Value of the HFA-PEFF and H2 FPEF scores in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction caused by cardiac amyloidosis

The Mayo ATTR-CM score versus other diagnostic scores and cardiac biomarkers in patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis

AIMS

Several scores were developed to help the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). The most recent one, being the Mayo transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) score, was not externally validated. We compared the diagnostic performance of the ATTR-CM score with previous tools (increased wall thickness [IWT] score, AMYLoidosis Index [AMYLI] score, and cardiac biomarkers) in a cohort of patients evaluated for a suspicion of CA.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analysed 362 consecutive patients referred to a third-level centre for suspected CA. Overall, 132 (36%) had transthyretin CA (ATTR-CA), and 91 (25%) immunoglobulin light chain CA (AL-CA); CA was excluded in 139 (38%). ATTR-CM score had a good diagnostic performance to distinguish ATTR-CA from AL-CA or no CA, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.795 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.747-0.842, p < 0.001), and ATTR-CA from no CA (AUC 0.822, 95% CI 0.774-0.871, p < 0.001). Results were consistent in both patients with preserved (AUC 0.787, 95% CI 0.726-0.848, p < 0.001), and reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction (AUC 0.790, 95% CI 0.709-0.871, p < 0.001). The ATTR-CM score showed a better discrimination compared to IWT and AMYLI score to distinguish ATTR-CA from AL-CA or no CA (p = 0.002), but not to distinguish ATTR-CA from no CA (p = 0.270). Diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher for the ATTR-CM score as compared to the rule-in cut-off of high-sensitivity troponin T.

CONCLUSION

The Mayo ATTR-CM score has a good performance in identifying patients with ATTR-CA, with also better discrimination power when compared to other scores and biomarkers.

Heart failure risk assessment in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy based on the H2FPEF score

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the H2FPEF score, which was developed to improve the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction, is associated with HF outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with HCM and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) were included from a multicentre registry and the H2FPEF score was calculated. Patients were divided into three groups: low (0-1), intermediate (2-5) and high (6-9) H2FPEF score. The primary combined endpoint was a composite of all-cause death and HF admissions, while the secondary endpoints were all-cause death and HF admissions separately. A total of 955 patients were included (age 51 ± 17 years, 310 [32.5%] female). Patients with a high H2FPEF score (n = 105) were more often female, and presented with more symptoms and comorbidities. On echocardiography, patients with a high H2FPEF score had lower LVEF, more impaired diastolic function and more frequently left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. During follow-up (median 90 months [interquartile range 49-176]), 103 (11%) patients died and 57 (6%) patients had a first HF hospitalization. Event-free survival rate for the primary combined and secondary endpoints was lower for patients with an intermediate and high H2FPEF score. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, female sex (hazard ratio [HR] 1.670, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.157-2.410; p = 0.006), Asian ethnicity (HR 6.711, 95% CI 4.076-11.048; p < 0.001), ischaemic heart disease (HR 1.732, 95% CI 1.133-2.650; p =  0.011), left atrial diameter (HR 1.028, 95% CI 1.005-1.051; p = 0.016) and intermediate (HR 2.757, 95% CI 1.612-4.713; p < 0.001) or high H2FPEF score (HR 3.689, 95% CI 1.908-7.134; p < 0.001) were independently associated with the primary combined endpoint.

CONCLUSION

The H2FPEF score is independently associated with HF outcome in patients with HCM and may be considered for risk stratification.

Wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis is not rare in elderly subjects: the CATCH screening study

AIMS

Wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTRwt-CA) affects older adults and is currently considered as a rare disorder. We investigated for the first time the prevalence of ATTRwt-CA in elderly individuals from the general population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

General practitioners from Pisa, Italy, proposed a screening for ATTRwt-CA to all their patients aged 65-90 years, until 1000 accepted. The following red flags were searched: interventricular septal thickness ≥ 12 mm, any echocardiographic, electrocardiographic or clinical hallmark of CA, or high-sensitivity troponin T ≥ 14 ng/L. Individuals with at least one red flag (n = 346) were asked to undergo the search for a monoclonal protein and bone scintigraphy, and 216 accepted. Four patients received a non-invasive diagnosis of ATTRwt-CA. All complained of dyspnoea on moderate effort. A woman and a man aged 79 and 85 years, respectively, showed an intense cardiac tracer uptake (Grade 3), left ventricular (LV) wall thickening, Grade 2 and 3 diastolic dysfunction, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) > 1000 ng/L. Two other patients (a man aged 74 years and a woman aged 83 years) showed a Grade 2 uptake, an increased LV septal thickness, but preserved diastolic function, and NT-proBNP < 300 ng/L. The prevalence of ATTR-CA in subjects ≥ 65 years was calculated as 0.46% (i.e. 4 out of the 870 subjects completing the screening, namely 654 not meeting the criteria for Step 2 and 216 progressing to Step 2).

CONCLUSION

Wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis is uncommon in elderly subjects from the general population, but more frequent than expected for a rare disease.

Echocardiographic predictors of cardiovascular outcome in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

AIMS

The optimal echocardiographic predictors of cardiovascular outcome in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are unknown. We aimed to identify independent echocardiographic predictors of cardiovascular outcome in patients with HFpEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Systematic literature search of three electronic databases was conducted from date of inception until November 2022. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for echocardiographic variables from multivariate prediction models for the composite primary endpoint of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization were pooled using a random effects meta-analysis. Specific subgroup analyses were conducted for studies that enrolled patients with acute versus chronic HF, and for those studies that included E/e', pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), renal function, natriuretic peptides and diuretic use in multivariate models. Forty-six studies totalling 20 056 patients with HFpEF were included. Three echocardiographic parameters emerged as independent predictors in all subgroup analyses: decreased left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10-1.39 per 5% decrease), decreased left atrial (LA) reservoir strain (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.13-1.1.50 per 5% decrease) and lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to PASP ratio (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.25 per 0.1 unit decrease). Other independent echocardiographic predictors of the primary endpoint were a higher E/e', moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation, LV mass index and LA ejection fraction, although these variables were less robust.

CONCLUSIONS

Impaired LV global longitudinal strain, lower LA reservoir strain and lower TAPSE/PASP ratio predict cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization in HFpEF and are independent of filling pressures, clinical characteristics and natriuretic peptides. These echocardiographic parameters reflect key functional changes in HFpEF, and should be incorporated in future prospective risk prediction models.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of the HFA-PEFF score for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim

To assess the diagnostic and prognostic performances of the Heart Failure Association Pre-test Assessment, Echocardiography & Natriuretic Peptide, Functional Testing, Final Etiology (HFA-PEFF) score for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in a comprehensive manner.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched from the inception to June 12, 2023. Studies using the "Rule-out" or "Rule-in" approach for diagnosis analysis or studies on cardiovascular events and all-cause death for prognosis analysis were included. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool was adopted to assess the quality of diagnostic accuracy studies. The sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve (AUC) were presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For CVEs and all-cause death, the hazard ratio (HR) values were calculated.

Results

Fifteen studies involving 6420 subjects were included, with 9 for diagnosis analysis, and 7 for prognosis analysis. For the diagnostic performance of the HFA-PEFF score, with the "Rule-out" approach, the pooled SEN was 0.96 (95%CI: 0.94, 0.97), the pooled SPE was 0.39 (95%CI: 0.37, 0.42), and the pooled AUC was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.67, 1.00), and with the "Rule-in" approach, the pooled SEN was 0.59 (95%CI: 0.56, 0.61), the pooled SPE was 0.86 (95%CI: 0.84, 0.88), and the pooled AUC was 0.83 (95%CI: 0.79, 0.87). For the predictive performance of the HFA-PEFF score, regarding CVEs, the pooled SEN was 0.63 (95%CI: 0.58, 0.67), the pooled SPE was 0.53 (95%CI: 0.49, 0.58), and the pooled AUC was 0.65 (95%CI: 0.40, 0.90), and concerning All-cause death, the pooled SEN was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.81, 0.88), the pooled SPE was 0.48 (95%CI: 0.44, 0.52), and the pooled AUC was 0.65 (95%CI: 0.47, 0.83). A higher HFA-PEFF score was associated with a higher risk of all-cause death (HR 1.390, 95%CI 1.240, 1.558, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The HFA-PEFF score might be applied in HFpEF diagnosis and all-cause death prediction. More studies are required for finding validation.

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of isolated or combined moderate to severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation in patients with cardiac amyloidosis

AIMS

Evidence on the epidemiology and prognostic significance of mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is scarce.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Overall, 538 patients with either transthyretin (ATTR, n = 359) or immunoglobulin light-chain (AL, n = 179) CA were included at three Italian referral centres. Patients were stratified according to isolated or combined moderate/severe MR and TR. Overall, 240 patients (44.6%) had no significant MR/TR, 112 (20.8%) isolated MR, 66 (12.3%) isolated TR, and 120 (22.3%) combined MR/TR. The most common aetiologies were atrial functional MR, followed by primary infiltrative MR, and secondary TR due to right ventricular (RV) overload followed by atrial functional TR. Patients with isolated or combined MR/TR had a more frequent history of heart failure (HF) hospitalization and atrial fibrillation, worse symptoms, and higher levels of NT-proBNP as compared to those without MR/TR. They also presented more severe atrial enlargement, atrial peak longitudinal strain impairment, left ventricular (LV) and RV systolic dysfunction, and higher pulmonary artery systolic pressures. TR carried the most advanced features. After adjustment for age, sex, CA subtypes, laboratory, and echocardiographic markers of CA severity, isolated TR and combined MR/TR were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause death or worsening HF events, compared to no significant MR/TR [adjusted HR 2.75 (1.78-4.24) and 2.31 (1.44-3.70), respectively].

CONCLUSION

In a large cohort of patients with CA, MR, and TR were common. Isolated TR and combined MR/TR were associated with worse prognosis regardless of CA aetiology, LV, and RV function, with TR carrying the highest risk.

2024 update in heart failure

In the last years, major progress has occurred in heart failure (HF) management. The 2023 ESC focused update of the 2021 HF guidelines introduced new key recommendations based on the results of the last years of science. First, two drugs, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and finerenone, a novel nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), are recommended for the prevention of HF in patients with diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Second, SGLT2 inhibitors are now recommended for the treatment of HF across the entire left ventricular ejection fraction spectrum. The benefits of quadruple therapy in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are well established. Its rapid and early up-titration along with a close follow-up with frequent clinical and laboratory re-assessment after an episode of acute HF (the so-called 'high-intensity care' strategy) was associated with better outcomes in the STRONG-HF trial. Patients experiencing an episode of worsening HF might require a fifth drug, vericiguat. In the STEP-HFpEF-DM and STEP-HFpEF trials, semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly administered for 1 year decreased body weight and significantly improved quality of life and the 6 min walk distance in obese patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with or without a history of diabetes. Further data on safety and efficacy, including also hard endpoints, are needed to support the addition of acetazolamide or hydrochlorothiazide to a standard diuretic regimen in patients hospitalized due to acute HF. In the meantime, PUSH-AHF supported the use of natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy. Further options and most recent evidence for the treatment of HF, including specific drugs for cardiomyopathies (i.e., mavacamten in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and tafamidis in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis), device therapies, cardiac contractility modulation and percutaneous treatment of valvulopathies, with the recent finding from the TRILUMINATE Pivotal trial, are also reviewed in this article.

The role of multimorbidity in patients with heart failure across the left ventricular ejection fraction spectrum: Data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry

AIMS

The aim of this analysis was to provide data on the overall comorbidity burden, both cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV, in a large real-world heart failure (HF) population across the ejection fraction (EF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with HF from the Swedish HF Registry between 2000 and 2021 were included. Of 91 463 patients (median age 76 years [interquartile range 67-82]), 98% had at least one among the 17 explored comorbidities (94% at least one CV and 85% at least one non-CV comorbidity). All comorbidities, except for coronary artery disease (CAD), were more frequent in HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). Patients with multiple comorbidities were older, more likely female, inpatients, with HFpEF, worse New York Heart Association class and higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels. In a multivariable Cox model, 12 comorbidities were independently associated with a higher risk of death from any cause. The highest risk was associated with dementia (hazard ratio [HR] 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-1.65), chronic kidney disease (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.34-1.41), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.28-1.35). Obesity was associated with a lower risk of all-cause death (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.79-0.84). CAD and valvular heart disease were associated with a higher risk of all-cause and CV mortality, but not non-CV mortality, whereas cancer and musculo-skeletal disease increased the risk of non-CV mortality. A significant interaction with EF was observed for several comorbidities. Occurrence of CV and non-CV outcomes was related to the number of CV and non-CV comorbidities, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The burden of both CV and non-CV comorbidities was high in HF regardless of EF, but overall higher in HFpEF. Multimorbidity was associated with a high risk of death with a different burden on CV or non-CV outcomes.

Left ventricular diastolic function in atrial fibrillation: Methodological implications and clinical considerations

The assessment of LVDD is routinely included in echocardiographic evaluation because it correlates with cardiac disease progression and its prognostic value. Classic parameters used for assessing LV diastolic function correlate well with invasive measurements which remains the gold standard. Nevertheless, no one echocardiographic parameter alone can completely evaluate LVDD. LV diastolic function evaluation in atrial fibrillation is still challenging, since the E/A ratio, one of the most used parameters in echocardiographic evaluation, cannot be feasible. This is not a good reason to give up measurement. In this review, we analyze the different methods for estimating LV diastolic function in atrial fibrillation, including measurement not dependent on atrial systole and some novel methods that are promising, but not ever available during clinical practice highlighting that this assessment is mandatory for a complete clinical evaluation of the patients.

Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic narrative review of the evidence

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a common condition in clinical practice, affecting more than half of patients with HF. HFpEF is associated with morbidity and mortality and with considerable healthcare resource utilization and costs. Therefore, early diagnosis is crucial to facilitate prompt management, particularly initiation of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors. Although European guidelines define HFpEF as the presence of symptoms with or without signs of HF, left ventricular EF ≥ 50%, and objective evidence of cardiac structural and/or functional abnormalities, together with elevated natriuretic peptide levels, the diagnosis of HFpEF remains challenging. First, there is no clear consensus on how HFpEF should be defined. Furthermore, diagnostic tools, such as natriuretic peptide levels and resting echocardiogram findings, are significantly limited in the diagnosis of HFpEF. As a result, some patients are overdiagnosed (i.e., elderly people with comorbidities that mimic HF), although in other cases, HFpEF is overlooked. In this manuscript, we perform a systematic narrative review of the diagnostic approach to patients with HFpEF. We also propose a comprehensible algorithm that can be easily applied in daily clinical practice and could prove useful for confirming or ruling out a diagnosis of HFpEF.

Comprehensive diagnostic workup in patients with suspected heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) can be challenging and it could require different tests, some of which are affected by limited availability. Nowadays, considering that new therapies are available for HFpEF and related conditions, a prompt and correct diagnosis is relevant. However, the diagnostic role of biomarker level, imaging tools, score-based algorithms and invasive evaluation, should be based on the strengths and weaknesses of each test. The aim of this review is to help the clinician in diagnosing HFpEF, overcoming the diagnostic uncertainty and disentangling among the different underlying causes, in order to properly treat this kind of patient.

A simple ATTR-CM score to identify transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy burden in HFpEF patients

BACKGROUND

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is often found in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the evidence regarding ATTR-CM and prognosis in HFpEF remains scarce. This study sought to determine whether the ATTR-CM burden was associated with clinical outcomes in HFpEF patients.

METHODS

We evaluated the associations of baseline ATTR-CM score with adverse outcomes in HFpEF patients from the TOPCAT trial using the Cox proportional hazards model or the competing risk regression model. The discriminatory ability of the ATTR-CM score was assessed using the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

We included 870 HFpEF patients, 18.9% of which had an ATTR-CM score ≥6. Per 1 increment in the ATTR-CM score was significantly associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.27) with an AUC of 0.652 (0.594-0.711), whereas patients with ATTR-CM score ≥6 presented higher risks of the primary outcome (adjusted HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.65-2.95). Similar results were observed toward the secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The simple ATTR-CM score identified an 18.9% ATTR-CM burden in HFpEF patients, and a higher ATTR-CM burden might predict adverse outcomes with moderate discriminatory abilities in HFpEF.

Right ventricular to pulmonary artery coupling and outcome in patients with cardiac amyloidosis

AIMS

To investigate the prognostic value of the right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling in patients with either transthyretin (ATTR) or immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis (CA).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Overall, 283 patients with CA from 3 Italian high-volume centres were included (median age 76 years; 63% males; 53% with ATTR-CA, 47% with AL-CA). The RV-PA coupling was evaluated by using the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) ratio. The median value of TAPSE/PASP was 0.45 (0.33-0.63) mm/mmHg. Patients with a TAPSE/PASP ratio <0.45 were older, had lower systolic blood pressure, more severe symptoms, higher cardiac troponin and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels, greater left ventricular (LV) thickness, and worse LV systolic and diastolic function. A TAPSE/PASP ratio <0.45 was independently associated with a higher risk of all-cause death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32-2.96; P = 0.001] and all-cause death (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.31-3.62; P = 0.003). The TAPSE/PASP ratio reclassified the risk of both endpoints [net reclassification index 0.46 (95% CI 0.18-0.74) P = 0.001 and 0.49 (0.22-0.77) P < 0.001, respectively], while TAPSE or PASP alone did not (all P > 0.05). The prognostic impact of the TAPSE/PASP ratio was significant both in AL-CA patients (HR for the composite endpoint 2.47, 95% CI 1.58-3.85; P < 0.001) and in ATTR-CA (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.11-2.95; P = 0.017). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal cut-off for predicting prognosis was 0.47 mm/mmHg.

CONCLUSION

In patients with CA, RV-PA coupling predicted the risk of mortality or HF hospitalization. The TAPSE/PASP ratio was more effective than TAPSE or PASP in predicting prognosis.

Value of the HFA-PEFF diagnostic algorithms for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction to the inflammatory myopathy population

OBJECTIVES

The HFA-PEFF score has been validated to hold great diagnostic and prognostic utility for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) is recognized as one of the potential etiologies underlying HFpEF. Here, we intended to investigate the real prevalence of HFpEF in IIM via the HFA-PEFF score and explore the prognostic value of this score.

METHODS

Two hundred twenty IIM patients were enrolled for assessment. The cohort was divided into low, intermediate and high tertiles of the HFA-PEFF score. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to explore the association between the score and disease activity. Chi-square test was applied to investigate the distribution discrepancy of HFA-PEFF tertiles among patients with different myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) or myositis-associated antibodies (MAAs). Univariate and multivariate ordinal regression analyses were performed to screen risk factors for high HFA-PEFF scores. Survival curves were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

In total, 79 (35.9%), 107 (48.6%) and 34 (15.5%) patients were rated low, intermediate and high probability of HFpEF, respectively. The HFA-PEFF score correlated well with disease activity. Patients with positive AMA-M2 scored higher in the HFA-PEFF score (p = 0.011). During follow-up, patients with positive AMA-M2 or anti-SRP antibody developed an inclination towards concentric hypertrophy on echocardiography. Additionally, palpitation symptom, AMA-M2 positivity and elevated serum levels of LDH, cTnI were independent risk factors for high HFA-PEFF scores. Finally, a high-tertile HFA-PEFF score was related to lower overall survival rate (p < 0.001). Patients with positive AMA-M2 had poorer outcomes (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

HFpEF was prevailing in IIM patients according to the HFA-PEFF score. The HFA-PEFF score correlated well with disease activity and held significant prognostic value. Patients with AMA-M2 antibody were prone to have poor outcomes.

Treating amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy: lessons learned from clinical trials

An increasing awareness of the disease, new diagnostic tools and novel therapeutic opportunities have dramatically changed the management of patients with amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Supportive therapies have shown limited benefits, mostly related to diuretics for the relief from signs and symptoms of congestion in patients presenting heart failure (HF). On the other hand, huge advances in specific (disease-modifying) treatments occurred in the last years. Therapies targeting the amyloidogenic cascade include several pharmacological agents that inhibit hepatic synthesis of TTR, stabilize the tetramer, or disrupt fibrils. Tafamidis, a TTR stabilizer that demonstrated to prolong survival and improve quality of life in the ATTR-ACT trial, is currently the only approved drug for patients with ATTR-CM. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) patisiran and the antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) inotersen have been approved for the treatment of patients with hereditary ATTR polyneuropathy regardless of the presence of cardiac involvement, with patisiran also showing preliminary benefits on the cardiac phenotype. Ongoing phase III clinical trials are investigating another siRNA, vutrisiran, and a novel ASO formulation, eplontersen, in patients with ATTR-CM. CRISPR-Cas9 represents a promising strategy of genome editing to obtain a highly effective blockade of TTR gene expression.

Patients with cardiac amyloidosis are at a greater risk of mortality and hospital readmission after acute heart failure

AIMS

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an under-diagnosed cause of heart failure (HF) and has a worse prognosis than other forms of HF. The frequency of death or rehospitalization following discharge for acute heart failure (AHF) in CA (relative to other causes) has not been documented. The study aims to compare hospital readmission and death rates 90 days after discharge for AHF in patients with vs. without CA and to identify risk factors associated with these events in each group.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with HF and CA (HF + CA+) were recruited from the ICREX cohort, after screening of their medical records. The cases were matched 1:5 by sex and age with control HF patients without CA (HF + CA-). There were 27 HF + CA + and 135 HF + CA- patients from the ICREX cohort included in the study. Relative to the HF + CA- group, HF + CA+ patients had a higher heart rate (P = 0.002) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels (P < 0.001) and lower blood pressure (P < 0.001), weight, and body mass index values (P < 0.001) on discharge. Ninety days after discharge, the HF + CA+ group displayed a higher death rate, a higher all-cause hospital readmission rate, and a higher hospital readmission rate for AHF. Death and hospital readmissions occurred sooner after discharge in the HF + CA+ group than in the HF + CA- group.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of CA in patients with HF was associated with a three-fold greater risk of death and a two-fold greater risk of all-cause hospital readmission 90 days after discharge. These findings emphasize the importance of close, active management of patients with CA and AHF.