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

Rehospitalization, mortality and associated variables in primary care patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction after first hospitalization

Introduction

There is a paucity of studies providing insights into the progression of primary care patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objetive

To investigate the characteristics associated with mortality and rehospitalizations in primary care patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), previously hospitalized.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study that included primary care patients with previous heart failure (HF) hospitalization and ejection fraction ≥50 of 328 primary care centers of Catalonia. Demographic, comorbidities, clinical, and treatment variables were collected. Outocomes: Mortality and HF rehospitalization. Adjusted Cox regression models were performed.

Results

Study included 2895 patients. Mean age was 77(SD 9.7) years, 57 % were female. Mean follow up was 2.0[1.0-9.0] years. A total of 864(29.8 %) patients died, 831(28.7 %) were hospitalized. Mortality was associated with male sex(HR 1.26, 95 % CI 1.06-1.49), age >75 years(HR 2.76, 95 % CI 2.24-3.39), Charlson Index(HR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.21-3.42), body mass index(BMI) ≤30 kg/m2(HR 1.44, 95 % CI 1.22-1.69) and loop diuretics(HR 1.36, 95 % CI 1.11-1.65); hemoglobin levels(HR 0.87, 95 % CI 95 % 0.82-0.91) were protective. HF rehospitalization was associated with male sex(HR 1.14, 95 % CI 1.03-1.33), age >75 years(HR 1.37, 95 % CI 1.17-1.61), atrial fibrillation(HR 1.44, 95 % CI 1.25-1.67), and loop diuretics(HR 1.37, 95 % CI 1.15-1.63). Hemoglobin(HR 0.91, 95 % CI 0.87-0.95) were protective.

Conclusion

High proportion of HFpEF patients were hospitalized or died at 5 years follow up. Comorbidities, demographic, analytical and treatment variables played a relevant role as prognostic factors.

Clinical characteristics, predictors of mortality, and outcome in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction secondary to Chagas cardiomyopathy

Clinical characteristics, predictors of mortality, and outcome of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChCM) with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) are unknown. 215 patients with a positive serology for ChCM and a left ventricular EF (LVEF) < 50 % followed at our ambulatory from January 2000 to January 2010 were included in the study. 36 patients (20 %) had a LVEF between 41 % and 49 % (HFmrEF), whereas the remaining 179 (80 %) patients had a LVEF ≤40 % (HFrEF). No difference was observed between both groups regarding clinical characteristics. Beta-Blocker (BB) therapy was independently and negatively associated with all-cause mortality in patients with ChCM and HFmrEF by Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio = 0.15; 95 % Confidence Interval 0.05 to 0.42; p < 0.001). Survival analysis by Kaplan-Meir method in patients with ChCM with HFmrEF on BB therapy was 49 % in a 60-month follow up. Overall, survival was higher in patients with HFmrEF than in those with HFrEF. Thus, HFmrEF affects 20 % of patients with ChCM, who have similar clinical characteristics and a poorer outcome than patients with ChCM with HFrEF. However, outcome is dismal in patients with ChCM with HFmrEF.

The landscape of novel antidiabetic drugs in diabetic HFpEF: relevant mechanisms and clinical implications

As a heterogeneous syndrome, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has become the leading form of heart failure worldwide. Increasing evidence has identified that diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of HFpEF. Worse still, the coexistence of both diseases poses a great threat to human health by further worsening the cardiovascular system and accelerating the progression of diabetes. Although several studies have indicated that the novel antidiabetic drugs, including sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) provide the cardiovascular benefits in T2DM patients with HFpEF, the elaborated roles and mechanisms are not fully understood. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art evidence regarding the epidemiology and pathophysiology of diabetic HFpEF, and the landscape of the novel antidiabetic drugs in the treatment of diabetic HFpEF, as well as discuss the relevant mechanisms, aiming to broaden the understanding of diabetic HFpEF and gain new insight into the treatment of this disease.

Modulation of GLP-1 signalling as an innovative strategy counteracting the onset of heart failure: Potential for natural compound supplementation

The clinical continuum of heart failure (HF) is commonly divided into four stages (A, B, C and D), but despite the identification of its staging, to date, the management of the early phases remains an unmet need. In fact, the incomplete knowledge of the molecular mechanisms associated with the comorbidities leading to HF onset represents an obstacle to a targeted therapy. Recently, stages A and B have been further typified and, starting from this novel characterization, the aim of our review was to propose an alternative criterion to appropriately use GLP-1 RA in association with plant-derived polyphenolic extracts. This alternative approach is based on the selection of the main molecular mechanisms underlying the early and asymptomatic HF onset that might be further prevented or antagonized through the administration of natural extracts.

Influence of ejection fraction on outcomes with sacubitril/valsartan in patients with worsening heart failure with EF>40%: The PARAGLIDE-HF Trial

BACKGROUND

n the PARAGLIDE-HF trial, treatment with sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) was associated with greater reduction in NT-proBNP than valsartan (Val) alone in patients stabilized after an episode of worsening heart failure (HF) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >40%. Treatment effects were most apparent in the subgroup with LVEF below normal (≤60%). This pre-specified analysis sought to compare the detailed treatment effects and adverse event profiles of Sac/Val vs. Val in patients with LVEF ≤60% vs. >60%.

METHODS

Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were compared between patients with baseline LVEF ≤60% vs. >60%. Rates of recurrent composite events (adjudicated CV death, HF hospitalizations, and urgent HF visits) were compared between groups using a semi-parametric proportional rates model. These recurrent composite events were also analyzed across the continuous LVEF spectrum using restricted cubic splines. Incidence of adverse events were analyzed using a logistic regression model with LVEF ≤60% vs. >60%, treatment arm, and in-hospital/out-of-hospital randomization as covariates. The interaction of LVEF category and treatment arm was assessed for all models RESULTS: : Compared to those with LVEF >60%, patients with LVEF ≤60% were younger with lower NYHA class, but similar NT-proBNP values at baseline and similar co-morbidity burden. Among patients with LVEF ≤60%, those treated with Sac/Val experienced fewer recurrent composite events compared to those treated with Val (rate ratio 0.60 [95% CI: 0.37-0.99], p=0.046); predominantly driven by HF hospitalizations. Patients with LVEF >60% treated with Sac/Val vs. Val demonstrated similar rates of recurrent composite events (RR 1.46 [0.77-2.79], p=0.24) (interaction p-value = 0.032). This was consistent with the continuous analysis in which patients treated with Sac/Val were significantly less likely to have events compared with patients with Val at LVEF values below 58%. Patients with LVEF >60% treated with Sac/Val experienced more symptomatic hypotension (OR 3.55 [95% CI: 1.35-9.37], p=0.01) compared to those treated with Val, whereas rates of symptomatic hypotension were comparable across treatment groups in patients with LVEF ≤60% (OR 1.36 [0.79-2.32], p=0.27, interaction p-value 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to treatment with Val in patients with worsening HF and LVEF>40%, treatment with Sac/Val is associated with greater clinical benefit in those with LVEF ≤60% than in those with LVEF >60%.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT03988634.

The interplay between heart failure and chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) are two globally prevalent, independent, long-term conditions, which often coexist in an individual and display a bidirectional yet interconnected relationship. The presence of CKD often leads to the development of HF and vice versa, which propagates the worsening of each disease, reflecting an intertwined disease cycle. Both HF and CKD share common risk factors, such as increasing age, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and smoking. Data show that approximately half of all people with HF also have CKD, which impacts patient burden and quality of life due to a significantly greater risk of hospitalization and death, compared with those that have either CKD or HF. To maximize treatment effectiveness in individuals with both HF and CKD, healthcare professionals should recognize that these two diseases are systemic conditions, representing organ-specific manifestations of similar underlying processes. It is also essential to understand the role of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in managing these conditions. Lifestyle modifications should also be recommended. This review discusses factors contributing to the interplay between HF and CKD and the key role of healthcare professionals in providing appropriate treatment for the co-existing diseases.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) use in UK heart failure care: a national primary care cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) reduce mortality and hospitalisation in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) but are underused, despite recommendation in key guidelines. Identifying the factors contributing to underuse and addressing adherence are key components of a learning health system. We aimed to evaluate MRA prescription in people with HFrEF who would benefit, based on the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) HFrEF guideline.

METHODS

We used clinical code lists to identify people with HFrEF in primary care electronic health record (EHR) data from The Health Improvement Network database. For each calendar year 2014-2020, we identified individuals who met the NICE guideline criteria for MRA therapy. We fitted mixed effects logistic regression models to determine the factors contributing to MRA prescription.

RESULTS

Among 24 135 people with HFrEF studied between 2014 and 2020, 12 150 person-years were eligible for MRA treatment. The MRA prescription rate increased from 41% to 55%. MRA prescription was inversely associated with age (OR per 1 SD, 95% CI) (0.02 (0.01, 0.03)), increasing glomerular filtration rate (0.37 (0.25, 0.55)), hypertension (0.21 (0.40, 0.78)) and prescription of antihypertensives (0.03 (0.02, 0.07)). MRA prescription was associated with male gender (6.31 (3.20, 12.4)), dilated cardiomyopathy (25.9 (7.48, 89.4)), calendar year (2.17 (1.85, 2.54) per year after study start) and prescription of sacubitril/valsartan (214 (56, 823)).

CONCLUSIONS

MRAs are underused in people with HFrEF in the UK. Although prescribing increased between 2014 and 2020, half of the cohort still did not receive the therapy. Older age, gender, comorbidities and co-prescriptions were linked to MRA underuse. Understanding the factors contributing to underprescribing at a population level should be used to inform quality improvement strategies.

A multicentre registry of hospitalized patients with acute and chronic heart failure: Study design of the H2-registry

AIMS

Heart failure (HF) is a highly prevalent condition affecting 1-3% of the adult population in Europe. Despite landmark improvements in HF care over the last two decades, hospitalization and mortality rates remain relatively high. Gathering real-world data on HF populations is crucial, especially in the light of newly emerging therapeutic approaches. The Helios Heart (H2)-registry was established to provide up-to-date, real-world data on a contemporary cohort of hospitalized HF patients in Germany using a standardized set of outcome measures with a focus on patient-reported outcomes (PROs). This manuscript describes the registry's design and presents an interim analysis of baseline characteristics and 1-year outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The H2-registry is a prospective, investigator-initiated, multicentre observational registry in Germany that started in 2021 and is actively enrolling patients. Inpatients ≥18 years of age with a present diagnosis of chronic or acute HF are recruited in secondary and tertiary hospitals throughout Germany. Routine follow-up (FU) is conducted every 6 months. Data collection is based on a set of variables following recommendations of the International Consortium of Health Outcome Measurements (ICHOM) covering data on demographics, medical history, HF characteristics, medication, procedures, and patients' perceived health status via the collection of standardized PROs. Until 31 December 2023, a total of 2361 patients were enrolled in 10 study centres. Mean age in this cohort is 72 years, 36.9% are female, and median left ventricular ejection fraction is 45%. An analysis of 6-month and 12-month outcomes in a cohort of 1593 patients with complete FU data revealed all-cause mortality rates of 9.0% and 16.2% at 6 and 12 months, while HF-related rehospitalizations occurred in 24.4% and 43.5% at 6 and 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The H2-registry is currently the largest ongoing prospective registry of HF patients in Germany. It is foreseeable that the H2-registry will significantly contribute to the collection of real-world data and provide a comprehensive and unique perspective on the current characteristics, treatment strategies, and resulting outcomes of HF patients in Germany.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04844944.

Association between GLIM diagnosed malnutrition and 18-month mortality in hospitalized adults with congestive heart failure: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria have been validated in various clinical settings since 2018, but prospective validation in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) who are hospitalized remains limited. This study compares the prognostic performance of the GLIM criteria and Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA)-defined malnutrition for all-cause mortality in CHF patients and explores the strongest predictive indicator within the GLIM criteria.

METHODS

This single-center prospective cohort study included inpatients with CHF. Agreement between the GLIM criteria and MNA was assessed using Cohen κ coefficient. Survival data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and adjusted Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

Among 498 CHF inpatients, 84 (16.9%) died during the 18-month follow-up. Malnutrition prevalence was 47.2% and 50.4% based on the GLIM criteria and MNA, respectively (κ = 0.68; P < 0.001). Malnutrition was independently associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (GLIM criteria: hazard ratio, 2.16 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13-4.13]; MNA: hazard ratio, 4.28 [95% CI, 1.98-9.22]). Low body mass index was the strongest predictor of all-cause mortality in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio, 5.14; 95% CI, 3.19-8.27).

CONCLUSION

The GLIM criteria showed strong consistency with MNA and effectively predicted all-cause mortality in CHF patients within 18 months.

Incidence and determinants of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) of non-ischemic aetiology; a hospital-based prospective longitudinal registry study

BACKGROUND

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) can show recovery in some patients, especially with non-ischemic causes, leading to better outcomes. Recovery varies due to factors like aetiology and severity of myocardial injury. This study examines the incidence and predictors of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in non-ischemic HFrEF patients.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital, involving 500 patients with non-ischemic HFrEF (baseline LVEF <40 %). Patients were followed for a duration of 8 years (2011-2023) with periodic clinical assessments and annual echocardiographic evaluations. Data on comorbidities, baseline cardiac function, medication adherence, and clinical events were collected. The incidence rate of LVEF recovery was determined, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to identify recovery trends over time. Predictors of recovery were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Cumulative incidence of LVEF recovery was 27.4 % (95 % CI: 23.7-31.5) at 8 years, with an incidence rate of 4.5 per 100 person-years. Higher baseline LVEF (≥30 %) strongly predicted recovery (HR: 2.17, p < 0.001), while dilated LV (LVEDD ≥60 mm, HR: 0.6, p = 0.02) and diabetes (HR: 0.36, p = 0.01) were associated with lower recovery. Education (≥Class 5) was linked to better recovery (HR: 1.45, p = 0.04). Beta-blockers showed a potential but nonsignificant benefit.

CONCLUSION

Nearly one-fourth (27.4 %) of patients achieved LVEF recovery over 8 years, with higher baseline LVEF and education associated with better outcomes, while adverse cardiac remodeling and diabetes were linked to lower recovery.

Serum Levels of Irisin Are Positively Associated with Improved Cardiac Function in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction

Background: The purpose of the study is to investigate a possible predictive value of irisin for improved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) in discharged patients with known heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: We included in the study 313 patients who were discharged with HFrEF (at admission, LVEF ≤ 40%) and monitored for 3 months. HF with improved LVEF (HFimpEF) was characterized as a >40% increase in LVEF on transthoracic B-mode echocardiography within 3 months of follow-up. Circulating biomarkers including NT-proBNP and irisin were detected at baseline and after 3 months of observation. By the third month, 117 (37.4%) patients had HFimpEF, whereas 196 individuals were categorized as having persistent HFrEF. Results: We found that HFimpEF was related to lower LV end-diastolic dimensions and concentrations of NT-proBNP and higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) and irisin concentrations than those with persistent HFrEF. The most balanced cut-offs of irisin and NT-proBNP concentrations (improved LVEF versus non-improved LVEF) were 10.8 ng/mL and 1540 pmol/L, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95; p = 0.010), LAVI < 39 mL/m2 (OR = 1.23; p = 0.001), irisin levels ≥ 10.8 ng/mL (OR = 1.73; p = 0.001), and NT-proBNP < 1540 pmol/mL (OR = 1.47; p = 0.001) independently predicted HFimpEF. The discriminative ability of irisin ≥ 10.8 ng/mL was better than NT-proBNP < 1540 pmol/mL; the predictive ability of irisin alone was not improved by the combined model (irisin added to NT-proBNP). Conclusions: serum irisin ≥ 10.8 ng/mL predicted HFimpEF independently of natriuretic peptide in HFrEF patients.

Non-Invasive Measurement of Hemodynamic Parameters via Whole-Body Impedance Cardiography Among Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients: An Effective Alternative to Invasive Right Heart Catheterization?

(1) Background: The measurement of hemodynamic parameters has proven to be crucial in the treatment of hospitalized heart failure patients, necessitating invasive measurement by right heart catheterization (RHC). The reliability of whole-body impedance cardiography (ICG) among this cohort has not been investigated to date; (2) Methods: The RHC and whole-body ICG examinations measured cardiac output (CO), the cardiac index (CI), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). To assess the accuracy of the whole-body ICG measurement, bias and precision were calculated as the mean difference and the twofold standard deviation between the average values of measurements; (3) Results: A total of 203 patients were analyzed. No significant bias was observed between the non-invasive CO and CI measurements when compared with the RHC measurements (-0.14 ± 2.56 L/min, p = 0.1; -0.09 ± 1.3 L/min/m2, p = 0.06), but a significant bias occurred in the measurement of non-invasive TPR and non-invasive PVR (-1243 ± 3510 dyn × s-1 × cm-5, p = 0.001; -121 ± 504 dyn × s-1 × cm-5, p < 0.001); (4) Conclusions: CO and CI can be measured with whole-body ICG among hospitalized CHF patients with acceptable accuracy. The reliability of measuring TPR and PVR should be further investigated.

Prognostic role of TAPSE to PASP ratio in outpatients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction

AIMS

Few data are available regarding the role of tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP), a measurement of right ventricular to pulmonary artery coupling, in patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective single-centre study included outpatients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤ 50%) evaluated between January 2022 and December 2022. TAPSE/PASP was evaluated as a continuous variable and as tertiles according to its value on the first visit. The primary outcome of the study was a composite of all-cause mortality or heart failure (HF) events at the last available follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 642 patients were included (mean age 71 ± 13 years, 78% male, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 40% [interquatile range 35-46]). Patients with lower TAPSE/PASP had more co-morbidities (i.e., atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease or previous cardiovascular implantable electronic device), an higher New York Heart Association class (P < 0.001), more signs of congestion (P = 0.007), and had more probability to receive intravenous furosemide during the visit (P < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 474 days [interquartile range 392-507 days], a total of 51 patients (8.0%) died (with 24 patients [3.8%] experiencing cardiovascular-related deaths), a total of 179 patients (28.1%) experienced a composite outcome, and 158 patients (24.8%) had HF events. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the estimated 1-year rate of the primary outcome was higher in the lowest tertile (38.0%), as compared with the intermediate (19.6%) and highest tertiles (14.9%; P-value log-rank <0.001). TAPSE/PASP ratio as a continuous variable was independently associated with the primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio for 0.1 mm/mmHg increase 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98, P = 0.009), predominantly driven by a higher risk of HF events during follow-up. Analysing the impact of TAPSE/PASP tertiles on the primary outcome, an independent associated was confirmed at multivariate analisys for the highest versus lowest tertile (adjusted hazard ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.99, P = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

TAPSE/PASP was independently associated with mortality or HF events among ambulatory patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

The association of reduced ejection fraction with the outcomes of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE

It is estimated that 20% of patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair suffer from cardiomyopathy. This study examines the impact of reduced ejection fraction (EF) on the outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and compares the different types of cardiomyopathies causing reduction of EF. Our hypothesis is that reduction in EF is associated with higher mortality after EVAR.

METHODS

We examined the Vascular Quality Initiative database for EVAR from 2003 to 2020. Patients presenting with symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm or rupture were excluded. Patients were excluded if age, sex, mortality, and EF were not available. Patients were stratified into categories in two separate analyses. The first analysis examines differences between <30% EF, 30% to 50% EF, and EF >50%, and the second analysis examined differences between ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and nonischemic cardiomyopathy in patients with reduced EF. Patients' demographics, comorbidities, operative characteristics, and outcomes were compared. Statistical comparisons were performed using χ2 analysis for categorical variables and analysis of variance for continuous variables. Multivariable comparison was performed to find characteristics impacting mortality.

RESULTS

There were 26,037 patients included and 20,127 (77.3%) had a normal EF (>50%), 4885 (18.7%) patients had a moderately reduced EF of 30% to 50%, and only 1025 (3.9%) patients had a severely reduced EF (<30%). The 30-day mortality was not significantly different between patients with very reduced (1.9%) and reduced EF (1.7%), but was significantly higher than patients with normal EF (0.8%) (P < .001). There was a nearly two-fold increase in 30-day mortality for ischemic cardiomyopathy (1.1% vs 2.0%; P = .024) compared with nonischemic cardiomyopathy, but there was no difference in long-term mortality between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Elective EVAR in patients with reduced EF is associated with higher 30-day mortality compared with patients with a normal EF, but the overall mortality rate in the Vascular Quality Initiative falls within the acceptable range of Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines. Among patients with reduced EF, the type of cardiomyopathy seems to have a more important association with 30-day mortality than the severity of cardiomyopathy does.

Association between road traffic noise exposure and heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between road traffic noise exposure and heart failure.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.

METHODS

We systematically searched eight databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) through July 2024 to identify cohort studies on road traffic noise exposure and heart failure according to a priori inclusion criteria. The random effect model was adopted to summarize the effect estimates. Using the piecewise linear model, the dose-response relationship between road traffic noise exposure and heart failure was also estimated.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included eight cohort studies including 8,601,385 participants and 221,842 patients with heart failure. Overall, higher road traffic noise exposure was associated with an increased risk of heart failure (pooled HR = 1.12, 95 % CI: 1.06-1.18) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 87.8 %, p < 0.001, τ2 = 0.004, Q-statistic = 57.31). Piecewise linear model showed an obvious linear relationship between exposure to road traffic noise above 50 dB and heart failure (p < 0.001), and the risk of heart failure increased by 7 % per 10 dB increase in road traffic noise exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

The existing evidence showed a significant correlation between road traffic noise exposure and the incidence of heart failure. Further studies are required to explain the potential biological mechanisms.

Edge-to-edge tricuspid valve repair and heart failure hospitalizations: the TRI-SPA registry

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The prognostic impact of a history of heart failure hospitalizations (HFH) in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) has been scarcely studied. This study presents the results of the TRI-SPA registry, which includes data from 15 Spanish centers.

METHODS

A multicenter, retrospective registry was conducted, including patients who underwent T-TEER between June 2020 and May 2023. Patients were classified into the 3 groups, based on the number of HFH in the 12 months prior to the procedure: no HFH, 1 HFH, and >1 HFH (recurrent). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and HFH.

RESULTS

Of the 262 patients included, 167 (63.7%) had no history of HFH, 60 (22.9%) had 1 HFH, and 35 (13.4%) had >1 HFH. Patients with >1 hospitalization had more comorbidities, higher surgical risk, and worse functional class; however, no significant differences were observed in the severity of tricuspid regurgitation either at baseline or after T-TEER. After a median follow-up of 365 [160-643] days, patients with recurrent HFH had higher rates of the composite outcome (9.9%, 16.7%, and 43.1%, respectively; P<.001), as well as higher mortality rates (P=.036) and HFH (P<.001). The number of HFH significantly decreased in the 12 months following T-TEER compared with the 12 months prior (P=.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrent HFH within the 12 months prior to the procedure was associated with a higher risk of adverse clinical events during follow-up. T-TEER significantly reduced the number of hospitalizations during the follow-up period.

Differences in clinical features and 1-year outcomes of patients with heart failure and reduced, mildly reduced, and preserved ejection fraction in a contemporary cohort: is the clinical profile changing?

AIMS

To analyze in a contemporary registry of heart failure (HF) patients followed in specialized HF units in Spain, the differences in clinical features, treatment, and 1-year outcomes in HF with reduced, mildly reduced, and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyzed data from the registry of the SEC-Excelente-IC quality accreditation program of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, with 1716 patients with HF included between 2019 and 2021 by 45 specialized HF units accredited by the SEC. Treatment and 1-year mortality, HF hospitalizations and decompensations of HF used were compared according to the type of HF. Of the 1,716 patients, 55.5% had HFrEF, 11.9% had HFmrEF, and 32.6% had HFpEF. HFpEF patients were older and had a higher proportion of women, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension. Sacubitril-valsartan and mineral receptor antagonists were used in greater proportion in HFrEF (56.5% and 73%, respectively, p < 0.001), but also in 10.3 and 33% in HFpEF. One-year mortality (17.3 vs 20.9 vs 15.6/100 persons-year; p = 0.321), 1-year HF hospitalizations (34.4 vs 29.5 vs 26.7/100 persons-year; p = 0.330), and 1-year decompensations of HF without hospitalization (13.1 vs 10.4 vs 11.1; p = 0.393) were similar for the 3 types of HF.

CONCLUSION

In our contemporary cohort of real-life HF patients, slight differences were observed in clinical features and treatment between the 3 types of HF, but the prevalence of most of the major comorbidities and 1-year outcomes (mortality, hospitalizations and decompensations of HF) were similar in the 3 groups.

Medical Treatments in Patients With Ambulatory Heart Failure: First Data From the BRING-UP-3 Heart Failure Study

BACKGROUND

Current European Society of Cardiology guidelines introduced a 4-pillar approach for the treatment of HFrEF and a class IA recommendations for empagliflozin and dapagliflozin in HFmrEF and HFpEF.

OBJECTIVES

The BRING-UP-3 Heart Failure (HF) study was designed to guide the Guideline-implementation recommendations for patients with HF enrolled in a large sample of Italian cardiology sites.

METHODS

The BRING-UP-3 HF study is an observational, prospective, nationwide investigation encompassing 179 sites and enrolling ambulatory and hospitalized patients with HF. The study includes an educational intervention followed by 2 3-month enrolment periods and by a 6-month follow-up period with end-point evaluation. For patients with HFrEF, the objective is to describe the proportion of patients who receive the 4 pillars. Here we present the baseline data of the ambulatory cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 3830 ambulatory patients were included in the study. The mean age was 70 ± 12 years (34.5% older than 75 years), females were 21.9%. The most prevalent group was HFrEF (58.4%), followed by HFimpEF (17.4%), HFmrEF (14.4%), and HFpEF (9.8%). Hypertension, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease were reported in 68.2%, 40.4%, 31.0%, and 33.1%, respectively. In patients with HFrEF, a high prescription rate (65%) for the 4 therapeutic pillars was observed; beta-blockers and RASis (mostly ARNIs) were prescribed in over 90%, while SGLT2is and MRAs were prescribed in over 80% of cases. In HFmrEF and HFpEF, SGLT2i prescription rates reached 72.1% and 50.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A comprehensive analysis of a large sample of Italian cardiology sites revealed a high prevalence of prescription of guideline-recommended treatments.

CLINICALTRIAL

GOV: NCT06279988.

Heart Failure-Focus on Kidney Replacement Therapy: Why, When, and How?

Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem because of its high prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and cost of care. An important contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced HF is kidney dysfunction. Almost half of HF patients develop cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). The management of advanced HF complicated by CRS is challenging. Two main strategies have been widely accepted for the management of CRS, namely improving cardiac output and relieving congestion. Diuretics remain the cornerstone and first-line therapy for decongestion; however, a substantial number of CRS patients develop diuretic resistance. In the face of persistent congestion and the progressive deterioration of kidney function, the implementation of kidney replacement therapy may become the only solution. In the review the current evidence on extracorporeal and peritoneal-based kidney replacement techniques for the therapy of CRS patients are presented.

The Role of SGLT2-Inhibitors Across All Stages of Heart Failure and Mechanisms of Early Clinical Benefit: From Prevention to Advanced Heart Failure

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), initially developed as antihyperglycemic agents, have revolutionized heart failure (HF) management, offering substantial benefits across all stages and phenotypes of the disease. Regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), these agents have proven efficacy in both chronic and acute HF presentations. This review explores SGLT2i applications spanning the HF continuum, from early stages (Stage A) in at-risk individuals to the mitigation of progression in advanced HF (Stage D). Evidence from numerous trials has shown that SGLT2i significantly lower rates of HF hospitalization, improve renal function, and decreases cardiovascular mortality, highlighting their multifaced mechanisms of action in HF care. This review also highlights the potential mechanisms by which SGLT2i exert their beneficial effects on the cardiovascular and renal systems, each contributing to early and sustained clinical improvements. However, the integration of SGLT2i into guideline-directed medical therapy poses practical challenges, including initiation timing, dosing, and monitoring, which are addressed to support effective treatment adaptation across patient populations. Ultimately, this review provides a comprehensive assessment of SGLT2i as a foundational therapy in HF, emphasizing their role as an intervention across multiple stages aimed at improving outcomes across the entire HF spectrum.

Does coronary microvascular dysfunction play a role in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction?

Heart failure (HF) is a conundrum in that, current therapies only slow the progression of the disease. We posit, if the causal mechanism were targeted, progression of the disease could be stopped and potentially reversed. We hypothesize that insufficient myocardial blood flow (MBF) produces minute areas of ischemia, that lead to an accumulating injury culminating in HF. Accordingly, we determined the relationship between MBF and cardiac work (wall stress-rate product [WSRP]) in control C57Bl6/J mice (Control), mice with transaortic constriction to produce HF (TAC-HF) and HF mice treated with the coronary vasodilator, chromonar (4 weeks of treatment, TAC-Chromonar). MBF and WSRP were measured during norepinephrine infusion in anesthetized mice. In Controls, MBF increased when work/WSRP was increased with norepinephrine, however, when cardiac work was increased in TAC-HF, MBF did not increase. After chromonar treatment, when work increased, MBF increased. Changes in cardiac function paralleled MBF, i.e., decrement in cardiac function occurred in TAC-HF (ejection fraction), but 4 weeks of chromonar treatment reversed this functional decline. We also found in a model of cardiac hypoxia fate-mapping, a 5-fold increase in the number of hypoxic cardiac myocytes (TAC-HF vs Control), which was reversed by chromonar. Capillary densities also followed this trend with a decrease from Control in TAC-HF, which was restored by Chromonar. We propose that a cause of HF is inadequate MBF to meet the metabolic demands of the working heart. Pharmacological coronary vasodilation with chromonar to increase MBF in HF can reverse the functional decline and improve cardiac function.

Clinical Impact of Renal Dysfunction in Patients with Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation and Chronic Heart Failure

Background

Renal dysfunction (RD) is common in patients with heart failure (HF), however its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and HF is still debated; therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of RD on clinical outcomes in this population.

Methods

All patients with HF and a prevalent or incident diagnosis of TR presenting at two centers between January 2020 and July 2021 were enrolled, in both acute (in-hospitalized patients) and chronic settings (outpatient). Patients were stratified according to the degree of RD (Group 1 <30 mL/min (n = 70), Group 2 30-59 mL/min (n = 123) and Group 3 ≥60 mL/min (n = 56).

Results

Out of 249 patients, those with severe RD had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (41.8 ± 13.1% vs. 45.7 ± 14.2% vs. 48.6 ± 13.1%, p = 0.020) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (16.6 ± 3.7 mm vs. 17.6 ± 4.0 mm vs. 20.0 ± 4.4 mm, p < 0.001) while brain natriuretic peptides levels were higher (979 ± 1514 pg/mL vs. 490 ± 332 pg/mL vs. 458 ± 543 pg/mL, p = 0.049) than in the other subgroups. After a median follow-up of 279 (interquartile range, IQR 195-481) days, all-cause mortality was higher in patients with severe RD (37.7% vs. 23.3% vs. 13.7%, p = 0.012). HF hospitalizations (32.7% vs. 31.2% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.970) and the composite of all-cause mortality or HF hospitalization (54.1% vs. 47.9% vs. 42.0%, p = 0.444) did not differ between subgroups.

Conclusions

Severe RD is highly present in patients with HF and TR and is associated with increased incidence of all-cause mortality.

New nosologies: atriogenic valvular regurgitation

Functional mitral regurgitation and functional tricuspid regurgitation occur due to cardiac remodelling in the presence of macroscopically normal valve apparatus. Two main mechanisms are involved: a ventricular phenotype (when ventricular remodelling and dysfunction are predominant) and an atrial phenotype (when annulus dilatation and atrial remodelling are predominant). Both phenotypes are frequent in patients with heart failure and are associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality, representing a relevant therapeutic target. This work focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, prognosis, and therapy of atrial functional regurgitation.

Prognostic Implications of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Heart Failure in Functional Mitral Regurgitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Randomized evidence on the role of heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy for patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is lacking. The present meta-analysis sought to investigate the prognostic impact of different pharmacotherapy categories recommended in heart failure on subjects with FMR. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies reporting the association of renin angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi), beta-blockers (BB), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) with outcomes in FMR. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios [(a)HRs] for all-cause death and the composite outcome in each medical category. Results: Twelve studies with 6,715 FMR patients were included. The use of RASi and BB was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.52 [0.39-0.68]; p < 0.00001, I2 = 62% and HR 0.62 [0.49-0.77]; p < 0.0001, I2 = 44%, respectively) and the composite outcome (HR 0.54 [0.44-0.67]; p < 0.00001, I2 = 33% and HR 0.62 [0.52-0.75], p < 0.00001, I2 = 35%, respectively) in unadjusted models. Both RASi (aHR 0.73 [0.56-0.95], p = 0.02, I2 = 52%) and BB (aHR 0.60 [0.41-0.88], p = 0.009, I2 = 55%) retained their association with the composite outcome in pooled adjusted models. The prognostic benefit of using RASi or BB was retained in subgroup analyses including only (1) patients with moderate or severe FMR and (2) patients with reduced or mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. MRA did not demonstrate a significant association with improved outcomes. Conclusions: RASi and BB administration appear to have a favorable prognostic impact on patients with FMR, regardless of the severity of regurgitation.

Prognosis of early-stage HFpEF in the community-dwelling elderly: The Northern Shanghai Study

OBJECTIVE

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a growing concern among the elderly population, significantly impacting morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to screen and investigate the characteristics and prognosis of early-stage HFpEF in the elderly.

METHODS

A total of 1789 community-dwelling individuals aged over 65 from northern Shanghai were enrolled. According to American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, participants were classified into four groups: HFpEF stage 0, HFpEF stage A, HFpEF stage B and HFpEF stage C. Major endpoints included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), all-cause death and cardiovascular death.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up period of 7.10 ± 1.27 years, 1623 elderly subjects were included [HFpEF stage 0 (10.3%), HFpEF stage A (16.3%), HFpEF stage B (60.6%) and HFpEF stage C (12.8%)]. Patients with HFpEF stage A, HFpEF stage B and HFpEF stage C exhibited more MACEs than those in HFpEF stage 0 (P < 0.01). Patients with HFpEF stage C had a significantly higher cardiovascular (P < 0.001) and all-cause death ratio (P < 0.01). With HFpEF stage 0 as a reference, the increases in MACEs were significantly associated with HFpEF stage A [hazard ratio (HR): 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.13, 7.82), P < 0.05], HFpEF stage B [HR: 2.69, 95% CI (1.09, 6.64), P < 0.05] and HFpEF stage C [HR: 4.86, 95% CI (1.88, 12.59), P < 0.01] in the Cox regression analysis. Our finding remains unaltered in the sensitivity analysis, with no interaction for effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with those with HFpEF stage 0, patients with HFpEF, whether in stage B or C, exhibit significantly higher cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the elderly. This study underscores the importance of early-stage HFpEF screening, particularly in older, asymptomatic stage B individuals.

Comparing antihypertensive strategies in hypertensive emergencies with heart failure

BACKGROUND

6.2 million Americans live with heart failure (HF) and are at risk for hospitalization due to hypertensive emergencies. Optimal treatment strategy for acute hypertensive heart failure remains unclear. Our study investigates what treatment modality is most effective in achieving guideline-directed blood pressure control.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of hypertensive emergency with HF exacerbation from 2019 to 2021. The primary outcome was length of time for a 25 % decrease in systolic BP or BP of <160/110 mmHg. Patients were categorized into 4 groups: only oral medications, IV bolus, continuous IV infusion (CIVI), or both CIVI and IV bolus.

RESULTS

A total of 120 admissions were analyzed after applying exclusion criteria to a total of 1041 reviewed. Groups were well balanced and similar in characteristics. There were no significant differences in achieving the target BP among groups (ANOVA p = 0.662). CIVI had a nonsignificant trend towards achieving target BP fastest, however, IV bolus administration resulted in significantly fewer days in ICU compared to CIVI without a significant change in total hospital length of stay. Acute kidney injury was the most common complication, occuring in 31 (25.83 %) patients without differences across groups (p = 0.825).

CONCLUSIONS

Acute hypertensive heart failure was managed adequately with any treatment modality. Use of IV bolus therapy in these patients was associated with shorter ICU length of stay. Our results add to growing evidence that hypertensive emergencies may be less clinically significant than previously thought.

Trends in heart failure mortality in Sweden between 1997 and 2022

AIMS

Data from US have shown a reversal in the improvement of heart failure (HF)-related mortality over the last ~10 years. It is unknown whether these trends generalize to European universal healthcare systems. We assessed temporal trends in (i) HF-related mortality in the overall national population; and (ii) all-cause mortality following an incident HF diagnosis, overall and stratified by ejection fraction (EF), in Sweden between 1997 and 2022.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Annual mortality rates with a HF diagnosis as underlying cause were extracted from the Cause of Death Register. All-cause mortality following incident HF was assessed in two HF cohorts derived from the National Patient Register (NPR) and the Swedish HF Registry (SwedeHF). Temporal trends were presented as average annual percentage change (AAPC). Between 1997 and 2022, age-adjusted HF-related mortality in the general population declined from 33.4 to 23.8 per 100 000 individuals (AAPC -2.15%, p < 0.001). In the HF cohort from NPR (n = 423 092), all-cause mortality at 1, 3, and 5 years following a first diagnosis of HF was 25%, 46%, and 58%, respectively, in 2022; 1-year mortality declined (AAPC -1.10%, p < 0.001) over time regardless of age or sex. In SwedeHF (n = 63 753), the decline in 1-year mortality was less steep with increasing EF (AAPC -2.64%, p < 0.001; -2.30%, p = 0.062; and -2.16%, p = 0.032 in EF <40%, 40-49%, and ≥50%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Heart failure-related mortality has declined over the last ~25 years in Sweden. All-cause mortality in patients with HF has also declined, more in HF with reduced than preserved EF, mirroring the different availability of life-saving treatments across the EF spectrum.

Development and validation of a machine learning model to predict the risk of readmission within one year in HFpEF patients: Short title: Prediction of HFpEF readmission

BACKGROUND

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with elevated rates of readmission and mortality. Accurate prediction of readmission risk is essential for optimizing healthcare resources and enhancing patient outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing HFpEF patient data from two institutions: the First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine for model development and internal validation, and the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University for external validation. A machine learning (ML) model was developed and validated using 53 variables to predict the risk of readmission within one year. The model's performance was assessed using several metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, model training time, model prediction time and brier score. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis was employed to enhance model interpretability, and a dynamic nomogram was constructed to visualize the predictive model.

RESULTS

Among the 766 HFpEF patients included in the study, 203 (26.5%) were readmitted within one year. The LightGBM model exhibited the highest predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI):0.84-0.91), an accuracy of 0.79, a sensitivity of 0.81, and a specificity of 0.78. Key predictors included the E/e' ratio, NYHA classification, LVEF, age, BNP levels, MLR, history of atrial fibrillation (AF), use of ACEI/ARB/ARNI, and history of myocardial infarction (MI). External validation also demonstrated strong predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.87 (95%CI:0.83-0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

The LightGBM model exhibited robust performance in predicting one-year readmission risk among HFpEF patients, providing a valuable tool for clinicians to identify high-risk individuals and implement timely interventions.

New Biomarkers in the Prognostic Assessment of Acute Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Beyond Natriuretic Peptides

Natriuretic peptides are established biomarkers related to the prognosis of heart failure. New biomarkers have emerged in the field of cardiovascular disease. The prognostic value of these biomarkers in heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction is not well-established. We conducted a prospective, single-centre study, including (July 2019 to March 2023) 104 patients being consecutively admitted with a diagnosis of acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction decompensation. The median follow-up was 23.5 months, during which 20 deaths (19.4%) and 21 readmissions for heart failure (20.2%) were recorded. Plasma biomarkers, such as NT-proBNP, GDF-15, sST2, suPAR, and FGF-23, were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. However, a Cox regression analysis showed that the strongest predictors of mortality were an estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.96 [0.93-0.98]), GDF-15 (HR 1.3 [1.16-1.45]), and sST2 (HR 1.2 [1.11-1.35]). The strongest predictive model was formed by the combination of the glomerular filtration rate and sST2 (C-index 0.758). In conclusion, in patients with acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GDF-15 and sST2 showed the highest predictive power for all-cause mortality, which was superior to other established biomarkers such as natriuretic peptides. GDF-15 and sST2 may provide additional prognostic information to improve the prognostic assessment.

Timing of acute decompensated heart failure in patients with heart failure and mildly reduced ejection fraction

This study investigates the prognosis of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) on admission (i.e., primary ADHF) as compared to ADHF onset during course of hospitalization (i.e., secondary ADHF) in patients hospitalized with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). Limited data regarding the prognostic impact of the timing of onset of ADHF is available. Consecutive patients with HFmrEF and ADHF were retrospectively included at one institution from 2016 to 2022. Patients with primary ADHF were compared to patients with secondary ADHF with regard to the primary endpoint all-cause mortality at 30 months. Kaplan-Meier, uni- and multivariable Cox proportional regression analyses were applied for statistics. From a total of 484 patients hospitalized with HFmrEF and ADHF, 67.98% (n = 329) were admitted with primary ADHF. Patients with secondary ADHF had higher rates of concomitant acute myocardial infarction, alongside with a higher extend of coronary artery disease. The risk of all-cause mortality at 30 months was not affected by the timing of ADHF (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.853; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.653-1.115; p = 0.246). However, patients with primary ADHF were associated with a higher risk of HF-related rehospitalization at 30 months (HR = 2.513; 95% CI 1.555-4.065; p = 0.001), which was still evident after multivariable adjustment (HR = 2.347; 95% CI 1.418-3.883; p = 0.001). The timing of onset of ADHF was not associated with long-term mortality in HFmrEF, however primary ADHF was associated with a higher risk of HF-related rehospitalization.

Prognostic Implications of Sex in Patients With Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction: Results From a Large-Scaled Registry

BACKGROUND

The study investigates the prognostic impact of sex and sex-related differences in patients hospitalized with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). More data regarding the characterization of patients and their outcomes in the presence of HFmrEF are needed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Consecutive patients hospitalized with HFmrEF (ie, left ventricular ejection fraction 41%-49% and signs or symptoms of HF) were retrospectively included at one institution from 2016 to 2022. Female patients were compared with male patients with regard to the primary end point of all-cause mortality at 30 months (median follow-up). Statistical analyses comprised Kaplan-Meier, multivariable Cox proportional regression analyses and propensity score matching. From a total of 2184 patients hospitalized with HFmrEF, 64.6% were male. Female patients with HFmrEF were older than male patients (median age 78 versus 73 years; P=0.001) and had lower rates of ischemic cardiomyopathy (46.6% versus 63.6%; P=0.001). Within the entire study cohort, sex was not associated with the risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.931 [95% CI, 0.797-1.088]; P=0.372). However, male sex was associated with a lower risk of HF-related rehospitalization at 30 months (HR, 0.761 [95% CI, 0.600-0.966]; P=0.026), which was confirmed after multivariable adjustment (HR, 0.759 [95% CI, 0.592-0.973]; P=0.029) and propensity score matching (HR, 0.722 [95% CI, 0.539-0.967]; P=0.029).

CONCLUSION

Although almost two thirds of patients hospitalized with HFmrEF were male, sex was no predictor for the risk of all-cause mortality at 30 months. However, female sex was associated with a higher risk of HF-related rehospitalization.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05603390.

[Clinical characteristics and pharmacological treatment of patients with heart failure in a primary health care cohort]

OBJECTIVE

To characterise patients with heart failure (HF) in Primary Health Care (PHC) and describe their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and pharmacological treatment.

DESIGN

Descriptive cohort study. SITE: Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP), which captures information from the electronic health records of PHC of the Catalan Institute of Health (approximately 80% of the Catalan population).

PARTICIPANTS

Adults with an active diagnosis of HF between 2018 and 2022.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Sociodemographic and anthropometric variables, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA), laboratory data, comorbidities, exposure to drugs for HF and other pathologies.

RESULTS

75,769 individuals were included; 22.7% with HF with reduced LVEF (HFrEF), 26.2% with preserved LVEF (HfpEF) and 51.2% with non-specific HF. The HfrEF group consisted mostly of men (59.5%), with a mean age of 74.8 years, and the others of women (58.8% and 54.6%, aged 78.7 and 80.6 years, respectively). LVEF was recorded in 20.3% and NYHA in 43.9% of patients. In terms of treatment, 75.3% of people with HfrEF were receiving renin-angiotensin system (RAS) drugs, 75.9% beta-blockers, 42.1% mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, 33.6% sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors and 62.8% diuretics. 63% with HfpEF were receiving RAS and 68% diuretics. 61.8% with unspecified HF were receiving RAS and 67.5% diuretics.

CONCLUSIONS

We analysed the population with HF in PHC in Catalonia. We highlight a low registry of cardiac function, LVEF and NYHA. The frequency of drug use for HF was different between populations and differed from the recommendations.

Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation: Definition, Mechanisms, and Treatment Perspectives

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to explore the complex interplay between atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR), atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The goal is to define these conditions, examine their underlying mechanisms, and discuss treatment perspectives, particularly addressing diagnostic challenges.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent research highlights the rising prevalence of AFMR, now accounting for nearly one-third of significant mitral regurgitation cases. Advances in percutaneous treatment options have improved management for vulnerable HFpEF patients, but long-term outcomes remain unclear, and symptom relief is inconsistent. AF and HFpEF share the left atrium as a common pathological substrate, with progressive LA remodeling contributing to AFMR. Diagnostic limitations hinder effective symptom management with current mitral valve interventions. Future research should focus on better diagnostic tools to determine the contributions of valvular disease, arrhythmia, or myocardial dysfunction to clinical outcomes, as we currently lack definitive tests to establish this connection.

Exercise Training in Heart Failure: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Heart Failure (HF) is a prevalent condition which places a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Medical management implemented with exercise training (ET) plays a role in prognostic and functional capacity improvement. The aim of this review is to determine the effect of exercise training (ET) on HFpEF and HFrEF patients as well as exercise modality recommendations in frail and sarcopenic subpopulations. Pharmacological therapy structures the cornerstone of management in HF reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and aids improved survival rates. Mortality reduction with pharmacological treatments in HF preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are yet to be established. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and ET can play an important role in both HFrEF and HFpEF. Preliminary findings suggest that CR significantly improves functional capacity, exercise duration, and quality of life. ET has shown beneficial effects on peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) and 6 min walk test distance in HFrEF and HFpEF patients, as well as a reduction in hospitalisation and mortality rates; however, the limited scope of larger trials reporting on this underscores the need for further research. ET also has been shown to have beneficial effects on depression and anxiety levels. High-intensity training (HIT) and moderate continuous training (MCT) have both shown benefits, while resistance exercise training and ventilatory assistance may also be beneficial. ET adherence rates are higher when enrolled to a supervised programme, but prescription rates remain low worldwide. Larger robust trials are required to determine ET's effects on HF, as well as the most efficacious and personalised exercise prescriptions in HF subtypes.

The role of coronary microcirculation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: An unceasing odyssey

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents an entity with complex pathophysiologic pathways, among which coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is believed to be an important orchestrator. Research in the field of CMD has highlighted impaired vasoreactivity, capillary rarefaction, and inflammation as potential mediators of its development. CMD can be diagnosed via several noninvasive methods including transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and positron emission tomography. Moreover, invasive methods such as coronary flow reserve and index of microcirculatory resistance are commonly employed in the assessment of CMD. As far as the association between CMD and HFpEF is concerned, numerous studies have highlighted the coexistence of CMD in the majority of HFpEF patients. Additionally, patients affected by both conditions may be facing an adverse prognosis. Finally, there is limited evidence suggesting a beneficial effect of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers, ranolazine, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in CMD, with further evidence being awaited regarding the impact of other pharmacotherapies such as anti-inflammatory agents.

Outcomes of patients with heart failure followed in units accredited by the SEC-Excelente-IC quality program according to the type of unit

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The development of specific heart failure (HF) units has improved the management of patients with this disease due to improved organization and resource management. The Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) has defined 3 types of HF units (community, specialized, and advanced) based on their complexity and service portfolio. Our aim was to compare the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with HF according to the type of unit.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the SEC-Excelente-IC quality accreditation program registry, with 1716 patients consecutively included in two 1-month cutoffs (March and October) from 2019 to 2021 by 45 SEC-accredited HF units. We compared the characteristics, treatment and 1-year outcomes between the 3 types of units.

RESULTS

Of the 1716 patients, 13.2% were treated in community units, 65.9% in specialized units, and 20.9% in advanced units. The rates of mortality (27.5 vs 15.5/100 patients-year; P<.001), admissions for HF (39.7 vs 29.2/100 patients-year; P=.019), total decompensations (56.1 vs 40.5/100 patients-year; P=.003), and combined death/admission for HF (45.2 vs 31.4/100 patients-year; P=.005) were higher in community units than in specialized/advanced units. Follow-up in a community unit was an independent predictor of higher mortality and admissions at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with follow-up by more specialized units, follow-up in a community unit was associated with a higher decompensation rate and increased 1-year mortality.

Machine learning in the prevention of heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic with a growing prevalence and is a growing burden on the healthcare system. Machine learning (ML) has the potential to revolutionize medicine and can be applied in many different forms to aid in the prevention of symptomatic HF (stage C). HF prevention currently has several challenges, specifically in the detection of pre-HF (stage B). HF events are missed in contemporary models, limited therapeutic options are proven to prevent HF, and the prevention of HF with preserved ejection is particularly lacking. ML has the potential to overcome these challenges through existing and future models. ML has limitations, but the many benefits of ML outweigh these limitations and risks in most scenarios. ML can be applied in HF prevention through various strategies such as refinement of incident HF risk prediction models, capturing diagnostic signs from available tests such as electrocardiograms, chest x-rays, or echocardiograms to identify structural/functional cardiac abnormalities suggestive of pre-HF (stage B HF), and interpretation of biomarkers and epigenetic data. Altogether, ML is able to expand the screening of individuals at risk for HF (stage A HF), identify populations with pre-HF (stage B HF), predict the risk of incident stage C HF events, and offer the ability to intervene early to prevent progression to or decline in stage C HF. In this narrative review, we discuss the methods by which ML is utilized in HF prevention, the benefits and pitfalls of ML in HF risk prediction, and the future directions.

Clinical features and two-year outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with heart failure and reduced, mid-range and preserved ejection fractions

OBJECTIVE

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and prognosis of SLE patients with HF.

METHODS

Patients with SLE and HF who were hospitalized in Jinling Hospital from January 2013 to May 2021 and followed up for 2 years after discharge were included. Risk factors for death and ESKD were analyzed. According to cardiac ultrasound, patients were subdivided into the HFrEF, HFmrEF and HFpEF groups, and differences in clinical features and prognosis among the three groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 376 SLE patients with HF, the distribution was 13.30% HFrEF, 14.89% HFmrEF, and 71.81% HFpEF. Median ages at SLE and HF diagnosis were 29.00 (21.25, 42.00) and 35.25 (27.29, 49.31) years, with a median SLE duration of 49 (7, 120) months. The 2-year overall and renal survival rates were 86.97% and 63.56%, respectively. Multivariate COX analysis identified age, NPSLE, blood NT-proBNP, CD20+ B cells, Alb, and UA as death risk factors, and Scr, PCT, CD20+ B cells, urine RBP, and right kidney size as ESKD risk factors. The 2-year survival rates were 70% for HFrEF, 82.14% for HFmrEF, and 91.11% for HFpEF; renal survival rates were 46%, 58.93%, and 67.78%, respectively. HFrEF had lower survival rates than HFpEF, while HFmrEF showed intermediate rates and clinical features, with some significantly different from HFpEF but not HFrEF. No significant differences in SLE remission or relapse rates were found among non-ESKD survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

SLE patients with HF tend to have an early disease onset, high SLE activity and long course, with HFpEF being the predominant phenotype. HFrEF has a poorer prognosis compared to HFpEF, while HFmrEF has an intermediate prognosis and shares more clinical similarities with HFrEF.

Cognitive impairment and limited health literacy are associated with poor health outcomes among patients with heart failure residing in rural areas

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment and limited health literacy are prevalent among patients with heart failure, particularly those residing in rural areas, and are linked to poor health outcomes. Little is known about the intricate relationships among cognitive function, health literacy, and rehospitalization and death in rural patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relationships among cognitive function, health literacy, and cardiac event-free survival (ie, heart failure hospitalizations and cardiac mortality) in rural patients with heart failure.

METHODS

This was a secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial of 573 rural patients with heart failure. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Cog test. Health literacy was measured by the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. Cardiac event-free survival was followed for 2 years. Survival analyses (ie, Kaplan-Meier plots with log-rank test and Cox regression) were used.

RESULTS

Cognitive impairment was associated with limited health literacy. Cognitive impairment and limited health literacy predicted worse cardiac event-free survival (P<.05). Patients with both cognitive impairment and limited health literacy had a 2.24 times higher risk of experiencing a cardiac event compared to those without cognitive impairment and with adequate health literacy (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with cognitive impairment and limited health literacy were at the highest risk of experiencing a cardiac event. It is important to screen rural patients with heart failure for cognitive impairment and limited health literacy. Interventions to improve outcomes need to be developed to target rural patients who have heart failure with cognitive impairment and limited health literacy.

Translation and psychometric validation of the Heart Failure Symptom Tracker (HFaST)

BACKGROUND

Heart Failure (HF) is a global public health issue with high morbidity and mortality rates. Symptom management improves HF patients' quality of life and demonstrates a potential reduction in hospitalisation, particularly among individuals aged 65 and over. Early identification of patients at higher risk of hospitalisation is essential to guide patient-centred interventions. This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Heart Failure Symptom Tracker (HFaST) tool for the Portuguese population. Additionally, it aimed to test the hypothesis that higher scores of the HFaST are associated with increased hospitalisations due to HF decompensation.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved the linguistic translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the HFaST tool into European Portuguese. Content validity was assessed by a panel of ten experts, who evaluated the clarity, relevance and equivalence of the pre-final version. A pre-test, using cognitive interviews with a sample of forty individuals was conducted to assess the item comprehensibility of the adapted tool. The second phase involved the psychometric validity in a sample of sixty HF patients. Participants completed a demographical and clinical assessment, the Portuguese version of the HFaST tool and the Portuguese version of the KCCQ-23 questionnaire. Additionally, the association between HFaST scores and HF hospitalisations were analysed.

RESULTS

Equivalence between versions showed substantial to perfect agreement, with Fleiss' k ranging from 0.678 to 1.000. Necessary adjustments were performed. Pre-test confirmed 95% comprehensibility. Internal consistency was acceptable, with a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.724, moderate to strong inter-item correlations, and significant correlations between the HFaST and the KCCQ-23 items were observed. Higher HFaST scores were significantly associated with increased hospitalisations, highlighting its role as a predictive tool for clinical risk stratification.

CONCLUSIONS

The Portuguese version of the HFaST demonstrated to be a reliable and valid self-management tool for HF patients in Portugal. By predicting the likelihood of hospitalisation risk, the HFaST enables clinicians to implement early interventions, potentially reducing hospital admissions, improving patients' outcomes and contributing to a better quality of life.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

not applicable.

Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) Support in New Era of Heart Transplant

Heart failure is a serious and challenging medical condition characterized by the inability of the heart to pump blood effectively, leading to reduced blood flow to organs and tissues. Several underlying causes may be linked to this, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, or previous heart attacks. Therefore, it is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management and medical attention. HF affects >64 million individuals worldwide. Heart transplantation remains the gold standard of treatment for patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy. The recruitment of marginal donors may be considered an asset at the age of cardiac donor organ shortage. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is becoming increasingly common in the new era of heart transplantations. PGD is the most common cause of death within 30 days of cardiac transplantation. Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS), particularly venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO), is the only effective treatment for severe PGD. VA-ECMO support ensures organ perfusion and provides the transplanted heart with adequate rest and recovery. In the new era of heart transplantation, early use allows for increased patient survival and careful management reduces complications.

Vericiguat in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients on guideline-directed medical therapy: Insights from a 6-month real-world study

BACKGROUND

Vericiguat has demonstrated efficacy in improving the prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) following recent clinical deterioration. However, its real-world impact on reducing N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and improving ventricular remodeling remains uncertain in stable HFrEF patients receiving guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) over the short term.

METHODS

This multicenter, observational cohort study included 200 HFrEF patients. Patients were grouped based on their preference for vericiguat use. We evaluated the impact of vericiguat on HFrEF patients by analyzing the difference in the proportion of patients with NT-proBNP levels ≤1000 pg/ml between two groups after a 6-month follow-up, using logistic regression and covariance analysis. Changes in echocardiographic parameters, left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) ratio, and safety outcomes were also evaluated.

RESULTS

During the 6-month follow-up, 105 patients (82.68 %) in the vericiguat group and 46 patients (63.01 %) in the control group reached the primary endpoint. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed vericiguat as a significant factor in reducing NT-proBNP levels (Model 2: odds ratio (OR) = 2.67, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.24-5.77, P = 0.013), but it showed no significant association with LVRR (Model 2: OR = 0.52, 95 % CI: 0.24-1.13, P = 0.097). The safety analysis indicated a higher incidence of mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms in the vericiguat group compared to the control group (23.62 % vs. 2.74 %, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Vericiguat significantly reduced NT-proBNP levels in patients with chronic HErEF under GDMT but was ineffective for LVRR during the 6-month follow-up.

Association of potassium disorders with the mode of death and etiology in patients with chronic heart failure: the INCOR-HF study

Observational studies suggest a U-shaped association between serum potassium (K⁺) levels and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the mode of death in patients with HF and K⁺ disorders remains speculative. To investigate the association between potassium disorders and the mode of death in patients with CHF. A retrospective cohort of 10,378 CHF outpatients was analyzed over an average of 3.28 ± 2.5 years. Kaplan-Meier method, Cox proportional hazards regression models, Poisson regression models adjusting for confounders, and e-value determination (e' > 1.6) were used to observe associations between potassium disorders and outcomes. Chagas etiology (p < 0.01) and triple HF therapy (p < 0.01) were associated with hyperkalemia. Atrial fibrillation was associated with hypokalemia (p < 0.01). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) (p < 0.01) and diabetes (p = 0.03) were associated with both. Hypertension was inversely related to hyperkalemia (p < 0.01); age was inversely related to hypokalemia. Associations with mortality were significant for Chagas (p < 0.01, e-value 2.16), stroke (p < 0.01, e-value 1.85), hypokalemia (p = 0.02, e-value 1.94), severe hyperkalemia (p = 0.08, e-value 1.93), and CKD (p < 0.01, e-value > 1.63). Decompensated HF or cardiogenic shock was the cause of death in 54% of patients with normokalemia, 67.8% with hypokalemia, 44.9% with mild hyperkalemia, 57.8% with moderate hyperkalemia, and 69% with severe hyperkalemia. Most patients with hypokalemia and severe hyperkalemia died from decompensated HF (p = 0.007). Data suggest hypokalemia and severe hyperkalemia, along with Chagas and CKD, are associated with death. Unexpectedly, progressive HF was the most frequent mode of death rather than arrhythmias. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

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.

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.