Semaglutide versus placebo in people with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a pooled analysis of the STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM randomised trials

Pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in overweight and obesity - Clinical and treatment implications

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogeneous syndrome with vast prevalence worldwide. Despite recent advances in understanding its pathophysiology, HFpEF remains under-diagnosed in clinical practice. Obesity-related HFpEF is a distinct and frequent phenotype with an additionally challenging diagnosis. We address the importance of overweight and obesity in HFpEF, focusing on the influence of adipose tissue in inflammation and neurohormonal activity. We also discuss atrial and ventricular remodelling in obesity-related HFpEF and potential clinical implications. Obesity is an independent risk factor for HFpEF. Adipose tissue synthesizes aldosterone, causing lower levels of natriuretic peptide. Adipocytes dysfunction promotes a pro-inflammatory state and leads to extracellular matrix remodelling and consequently stiffening of the heart and vessels. Thus, the quantity, distribution and quality of the excess fat influences cardiovascular risk. Visceral and epicardial adipose tissue are often associated with an increased likelihood of developing HFpEF. Obesity-related HFpEF presents higher risk of left ventricular concentric remodelling and inadequate accommodation of the expanded volume due to the obesity, resulting in higher left ventricular filling pressure. Nevertheless, microvascular endothelium inflammation modifies cardiomyocyte elasticity and increases collagen deposition, which enhances myocardial fibrosis and results in HFpEF. Furthermore, neurohormonal activation may also contribute to cardiac remodelling by inducing plasma volume expansion. In turn, leptin also stimulates aldosterone synthesis and enhances renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Obesity-related HFpEF presents worse overall prognosis, with increased risk of heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Intentional weight loss through caloric restriction, physical activity, pharmacological intervention and/or bariatric surgery are promising strategies.

Advances in the management of obesity and heart failure: latest evidence from clinical trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Obesity is an important risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In patients who already have HFpEF, obesity contributes to high symptom burden and increased risk for heart failure (HF) hospitalization. This review examines the latest clinical trials assessing the efficacy of pharmacological interventions in the treatment of obesity-related HFpEF.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that incretin-based therapies, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) (e.g., semaglutide) and dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 RAs (e.g., tirzepatide), can improve quality of life, exercise tolerance, and markers of HF severity while promoting weight loss in patients with obesity and HFpEF. Some evidence also suggests that these therapies may reduce risk for HF hospitalizations. Additionally, exploratory analyses of the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone has been associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and total worsening HF events across all body mass index (BMI) levels, with greater benefits observed in patients with higher BMIs.

SUMMARY

Antiobesity medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide may represent important treatment options for patients with obesity-related HFpEF. Additional evidence suggests that certain other HF medications may have increased efficacy in patients with obesity.

Initiation and sequencing of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure across the ejection fraction spectrum

Strong evidence supports the importance of rapid sequence or simultaneous initiation of quadruple guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) for substantially reducing risk of mortality and hospitalization. Barring absolute contraindications for each individual medication, employing the strategy of rapid sequence, simultaneous, and/or in-hospital initiation at the time of HF diagnosis best ensures patients with HFrEF have the opportunity to benefit from proven medications and achieve large absolute risk reductions for adverse clinical outcomes. However, despite guideline recommendations supporting this approach, implementation in clinical practice remains persistently low, with less than one-fifth of eligible patients being prescribed the quadruple GDMT regimen. Additionally, for heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) constitute foundational therapy for all eligible patients with significant clinical benefits within just weeks of medication initiation. Nonetheless, the burden of symptoms, functional limitations, and hospitalizations remains substantial for many of these patients, even with SGLT2i and non-steroidal MRA therapy. Additional evidence supports consideration of adjunctive therapies for HF with EF > 40% that can be tailored to the patient phenotype, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) for patients with obesity, as well as angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) for patients with EF below normal. This article reviews the evidence-based sequencing of GDMT for HF across the spectrum of EF, emphasizing the rationale and benefits of early up-front initiation of quadruple medical therapy for HFrEF, rapid initiation of SGLT2i for HF regardless of EF, and prompt phenotype-specific tailored approach to adjunctive therapies for HF with EF > 40%.

Risk-Based Primary Prevention of Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

The growing morbidity, mortality, and health care costs related to heart failure (HF) underscore the urgent need to prioritize its primary prevention. Whereas a risk-based approach for HF prevention remains in its infancy, several key opportunities exist to actualize this paradigm in clinical practice. First, the 2022 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America HF guidelines provided recommendations, for the first time, on the clinical utility of multivariable risk equations to estimate risk of incident HF. Second, the American Heart Association recently developed the PREVENT (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events) equations, which not only enable prediction of incident HF separately, but also include HF in the prediction of total cardiovascular disease. Third, the predominant phenotype of HF risk has emerged as the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. Fourth, the emergence of novel therapies that prevent incident HF (eg, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors) and target multiple cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic axes demonstrate growing potential for risk-based interventions. Whereas the concept of risk-based prevention has been established for decades, it has only been operationalized for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention to date. Translating these opportunities into a conceptual framework of risk-based primary prevention of HF requires implementation of PREVENT-HF (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events-Heart Failure) equations, targeted use of cardiac biomarkers (eg, natriuretic peptides) and echocardiography for risk reclassification and earlier detection of pre-HF, and definition of therapy-specific risk thresholds that incorporate net benefit and cost-effectiveness. This scientific statement reviews the current evidence for accurate risk prediction, defines strategies for equitable prevention, and proposes potential strategies for the successful implementation of risk-based primary prevention of HF.

Characteristics of comparatively young heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: PurSuit-HFpEF registry

Because heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is mainly a disease of elderly, there are a few reports focusing young patients. This study aims to elucidate characteristics of comparatively young HFpEF patients. We divided HFpEF patients in PURSUIT-HFpEF registry into younger HFpEF group (age ≤ 65 years) and older HFpEF group and compared the all-cause mortality and HF readmission (HFR) between the two groups and identified discharge factors correlated with HFR among younger HFpEF patients. The younger HFpEF group comprised 51 patients (4.1%). In this group, body mass index and smoking were significantly higher, while hypertension was significantly lower compared to older HFpEF group. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated no significant difference in HFR between the groups, although all-cause mortality was significantly lower in younger HFpEF group (p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) were inversely correlated with HFR, whereas mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) were positively correlated with HFR in younger HFpEF patients (p = 0.004 and p = 0.007, respectively). In conclusion, younger HFpEF is rare (approximately 4%), with obesity and smoking being significant modifiable factors. HFR was similar between younger and older HFpEF patients. Administration of ACEI/ARB and unnecessity of MRA at discharge may be associated with reducing HFR in younger HFpEF patients.

Patient-Reported Outcomes as End Points in Heart Failure Trials

Heart failure is a growing health-care concern affecting tens of millions of individuals globally. Although traditional therapeutic strategies have focused on reducing the risk for hospitalization and mortality, the importance of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with heart failure is increasingly being recognized. Regulatory agencies consider PROs part of their evaluation of drugs and devices, and professional society guidelines may recommend interventions that improve PROs. However, for several reasons, the effect of interventions on PROs reported in heart failure trials currently is difficult to interpret. There is no consensus on the timing and frequency of PRO assessments. Moreover, it has been difficult to establish a minimal clinically important difference, that is, the minimal change in a PRO score that is meaningful to a patient. In addition, traditional methods of analyzing and reporting PROs such as comparison of mean differences across groups or responder analysis are prone to statistical artifacts and misinterpretation. This article presents an in-depth discussion of these issues, with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire used as an example, to facilitate the use of PROs in heart failure research, regulatory, and clinical settings.

Evidence-Based Application of Natriuretic Peptides in the Evaluation of Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in the Ambulatory Outpatient Setting

BACKGROUND

Plasma NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) is commonly used to diagnose heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but its diagnostic performance in the ambulatory/outpatient setting is unknown because previous studies lacked objective reference standards.

METHODS

Among patients with chronic dyspnea, diagnosis of HFpEF or noncardiac dyspnea was determined conclusively by exercise catheterization in a derivation cohort (n=414), multicenter validation cohort 1 (n=560), validation cohort 2 (n=207), and a nonobese Japanese validation cohort 3 (n=77). Optimal NT-proBNP cut points for HFpEF rule out (optimizing sensitivity) and rule in (optimizing specificity) were derived and tested, stratified by obesity and atrial fibrillation. Derived cut points were tested in 3 additional validation cohorts (cohorts 4-6) in whom HFpEF was diagnosed by resting catheterization only (n=260), previous hospitalization for heart failure (n=447), or exercise echocardiography (n=517), respectively.

RESULTS

Current recommended rule-out NT-proBNP threshold <125 pg/mL had 82% sensitivity (95% CI, 77%-88%) with a body mass index (BMI) <35 kg/m2, decreasing to 67% (95% CI, 58%-77%) with a BMI ≥35 kg/m2. A lower rule-out NT-proBNP threshold <50 pg/mL displayed good sensitivity with a BMI <35 kg/m2 (97% [95% CI, 95%-99%]), with a modest decline in sensitivity with a BMI ≥35 kg/m2 (86% [95% CI, 79%-93%]); diagnostic thresholds were confirmed in validation cohorts 1 and 2 (91% [95% CI, 88%-95%] and 86% [95% CI, 80%-93%] with a BMI <35 kg/m2; 80% [95% CI, 74%-87%] and 84% [95% CI, 74%-93%] with a BMI ≥35 kg/m2). Current consensus age- and BMI-stratified rule-in thresholds demonstrated only 65% specificity (95% CI, 57%-72%). Rule-in NT-proBNP threshold ≥500 pg/mL had 85% specificity (95% CI, 78%-91%) with a BMI <35 kg/m2 (87% [95% CI, 80%-94%] and 90% [95% CI, 81%-99%] in validation cohorts), with 100% specificity at a BMI ≥35 kg/m2 (93% [95% CI, 81%-100%] and 100% in validation cohorts). With a BMI ≥35 kg/m2, lower rule-in thresholds (≥220 pg/mL) provided good specificity (88% [95% CI, 73%-100%]; 93% [95% CI, 81%-100%] and 100% in validation cohorts). Findings were consistent in validation cohorts 3 through 6 (sensitivity of <50 pg/mL, 93%-98%; specificity of ≥500 pg/mL, 82%-89%). NT-proBNP provided no incremental discrimination among patients with history of AF; ≥98% of patients with AF and dyspnea were found to have HFpEF in our cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with chronic unexplained dyspnea, current rule-in and rule-out NT-proBNP diagnostic thresholds lead to unacceptably high error rates, with important interactions by obesity and AF status. In our study, NT-proBNP provided little value in those with AF and dyspnea because the presence of AF is by itself a robust biomarker of HFpEF. Use of separate rule-in and rule-out diagnostic thresholds stratified by BMI reduces miscategorization and can guide more appropriate use of exercise testing for possible HFpEF.

An overview of obesity-related complications: The epidemiological evidence linking body weight and other markers of obesity to adverse health outcomes

Obesity is a highly prevalent chronic multisystem disease associated with shortened life expectancy due to a number of adverse health outcomes. Epidemiological data link body weight and parameters of central fat distribution to an increasing risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver diseases, cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, obstructive sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, mental disorders and some types of cancer. However, the individual risk to develop cardiometabolic and other obesity-related diseases cannot entirely be explained by increased fat mass. Rather than excess fat accumulation, dysfunction of adipose tissue may represent the mechanistic link between obesity and adverse health outcomes. There are people living with obesity who seem to be protected against the premature development of cardiometabolic diseases. On the other hand, people with normal weight may develop typical obesity diseases upon dysfunction of adipose tissue and predominantly visceral fat distribution. The mechanisms linking impaired function of adipose tissue in people with obesity include adipocyte hypertrophy, altered cellular composition, limited expandability of safe subcutaneous fat stores, ectopic fat deposition in visceral depots, the liver and other organs, hypoxia, a variety of stresses, inflammatory processes, and the release of pro-inflammatory, diabetogenic and atherogenic signals. Genetic and environmental factors might contribute either alone or via interaction with intrinsic biological factors to variation in adipose tissue function. There are still many open questions regarding the mechanisms of how increased body weight causes obesity-related disorders and whether these pathologies could be reversed. Evidence-based weight loss interventions using behaviour change, pharmacological or surgical approaches have clarified the beneficial effects of realistic and sustained weight loss on obesity-related complications as hard outcomes. This review focusses on recent advances in understanding epidemiological trends and mechanisms of obesity-related diseases. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Obesity is a chronic complex and progressive disease characterized by excessive fat deposition that may impair health and quality of life. Worldwide, the number of adults living with obesity has more than doubled since 1990. Obesity may lead to reduced life expectancy, because it increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, stroke), fatty liver diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, depression and certain types of cancer. However, not every person with obesity develops these diseases. For better prevention and treatment, it is important to understand the mechanisms linking high fat mass to obesity related diseases. It has become clear that fat mass alone cannot explain the higher risk of obesity complications. People with obesity can have either high or low risk of developing complications. Compared to people with a low risk for obesity complications those with a high risk to develop obesity related diseases are characterized by higher central fat deposition in the abdominal region, on average bigger fat cells, higher number of immune cells in adipose tissue and altered signals released from adipose tissue that may directly affect the brain, liver, vasculature and other organs. Both inherited and environment factors may cause these abnormalities of adipose tissue function. However, weight loss through behaviour changes (e.g., lower calorie intake, higher physical activity), medications or obesity surgery can improve health, quality of life and reduce the risk for obesity related diseases.

Intravenous and oral administration of the synthetic RNA drug, TY1, reverses heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in mice

TY1, a synthetic non-coding RNA (ncRNA) bioinspired by small Y RNAs abundant in extracellular vesicles (EVs), decreases cGAS/STING activation in myocardial infarction and thereby attenuates inflammation. Motivated by the concept that heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a systemic inflammatory disease, we tested TY1 in a murine model of HFpEF. Intravenous TY1, packaged in a transfection reagent, reversed the cardiac and systemic manifestations of HFpEF in two-hit obese-hypertensive mice, without inducing weight loss. The effects of TY1 were specific, insofar as they were not reproduced by a control RNA of the same nucleotide content but in scrambled order. TY1 consistently suppressed myocardial stress-induced MAP kinase signaling, as well as downstream inflammatory, fibrotic, and hypertrophic gene pathways in heart tissue. TY1 not only prevented but actually reversed key pathological processes underlying HFpEF, with no evidence of toxicity. Most noteworthy from a practical perspective, the effects of intravenous TY1 were reproduced by feeding HFpEF mice an oral micellar formulation of TY1. As the prototype for a novel class of ncRNA drugs which target cell stress, TY1 exhibits exceptional disease-modifying bioactivity in HFpEF.

Focused Recommendations for the Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) by Advanced Practice Providers in the United States

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has become the dominant cause of liver disease in the United States. With the growing burden of this disease in gastroenterology practices, the identification and treatment of those at risk of developing adverse outcomes (cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver-related death) has become urgent. In recent years, the development of noninvasive tests (NITs) to identify "at-risk MASH" patients have provided cost-effective algorithms to identify these patients. Although treatment has historically been limited to lifestyle modification, recent FDA approval of resmetirom for noncirrhosis MASH with stages 2 and 3 fibrosis has provided a new opportunity in the United States to provide these patients with novel treatment options. Other new effective treatment regimens are on the horizon. Given that gastroenterology and hepatology practices in the United States heavily rely on advanced practice providers (APPs) to manage patients with MASLD, the APP Committee of the Global NASH/MASH Council has curated the essentials of day-to-day MASH management for our busy gastrohepatology providers and their APP colleagues. The goal of this document is to equip and mobilize more GI providers with the requisite competencies for the management of at-risk MASH, given the rapidly evolving MASH treatment landscape.

Debulking With Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty Versus Balloon Angioplasty in Patients With in Stent Restenosis (ELDISR Study): A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) is a safe and effective method for lesion preparation. However, its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) undergoing drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effect of ELCA-based lesion preparation on the clinical outcomes of ISR patients treated with standard DCB angioplasty.

METHODS

In this prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial, patients with ISR were randomized 1:1 to either ELCA (+) or ELCA (-). The ELCA (+) group received ELCA for lesion preparation followed by standard DCB angioplasty, while the ELCA (-) group received standard DCB angioplasty alone. The primary endpoint was the rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR) within 1 year. Safety was also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 110 patients were randomized to either the ELCA (+) group (n = 55) or the ELCA (-) group (n = 55). The mean age of the study participants was 64.5 years, 89 (80.9%) were men and 51 (46.4%) had diabetes mellitus. The procedure was successful in all patients. The primary endpoint event occurred in five patients (cumulative incidence, 9.1%) in the ELCA (+) group and in 13 patients (cumulative incidence, 23.6%) in the ELCA (-) group (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15-0.95; p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Lesion preparation with ELCA before DCB angioplasty is a safe and effective strategy for patients with ISR, associated with a lower incidence of TLR compared to standard DCB angioplasty alone. However, due to the limited sample size and single-center design, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating. Future validation requires confirmation through multicenter studies with larger patient populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Unique identifier: ChiCTR2300068962.

In adults with HF with preserved ejection fraction and obesity, tirzepatide reduced a composite of CV death or worsening HF at 2 y

CLINICAL IMPACT RATINGS

GIM/FP/GP: [Formula: see text] Cardiology: [Formula: see text] Endocrinology: [Formula: see text].

Semaglutide in heart failure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: the current state-of-the-art

Cardiovascular disease mortality rates, which had steadily declined over decades, are now plateauing or reversing due to the global rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. These cardiometabolic conditions contribute significantly to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), heart failure (HF), and chronic kidney disease. Among emerging pharmacological treatments, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, have shown benefits beyond diabetes and obesity management, including cardioprotective and renoprotective effects. This state-of-the-art review comprehensively analyzes current evidence from clinical trials, identifies critical insights, and outlines research directions regarding semaglutide use in HF, ASCVD, and diabetic nephropathy. In ASCVD, semaglutide has demonstrated significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, supported by findings from meta-analyses of trials in patients with T2DM and the SELECT trial for patients without T2DM. In a prespecified analysis of the SELECT trial, semaglutide demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality and HF hospitalizations for patients with HF and ASCVD. In HF with preserved ejection fraction and mildly reduced ejection fraction, semaglutide improved symptoms, physical function, natriuretic peptide levels, echocardiographic parameters, and HF hospitalizations, as shown in the STEP-HFpEF program and a pooled analysis of trials. Furthermore, evidence from the FLOW trial underscores semaglutide's renal and cardiovascular benefits in diabetic nephropathy, irrespective of body mass index. While these findings suggest semaglutide's efficacy in cardiorenal diseases, gaps in evidence remain, including the need for event-driven trials in HF populations without ASCVD and irrespective of obesity. Future research should address these gaps, which could potentially update guideline recommendations.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonist Use in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: Effect, Safety, and Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Obesity is prevalent among patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) and contributes to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. There is a paucity of data regarding glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) for weight loss in patients with ACHD.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect, safety, and outcomes of GLP-1 RA among patients with ACHD.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with ACHD at Mayo Clinic (01/2013-01/2024) who were prescribed semaglutide or liraglutide. The primary endpoint was weight loss. Secondary endpoints were changes in New York Heart Association class, hemoglobin A1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and safety endpoints of renal adverse event, hypoglycemia, hospitalization/drug discontinuation due to side effects.

RESULTS

Seventy patients received GLP-1 RA over a mean duration of 21 ± 20 months. Majority (85.7%) had moderate/severe complexity congenital heart disease. Weight loss >5% was achieved in 30 (42.9%) patients. Patients with body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 were more likely to achieve weight loss >5% [66.7% vs 40%, P = 0.027]. Younger age resulted in improved weight loss of 0.17 kg per 1-year age difference (P = 0.014). Hemoglobin A1c lowered by a mean of 0.6% (P = 0.054). There were no significant changes in New York Heart Association class or estimated glomerular filtration rate. One-third of patients experienced side effects, mostly from gastrointestinal intolerance (20%); 11.4% discontinued the medication due to side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

GLP-1 RAs are safe and effective for weight loss in patients with ACHD with beneficial effects on glycemic control.

Cardiovascular Safety Profile of Semaglutide and Variations by Sex, Race, and Kidney Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with diabetes mellitus and its complications are at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Semaglutide is efficacious for glycemic control and reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Although trials have provided data about cardiovascular outcomes with this agent, a meta-analysis regarding its cardiovascular safety and variations in outcomes according to sex, race and estimated glomerular filtration rate was necessary.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where semaglutide was the intervention and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or expanded MACE was the outcome. We assessed the quality of the RCTs using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and used the statistical software RevMan 5.4. The protocol for this review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024580784).

RESULTS

Of 5387 articles, four RCTs were included. The risk of MACE with semaglutide was significantly lower in patients with established or a risk of cardiovascular disease (risk ratio [RR] 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.88; p < 0.00001). The risk of expanded MACE also reduced significantly with semaglutide (RR 0.80; 95% CI 0.75-0.86; p < 0.00001). MACE risk reduction was significant in males (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.70-0.87; p < 0.00001) and in Asian (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.44-0.83; p = 0.002) and white (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.73-0.90; p = 0.0001) populations.

CONCLUSION

Semaglutide provides significant advantages in terms of lowering the risk of MACE and expanded MACE and could possibly be used as a crucial component of cardiovascular risk management, particularly in populations that respond well, such as men and Asian and white populations.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO identifier number CRD42024580784.

Targeting Diabetic Atherosclerosis: The Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, SGLT2 Inhibitors, and Nonsteroidal Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Vascular Protection and Disease Modulation

Atherosclerosis is a closely related complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), driven by endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The progression of atherosclerosis is accelerated by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia. Novel antidiabetic agents, SGLT2 inhibitors, and GLP-1 agonists improve glycemic control and offer cardiovascular protection, reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and heart failure hospitalization. These agents, along with nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (nsMRAs), promise to mitigate metabolic disorders and their impact on endothelial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This review explores the potential molecular mechanisms through which these drugs may prevent the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD), supported by a summary of preclinical and clinical evidence.

Heart Failure in Older Patients: An Update

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome with high incidence and prevalence and high morbidity and death rate, even in the short term, representing a serious public health issue, mainly in older people. It is a growing cause for hospital admission in this age group, being frequently associated with several comorbidities, further aggravating the disease's course. Moreover, older HF patients are usually affected by clinical conditions, like frailty, malnutrition, and cachexia, which significantly impact the overall management of HF and need to be properly identified and treated. Diagnosing and managing HF in older patients may be very complicated and challenging. Although specific data on treatment of both acute and chronic HF in older subjects are limited and mainly extrapolated from large-scale clinical trials, the standard pharmacological management may be considered well-tolerated and generally safe. In any case, a personalized and tailored approach is mandatory and is based on severity of comorbidities, overall status, and prognosis, above all in frailer and more comorbid subjects, due to the higher rate of drug interactions, side effects, and therapy discontinuation in this population. In this scenario, palliative care has become a fundamental part of HF management in the elderly in order to improve their care and the quality of life. Moreover, an increasing number of promising pharmacological options deserve further investigation in order to support clinicians in optimizing management of comorbid and frailer patients. In this work, we provide detailed and updated insight into clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic features of both acute and chronic HF in the older population.

Myeloid Fatty Acid Metabolism Activates Neighboring Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Promote Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

Despite the high morbidity and mortality of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), treatment options remain limited. The HFpEF syndrome is associated with a high comorbidity burden, including high prevalence of obesity and hypertension. Although inflammation is implicated to play a key role in HFpEF pathophysiology, underlying causal mechanisms remain unclear.

METHODS

Comparing patient samples and animal models, we defined the innate immune response during HFpEF in situ and through flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. After identifying transcriptional and cell signatures, we implemented a high-fat diet and hypertensive model of HFpEF and tested roles for myeloid and hematopoietic stem cells during HFpEF. Contributions of macrophage metabolism were also evaluated, including through mass spectrometry and carbon labeling. Primary macrophages were studied ex vivo to gain insight into complementary cell-intrinsic mechanisms.

RESULTS

Here we report evidence that patients with cardiometabolic HFpEF exhibit elevated peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells. This phenotype was conserved across species in a murine mode of high-fat diet and hypertension. Hematopoietic stem cell proliferation was coupled to striking remodeling of the peripheral hematopoietic stem cell niche and expression of the macrophage adhesion molecule Vcam1. This could be partially inhibited by sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and explained by elevated fatty acid metabolism in macrophage mitochondria, which in turn remodeled the Vcam1 promoter to enhance its expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings identify a significant new stem cell signature of cardiometabolic HFpEF and support a role for myeloid maladaptive fatty acid metabolism in the promotion of systemic inflammation and cardiac diastolic dysfunction.

Novel Controlled Metabolic Accelerator for Obesity-Related HFpEF: The HuMAIN-HFpEF Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Excess body fat plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HU6 is a novel, controlled metabolic accelerator that enhances mitochondrial uncoupling resulting in increased metabolism and fat-specific weight loss.

Objective

To assess efficacy and safety of HU6 in reducing body weight, improving peak volume of oxygen consumption (VO2) and body composition among patients with obesity-related HFpEF.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Exploratory Phase 2A, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Dose Escalation Study of Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics of HU6 for Subjects With Obese HFpEF (HuMAIN-HFpEF) trial was a multicenter, dose-escalation randomized clinical trial among patients with chronic stable HFpEF and obesity. Data were analyzed from July to October 2024.

Intervention

HU6 treatment for 19 weeks, starting at 150 mg per day and potentially up titrated to 450 mg per day based on safety and tolerability vs placebo.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was change in body weight.

Results

Of 66 participants randomized (mean [SD] age, 64.5 [12] years; 38 female [58%]; mean [SD] weight, 110.9 [22.4] kg), 56 completed the trial. HU6 (vs placebo) significantly decreased weight (between-group difference, -2.86 kg; 95% CI, -4.68 to -1.04 kg; P = .003), total fat mass (between-group difference, -2.96 kg; 95% CI, -4.50 to -1.42 kg; P < .001), and percentage visceral fat (between-group difference,-1.3%; 95% CI, -2.1 to -0.5%; P = .003), with no significant loss of muscle mass. There were no statistically significant changes in peak VO2, 6-minute walk distance, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level, or diastolic function. Serious adverse events were noted in 5 participants (4 in the HU6 group; 1 in the placebo group), including 1 death, all judged unrelated to treatment.

Conclusions and Relevance

Among patients with obesity-related HFpEF, treatment with HU6 for 19 weeks led to modest but statistically significant weight loss without significant changes in peak VO2. Larger trials of longer duration are warranted to determine whether longer-term administration of HU6 can improve exercise function, quality of life, and cardiovascular outcomes in this increasingly common disorder.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05284617.

Semaglutide as a GLP-1 Agonist: A Breakthrough in Obesity Treatment

This review addresses the role of semaglutide (SMG), a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in the treatment of obesity and its related comorbidities. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes (DM2), SMG has shown significant efficacy in weight reduction, with superior results compared to other treatments in the same class. Its effects include appetite suppression, increased satiety, and improvements in cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic parameters. Studies such as SUSTAIN, PIONEER, and STEP highlight its superiority compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists and anti-obesity drugs. The oral formulation showed promising initial results, with higher doses (50 mg) showing weight losses comparable to those of subcutaneous administration. Despite its benefits, there are challenges, such as weight regain after cessation of treatment, gastrointestinal adverse effects, and variability of response. Future studies should explore strategies to mitigate these effects, identify predictive factors of efficacy, and expand therapeutic indications to other conditions related to obesity and insulin resistance. The constant innovation in this class of drugs reinforces the potential of SMG to transform treatment protocols for chronic weight-related diseases.

Effects of Tirzepatide on the Clinical Trajectory of Patients With Heart Failure, Preserved Ejection Fraction, and Obesity

BACKGROUND

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity have significant disability and frequent exacerbations of heart failure. We hypothesized that tirzepatide, a long-acting agonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors, would improve a comprehensive suite of clinical end points, including measures of health status, functional capacity, quality of life, exercise tolerance, patient well-being, and medication burden, in these patients.

METHODS

We randomized (double-blind) 731 patients with class II to IV heart failure, ejection fraction ≥50%, and body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 to tirzepatide (titrated up to 15 mg SC weekly; n=364) or placebo (n=367) added to background therapy for a median of 104 weeks (quartile 1, 66; quartile 3, 126 weeks). The primary end points were whether tirzepatide reduced the combined risk of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure and improved Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score. The current expanded analysis included sensitivity analyses of the primary end points, 6-minute walk distance, EQ-5D-5L health state index, Patient Global Impression of Severity Overall Health score, New York Heart Association class, use of heart failure medications, and a hierarchical composite based on all-cause death, worsening heart failure, and 52-week changes in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score and 6-minute walk distance.

RESULTS

Patients were 65.2±10.7 years of age; 53.8% (n=393) were female; body mass index was 38.2±6.7 kg/m2; Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score was 53.5±18.5; 6-minute walk distance was 302.8±81.7 m; and 53% (n=388) had a worsening heart failure event in the previous 12 months. Compared with placebo, tirzepatide produced a consistent beneficial effect across all composites of death and worsening heart failure events, analyzed as time to first event (hazard ratios, 0.41-0.67). At 52 weeks, tirzepatide increased the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score by 6.9 points (95% CI, 3.3-10.6; P<0.001), 6-minute walk distance 18.3 meters (95% CI, 9.9-26.7; P<0.001), and EQ-5D-5L 0.06 (95% CI, 0.03-0.09; P<0.001). The tirzepatide group shifted to a more favorable Patient Global Impression of Severity Overall Health score (proportional odds ratio, 1.99 [95% CI, 1.44-2.76]) and New York Heart Association class (proportional odds ratio, 2.26 [95% CI, 1.54-3.31]; both P<0.001) and required fewer heart failure medications (P=0.015). The broad spectrum of effects was reflected in benefits on the hierarchical composite (win ratio, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.17-2.28]; P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Tirzepatide produced a comprehensive, meaningful improvement in heart failure across multiple complementary domains; enhanced health status, quality of life, functional capacity, exercise tolerance, and well-being; and reduced symptoms and medication burden in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04847557.

Pulmonary Congestion on Lung Ultrasound in Ambulatory Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

Early detection of pulmonary congestion among ambulatory patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is critical to optimize decongestive therapy before overt decompensation, yet traditional tools are insensitive. We sought to examine the prevalence of B-lines, an ultrasound measure of pulmonary congestion, and their clinical and imaging correlates in patients with HFpEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a prospective, multisite observational study, using a pocket ultrasound device, 8-zone lung ultrasound examination was performed in outpatients with HFpEF, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥45% and New York Heart Association functional class II through IV. B-lines and cardiac structure and function from echocardiograms were quantified off-line in core laboratories, blinded to clinical findings. Among 415 participants (mean age 74 years, 52% women, 51% obese, median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] 744 pg/mL) B-lines were detectable in 78% of patients ranging from 0 to 36 (median 3, interquartile range 1-6). There was a linear association between B-line count and log-transformed NT-proBNP (P < .001). Among patients in the highest tertile of B-lines, 76% had no crackles on auscultation, and 50% did not have elevated NT-proBNP levels. A higher B-line count was associated with larger sizes of cardiac chambers, greater left ventricular mass, higher filling pressures (E/e'), tricuspid regurgitant velocity, and inferior vena cava size, and worse right ventricular systolic function (P for trend < .05 for all), but not left ventricular ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Among ambulatory patients with HFpEF, lung ultrasound-detected B-lines were common, associated with NT-proBNP levels and clinically important echocardiographic features, and identified pulmonary congestion that was not always evident by auscultation.

Cardiovascular-Endocrine-Metabolic Medicine: Proposing a New Clinical Sub-Specialty Amid the Cardiometabolic Pandemic

Cardiovascular-Renal-Hepatic-Metabolic diseases are on the rise worldwide, creating major challenges for patient care and clinical research. Although these conditions share common mechanisms and often respond to similar treatments-such as lifestyle changes and newer cardiometabolic drugs (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists)-clinical management remains divided among multiple specialties. Recently proposed curricula in Cardiometabolic Medicine and Preventive Cardiology reflect an effort to address this fragmentation. In addition, recent studies reveal that hormonal deficiencies may increase cardiovascular risk and worsen heart failure, with emerging data showing that correcting these imbalances can improve exercise capacity and possibly reduce major cardiac events. To overcome gaps in care, we propose a new sub-specialty: Cardiovascular-Endocrine-Metabolic Medicine. This approach unifies three main pillars: (1) Lifestyle medicine, emphasizing nutrition, physical activity, and smoking cessation; (2) the Integrated Medical Management of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, early-stage kidney disease, metabolic-associated liver disease, and related conditions; and (3) hormonal therapies, focused on optimizing sex hormones and other endocrine pathways to benefit cardiometabolic health. By bridging cardiology, endocrinology, and metabolic medicine, this sub-specialty offers a more seamless framework for patient care, speeds up the adoption of new treatments, and sets the stage for innovative research-all critical steps in addressing the escalating cardiometabolic pandemic.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Is Associated With Improved Survival in Overweight Heart Failure Patients

BACKGROUND

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have shown improved symptomatic relieving and functional capacity in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction and obesity.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of GLP-1RA on outcome in patients with HF.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed based on the Swedish HF Registry since 2007 among patients with a body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2 to assess whether GLP-1RA treatment was associated with reduced mortality in patients with HF.

RESULTS

In the overall cohort, 34,247 patients were not treated with GLP-1RA, and 808 patients were. In patients treated with GLP-1RA, 96.3% had diabetes mellitus. Treatment with GLP-1RA showed a statistically significant association with reduced all-cause (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.60-0.94]; P = 0.013) and cardiovascular (CV) mortality (aHR: 0.52 [95% CI: 0.35-0.77]; P = 0.0010) compared with those not receiving GLP-1RA within 2 years after index registration. In a 1:1 propensity score matched cohort, there was no significant association between GLP-1RA and all-cause mortality (aHR: 0.79 [95% CI: 0.59-1.06]; P = 0.11), but there was with CV mortality (aHR: 0.53 [95% CI: 0.32-0.87]; P = 0.012). GLP-1RA-associated risk reduction in CV death was more pronounced in patients with a BMI >30 kg/m2 and appears to be greater in individuals with an ejection fraction ≤40% compared with >40%.

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide real-world study shows that patients with HF who received GLP-1RA have a significant reduction in CV mortality, which is particularly pronounced in overweight and obese patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Semaglutide in obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and type 2 diabetes across baseline HbA1c levels (STEP-HFpEF DM): a prespecified analysis of heart failure and metabolic outcomes from a randomised, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

About half of patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have type 2 diabetes. In the STEP-HFpEF DM trial of adults with obesity-related HFpEF and type 2 diabetes, subcutaneous once weekly semaglutide 2·4 mg conferred improvements in heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations, bodyweight, and other heart failure outcomes. We aimed to determine whether these effects of semaglutide differ according to baseline HbA1c.

METHODS

STEP-HFpEF DM, a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 108 clinical research sites across 16 countries in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, included individuals aged 18 years or older with documented HFpEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45%), type 2 diabetes, and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Participants were randomly assigned (1:1), with a block size of four within each stratum using an interactive web response system, stratified by baseline BMI (<35 kg/m2vs ≥35 kg/m2), to receive either semaglutide 2·4 mg or placebo subcutaneously. The effects of semaglutide versus placebo on the efficacy endpoints were evaluated by HbA1c categories at baseline: low (<6·5%; <48 mmol/mol), medium (6·5% to <7·5%; 48 mmol/mol to <58 mmol/mol), and high (≥7·5%; ≥58 mmol/mol). The dual primary endpoints were change in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ-CSS) and bodyweight percentage from baseline to 52 weeks and were assessed in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. Hypoglycaemia events were also analysed to assess safety in all randomly assigned participants who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04916470.

FINDINGS

Between June 27, 2021 and Sept 2, 2022, 616 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned (mean age 68·4 years [SD 8·9]; 273 [44%] were female, 343 [56%] were male, and 519 [84%] were White). The low baseline HbA1c group included 227 participants (112 assigned to semaglutide and 115 to placebo), the medium baseline HbA1c group included 226 participants (124 assigned to semaglutide and 102 to placebo), and the high baseline HbA1c group included 163 participants (74 assigned to semaglutide and 89 to placebo). The median duration of follow-up in the overall trial was 401 days (IQR 400-405). The change in KCCQ-CSS from baseline to 52 weeks was 12·4 points (95% CI 8·8 to 16·0) with semaglutide versus 5·7 points (2·1 to 9·2) with placebo (mean difference 6·7 points [1·6 to 11·8]) in the low baseline HbA1c group, 14·5 points (11·0 to 17·9) versus 8·5 points (4·8 to 12·2; 6·0 points [0·9 to 11·1]) in the medium baseline HbA1c group, and 14·5 points (10·0 to 19·0) versus 4·8 points (0·7 to 8·9; 9·6 points [3·5 to 15·7]) in the high baseline HbA1c group (pinteraction=0·64; ptrend=0·46). The change in bodyweight percentage from baseline to 52 weeks was -10·8 (95% CI -12·1 to -9·5) with semaglutide versus -3·3% (-4·6 to -2·0) with placebo (mean difference -7·5% [-9·4 to -5·6]) in the low baseline HbA1c group, -9·6% (-10·8 to -8·3) versus -3·3% (-4·7 to -1·9; -6·3 [-8·2 to -4·4]) in the medium baseline HbA1c group, and -8·6% (-10·2 to -7·0) versus -3·6% (-5·2 to -2·1; -5·0 [-7·2 to -2·7]) in the high baseline HbA1c group (pinteraction=0·22; ptrend=0·083). Hypoglycaemia events occurred in 30 (10%) of 310 participants (70 events; 22·9 events per 100 person-years) in the semaglutide group compared with 21 (7%) of 306 participants in the placebo group (90 events; 29·5 events per 100 person-years).

INTERPRETATION

Semaglutide 2·4 mg improved heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations, and reduced bodyweight in patients with obesity-related HFpEF and type 2 diabetes, all independently of baseline HbA1c, and resulted in lower rates of hypoglycaemia than placebo, despite a well controlled baseline HbA1c and broad use of concomitant glucose-lowering medications.

FUNDING

Novo Nordisk.

Obesity update: cardiovascular risk and therapeutic innovations (focus on semaglutide and tirzepatide)

Excess or dysfunctional adipose tissue is a key pathophysiological factor in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. However, until very recently, there was no evidence that pharmacological treatments for obesity could significantly impact major cardiovascular outcomes. Recently, the SELECT study represented the first, and to date the only, cardiovascular outcome trial conducted in the context of pharmacological treatment for obesity, and subcutaneous (s.c.) semaglutide 2.4 mg is the first molecule capable of leading to a statistically significant reduction in the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke in obese, non-diabetic patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, in the context of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with obesity-related phenotype, s.c. semaglutide 2.4 mg and tirzepatide have been shown to improve prognosis, functional capacity, and quality of life. The main limiting factors for the implementation of semaglutide and tirzepatide are represented by the suboptimal adherence to treatment due to gastrointestinal intolerance, as well as by the reduced accessibility and economic sustainability. It is therefore necessary to wait to see how the drug regulatory agencies and international guidelines will implement the evidence of semaglutide and tirzepatide in the specific setting of the cardiovascular risk of obese patients.

Use of Semaglutide (Wegovy) in Adults in France: A Nationwide Drug Utilization Study

BACKGROUND

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists have shown promising results in obesity treatment. In France, semaglutide 2.4-mg (Wegovy) has benefited from an early-access program from July 2022 to September 2023.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the user profile of semaglutide 2.4-mg and the dosage patterns under real-world conditions during this period.

METHODS

Between July 2022 and September 2023, semaglutide 2.4-mg initiators were identified through the nationwide APMO database (Accès Précoce-Médicaments Onéreux), built from the French National Health Data System (SNDS). The cohort was followed up until 31 December 2023. A sequence analysis was used to build clusters of dose escalation regimens.

RESULTS

Among the 6990 adult patients who started treatment, the median age was 49.0 years, with a majority of women (65.8%). The study revealed significant regional variations in initiation rates, with the highest in Ile-de-France (including Paris). Three groups of users were identified: standard adherence (74.5%), early discontinuation (13.0%), and high-dose initiation (12.5%). Factors influencing these clusters included age, with younger patients (25-34 years) more likely to discontinue early (odds ratio: 1.35 [95% confidence interval 1.05-1.75]). The use of anti-emetics during the first 5 months of the follow-up period was higher in the early-discontinuation group (15.7%) compared with the high-dose initiation group (9.0%) and standard adherence group (12.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study involved a substantial number of real-life semaglutide 2.4-mg users and highlights the importance of monitoring treated patients from a public health perspective, given the broad prescription to come and the potential risks associated with misuse.

Update in Outpatient General Internal Medicine: Practice-Changing Evidence Published in 2024

Rapid shifts in evidence-based medicine challenge clinicians to adapt their practices based on new information. Synthesizing relevant evidence can drive clinical advancements. To enhance knowledge of practice-changing literature, a group of six internists reviewed titles and abstracts from seven internal medicine journals with the highest impact factors and relevance to outpatient general internal medicine. New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), The Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), JAMA Internal Medicine, British Medical Journal (BMJ), and Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine were reviewed. In addition, collections of article synopses and databases were also reviewed: American College of Physicians Journal Club, NEJM Journal Watch, BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, McMaster ACCESSSS/DynaMed Evidence Alerts, and Cochrane Reviews. A modified Delphi method was used to reach consensus based on relevance to outpatient internal medicine, impact on practice, and strength of evidence. Articles pertaining to the same topic were considered together. In total,7 practice-changing articles were included.

Elevated C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review critically examines the evolving role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in cardiovascular disease (CVD), addressing its pathogenesis and relationship with various CVDs including coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.

RECENT FINDINGS

CRP is mechanistically implicated in endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and plaque destabilization. Recent studies demonstrate that lipid-lowering agents (statins, bempedoic acid) and anti-inflammatory therapies (canakinumab, colchicine) reduce CRP levels and improve outcomes in CAD. In heart failure, elevated CRP predicts adverse events, though evidence on phenotypes varies, and novel therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors) lower CRP independently of weight loss. For atrial fibrillation, CRP correlates with postoperative incidence and recurrence postablation, though data remain inconsistent. Guidelines offer differing opinion with the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines cautiously endorsing CRP for risk stratification in intermediate-risk individuals, while European guidelines advise against its routine use for primary prevention, reflecting unresolved questions about CRP's additive value.

SUMMARY

CRP remains a pivotal inflammation biomarker in CVD, yet its causal role and clinical applicability require clarification. While CRP-guided therapies show promise, discrepancies in guidelines highlight the need for robust trials to determine whether targeting CRP directly improves outcomes. Future research should focus on CRP's pathophysiological mechanisms and validate its utility in personalized CVD management.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Twin challenges, one metabolic solution

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has exceeded HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), becoming the most common type of HF. Unlike HFrEF, HFpEF is primarily a chronic low-grade inflammatory process closely associated with metabolic disorders. The coexistence of HFpEF and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) presents significant clinical challenges due to shared metabolic pathophysiology and complex interplay. Management strategies for HFpEF and MASLD remain challenging. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors have shown benefits in managing both conditions. Additionally, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are being actively investigated for their potential benefits, particularly in MASLD. A comprehensive, patient-centered approach that combines metabolic and cardiovascular care is essential for improving outcomes in patients with HFpEF and MASLD, addressing the global metabolic health challenges.

2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2025 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2024 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. This year's edition includes a continued focus on health equity across several key domains and enhanced global data that reflect improved methods and incorporation of ≈3000 new data sources since last year's Statistical Update.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Semaglutide ameliorates metabolic disorders in offspring via regulation of oocyte ROS of pre-pregnancy obesity mice

Pre-pregnancy obesity (PPO) seriously threatens the health of both mother and offspring. Pre-pregnancy weight management is particularly important for the prevention of metabolic diseases in offspring. Semaglutide is one of the most effective glucagon-like peptide-1 agonizts for the management of obesity and metabolic diseases, but little is known about its effect on the long-term health of offspring. In this study we investigated the effects of semaglutide administered before pregnancy on the offspring health from PPO mice. PPO mice model was established by feeding with high-fat diet for 16 weeks, and then injected with semaglutide (30 nmol/kg-1·d-1, sc.) for 22 days before pregnancy. After the treatment, the mice were mated with normal males or underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) for offspring reproduction. We showed that the semaglutide treatment not only improved the lipid and glucose metabolic disorders and fertility of PPO mice, but also significantly reversed the overweight, impaired energy balance, adipose inflammatory state, lipid and glucose metabolic disorders and insulin resistance of their IVF offspring. By conducting RNA-seq analysis, SOD activity and malondialdehyde assays in ovaries, as well as ROS staining in oocytes, we revealed that the semaglutide treatment reduced the elevated oxidative stress in ovaries and high ROS levels in oocytes from PPO mice, possibly through activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and improving the state of SOD. Interestingly, incubation of oocytes from semaglutide-treated dams with H2O2 (100 μM) in vitro during IVF blocked the protective effects of semaglultide against the metabolic disorders in the offspring. In conclusion, semaglutide treatment before pregnancy effectively alleviates obesity-related metabolic disorders in offspring. The regulation of ROS in oocytes plays a crucial role in the protective effects of semaglutide.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease: an ESC clinical consensus statement

The global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over the past four decades, currently affecting more than a billion individuals. Beyond its recognition as a high-risk condition that is causally linked to many chronic illnesses, obesity has been declared a disease per se that results in impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy. Notably, two-thirds of obesity-related excess mortality is attributable to cardiovascular disease. Despite the increasingly appreciated link between obesity and a broad range of cardiovascular disease manifestations including atherosclerotic disease, heart failure, thromboembolic disease, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, obesity has been underrecognized and sub-optimally addressed compared with other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. In the view of major repercussions of the obesity epidemic on public health, attention has focused on population-based and personalized approaches to prevent excess weight gain and maintain a healthy body weight from early childhood and throughout adult life, as well as on comprehensive weight loss interventions for persons with established obesity. This clinical consensus statement by the European Society of Cardiology discusses current evidence on the epidemiology and aetiology of obesity; the interplay between obesity, cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac conditions; the clinical management of patients with cardiac disease and obesity; and weight loss strategies including lifestyle changes, interventional procedures, and anti-obesity medications with particular focus on their impact on cardiometabolic risk and cardiac outcomes. The document aims to raise awareness on obesity as a major risk factor and provide guidance for implementing evidence-based practices for its prevention and optimal management within the context of primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.

Μetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a condition of heterogeneous metabolic risk factors, mechanisms and comorbidities requiring holistic treatment

Μetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) comprises a heterogeneous condition in the presence of steatotic liver. There can be a hierarchy of metabolic risk factors contributing to the severity of metabolic dysfunction and, thereby, the associated risk of both liver and extrahepatic outcomes, but the precise ranking and combination of metabolic syndrome (MetS) traits that convey the highest risk of major adverse liver outcomes and extrahepatic disease complications remains uncertain. Insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, atherogenic dyslipidaemia and hypertension are key to the mechanisms of liver and extrahepatic complications. The liver is pivotal in MetS progression as it regulates lipoprotein metabolism and secretes substances that affect insulin sensitivity and inflammation. MASLD affects the kidneys, heart and the vascular system, contributing to hypertension and oxidative stress. To address the global health burden of MASLD, intensified by obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemics, a holistic, multidisciplinary approach is essential. This approach should focus on both liver disease management and cardiometabolic risk factors. This Review examines the link between metabolic dysfunction and liver dysfunction and extrahepatic disease outcomes, the diverse mechanisms in MASLD due to metabolic dysfunction, and a comprehensive, personalized management model for patients with MASLD.

Acute Heart Failure: Transitioning From Symptom-Based Care to Remission

During the past century, the characteristics of patients with heart failure (HF) and acute HF (AHF) have shifted from patients with severe pump failure due to rheumatic, hypertensive and ischemic heart disease to older and more obese patients with multiple severe comorbidities. The pathophysiology of AHF has shifted, in parallel, from that of advanced, end-stage pump failure caused by severe left ventricular dysfunction to age, obesity and comorbidity-related cardiovascular dysfunction combined with neurohormonal and inflammatory dysregulation or "inflammaging." With the advent of neurohormonal blockers leading to improved outcomes of patients with chronic HF, the focus of AHF therapy has also changed from care directed at early symptom improvement to therapies directed toward longer-term improvements in quality of life and outcomes. Studies conducted in the past 5 years suggest that the beneficial effects seen with the 4 pillars of guideline-directed medical therapy for HF, mostly comprising neurohormonal blockade, can be extended to AHF when these therapies are initiated and rapidly uptitrated during admission and after discharge. A recent pilot study, CORTAHF (Effect of Short-Term Prednisone Therapy on CRP Change in Emergency Department Patients With Acute Heart Failure and Elevated Inflammatory Markers), has suggested that these benefits can be extended by treating patients with AHF and markers of inflammatory activation with anti-inflammatory therapies. Future studies should further examine whether combined anti-inflammatory therapy and neurohormonal blockade can lead to the reversal of disrupted underlying pathophysiology and remission in patients with AHF.

Counteracting the Mechanisms of Heart Failure is the Most Effective Way to Decongest Patients while Improving Outcomes

Diuretic therapy is not associated with improved outcomes in heart failure and may cause significant side effects. Counteracting the core pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure through neurohormonal blockade while reducing reliance on diuretics is potentially the most effective method of decongestion.

From Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome to Cardiovascular-Renal-Hepatic-Metabolic Syndrome: Proposing an Expanded Framework

Cardiometabolic diseases represent an escalating global health crisis, slowing or even reversing earlier declines in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Traditionally, conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), atherosclerotic CVD, heart failure (HF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) were managed in isolation. However, emerging evidence reveals that these disorders share overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment strategies. In 2023, the American Heart Association proposed the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome, recognizing the interconnected roles of the heart, kidneys, and metabolic system. Yet, this model omits the liver-a critical organ impacted by metabolic dysfunction. MASLD, which can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is closely tied to insulin resistance and obesity, contributing directly to cardiovascular and renal impairment. Notably, MASLD is bidirectionally associated with the development and progression of CKM syndrome. As a result, we introduce an expanded framework-the Cardiovascular-Renal-Hepatic-Metabolic (CRHM) syndrome-to more comprehensively capture the broader inter-organ dynamics. We provide guidance for an integrated diagnostic approach aimed at halting progression to advanced stages and preventing further organ damage. In addition, we highlight advances in medical management that target shared pathophysiological pathways, offering benefits across multiple organ systems. Viewing these conditions as an integrated whole, rather than as discrete entities, and incorporating the liver into this framework fosters a more holistic management strategy and offers a promising path to addressing the cardiometabolic pandemic.

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use in Hospital: A Multicentre Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are effective medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, yet their uptake among individuals most likely to benefit has been slow.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of medication exposure in adults hospitalized at 16 hospitals in Ontario, Canada, between 2015 and 2022. We estimated the proportions of those with T2DM, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. We identified the frequency of GLP-1RA use and conducted multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with their use.

RESULTS

Across 1,278,863 hospitalizations, 396,084 (31%) patients had T2DM and approximately 327,844 (26%) had obesity. GLP-1RA use (n=1,274) was low among those with a diagnosis of T2DM (0.3%) or obesity (0.7%), despite a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (36%). In contrast, the use of diabetes medications lacking cardiovascular benefit was high during inpatient hospitalizations related to diabetes: 60% (n=236,612) received insulin and 14% (n=54,885) received a sulfonylurea. Apart from T2DM (odds ratio [OR]=29.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 23.5 to 37.2), characteristics associated with greater odds of receiving a GLP-1RA were seen in those 50 to 70 years of age (OR=1.71, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.11) compared with those <50 years of age, glycated hemoglobin >9% (OR=1.83, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.47) compared with <6.5%, and highest income quintile (OR=1.73, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.07) compared with lowest income quintile.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge translation interventions are needed to address the low adoption of GLP-1RAs among hospitalized patients with T2DM and obesity, who are the most likely to benefit from this treatment.

Towards a phenotype profiling of the patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction

The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasing and prognosis remains poor, with a high risk of mortality or hospitalizations for worsening heart failure events. Apart from sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and diuretics, the management of HFpEF is nowadays based on the different aetiologies and cardiovascular or non-cardiovascular comorbidities. A great heterogeneity of clinical profiles has been described in HFpEF, with several recent studies focused on the identification of different HFpEF phenotypes. In this review, we summarize available evidence on phenotype profiling in HFpEF, describing the different phenotypes with the relative therapeutic implications, and reporting other specific clinical conditions relevant for HFpEF differential diagnosis.

The Impact of Obesity on Cardiac Energy Metabolism and Efficiency in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

The incidence and prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) continues to rise, and now comprises more than half of all heart failure cases. There are many risk factors for HFpEF, including older age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, sedentary behaviour, and obesity. The rising prevalence of obesity in society is a particularly important contributor to HFpEF development and severity. Obesity can adversely affect the heart, including inducing marked alterations in cardiac energy metabolism. This includes obesity-induced impairments in mitochondrial function, and an increase in fatty acid uptake and mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation. This increase in myocardial fatty acid metabolism is accompanied by an impaired myocardial insulin signaling and a marked decrease in glucose oxidation. This switch from glucose to fatty acid metabolism decreases cardiac efficiency and can contribute to severity of HFpEF. Increased myocardial fatty acid uptake in obesity is also associated with the accumulation of fatty acids, resulting in cardiac lipotoxicity. Obesity also results in dramatic changes in the release of adipokines, which can negatively impact cardiac function and energy metabolism. Obesity-induced increases in epicardial fat can also increase cardiac insulin resistance and negatively affect cardiac energy metabolism and HFpEF. However, optimizing cardiac energy metabolism in obese subjects may be one approach to preventing and treating HFpEF. This review discusses what is presently known about the effects of obesity on cardiac energy metabolism and insulin signaling in HFpEF. The clinical implications of obesity and energy metabolism on HFpEF are also discussed.

Finerenone, Obesity, and Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced/Preserved Ejection Fraction: Prespecified Analysis of FINEARTS-HF

BACKGROUND

Obesity is associated with excessive adipocyte-derived aldosterone secretion, independent of the classical renin-angiotensin-aldosterone cascade, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may be more effective in patients with heart failure (HF) and obesity.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to examine the effects of the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone compared with placebo, according to body mass index (BMI) in FINEARTS-HF (FINerenone trial to investigate Efficacy and sAfety superioR to placebo in paTientS with Heart Failure).

METHODS

A total of 6,001 patients with HF with NYHA functional class II, III, and IV, a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥40%, evidence of structural heart disease, and elevated natriuretic peptide levels were randomized to finerenone or placebo. BMI (kg/m2) was examined using World Health Organization categories, namely, underweight/normal weight (<25.0 kg/m2; n = 1,306); overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2; n = 1,990); obesity class I (30.0-34.9 kg/m2; n = 1,546); obesity class II (35.0-39.9 kg/m2; n = 751); and obesity class III (≥40 kg/m2; n = 395). The primary outcome was cardiovascular death and total worsening HF events.

RESULTS

Data on baseline BMI were available for 5,988 patients (median: 29.2 kg/m2; Q1-Q3: 25.5-33.6 kg/m2). Compared with patients who were underweight/normal weight, those with obesity class II or III had a higher risk of the primary outcome (underweight/normal weight, reference; overweight, unadjusted rate ratio: 0.96 [95% CI: 0.81-1.15]; obesity class I: 1.04 [95% CI: 0.86-1.26]; obesity class II-III: 1.26 [95% CI: 1.03-1.54]). The effect of finerenone on the primary outcome did not vary by baseline BMI (underweight/normal weight, rate ratio: 0.80 [95% CI: 0.62-1.04]; overweight: 0.91 [95% CI: 0.72-1.15]; obesity class I: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.72-1.19]; obesity class II-III: 0.67 [95% CI: 0.50-0.89]; Pinteraction = 0.32). However, when BMI was examined as a continuous variable, the beneficial effect of finerenone seemed to be greater in those with a higher BMI (Pinteraction = 0.005). A similar pattern was observed for total worsening HF events. Consistent effects across baseline BMI were observed for cardiovascular and all-cause death and improvement in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with HF with mildly reduced/preserved ejection fraction, the beneficial effects of finerenone on clinical events and symptoms were consistent, irrespective of BMI at baseline, possibly with a greater effect on the primary outcome in patients with higher BMI. (FINEARTS-HF [FINerenone trial to investigate Efficacy and sAfety superioR to placebo in paTientS with Heart Failure]; NCT04435626).

Did Finerenone Improve Health Status in the FINEARTS Trial?: A Critical Reevaluation of the Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Heart Failure

Patient-reported health status is an important assessment of patients with heart failure, but current approaches have substantial methodological and analytical limitations. Changes in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) are commonly presented as a measure of the effect of drugs and devices, most often as the between-group difference in population means or as the odds of showing threshold changes of 5, 10, 15, and 20 points. However, the presentation of mean differences is based on statistical assumptions that are routinely violated in most trials. The presentation of threshold changes is based on the belief that a within-patient change in KCCQ of 5 points represents a significant treatment difference across diverse populations and trial settings, but the minimal clinically meaningful difference varies substantially depending on patient characteristics, comorbidities, and trial duration and design, with most values for minimally clinically important difference for KCCQ ranging from 10 to 20 points. Furthermore, the assessment of between-group differences is highly distorted by the assignment of a large proportion of randomized patients with very good health status as having substantially improved even if they showed no change after treatment. Any responder analysis is highly sensitive to differences in variance between the 2 treatment groups and cannot account for the stability of changes in the KCCQ score. The imposition of number-to-treat presentations onto KCCQ scores further compounds the lack of interpretability of reported changes. It is therefore not surprising that trials have reported substantial discrepancies between the effect of treatment on KCCQ and on the risk of hospitalizations for heart failure. In the FINEARTS (Finerenone Trial to Investigate Efficacy and Safety Superior to Placebo in Patients with Heart Failure) trial, finerenone produced an 18% reduction in the risk of hospitalizations for heart failure but yielded uninterpretable and clinically questionable changes in KCCQ, with the small possibility of a modest benefit in <2% of randomized patients. Most physicians are unaware of the critically important methodological concerns summarized in the current paper, and, therefore, may make clinical decisions that hinge on unwarranted impressions of the effects of an intervention on health status.