Change in ejection fraction and long-term mortality in adults referred for echocardiography

20 years of treating ischemic cardiomyopathy with mesenchymal stromal cells: a meta-analysis and systematic review

This meta-analysis and systematic review compiles comparative data from 2004 to 2024, investigating the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) derived from various tissues for the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and associated heart failure. In addition, this review highlights the limitations of these interventions and provides valuable insights for future therapeutic approaches. Relevant articles were retrieved from the PubMed® database using targeted keywords. Our inclusion criteria included clinical trials with patients over 18 years of age, case reports and pilot studies. Animal experiments, in vitro studies, correlational and longitudinal studies, and study designs and protocols were excluded. Forty-nine original articles resulted in follow-up reports of 45 trials. MSCs from bone marrow, umbilical cord and adipose tissue were moderately well tolerated. Of the 1408 participants who received MSCs, 33 trials (67.3%) reported the occurrence of death or serious adverse events. These events resulted in 80 deaths (52% of reported cases) following MSC administration. Importantly, 41.3% of these deaths (n = 33) were not considered to be related to the intervention itself, while 40% of these deaths had no reported cause. As the primary outcome, the mean increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline was 5.75% (95% CI: 3.38% -8.11%, p < 0.0001, I2 = 90,9%) in the randomized controlled trials only (n = 24) within the treatment groups and 3.19% (95% CI: 1.63% to 4.75%, p < 0.0001, I2 = 74,17%) in the control groups after the intervention. When the above results were compared using the standardized mean difference (SDM), a significance in favor of the treatment group was also found (SDM = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.19-0.64, p < 0.001, I2 = 71%). Although improvements were also seen in the control groups, 33.3% (n = 15) of the studies showed no significant difference between the control and treatment groups. The 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class scores, used for assessing exercise tolerance and quality of life (QoL), respectively, further supported the improvements in the treatment group. These improvements were noted as 62.5% (n = 10) for the 6MWT and 54.5% (n = 12) for the NYHA class scores. According to the risk of bias analysis, 4 trials were of good quality (11.8%), 15 were of fair quality (44.1%), and 15 were of poor quality (44.1%). Major limitations of these studies included small sample size, diagnostic challenges/lack, uncertain cell dosage and potential bias in patient selection. Despite the ongoing debate surrounding cell administration for ICM, there are supporting signs of improved clinical and laboratory outcomes, as well as improved QoL in the MSC-treated groups. However, it is important to recognize the limitations of each study, highlighting the need for larger, controlled trials to validate these findings.

Association of Pulmonary Artery Pressures With Mortality in Adults With Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

The independent effect of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) severity on mortality in those with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is not well known.

OBJECTIVES

The authors aimed to examine the prognostic impact of increasingly elevated pulmonary pressures in a large clinical cohort of adults with reduced LVEF.

METHODS

The authors analyzed data from the National Echocardiography Database of Australia, a large clinical registry linking routine echocardiographic investigations to mortality. In 23,675 adults with a recorded tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity (TRV) and reduced LVEF (<50%), the authors evaluated the relationship between conventional thresholds of increasing risk of PHT and mortality during median follow-up of 2.9 years (Q1-Q3: 1.0-5.4 years).

RESULTS

Mean age was 70 ± 15 years, and 7,498 (31.7%) individuals were female. Overall, 8,801 (37.2%) had normal (TRV <2.5 m/s), 7,061 (29.8%) had borderline (2.5-2.8 m/s), 5,676 (24.0%) intermediate (2.9-3.4 m/s), and 2,137 (9.0%) individuals had high-risk PHT (>3.4 m/s). With increasing risk of PHT, 1- and 5-year actuarial mortality increased from 13.3% and 43.8% to 41.5% and 81.4%, respectively (P < 0.0001) from normal to severely elevated TRV. The adjusted HR of mortality increased by 1.31-fold (95% CI: 1.23-1.38), 1.82-fold (95% CI: 1.72-1.93), and 2.38-fold (95% CI: 2.21-2.56) in those with borderline, intermediate, and high risk of PHT respectively, compared with normal TRV. Further analyses suggested a distinctive threshold with a TRV reached >2.41 m/s (adjusted HR: 1.18 [95% CI: 1.04-1.33]).

CONCLUSIONS

The authors demonstrate the prevalence and negative prognostic impact of increasingly elevated TRV levels in individuals with reduced LVEF, with a threshold for mortality lying within the range of "borderline risk" PHT.

Prognostic implications of left ventricular ejection fraction trajectory changes in heart failure

Aims

The latest guidelines recommended to assess the trajectory of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, there is limited data on the trajectory of LVEF in real-world settings. In this study, we investigated the frequency and prognostic implications of changes in LVEF trajectory.

Methods

Patients were divided into intensified LVEF, static LVEF, and worsening LVEF groups based on the transitions of HF types from baseline to follow-up. The intensified and worsening LVEF groups were further subdivided into mild (≤10% absolute changes of LVEF) and significant (>10% absolute changes of LVEF) increase or decrease groups according to the magnitude of change. The incidences and associations of changes in LVEF with patient outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Among the 2,429 patients in the study cohort, 38.3% of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and 37.6% of HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) showed an improvement in their LVEF. In contrast, a decline in LVEF was observed in 19.3% of HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and 34.9% of those with HFmrEF. Cox regression analysis showed that the intensified LVEF group was associated with a lower risk of composite endpoints, while the worsening LVEF group yielded opposite findings. Subgroup analysis revealed that compared to those with mild changes in LVEF, baseline HFrEF patients with significant increase showed a lower risk of composite outcome, while baseline HFpEF patients were the opposite.

Conclusions

The trajectories of LVEF changes are strongly correlated with outcomes in patients with HF who had prior history of HF admission. The most significant prognostic implications observed in patients with significant LVEF changes. Trajectory LVEF and type of HF changes are useful tools recommended for prognostication.

Heart failure is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality after transvenous lead extraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) is increasingly considered in cardiac implantable electronic device management. Heart failure (HF) might be associated with mortality risks after the TLE procedure. This study aims to assess mortality risk in HF patients undergoing TLE.

METHOD

We searched MEDLINE and Embase databases from inception to June 2022 to identify articles that included patients with and without HF who underwent TLE, which reported mortality in both groups. The pooled effect size was calculated with a random-effects model and 95% CI to compare post-TLE mortality between the two groups.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included in the analysis. Each left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased by 1% was associated with reduced mortality by 2% (HR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99, I 2 = 74.9%, p < .01). The presence of HF compared to those without HF was associated with higher mortality rates (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 2.56-3.61, I 2 = 0.0%, p < .531). There was a significant increase in the mortality rates in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class III (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.29-4.06, I 2 = 0.0%, p = .498) and NYHA IV (OR: 8.5, 95% CI: 2.98-24.3, I 2 = 0.0%, p = .997).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that post-TLE mortality decreases by 2% as LVEF increases by 1%, also mortality is higher in patients with NYHA III and IV.

An inevitable or modifiable trajectory towards heart failure in high-risk individuals: insights from the nurse-led intervention for less chronic heart failure (NIL-CHF) study

AIMS

We extended follow-up of a heart failure (HF) prevention study to determine if initially positive findings of improved cardiac recovery were translated into less de novo HF and/or all-cause mortality (primary endpoint) in the longer term.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Nurse-led Intervention for Less Chronic HF (NIL-CHF) study was a single-centre randomized trial of nurse-led prevention involving cardiac inpatients without HF. At 3 years, 454 survivors (aged 66 ± 11 years, 71% men and 68% coronary artery disease) had the following: (i) a normal echocardiogram (128 cases/28.2%), (ii) structural heart disease (196/43.2%), or (iii) left ventricular diastolic dysfunction/left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVDD/LVSD: 130/28.6%). Outcomes were examined during median 8.3 (interquartile range 7.8-8.8) years according to these hierarchal groups and change in cardiac status from baseline to 3 years. Overall, 109 (24.0%) participants had a de novo HF admission or died while accumulating 551 cardiovascular-related admissions/3643 days of hospital stay. Progressively worse cardiac status correlated with increased hospitalizations (P < 0.001). The mean rate (95% confidence interval) of cardiovascular admissions/days of hospital stay being 0.09 (0.05-0.12) admissions/0.33 (0.13-0.54) days vs. 0.27 (0.20-0.34) admissions/2.20 (1.36-3.04) days per annum for those with a normal echocardiogram vs. LVDD/LVSD at 3 years. With progressively higher event rates, the adjusted hazard ratio for a de novo HF admission and/or death associated with a structural abnormality (24.5% of cases) and LVDD/LVSD (36.2%) at 3 years was 1.57 (0.82-3.01; P = 0.173) and 2.07 (1.05-4.05; P = 0.035) compared with a normal echocardiogram (10.9%). Mortality also mirrored the direction/extent of cardiac status/trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest the positive initial effects of NIL-CHF intervention on cardiac recovery contributed to better long-term outcomes among patients at high risk of HF. However, prevention of HF remains challenging.

Prevalence and prognostic impact of tricuspid regurgitation in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices: From the national echocardiography database of Australia

AIMS

We sought to analyse the distribution of TR severity and survival in a large cohort of adults with CIED leads.

METHODS

The distribution of TR severity was analysed in 18,797 adults (mean age 73.8+/-13.9, 63.3% men) with CIED leads undergoing echocardiography across 25 centres. Survival status and cause of death were linked and the relationship between TR severity and mortality during 2.6 (interquartile range 1.1-4.6) years follow-up examined. Data from 439,558 individuals (mean age 62.1 ±17.8 years, 51.5% men) without a CIED were subsequently incorporated in a pooled cohort analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 8,824/18,797 individuals (47%) with a CIED had no/trivial TR; 5,490 (29.2%) mild TR; 3,068 (16.3%) moderate TR; and 1,415 (7.5%) severe TR. Moderate or greater TR was independently associated with age, female sex, atrial fibrillation and significant left heart disease (p<0.001 for all). 8,868 individuals (47.2%) died from any cause (43.2% from cardiovascular causes). Individuals with moderate or severe TR had a 1.6 to 2.5-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality in adjusted models, compared to those with no TR (p<0.001 for both). In the pooled cohort analysis, CIEDs were associated with a near 2-fold (95% CI 1.81-1.99; p<0.001) increased probability of moderate or greater TR, on adjusted basis. However, the mortality associated with moderate or greater TR did not differ significantly with respect to the presence or absence of a device lead.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate or greater TR is more prevalent in those with CIED's, even in adjusted models, and was independently associated with incremental risks for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Heart failure: an update from the last years and a look at the near future

In the last years, major progress occurred in heart failure (HF) management. Quadruple therapy is now mandatory for all the patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Whilst verciguat is becoming available across several countries, omecamtiv mecarbil is waiting to be released for clinical use. Concurrent use of potassium-lowering agents may counteract hyperkalaemia and facilitate renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor implementations. The results of the EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in Patients With chrOnic heaRt Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved) trial were confirmed by the Dapagliflozin in Heart Failure with Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction (DELIVER) trial, and we now have, for the first time, evidence for treatment of also patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. In a pre-specified meta-analysis of major randomized controlled trials, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors reduced all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, and HF hospitalization in the patients with HF regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction. Other steps forward have occurred in the treatment of decompensated HF. Acetazolamide in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Volume Overload (ADVOR) trial showed that the addition of intravenous acetazolamide to loop diuretics leads to greater decongestion vs. placebo. The addition of hydrochlorothiazide to loop diuretics was evaluated in the CLOROTIC trial. Torasemide did not change outcomes, compared with furosemide, in TRANSFORM-HF. Ferric derisomaltose had an effect on the primary outcome of CV mortality or HF rehospitalizations in IRONMAN (rate ratio 0.82; 95% confidence interval 0.66-1.02; P = 0.070). Further options for the treatment of HF, including device therapies, cardiac contractility modulation, and percutaneous treatment of valvulopathies, are summarized in this article.

Cardiac contractility modulation in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction treatment

Heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) (HFrEF) is a significant issue of health care due to increasing indexes of morbidity and mortality. The emergence of a number of drugs and implantable devices for the treatment of HFrEF has allowed improvement of patients’ well-being and prognosis. However, high mortality and recurrent decompensated heart failure remain a substantial issue and stimulate the search for new methods of CHF treatment. Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) is a method of managing patients with HFrEF. Available data from randomized clinical trials (RCT) indicate the efficacy of CCM in improvement of patients’ well-being and quality of life. The question remains open: what effect does CCM have on LV reverse remodeling? Experimental data and results of observational studies suggest a possibility of reverse remodeling by CCM; however, this has not been confirmed in RCT. Also, it remains unclear how CCM influences the frequency of hospitalizations for decompensated heart failure and the death rate of patients with HFrEF. Results of both RCTs and observational studies have shown a moderate improvement of quality of life associated with CCM. Furthermore, RCTs have not found any increase in LV EF due to the therapy, nor has a meta-analysis of RCTs revealed any improvement of the prognosis associated with CCM.  Further RCTs are needed to evaluate the effect of CCM on reverse remodeling, survival rate, and to determine the place of CCM in the treatment of patients with CHF.

Counting the cost of premature mortality with progressively worse aortic stenosis in Australia: a clinical cohort study

BACKGROUND

Aortic stenosis is the most common cardiac valve disorder requiring clinical management. However, there is little evidence on the societal cost of progressive aortic stenosis. We sought to quantify the societal burden of premature mortality associated with progressively worse aortic stenosis.

METHODS

In this observational clinical cohort study, we examined echocardiograms on native aortic valves of 98 565 men and 99 357 women aged 65 years or older across 23 sites in Australia, from Jan 1, 2003, to Dec 31, 2017. Individuals were grouped according to their peak aortic valve velocity in 0·50 m/s increments up to 4·00 m/s or more (severe aortic stenosis), using 1·00-1·99 m/s (no aortic stenosis) as the reference group. Sex-specific premature mortality and years of life lost during a 5-year follow-up were calculated, along with willingness-to-pay to regain quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

FINDINGS

Overall, 20 701 (21·0%) men and 18 576 (18·7%) women had evidence of mild-to-severe aortic stenosis. The actual 5-year mortality in men with normal aortic valves was 32·1% and in women was 26·1%, increasing to 40·9% (mild aortic stenosis) and 52·2% (severe aortic stenosis) in men and to 35·9% (mild aortic stenosis) and 55·3% (severe aortic stenosis) in women. Overall, the estimated societal cost of premature mortality associated with aortic stenosis was AU$629 million in men and $735 million in women. Per 1000 men and women investigated, aortic stenosis was associated with eight more premature deaths in men resulting in 32·5 more QALYs lost (societal cost of $1·40 million) and 12 more premature deaths in women resulting in 57·5 more QALYs lost (societal cost of $2·48 million) when compared with those without aortic stenosis.

INTERPRETATION

Any degree of aortic stenosis in older individuals is associated with premature mortality and QALYs. In this context, there is a crucial need for cost-effective strategies to promptly detect and optimally manage this common condition within our ageing populations.

FUNDING

Edwards LifeSciences, National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Left ventricular size and function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus associate with lupus anticoagulant: An echocardiographic follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with increased risk of cardiac dysfunction. The pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood, and prognostic markers are warranted.

PURPOSE

We aimed to identify SLE-characteristics associated with measures of cardiac size and function during a five-year follow-up.

METHODS

We included 108 patients with SLE: 90% females, mean age 46 ± 13 years, median disease duration 14 (range 7-21) years. We performed blood sampling for potential biomarkers as well as a standard echocardiography at baseline and at a 5-year follow-up. To investigate associations with baseline and prospective 5-year changes in echocardiographic parameters, we performed multivariate regression analyses of SLE-related baseline variables (clinical disease activity, lupus nephritis, chronic kidney disease, anti-cardiolipin and/or anti-beta-2 glycoprotein I antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant (LAC)) and adjusted for traditional risk factors.

RESULTS

During follow-up, diastolic function regressed in two out of five echocardiographic measures (E/A ratio 1.4 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.5, p = 0.002; tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity 2.0 ± 0.6 vs. 2.2 ± 0.4 mmHg, p < 0.001). Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume index increased (43.7 ± 13.9 vs. 52.5 ± 15.7 mL/m², p < 0.001). Left and right ventricular systolic function remained stationary. LAC was associated with inferior diastolic function: lower E/A ratio (p = 0.04) and higher E/e' ratio at baseline (p = 0.04) and increased left ventricular atrial volume index during follow-up (p = 0.01). LAC was further associated with LV dilatation during follow-up (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Presence of LAC was associated with measures of diastolic function as well as progressive LV dilatation during the 5-year follow-up. Thus, LAC might be a predictor of cardiac dysfunction in SLE patients. LAC is known to have implications for the microvascular circulation, but the clinical significance of the present findings is yet to be elucidated.

Quality of life in patients with heart failure and improved ejection fraction: one-year changes and prognosis

AIMS

The criteria for patients with heart failure (HF) and improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) are a baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%, a ≥10-point increase from baseline LVEF, and a second LVEF measurement >40%. We aimed to (i) assess patients with HF and reduced LVEF (HFrEF) at baseline and compare quality of life (QoL) changes between those that fulfilled and those that did not fulfil the HFimpEF criteria 1 year later and (ii) assess the prognostic role of QoL in patients with HFimpEF.

METHODS

We reviewed data from a prospective registry of real-world outpatients with HF that were assessed for LVEF and QoL at a first visit to the HF clinic and 1 year later. QoL was evaluated with the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ). The primary prognostic endpoint was the composite of all-cause death or HF hospitalization.

RESULTS

Baseline and 1-year LVEF and MLWFQ scores were available for 1040 patients with an initial LVEF ≤40% (mean age, 65.2 ± 11.7 years; 75.9% men). The main aetiology was ischaemic heart disease (52.9%), and patients were mostly in New York heart Association Classes II (71.1%) and III (21.6%). At baseline, the mean LVEF was 28.5% ± 7.3, and the mean MLWHFQ score was 30.2 ± 19.5. After 1 year, the mean LVEF increased to 38.0% ± 12.2, and the MLWHFQ scores improved to 17.4 ± 16.0. In 361 patients that fulfilled the HFimpEF criteria (34.7%), significant improvements were observed in both LVEF (from 28.7% ± 6.6 to 50.9% ± 7.6, P < 0.001) and QoL (from 32.9 ± 20.6 to 16.9 ± 16.0, P < 0.001). Patients that did not fulfil the HFimpEF criteria also showed significant improvements in LVEF (from 28.4% ± 7.6 to 31.1% ± 7.9, P < 0.001) and QoL (from 28.7 ± 18.8 to 17.6 ± 15.9, P < 0.001). However, the QoL improvement was significantly higher in the HFimpEF group (-16.0 ± 23.8 vs. -11.1 ± 20.3, P = 0.001), despite the worse mean baseline MLWHFQ score, compared with the non-HFimpEF group (P = 0.001). The 1-year QoL was similar between groups (P = 0.50). The 1-year MLWHFQ score was independently associated with outcomes; the hazard ratio for the composite endpoint was 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01-1.03, P = 0.006). In contrast, the QoL improvement (with a cut-off ≥5 points) was not independently associated with the composite outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HFrEF showed improved QoL after 1 year, regardless of whether they met the HFimpEF criteria. The similar 1-year QoL perception between groups suggested that factors other than LVEF influenced QoL perception. The 1-year QoL was superior to the QoL change from baseline for predicting prognosis in patients with HFimpEF.

Clinical implications of the universal definition for the prevention and treatment of heart failure

The diagnosis of heart failure (HF) primarily relies on signs and symptoms that are neither sensitive nor specific. This impedes timely diagnosis and delays effective therapies or interventions, despite the availability of several evidence-based treatments for HF. Through monumental collaborative efforts from representatives of HF societies worldwide, the universal definition of HF was published in 2021, to provide the necessary standardized framework required for clinical management, clinical trials, and research. This review elaborates the key concepts of the new universal definition of HF, highlighting the key merits and potential avenues, which can be nuanced further in future iterations. We also discuss the key implications of the universal definition document from the perspectives of various stakeholders within the healthcare framework, including patients, care providers, system/payers and policymakers.

Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction: retrospective study of ejection fraction trajectory risk

AIMS

Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) is associated with a favourable prognosis compared with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF). We assessed whether left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) trajectory can be used to identify groups of patients with HFmrEF who have different clinical outcomes in a large retrospective study of patients with serial imaging.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with HF and ≥2 echocardiograms performed ≥6 months apart were included if the LVEF measured 40-49% on the second study. Patients were classified as HFmrEF-Increasing if LVEF had increased ≥10% (n = 450), HFmrEF-Decreasing if LVEF had decreased ≥10% (n = 512), or HFmrEF-Stable if they did not meet other criteria (n = 389). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality or cardiovascular hospitalization after the second echocardiogram. Associations with time to first event were assessed with multivariable Cox analyses adjusted for age, co-morbidities, and medications. In total, 1351 patients with HFmrEF (median age 74, 64.2% male) were included with 28.8% exhibiting stable LVEF. During median follow-up of 15.3 months, the composite outcome occurred in 811 patients. During follow-up, patients with HFmrEF-Increasing were less likely to experience the primary outcome [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-0.88, P < 0.001] compared with HFmrEF-Stable. Patients with HFmrEF-Decreasing were more likely to experience the composite outcome in unadjusted analyses (unadjusted HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.40, P = 0.040) but not adjusted analyses (adjusted HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.98-1.37, P = 0.092). Associations with death or HF hospitalizations were similar (HFmrEF-Increasing: adjusted HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.88, P = 0.005; HFmrEF-Decreasing: adjusted HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01-1.44, P = 0.044). Patients with HFmrEF-Decreasing had a similar risk of the composite outcome as patients with HF with reduced EF (adjusted HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.89-1.20, P = 0.670). Patients with HFmrEF-Increasing were less likely to experience the composite outcome compared with patients with HF with preserved EF (adjusted HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.87, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Amongst patients with HFmrEF, those exhibiting positive LVEF trajectory were less likely to experience adverse outcomes after correcting for important confounders including medical therapy. Categorizing HFmrEF patients based on LVEF trajectory provides meaningful clinical information and may assist clinicians with management decisions.

Adverse Prognostic Impact of Even Mild or Moderate Tricuspid Regurgitation: Insights from The National Echocardiography Database of Australia

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and prognostic impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) remains incompletely characterized.

METHODS

The distribution of TR severity was analyzed in 439,558 adults (mean age 62.1 ±17.8 years, 51.5% men) being investigated for heart disease, from 2000-2019, by 25 centers contributing to the National Echocardiography Database of Australia. Survival status and cause of death were ascertained, in all adults, from the National Death Index of Australia. The relationship between TR severity and mortality was examined.

RESULTS

Of those studied, 311,604 (70.9%) had no/trivial TR; 94,172 (21.4%) mild TR; 26,056 (5.9%) moderate TR; and 7,726 (1.8%) severe TR. During a median 4.1 years (interquartile range 2.2-7.0 years) follow up, 109,004 died (49% from cardiovascular causes). Moderate or greater TR was associated with older age and female sex (p<0.001). Individuals with moderate and severe TR had a 2.0- to 3.2-fold increased risk of all-cause long-term mortality after adjustment for age and sex, compared to those with no/trivial TR (p<0.001 for both comparisons). Even those with mild TR had a significantly increased risk for mortality (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.27-1.31). In fully adjusted models, including for RV systolic pressure, atrial fibrillation and significant left-heart disease, there remained a 1.24 to 2.65-fold increased risk of mortality with mild (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.23-1.26), moderate (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.68-1.75) or severe TR (HR 2.65, 95% CI 2.57-2.73), compared to those with no/trivial TR (p<0.001 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

TR is a common condition in adults referred for echocardiography. Moreover, even in the presence of other cardiac disease, increasing grades of TR are independently associated with increasing risks of CV and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, we show that even mild TR is independently associated with a significant increase in mortality.

The Association of Improvement in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction with Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Data from CHAMP-HF

AIMS

We assessed for an association between improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and future outcomes, including health status, in routine clinical practice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

CHAMP-HF was a registry of outpatients with heart failure (HF) and LVEF <40%. Enrolled participants completed the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 (KCCQ-12) at regular intervals and were followed as part of routine care. We assessed for associations between improvements in LVEF (>10%) over time and concurrent changes in KCCQ-12, as well as the subsequent risk of poor outcomes. We included 2092 participants in the study. They had the following characteristics: median age 67 years (25^th , 75^th percentile 58, 75), 29% female, median duration of HF 2.7 years (0.6, 6.8), and median baseline LVEF 30% (23, 35). Of the study participants, 689 (34%) had a >10% absolute improvement in LVEF. Participants with an LVEF improvement also had an improvement in KCCQ-12 overall summary score compared with participants without an LVEF improvement (+7.6 vs +3.5, adjusted effect estimate +4.1 [95% CI 2.3 to 5.7]). Similarly, subsequent all-cause death or HF hospitalization occurred in 12% in the LVEF improvement group vs 25% in the group without an LVEF improvement (adjusted HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.61).

CONCLUSION

In a large cohort of outpatients with chronic HF, improvements in LVEF were associated with improved health status and a reduced risk for future clinical events. These data underscore the importance of improvement in LVEF as a treatment target for medical interventions for patients with chronic HF.

Predictors and Mortality for Worsening Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients With HFpEF

Background

Definitions of declined left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) vary across studies and research results concerning the association of mortality with declined LVEF are inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of early worsening LVEF on mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and to establish independent predictors of early worsening LVEF.

Methods and Results

A total of 1,418 consecutive patients with HFpEF with LVEF remeasurement from the Cardiorenal Improvement registry were included in this study. Worsening LVEF was defined as an absolute decline ≥ 5% from baseline LVEF within 3 to 12 months after discharge. The Cox and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess prognostic effects and predictors for worsening LVEF, respectively. Among 1,418 patients with HFpEF, 457 (32.2%) patients exhibited worsening LVEF. During a median follow-up of 3.2 years (interquartile range: 2.3–4.0 years), 92 (6.5%) patients died. Patients with HFpEF with worsening LVEF had higher mortality relative to those with nonworsening LVEF [9.2 vs. 5.2%; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.18, 95% CI: 1.35–3.52]. In the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, baseline left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), LVEF, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), atrial fibrillation (AF), and diabetes mellitus (DM) emerged as predictive factors of worsening LVEF.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that about one out of three patients with HFpEF experiences worsening LVEF during follow-up, which is associated with 2.2-fold increased mortality. Increased LVEDD and LVEF, low HDL-C levels, AF, and DM were predictors of worsening LVEF. Further studies are needed to prospectively assess the efficacy of early active management on prognosis in patients with HF with worsening LVEF.

Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04407936.

Out with the Old and In with the New: Primary Care Management of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Primary care plays an integral role in the management of complex, chronic disease states such as heart failure. However, there is a disconnect between the characteristics of those recruited into clinical trials and those managed in the real world, which means the contribution and consideration of primary care in current guidelines is suboptimal. In this article, the authors explore key issues in the diagnosis and management of heart failure that need to be addressed from a primary care perspective. This article focuses on the issue of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and the integration of new clinical epidemiology and trial evidence into clinical practice. In response, the authors advocate for dedicated guidelines for the primary care management of heart failure, the development of strategies to facilitate communications between health professionals in acute and community care and a renewed focus on researching optimal models of heart failure care in the community.