrimination was good for SD and excellent for PFD with Harrell's C of 0.71 (95% CI 0.68-0.75) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.75-0.82), respectively. Both models were robust in external validation. Adding ECG and biochemical parameters, model performance improved little in the derivation cohort but decreased in validation. Including NT-proBNP substantially increased discrimination of the SD model, and simplified the PFD model with marginal increase in discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical models can predict risks for SD and PFD separately with good discrimination and calibration in HFpEF and are robust in external validation. Adding NT-proBNP further improved model performance. These models may help to identify high-risk individuals for device intervention in future trials.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

I-Preserve: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00095238; TOPCAT: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00094302; CHARM-Preserved: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00634712.

Nighttime Blood Pressure Phenotype and Cardiovascular Prognosis: Practitioner-Based Nationwide JAMP Study

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Ambulatory and home blood pressure (BP) monitoring parameters are better predictors of cardiovascular events than are office BP monitoring parameters, but there is a lack of robust data and little information on heart failure (HF) risk. The JAMP study (Japan Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Prospective) used the same ambulatory BP monitoring device, measurement schedule, and diary-based approach to data processing across all study centers and determined the association between both nocturnal hypertension and nighttime BP dipping patterns and the occurrence of cardiovascular events, including HF, in patients with hypertension.

Arrhythmic risk stratification in heart failure mid-range ejection fraction patients with a non-invasive guiding to programmed ventricular stimulation two-step approach

BACKGROUND

Although some post myocardial infarction (post-MI) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients with mid-range ejection fraction heart failure (HFmrEF/40%-49%) face an increased risk for arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (SCD), current guidelines do not recommend an implantable cardiac defibrilator (ICD). We risk stratified hospitalized HFmrEF patients for SCD with a combined non-invasive risk factors (NIRFs) guiding to programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) two-step approach.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients (male = 83%, age = 64 ± 14 years, LVEF = 45 ± 5%, CAD = 69%, DCM = 31%) underwent a NIRFs screening first-step with electrocardiogram (ECG), SAECG, Echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory ECG (AECG). Thirty-two patients with presence of one of three NIRFs (SAECG ≥ 2 positive criteria for late potentials, ventricular premature beats ≥ 240/24 hours, and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia [VT] episode ≥ 1/24 hours) were further investigated with PVS. Patients were classified as either low risk (Group 1, n = 16, NIRFs-), moderate risk (Group 2, n = 18, NIRFs+/PVS-), and high risk (Group 3, n = 14, NIRFs+/PVS+). All in Group 3 received an ICD.

RESULTS

After 41 ± 18 months, 9 of 48 patients, experienced the major arrhythmic event (MAE) endpoint (clinical VT/fibrillation = 3, appropriate ICD activation = 6). The endpoint occurred more frequently in Group 3 (7/14, 50%) than in Groups 1 and 2 (2/34, 5.8%). Logistic regression model adjusted for PVS, age, and LVEF revealed that PVS was an independent MAE predictor (OR: 21.152, 95% CI: 2.618-170.887, P = .004). Kaplan-Meier curves diverged significantly (log rank, P < .001) while PVS negative predictive value was 94%.

CONCLUSIONS

In hospitalized HFmrEF post-MI and DCM patients, a NIRFs guiding to PVS two-step approach efficiently detected the subgroup at increased risk for MAE.