Impact of Serial Troponin Release on Outcomes in Patients With Acute Heart Failure

Biomarkers to Improve Decision-making in Acute Heart Failure

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a complex clinical syndrome that requires prompt diagnosis, risk stratification and effective treatment strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality. Biomarkers are playing an increasingly important role in this process, offering valuable insights into the underlying pathophysiology and facilitating personalised patient management. This review summarises the significance of various biomarkers in the context of AHF, with a focus on their clinical applications to stratify risk and potential for guiding therapy choices.

The impact of sleep disordered breathing on cardiac troponin in acutely decompensated heart failure

PURPOSE

Sleep disordered breathing in decompensated heart failure has physiological consequences (e.g., intermittent hypoxemia) that may predispose to subclinical myocardial injury, yet a temporal relationship between sleep apnea and troponin elevation has not been established.

METHODS

We assessed the feasibility of performing respiratory polygraphy and measuring overnight high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T change in adults admitted to the hospital with acutely decompensated heart failure. Repeat sleep apnea tests (SATs) were performed to determine response to optimal medical heart failure therapy. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations between absolute overnight troponin change and sleep apnea characteristics.

RESULTS

Among the 19 subjects with acutely decompensated heart failure, 92% of SATs demonstrated sleep disordered breathing (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] > 5 events/h). For those with repeat SATs, AHI increased in 67% despite medical management of heart failure. Overnight troponin increase was associated with moderate to severe sleep apnea (vs. no to mild sleep apnea, odds ratio (OR = 18.4 [1.51-224.18]), central apnea index (OR = 1.11 [1.01-1.22]), and predominantly central sleep apnea (vs. obstructive, OR = 22.9 [1.29-406.32]).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep apnea severity and a central apnea pattern may be associated with myocardial injury. Respiratory polygraphy with serial biomarker assessment is feasible in this population, and combining this approach with interventions (e.g., positive airway pressure) may help establish if a link exists between sleep apnea and subclinical myocardial injury.

Biomarkers in the clinical management of patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are two cardiovascular diseases with an increasing prevalence worldwide. These conditions share common pathophysiologiesand frequently co-exit. In fact, the occurrence of either condition can 'cause' the development of the other, creating a new patient group that demands different management strategies to that if they occur in isolation. Regardless of the temproral association of the two conditions, their presence is linked with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, increased rate of hospitalizations, and increased economic burden on healthcare systems. The use of low-cost, easily accessible and applicable biomarkers may hasten the correct diagnosis and the effective treatment of AF and HF. Both AF and HF effect multiple physiological pathways and thus a great number of biomarkers can be measured that potentially give the clinician important diagnostic and prognostic information. These will then guide patient centred therapeutic management. The current biomarkers that offer potential for guiding therapy, focus on the physiological pathways of miRNA, myocardial stretch and injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, coagulation and renal impairment. Each of these has different utility in current clinincal practice.

Serial Assessment of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin and the Effect of Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: An Analysis of the DAPA-HF Trial

Background: Circulating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hsTnT) predominantly reflects myocardial injury, and higher levels are associated with a higher risk of worsening heart failure (HF) and death in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Less is known about the prognostic significance of changes in hsTnT over time, the effects of dapagliflozin on clinical outcomes in relation to baseline hsTnT levels, and the effect of dapagliflozin on hsTnT levels. Methods: DAPA-HF was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of dapagliflozin (10 mg daily) in patients with NYHA class II-IV symptoms and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% (median follow-up = 18.2 months). hsTnT (Roche Diagnostics) was measured at baseline in 3,112 patients and at 1 year in 2,506 patients. The primary endpoint was adjudicated worsening HF or cardiovascular death. Clinical endpoints were analyzed according to baseline hsTnT and change in hsTnT from baseline to 1 year. Comparative treatment effects on clinical endpoints with dapagliflozin vs. placebo were assessed by baseline hsTnT. The effect of dapagliflozin on hsTnT was explored. Results: Median baseline hsTnT concentration was 20.0 (25th-75th percentile, 13.7 to 30.2) ng/L. Over 1 year, 67.9% of patients had a ≥10% relative increase or decrease in hsTnT concentrations, and 43.5% had a ≥20% relative change. A stepwise gradient of higher risk for the primary endpoint was observed across increasing quartiles of baseline hsTnT concentration (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] Q4 vs. Q1, 5.10; 95% CI, 3.67-7.08). Relative and absolute increases in hsTnT over 1 year were associated with higher subsequent risk of the primary endpoint. The relative reduction in the primary endpoint with dapagliflozin was consistent across quartiles of baseline hsTnT (p-interaction = 0.55), but patients in the top quartile tended to have the greatest absolute risk reduction (absolute risk difference, 7.5%; 95% CI, 1.0% - 14.0%). Dapagliflozin tended to attenuate the increase in hsTnT over time compared to placebo (relative least squares mean reduction, -3% [-6% to 0%]; p=0.076). Conclusions: Higher baseline hsTnT and greater increase in hsTnT over 1 year are associated with worse clinical outcomes. Dapagliflozin consistently reduced the risk of the primary endpoint, irrespective of baseline hsTnT levels. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT03036124.

Circulating heart failure biomarkers beyond natriuretic peptides: review from the Biomarker Study Group of the Heart Failure Association (HFA), European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

New biomarkers are being evaluated for their ability to advance the management of patients with heart failure. Despite a large pool of interesting candidate biomarkers, besides natriuretic peptides virtually none have succeeded in being applied into the clinical setting. In this review, we examine the most promising emerging candidates for clinical assessment and management of patients with heart failure. We discuss high-sensitivity cardiac troponins (Tn), procalcitonin, novel kidney markers, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), galectin-3, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), cluster of differentiation 146 (CD146), neprilysin, adrenomedullin (ADM), and also discuss proteomics and genetic-based risk scores. We focused on guidance and assistance with daily clinical care decision-making. For each biomarker, analytical considerations are discussed, as well as performance regarding diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, we discuss potential implementation in clinical algorithms and in ongoing clinical trials.

The prognostic value of serial troponin measurements in patients admitted for COVID-19

Aims

Myocardial injury (MI) in coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) is quite prevalent at admission and affects prognosis. Little is known about troponin trajectories and their prognostic role. We aimed to describe the early in‐hospital evolution of MI and its prognostic impact.

Methods and results

We performed an analysis from an Italian multicentre study enrolling COVID‐19 patients, hospitalized from 1 March to 9 April 2020. MI was defined as increased troponin level. The first troponin was tested within 24 h from admission, the second one between 24 and 48 h. Elevated troponin was defined as values above the 99th percentile of normal values. Patients were divided in four groups: normal, normal then elevated, elevated then normal, and elevated. The outcome was in‐hospital death. The study population included 197 patients; 41% had normal troponin at both evaluations, 44% had elevated troponin at both assessments, 8% had normal then elevated troponin, and 7% had elevated then normal troponin. During hospitalization, 49 (25%) patients died. Patients with incident MI, with persistent MI, and with MI only at admission had a higher risk of death compared with those with normal troponin at both evaluations (P < 0.001). At multivariable analysis, patients with normal troponin at admission and MI injury on Day 2 had the highest mortality risk (hazard ratio 3.78, 95% confidence interval 1.10–13.09, P = 0.035).

Conclusions

In patients admitted for COVID‐19, re‐test MI on Day 2 provides a prognostic value. A non‐negligible proportion of patients with incident MI on Day 2 is identified at high risk of death only by the second measurement.

Decongestion discriminates risk for one-year mortality in patients with improving renal function in acute heart failure

AIMS

Improving renal function (IRF) is paradoxically associated with worse outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF), but outcomes may differ based on response to decongestion. We explored if the relationship of IRF with mortality in hospitalized AHF patients differs based on successful decongestion.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated 760 AHF patients from AKINESIS for the relationship between IRF, change in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and 1-year mortality. IRF was defined as a ≥20% increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) relative to admission. Adequate decongestion was defined as a ≥40% decrease in last measured BNP relative to admission. IRF occurred in 22% of patients who had a mean age of 69 years, 58% were men, 72% were white, and median admission eGFR was 49 mL/min/1.73 m² . IRF patients had more severe heart failure reflected by lower admission eGFR, higher blood urea nitrogen, lower systolic blood pressure, lower sodium, and higher use of inotropes. IRF patients had higher 1-year mortality (25%) than non-IRF patients (15%) (P < 0.01). However, this relationship differed by BNP trajectory (P-interaction = 0.03). When stratified by BNP change, non-IRF patients and IRF patients with decreasing BNP had lower 1-year mortality than either non-IRF and IRF patients without decreasing BNP. However, in multivariate analysis, IRF was not associated with mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.5] while BNP was (adjusted HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.7). When IRF was evaluated as transiently occurring or persisting at discharge, again only BNP change was significantly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSION

Improving renal function is associated with mortality in AHF but not independent of other variables and congestion status. Achieving adequate decongestion, as reflected by lower BNP, in AHF is more strongly associated with mortality than IRF.

Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure: Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment

Heart failure is a global health problem. An episode of acute heart failure (AHF) is a period of substantial morbidity and mortality with few advances in the management of an episode that have improved outcomes. The measurement of multiple biomarkers has become an integral adjunctive tool for the management of AHF. Many biomarkers are now well established in their ability to assist with diagnosis and prognostication of an AHF patient. There are also emerging biomarkers that are showing significant promise in the areas of diagnosis and prognosis. For improving the management of AHF, both established and novel biomarkers may assist in guiding medical therapy and subsequently improving outcomes. Thus, it is important to understand the different abilities and limitations of established and emerging biomarkers in AHF so that they may be correctly interpreted and integrated into clinical practice for AHF. This knowledge may improve the care of AHF patients. This review will summarize the evidence of both established and novel biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and management in AHF so that the treating clinician may become more comfortable incorporating these biomarkers into clinical practice in an evidence-based manner.

Benefits of Home-Based Solutions for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes on Health Care Costs: A Systematic Review

Diagnosing and treating acute coronary syndromes consumes a significant fraction of the healthcare budget worldwide. The pressure on resources is expected to increase with the continuing rise of cardiovascular disease, other chronic diseases and extended life expectancy, while expenditure is constrained. The objective of this review is to assess if home-based solutions for measuring chemical cardiac biomarkers can mitigate or reduce the continued rise in the costs of ACS treatment. A systematic review was performed considering published literature in several relevant public databases (i.e., PUBMED, Cochrane, Embase and Scopus) focusing on current biomarker practices in high-risk patients, their cost-effectiveness and the clinical evidence and feasibility of implementation. Out of 26,000 references screened, 86 met the inclusion criteria after independent full-text review. Current clinical evidence highlights that home-based solutions implemented in primary and secondary prevention reduce health care costs by earlier diagnosis, improved patient outcomes and quality of life, as well as by avoidance of unnecessary use of resources. Economical evidence suggests their potential to reduce health care costs if the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio or the willingness-to-pay does not surpass £20,000/QALY or €50,000 limit per 20,000 patients, respectively. The cost-effectiveness of these solutions increases when applied to high-risk patients.

Diagnostic and prognostic values of the QRS-T angle in patients with suspected acute decompensated heart failure

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of the QRS-T angle, an electrocardiogram (ECG) marker quantifying depolarization-repolarization heterogeneity, in patients with suspected acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We prospectively enrolled unselected patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of ADHF. The QRS-T angle was automatically derived from a standard 12-lead ECG recorded at presentation. The primary diagnostic endpoint was a final adjudicated diagnosis of ADHF. The primary prognostic endpoint was all-cause mortality during 2 years of follow-up. Among the 1915 patients enrolled, those with higher QRS-T angles were older, were more commonly male, and had a higher rate of co-morbidities such as arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, or chronic kidney disease. ADHF was the final adjudicated diagnosis in 1140 (60%) patients. The QRS-T angle in patients with ADHF was significantly larger than in patients with non-cardiac causes of dyspnoea {median 110° [inter-quartile range (IQR) 46-156°] vs. median 33° [IQR 15-57°], P < 0.001}. The diagnostic accuracy of the QRS-T angle as quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.75 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73-0.77, P < 0.001], which was inferior to N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (AUC 0.93, 95% CI 0.92-0.94, P < 0.001), but similar to that of high-sensitivity troponin T (AUC 0.78, 95% CI 0.76-0.80, P = 0.09). The AUC of the QRS-T angle for discrimination between ADHF and non-cardiac dyspnoea remained similarly high in subgroups of patients known to be diagnostically challenging, including patients older than 75 years [0.71 (95% CI 0.67-0.74)], renal failure [0.79 (95% CI 0.71-0.87)], and atrial fibrillation at presentation [0.68 (95% CI 0.60-0.76)]. Mortality rates according to QRS-T angle tertiles were 4%, 6%, and 10% after 30 days (P < 0.001) and 24%, 31%, and 43% after 2 years (P < 0.001). After adjustment for clinical, laboratory, and ECG parameters, the QRS-T angle remained an independent predictor for 2 year mortality with a 4% increase in mortality for every 20° increase in QRS-T angle (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The QRS-T angle is a readily available and inexpensive marker that can assist in the discrimination between ADHF and non-cardiac causes of acute dyspnoea and may aid in the risk stratification of these patients.

Evaluating the Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Biomarkers for Heart Disease and Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients With Muscular Dystrophy

AIMS

Heart disease is recognized as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with muscular dystrophy (MD). Our study demonstrates the clinical utility of cardiac biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and prognostication of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in these vulnerable patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We prospectively followed 117 patients (median age, 42 (interquartile range [IQR], 26-50) years; 49 [41.9%] women) at the Neuromuscular Multidisciplinary clinic diagnosed with a dystrophinopathy, limb-girdle MD, type 1 myotonic dystrophy, or facioscapulohumeral MD. We determined that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and high-sensitive troponin I (hsTnI) were effective diagnostic markers of cardiomyopathy (area under the curve [AUC], 0.64; P=0.017; and AUC, 0.69; P=0.001, respectively). Patient risk stratification for MACE was based on cutoff values of BNP and hsTnI defined a priori as 30.5000 pg/mL and 7.6050 ng/L, respectively. Over a median follow-up period of 2.09 (IQR, 1.17-2.81) years there were 36 confirmed MACE. Multivariate regression analyses showed that patients with BNP and hsTnI levels above the respective cutoff values had a 3.70-fold (P=0.001) and 3.24-fold (P=0.002) greater risk of MACE, respectively, compared to patients with biomarker levels below. Furthermore, patients with biomarker levels above both cutoff values had a 4.08-fold (P=0.001) greater risk of MACE. Inflammatory biomarkers did not show clinical utility for heart disease in these patients.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates important diagnostic and prognostic value of BNP and hsTnI as part of a comprehensive cardiac assessment to augment the management and treatment of heart disease in patients with MD.

In-hospital and long-term mortality for acute heart failure: analysis at the time of admission to the emergency department

AIMS

Acute heart failure (AHF) leads to a drastic increase in mortality and rehospitalization. The aim of the study was to identify prognostic variables in a real-life population of AHF patients admitted to the emergency department with acute shortness of breath.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated potential predictors of mortality in 728 consecutive patients admitted to the emergency department with AHF. Possible predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality were investigated by Cox and Fine and Gray models at multivariable analysis. Among the 728 patients, 256 died during the entire follow-up, 142 of these due to CV cause. The 1 year mortality rate was 20%, with the highest risk of death during the index hospitalization (with 8% estimate in-hospital mortality at 30 days). A higher risk of events during the index hospitalization was more evident for the CV deaths, for which we found a cumulative 1 year incidence of 12% with a cumulative incidence in the first 30 days of hospitalization of about 5%. At multivariable analysis, age (P < 0.001), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV vs. I-II-III (P = 0.001), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), non-cardiac co-morbidities (≥3 vs. 0, P = 0.05), oxygen saturation (P = 0.03), serum creatinine (P < 0.001), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (40-49% vs. <40%, P = 0.004; ≥50% vs. <40%, P = 0.003) were independent predictors of all-cause mortality during the entire follow-up. Age (P = 0.03), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.01), oxygen saturation (P = 0.03), serum creatinine (P = 0.02), and LVEF (40-49% vs. <40%, P = 0.03; ≥50% vs. <40%, P = 0.004) were independent predictors of CV mortality during the entire follow-up. NYHA class IV vs. I-II-III (P < 0.001), serum creatinine (P = 0.01), and LVEF (40-49% vs. <40%, P = 0.02; ≥50% vs. <40%, P < 0.001) remained independent predictors for in-hospital death, while only serum creatinine (P = 0.04), LVEF (40-49% vs. <40%: 0.32, P = 0.04; ≥50% vs. <40%, P < 0.001), and NYHA class vs. I-II-III (P = 0.02) remained predictors for in-hospital CV mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-life cohort of patients with AHF, the results showed a similar mortality rate comparing with other analysis and with the most important registries. Age, NYHA class IV, systolic blood pressure, creatinine levels, sodium levels, and ejection fraction were independent predictors of 1 year mortality, while LVEF <40% was the only predictor of both all-cause mortality and CV mortality.

P1 Receptor Agonists/Antagonists in Clinical Trials - Potential Drug Candidates of the Future

BACKGROUND

Adenosine mediates various physiological and pathological conditions by acting on its four P1 receptors (A1, A2A, A2B and A3 receptors). Omnipresence of P1 receptors and their activation, exert a wide range of biological activities. Thus, its modulation is implicated in various disorders like Parkinson's disease, asthma, cardiovascular disorders, cancer etc. Hence these receptors have become an interesting target for the researchers to develop potential therapeutic agents. Number of molecules were designed and developed in the past few years and evaluated for their efficacy in various disease conditions.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective is to provide an overview of new chemical entities which have crossed preclinical studies and reached clinical trials stage following their current status and future prospective.

METHODS

In this review we discuss current status of the drug candidates which have undergone clinical trials and their prospects.

RESULTS

Many chemical entities targeting various subtypes of P1 receptors are patented; twenty of them have crossed preclinical studies and reached clinical trials stage. Two of them viz adenosine and regadenoson are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

CONCLUSION

This review is an attempt to highlight the current status, progress and probable future of P1 receptor ligands which are under clinical trials as promising novel therapeutic agents and the direction in which research should proceed with a view to come out with novel therapeutic agents.

High-Sensitivity Troponin I in Hospitalized and Ambulatory Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Insights From the Heart Failure Clinical Research Network

Background We sought to study the prevalence of high-sensitivity troponin and its association with cardiac structure and outcomes in ambulatory and hospitalized patients with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction ( HF p EF ). Methods and Results A post hoc analysis utilized data from HF p EF patients: DOSE (Diuretic Optimization Strategies Evaluation) and CARRESS - HF (Cardiorenal Rescue Study in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure) enrolled patients hospitalized with acute HF p EF , and RELAX (Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition to Improve Clinical Status and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) enrolled ambulatory patients with HF p EF . High-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) was measured in hospitalized patients at baseline, at 72 to 96 hours, on day 7, and on day 60. In ambulatory patients hs-TnI was measured at baseline and at week 24. In the ambulatory cohort, correlations between hs-TnI and cardiac structure and function were assessed. The association between hs-TnI and a 60-day composite of emergency room visits, readmissions, and death was assessed for hospitalized patients using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. The study population included 139 hospitalized and 212 ambulatory patients with HF p EF and hs-TnI measured at baseline. The median (25th, 75th percentiles) baseline troponin was 17.6 (11.1, 41.0) ng/L in hospitalized patients and 9.5 (5.3, 19.7) ng/L in ambulatory patients ( P<0.001). The prevalence of elevated hs-TnI (>99% percentile upper reference limit was 86% in hospitalized patients and 53% among ambulatory patients, with stable elevation in ambulatory patients during follow-up. HF p EF patients with a hs-TnI above the median were older with worse left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Continuously valued hs-TnI (per doubling) was associated with increased risk of composite end point (adjusted hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.43; P=0.042). Conclusions Hs-TnI is commonly elevated among both hospitalized and ambulatory patients with HF p EF . Increased hs-TnI levels are associated with worse cardiac structure and increased risk of adverse events.

Hepatorenal dysfunction identifies high-risk patients with acute heart failure: insights from the RELAX-AHF trial

AIMS

Episodes of acute heart failure (AHF) may lead to end-organ dysfunction. In this post hoc analysis of the Relaxin in Acute Heart Failure trial, we used the MELD-XI (Model of End-Stage Liver Dysfunction) score to examine hepatorenal dysfunction in patients with AHF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

On admission, the MELD-XI score was elevated (abnormal) in 918 (82%) patients, with 638 (57%) having isolated renal dysfunction (creatinine > 1 mg/dL), 73 (6.5%) isolated liver dysfunction (bilirubin > 1 mg/dL), and 207 (18.5%) coexisting dysfunction of the kidneys and the liver (both creatinine and bilirubin > 1 mg/dL). The percentage of patients with elevated MELD-XI score remained constant through a 60 day follow-up, as we observed a gradual decrease of liver dysfunction prevalence, counterbalanced by an increase in renal dysfunction. Serelaxin treatment was associated with a lower MELD-XI score on Day 2 and Day 5 (both P < 0.05), but this difference vs. placebo disappeared during longer follow-up. In the multivariable model, an elevated MELD-XI score on admission was associated with higher 180 day mortality: hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for cardiovascular death were 3.10 (1.22-7.87), and for all-cause death 2.47 (1.19-5.15); both P < 0.05. The addition of the MELD-XI score to a prespecified prognostic model increased the discrimination of the model for all-cause death, but the increment in the C-index was only modest: 0.013 (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AHF, hepatorenal dysfunction is prevalent and related to poor outcome. The MELD-XI score is a useful prognosticator in AHF.

TACIT (High Sensitivity Troponin T Rules Out Acute Cardiac Insufficiency Trial)

BACKGROUND

Identifying low-risk acute heart failure patients safe for discharge from the emergency department is a major unmet need.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A prospective, observational, multicenter pilot study targeting lower risk acute heart failure patients to determine whether hsTnT (high-sensitivity troponin T) identifies emergency department acute heart failure patients at low risk for rehospitalization and mortality. hsTnT was drawn at baseline and 3 hours. Phone follow-up occurred at 30 and 90 days. The primary end point composite of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization, and emergency department visits at 90 days (changed from 30 days because of lack of mortality events), analyzed using logistic regression. Secondary end points: 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality. hsTnT values less than the 99th percentile were defined as low hsTnT. Out of 527 enrolled patients, 499 comprised the initial analysis set. Of these, 332 had both 0- and 3-hour hsTnT drawn, of whom 319 completed 30 day follow-up. The average age was 62, 60% male, and 57% black. Median hsTnT was 26.4 ng/L (interquartile range, 15.1-44.3). There were 99 (21%) 30-day composite events, 13 (2.7%) deaths at 30 days, and 25 deaths (8.2%) at 90 days. Serial hsTnT values below the 99th percentile were not associated with a lower risk for the 90-day primary composite end point (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.42-1.50; P=0.4736). However, no deaths occurred in the low hsTnT group at 30 days with 1 death at 90 days.

CONCLUSIONS

hsTnT did not identify patients at low risk for the primary outcome of rehospitalization, emergency department visits, and mortality at 90 days.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02592135.

Patterns of dyspnoea onset in patients with acute heart failure: clinical and prognostic implications

Aims

Despite attempts to improve the management of patients with acute heart failure (HF), virtually all therapeutic agents investigated in large clinical trials failed to show any consistent reduction in mortality and morbidity. Complexity of the clinical syndrome of acute HF seems to be likely an underlying explanation. Traditionally, clinical trials studied mixed patient populations with acute HF, and only recently, better clinical characterization of patients has been proposed. Dyspnoea is the most common presenting symptom related to hospital admission for acute HF. Whether in patients with acute HF, the pattern of symptoms onset preceding hospital admission is associated with clinical characteristics, and the outcomes have not yet been established.

Methods and results

We investigated 137 patients (mean age: 65 ± 13 years; 80% men) hospitalized due to acute HF with dyspnoea as major reported symptom, who were divided according to the time of its onset into those with acute (n = 98) vs. subacute (n = 39) onset (i.e. within 7 days vs. >7 days preceding hospital admission, respectively). On admission, the former group presented higher blood pressure (138 ± 33 vs. 121 ± 32 mmHg), more often moderate–severe pulmonary congestion (33 vs. 8%), and lower bilirubin level [1.07 (0.72–1.60) vs. 1.27 (0.87–2.06); P < 0.05 in all comparisons]. There were no other differences in baseline clinical characteristics and laboratory indices. Higher percentage of patients with an acute dyspnoea onset reported marked/moderate dyspnoea relief after 6 (18% vs. 7%), 24 (59% vs. 24%), and 48 h (80% vs. 46% assessed as an improvement of at least 5 points in self‐reported 10‐point Likert scale; P < 0.05 in all time points). In patients with an acute onset of dyspnoea after 48 h, a decrease of N‐terminal pro BNP was more frequently observed (83% vs. 65%), and the levels of endothelin‐1 were more reduced [−1.1 (−2.9–0.03) vs 0.4 (−2.2–1.4); all P < 0.05]. Patients with acute onset experienced less in‐hospital HF worsening (13% vs. 40%, P = 0.001), and 1 year cardiovascular mortality was significantly lower (20% vs. 41%, P = 0.01). On the multivariable analysis, subacute pattern of dyspnoea was independent predictor of 12 month cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute HF after adjusting for other prognostic factors: systolic blood pressure, urea, and HF de novo [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.32 (1.13–4.75), P = 0.02].

Conclusions

In patients with acute HF, the pattern of symptoms onset is associated with baseline differences in clinical characteristics, biomarker profile, response to standard treatment, and the long‐term outcomes. This is relevant information for planning future clinical trials.

Early readmission for heart failure: An avoidable or ineluctable debacle?

Early hospital readmission after an episode of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) is an emerging issue that is causing a relevant clinical and economic burden. Although there might be several reasons for early readmissions, in many cases these might be effectively prevented by a more adequate post-discharge management, including recommendations on lifestyle and rehabilitation programs. However, almost half of hospitalizations are unrelated to specific cardiac causes and thus increases the difficulty in analyzing risks prediction. Many episodes are related to social environment, poor familiar assistance and inadequate followup program. In addition, the national and insurance companies constantly quest for a reduction of costs that could lead to inappropriately shortened hospital stays. Therefore, the suitability of early re-hospitalization as a correct target for good medical practice is highly debated. Nevertheless, the post-discharge phase after episodes of ADHF remains poorly analyzed in clinical trials and specific investigations should be considered during the transition period from acute to chronic status. A validated program, which focuses on an appropriate risk algorithm including cardiac and extracardiac precipitating factors is lacking. This is a necessary and it should become one of the most important targets to aim for in HF management and strategy.

What's Next for Acute Heart Failure Research?

Each year over one million patients with acute heart failure (AHF) present to a United States emergency department (ED). The vast majority are hospitalized for further management. The length of stay and high postdischarge event rate in this cohort have changed little over the past decade. Therapeutic trials have failed to yield substantive improvement in postdischarge outcomes; subsequently, AHF care has changed little in the past 40 years. Prior research studies have been fragmented as either "inpatient" or "ED-based." Recognizing the challenges in identification and enrollment of ED patients with AHF, and the lack of robust evidence to guide management, an AHF clinical trials network was developed. This network has demonstrated, through organized collaboration between cardiology and emergency medicine, that many of the hurdles in AHF research can be overcome. The development of a network that supports the collaboration of acute care and HF researchers, combined with the availability of federally funded infrastructure, will facilitate more efficient conduct of both explanatory and pragmatic trials in AHF. Yet many important questions remain, and in this document our group of emergency medicine and cardiology investigators have identified four high-priority research areas.

Pre-discharge and early post-discharge troponin elevation among patients hospitalized for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: findings from the ASTRONAUT trial

AIMS

Troponin levels are commonly elevated among patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF), but the prevalence and prognostic significance of early post-discharge troponin elevation are unclear. This study sought to describe the frequency and prognostic value of pre-discharge and post-discharge troponin elevation, including persistent troponin elevation from the inpatient to outpatient settings.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The ASTRONAUT trial (NCT00894387; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov) enrolled hospitalized HF patients with ejection fraction ≤40% and measured troponin I prior to discharge (i.e. study baseline) and at 1-month follow-up in a core laboratory (elevation defined as >0.04 ng/mL). This analysis included 1469 (91.0%) patients with pre-discharge troponin data. Overall, 41.5% and 29.9% of patients had elevated pre-discharge [median: 0.09 ng/mL; interquartile range (IQR): 0.06-0.19 ng/mL] and 1-month (median: 0.09 ng/mL; IQR: 0.06-0.15 ng/mL) troponin levels, respectively. Among patients with pre-discharge troponin elevation, 60.4% had persistent elevation at 1 month. After adjustment, pre-discharge troponin elevation was not associated with 12-month clinical outcomes. In contrast, 1-month troponin elevation was independently predictive of increased all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18-2.13] and cardiovascular mortality or HF hospitalization (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.03-1.58) at 12 months. Associations between 1-month troponin elevation and outcomes were similar among patients with newly elevated (i.e. normal pre-discharge) and persistently elevated levels (interaction P ≥ 0.16). The prognostic value of 1-month troponin elevation for 12-month mortality was driven by a pronounced association among patients with coronary artery disease (interaction P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

In this hospitalized HF population, troponin I elevation was common during index hospitalization and at 1-month follow-up. Elevated troponin I level at 1 month, but not pre-discharge, was independently predictive of increased clinical events at 12 months. Early post-discharge troponin I measurement may offer a practical means of risk stratification and should be investigated as a therapeutic target.

Associations of Body Mass Index With Laboratory and Biomarkers in Patients With Acute Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides decline with obesity in patients with heart failure. Whether this is true for other biomarkers is unknown. We investigated a wide range of biomarker profiles in acute heart failure across the body mass index (BMI) spectrum.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 48 biomarkers, assessing multiple pathophysiological pathways, were measured in 2033 patients included in PROTECT (Placebo-Controlled Randomized Study of the Selective A1 Adenosine Receptor Antagonist Rolofylline for Patients Hospitalized With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Volume Overload to Assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and Renal Function), a trial comparing the effects of rolofylline to placebo in patients with acute heart failure. Patients were classified into 4 groups according to BMI (<25, 25-30, 30-35, and >35 kg/m²). Of 2003 patients with known weight and height, mean age was 70±12 years and 67% were men. Patients with a higher BMI (>35 kg/m²) had higher blood pressures, were younger, and were more often women. Median levels of brain natriuretic peptide were 550 pg/mL in patients with a BMI <25 kg/m² and 319 pg/mL in patients with a BMI >35 kg/m² (P<0.001). Multivariable regression revealed that brain natriuretic peptide (β=-0.250; P<0.001) and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (β=-0.095; P<0.007) were inversely correlated to BMI, whereas higher levels of uric acid (β=0.164; P<0.001), proadrenomedullin (β=0.171; P<0.001), creatinine (β=0.118; P=0.003), sodium (β=0.101; P=0.006), and bicarbonate (β=0.094; P=0.009) were associated with higher BMI. No significant interaction was seen between these 7 biomarkers and BMI on 180-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The plasma concentrations of several biomarkers are either positively or negatively influenced by BMI. These findings suggest that these markers should be interpreted with caution in patients with obesity. Although concentrations differ, their prognostic value for mortality up to 180 days did not differ.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00354458.

Role of Biomarkers for the Prevention, Assessment, and Management of Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Natriuretic peptides have led the way as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for the diagnosis and management of heart failure (HF). More recent evidence suggests that natriuretic peptides along with the next generation of biomarkers may provide added value to medical management, which could potentially lower risk of mortality and readmissions. The purpose of this scientific statement is to summarize the existing literature and to provide guidance for the utility of currently available biomarkers.

METHODS

The writing group used systematic literature reviews, published translational and clinical studies, clinical practice guidelines, and expert opinion/statements to summarize existing evidence and to identify areas of inadequacy requiring future research. The panel reviewed the most relevant adult medical literature excluding routine laboratory tests using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science through December 2016. The document is organized and classified according to the American Heart Association to provide specific suggestions, considerations, or contemporary clinical practice recommendations.

RESULTS

A number of biomarkers associated with HF are well recognized, and measuring their concentrations in circulation can be a convenient and noninvasive approach to provide important information about disease severity and helps in the detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and management of HF. These include natriuretic peptides, soluble suppressor of tumorgenicity 2, highly sensitive troponin, galectin-3, midregional proadrenomedullin, cystatin-C, interleukin-6, procalcitonin, and others. There is a need to further evaluate existing and novel markers for guiding therapy and to summarize their data in a standardized format to improve communication among researchers and practitioners.

CONCLUSIONS

HF is a complex syndrome involving diverse pathways and pathological processes that can manifest in circulation as biomarkers. A number of such biomarkers are now clinically available, and monitoring their concentrations in blood not only can provide the clinician information about the diagnosis and severity of HF but also can improve prognostication and treatment strategies.

Persistent increase in cardiac troponin T at hospital discharge predicts repeat hospitalization in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Background

High-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hsTnT) is a sensitive biomarker of myocardial damage and predictor of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, there is little information on changes over time in hsTnT level during ADHF management. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate changes in hsTnT levels between admission and at discharge in patients with ADHF, and identify factors that determine such levels and their prognostic significance.

Methods and results

We evaluated 404 ADHF patients with abnormal hsTnT levels (≥0.0135 ng/ml) on admission. The median (interquartile ranges) hsTnT levels on admission, at discharge, and percent changes in hsTnT levels were 0.038 (0.026 to 0.065), 0.032 (0.021 to 0.049) ng/ml, and -12.0 (-39.8 to 7.4) % respectively. The numbers of patients with falling (hsTnT decrease > -15%), stable (hsTnT change between -15 and +15%) and rising (hsTnT increase > +15%) hsTnT level at discharge were 190, 146, and 68, respectively. The percent change in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels was greater in the falling group, compared to the stable (p<0.001) and rising groups (p<0.001). Changes in hsTnT levels correlated significantly with changes in BNP levels (ρ = 0.22, p<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified rising or stable hsTnT at discharge as a significant predictor of heart failure-related rehospitalization (hazard ratio: 1.69; 95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 2.70; p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Persistent increase in hsTnT levels at discharge correlated with inadequate decrease of BNP levels, and was a predictor of poor clinical outcome, with repeat heart failure hospitalizations.

Elevated troponin I level assessed by a new high-sensitive assay and the risk of poor outcomes in patients with acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

The interpretation and clinical usefulness of elevated levels of cardiac troponins in acute heart failure (AHF) remain controversial. We aimed to characterize the relationship between changes in cardiac troponin I (measured using a new high-sensitive immunoassay by single-molecule counting technology, Singulex, Alameda, USA; hs-TnI) during first 48h of hospital stay and patients' characteristics and the outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We measured hs-TnI at baseline, after 24 and 48h in 130 AHF patients (mean age: 65±13years, 77% men). The percentage of patients with elevated hs-TnI (i.e., above the upper reference limit [URL]>10.19pg/mL) were: on admission - 59%, after 24h - 61%, and after 48h - 58%. Elevated baseline level of hs-TnI was associated with more severe dyspnoea on admission but neither peak level nor changes in hs-TnI during first 48h were related to the dyspnoea severity or magnitude of dyspnoea relief. During 1-year follow-up there were 32 (25%) cardiovascular deaths. Neither absolute baseline nor peak values of hs-TnI predicted cardiovascular mortality. Only changes in hs-TnI were independently associated with cardiovascular mortality with the strongest relationship seen in peak change in hs-TnI: patients with an increase vs. remaining patients - hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 3.22 (1.52-6.82)p=0.002.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the new assay (proved to be more sensitive that the other available troponin assays) we observed that approximately 60% of patients with AHF presented elevated hs-TnI above URL during first 48h of hospital stay. Only significant increase in hs-TnI predicted cardiovascular mortality.

Predictors of Post-discharge Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure

Acute Heart Failure (AHF) is a " multi-event disease" and hospitalisation is a critical event in the clinical course of HF. Despite relatively rapid relief of symptoms, hospitalisation for AHF is followed by an increased risk of death and re-hospitalisation. In AHF, risk stratification from clinically available data is increasingly important in evaluating long-term prognosis. From the perspective of patients, information on the risk of mortality and re-hospitalisation would be helpful in providing patients with insight into their disease. From the perspective of care providers, it may facilitate management decisions, such as who needs to be admitted and to what level of care (i.e. floor, step-down, ICU). Furthermore, risk-stratification may help identify patients who need to be evaluated for advanced HF therapies (i.e. left-ventricle assistance device or transplant or palliative care), and patients who need early a post-discharge follow-up plan. Finally, risk stratification will allow for more robust efforts to identify among risk markers the true targets for therapies that may direct treatment strategies to selected high-risk patients. Further clinical research will be needed to evaluate if appropriate risk stratification of patients could improve clinical outcome and resources allocation.

Acute Treatment With Omecamtiv Mecarbil to Increase Contractility in Acute Heart Failure: The ATOMIC-AHF Study

BACKGROUND

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a selective cardiac myosin activator that increases myocardial function in healthy volunteers and in patients with chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, tolerability, safety, and efficacy of OM in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

METHODS

Patients admitted for AHF with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, dyspnea, and elevated plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides were randomized to receive a double-blind, 48-h intravenous infusion of placebo or OM in 3 sequential, escalating-dose cohorts.

RESULTS

In 606 patients, OM did not improve the primary endpoint of dyspnea relief (3 OM dose groups and pooled placebo: placebo, 41%; OM cohort 1, 42%; cohort 2, 47%; cohort 3, 51%; p = 0.33) or any of the secondary outcomes studied. In supplemental, pre-specified analyses, OM resulted in greater dyspnea relief at 48 h (placebo, 37% vs. OM, 51%; p = 0.034) and through 5 days (p = 0.038) in the high-dose cohort. OM exerted plasma concentration-related increases in left ventricular systolic ejection time (p < 0.0001) and decreases in end-systolic dimension (p < 0.05). The adverse event profile and tolerability of OM were similar to those of placebo, without increases in ventricular or supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Plasma troponin concentrations were higher in OM-treated patients compared with placebo (median difference at 48 h, 0.004 ng/ml), but with no obvious relationship with OM concentration (p = 0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AHF, intravenous OM did not meet the primary endpoint of dyspnea improvement, but it was generally well tolerated, it increased systolic ejection time, and it may have improved dyspnea in the high-dose group. (Acute Treatment with Omecamtiv Mecarbil to Increase Contractility in Acute Heart Failure [ATOMIC-AHF]; NCT01300013).

Comparison of the Effects of Levosimendan Dobutamine and Vasodilator Therapy on Ongoing Myocardial Injury in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Cardiac troponins (cTn) are reliable and the most sensitive biomarker in the setting of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Acute decompensated heart failure is usually associated with worsening chronic heart failure, and it may be caused by ongoing minor myocardial cell damage that may occur without any reported precipitating factors.

METHODS

We compared the short-term effect of levosimendan (LEV), dobutamine (DOB), and vasodilator treatment (nitroglycerin [NTG]) on myocardial injury with hemodynamic, neurohumoral, and inflammatory indicators. One hundred twenty-two patients with a mean age of 66 ± 9 years were treated with LEV (n = 40), DOB (n = 42), and NTG (n = 40) and examined retrospectively. Blood samples (cTnI, N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], highly sensitive C-reactive protein [HsCRP], and others), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were compared before and after treatment.

RESULTS

At admission, detectable levels of cTnI were observed in 53% of patients (≥0.05 ng/mL). Serial changes in the mean cTnI levels were not significantly different between the groups (LEV 0.04 ± 0.01 to 0.03 ± 0.01 ng/mL; DOB 0.145 ± 0.08 to 0.08 ± 0.03 ng/mL; NTG 0.1 ± 0.03 to 0.09 ± 0.02 ng/mL; overall P = .859). Favourable effects on the NT-proBNP, sPAP values, LVEF, 6MWD, and HsCRP were observed overall, especially in the LEV groups.

CONCLUSION

Beneficial effects of short-term use of LEV, DOB, and NTG on ongoing myocardial injury were demonstrated. These findings can be attributed to the anti-ischemic properties as well as the hemodynamic, neurohumoral, and functional benefits from the positive inotropes, especially LEV, in patients with ADHF.

Assessing Risk and Preventing 30-Day Readmissions in Decompensated Heart Failure: Opportunity to Intervene?

Heart failure (HF) patients are at high risk of hospital readmission, which contributes to substantial health care costs. There is great interest in strategies to reduce rehospitalization for HF. However, many readmissions occur within 30 days of initial hospital discharge, presenting a challenge for interventions to be instituted in a short time frame. Potential strategies to reduce readmissions for HF can be classified into three different forms. First, patients who are at high risk of readmission can be identified even before their initial index hospital discharge. Second, ambulatory remote monitoring strategies may be instituted to identify early warning signs before acute decompensation of HF occurs. Finally, strategies may be employed in the emergency department to identify low-risk patients who may not need hospital readmission. If symptoms improve with initial therapy, low-risk patients could be referred to specialized, rapid outpatient follow-up care where investigations and therapy can occur in an outpatient setting.

Use of High-Sensitivity Troponin T to Identify Patients With Acute Heart Failure at Lower Risk for Adverse Outcomes: An Exploratory Analysis From the RELAX-AHF Trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine if a baseline high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) value ≤99th percentile upper reference limit (0.014 μg/l ["low hsTnT"]) identifies patients at low risk for adverse outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Approximately 85% of patients who present to emergency departments with acute heart failure are admitted. Identification of patients at low risk might decrease unnecessary admissions.

METHODS

A post-hoc analysis was conducted from the RELAX-AHF (Serelaxin, Recombinant Human Relaxin-2, for Treatment of Acute Heart Failure) trial, which randomized patients within 16 h of presentation who had systolic blood pressure >125 mm Hg, mild to moderate renal impairment, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide ≥1,600 ng/l to serelaxin versus placebo. Linear regression models for continuous endpoints and Cox models for time-to-event endpoints were used.

RESULTS

Of the 1,076 patients with available baseline hsTnT values, 107 (9.9%) had low hsTnT. No cardiovascular (CV) deaths through day 180 were observed in the low-hsTnT group compared with 79 CV deaths (7.3%) in patients with higher hsTnT. By univariate analyses, low hsTnT was associated with lower risk for all 5 primary outcomes: 1) days alive and out of the hospital by day 60; 2) CV death or rehospitalization for heart failure or renal failure by day 60; 3) length of stay; 4) worsening heart failure through day 5; and 5) CV death through day 180. After multivariate adjustment, only 180-day CV mortality remained significant (hazard ratio: 0.0; 95% confidence interval: 0.0 to 0.736; p = 0.0234; C-index = 0.838 [95% confidence interval: 0.798 to 0.878]).

CONCLUSIONS

No CV deaths through day 180 were observed in patients with hsTnT levels ≤0.014 μg/l despite high N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels. Low baseline hsTnT may identify patients with acute heart failure at very low risk for CV mortality.

Mode of Death After Acute Heart Failure Hospitalization - A Clue to Possible Mechanisms

Heart failure continues to be a leading cause of hospitalization worldwide, and acute heart failure (AHF) carries significant risk for short-term morbidity and mortality. Despite many trials of potential new therapies for AHF, there have been very few advances over the recent decades. In this review, we will examine mortality during and after AHF hospitalization, with an emphasis on available data on mode of death (MOD). We will also review data on the timing of different MOD after AHF and the effect of specific therapies, as well as what is known about the contribution of specific pathophysiological mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the potential utility of further study of MOD data for AHF and its application to drug development, risk stratification, and therapeutic tailoring to improve short- and long-term outcomes in AHF.

Editor's Choice-The role of the emergency department in the management of acute heart failure: An international perspective on education and research

Emergency departments are a major entry point for the initial management of acute heart failure (AHF) patients throughout the world. The initial diagnosis, management and disposition - the decision to admit or discharge - of AHF patients in the emergency department has significant downstream implications. Misdiagnosis, under or overtreatment, or inappropriate admission may place patients at increased risk for adverse events, and add costs to the healthcare system. Despite the critical importance of initial management, data are sparse regarding the impact of early AHF treatment delivered in the emergency department compared to inpatient or chronic heart failure management. Unfortunately, outcomes remain poor, with nearly a third of patients dying or re-hospitalised within 3 months post-discharge. In the absence of robust research evidence, consensus is an important source of guidance for AHF care. Thus, we convened an international group of practising emergency physicians, cardiologists and advanced practice nurses with the following goals to improve outcomes for AHF patients who present to the emergency department or other acute care setting through: (a) a better understanding of the pathophysiology, presentation and management of the initial phase of AHF care; (b) improving initial management by addressing knowledge gaps between best practices and current practice through education and research; and

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonism in Acute Heart Failure

OPINION STATEMENT

Heart failure (HF) remains a tremendous burden to health care systems and patients worldwide. The cornerstone neurohormonal disruption that leads to the debilitating sequelae in HF patients revolves primarily around aldosterone and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Aldosterone plays a detrimental role in tissue remodeling by inducing inflammation and fibrosis within the cardiovascular and renal systems, leaving mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) as key pharmacological tools to slow pathogenesis and improve patient outcomes. The role of MRA in improving morbidity and mortality in outpatients with chronic HF and low ejection fraction is well established and supported by large randomized controlled trials. However, evidence-based data relating to the use of MRA in acute HF (AHF) remain somewhat limited, and therefore, the use of MRA is not ubiquitously considered in the acute setting. Current studies for the use of MRA in AHF are limited by small sample size as well as safety concerns relating to the dose-dependent effects on electrolyte homeostasis and renal function. Here, we discuss the imperative need for additional trials elucidating the potential benefits of MRA in AHF as an adjunct diuretic therapy. We not only discuss the role of MRA in neurohormonal regulation of aldosterone but also highlight a potential dose-dependent role for MRA in natriuresis. Furthermore, we showcase existing and recent evidence-based data demonstrating the effectiveness of MRA in AHF and on long-term outcomes. Finally, we look at several treatment strategies and safety concerns as they relate to MRA use so as to aid in avoidance of MRA-related complications while facilitating achievement of treatment goals.

Clinical and prognostic role of ammonia in advanced decompensated heart failure. The cardio-abdominal syndrome?

BACKGROUND

Advanced heart failure is associated with end-organ damage. Recent literature suggested an intriguing crosstalk between failing heart, abdomen and kidneys. Venous ammonia, as a by-product of the gut, could be a marker of abdominal injury in heart failure patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical and prognostic role of ammonia in patients with advanced decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

METHODS & RESULTS

90 patients admitted with ADHF were prospectively studied. The prognostic role of ammonia at admission was evaluated. Primary end-points were: a composite of cardiac death, urgent heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at 3 months and need for renal replacement therapies (RRT). In the study cohort (age 59.0 ± 12.0 years, FE 21.6 ± 9.0%, INTERMACS profile 3.7 ± 0.9, creatinine 1.71 ± 0.95 mg/dl) 27 patients (30%) underwent the cardiac composite endpoint, while 9 patients (10%) needed RRT. At ROC curve analysis ammonia ≥ 130 μg/dl (abdominal damage) showed the best diagnostic accuracy. At multivariate analysis abdominal damage predicted the cardiac composite endpoint. Abdominal damage further increased risk among patient with cold profile at admission (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1-7.0, p = 0.046). At multivariate analysis abdominal damage also predicted need for RRT (OR 10.8, 95% CI 1.5-75.8, p = 0.017). The combined use of estimated right atrial pressure and ammonia showed the highest diagnostic accuracy and a very high specificity in prediction of need for RRT.

CONCLUSION

In a selected population admitted for ADHF ammonia, as a marker of abdominal derangement, predicted adverse cardiac events and need for RRT.

Soluble ST2 in Ventricular Dysfunction

Heart failure is a commonly encountered condition associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare cost. For years, its management has been strongly influenced by the use of B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide biomarkers. In some cases, this approach does not always identify patients with heart failure accurately and may not provide the best prognostic assessment, particularly in the presence of comorbidities. Biomarkers that help refine diagnosis and risk stratification are needed. Soluble ST2, a peptide belonging to the interleukin-1 receptor family, is secreted when cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts are subjected to mechanical strain. Although preliminary results on this novel biomarker are encouraging, additional and more comprehensive studies are clearly needed to establish its role in the management of patients with heart failure. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of data currently available.

Role of Cardiac Troponin Levels in Acute Heart Failure

Cardiac troponin (cTn) is the primary biomarker for the diagnosis of myocardial necrosis in an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). cTn levels can also be elevated in many other conditions, including heart failure, with significant prognostic value. An elevated cTn level can be found in both acute and chronic heart failure and its presence is believed to be due to multiple different pathophysiological processes. In acute decompensated heart failure (AHF), an elevated cTn level has been repeatedly shown to correlate with increased short- and long-term mortality and, to a lesser extent, readmission rates. These associations have been demonstrated with both I and T isoforms of cTn, as well as when troponin is measured with conventional assays or new high-sense assays. In multimarker models, cTn has repeatedly been found to be an independent predictive variable enhancing prognostic ability of the model. cTn is therefore an important biomarker for prognosis in AHF.

Biomarkers in cardiology--part 1--in heart failure and specific cardiomyopathies

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Brazil. The primary and secondary preventions of those diseases are a priority for the health system and require multiple approaches to increase their effectiveness. Biomarkers are tools used to more accurately identify high-risk individuals, to speed the diagnosis, and to aid in treatment and prognosis determination. This review aims to highlight the importance of biomarkers in clinical cardiology practice, and to raise relevant points of their use and the promises for the coming years. This document was divided into two parts, and this first one discusses the use of biomarkers in specific cardiomyopathies and heart failure.

Prognostic markers of acute decompensated heart failure: the emerging roles of cardiac biomarkers and prognostic scores

Rapidly assessing outcome in patients with acute decompensated heart failure is important but prognostic factors may differ from those used routinely for stable chronic heart failure. Multiple plasma biomarkers, besides the classic natriuretic peptides, have recently emerged as potential prognosticators. Furthermore, prognostic scores that combine clinical and biochemical data may also be useful. However, compared with the scores used in chronic heart failure, scores for acute decompensated heart failure have not been validated. This article reviews potential biomarkers, with a special focus on biochemical biomarkers, and possible prognostic scores that could be used by the clinician when assessing outcome in patients with acute heart failure.

Clinical relevance of biomarkers in heart failure and cardiorenal syndrome: the role of natriuretic peptides and troponin

In recent years, numerous biomarkers have been studied in heart failure to improve diagnostic accuracy and identify patients at higher risk. The overall outcome remains fairish despite improvements in therapy, with mean survival after first hospitalization, around 5 years. We therefore need surrogate end points to better understand the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease, including interplays with other organs. The kidney plays an important role in the initiation and progression of HF, and around one-third of patients with HF show some degree of renal dysfunction. In addition, treatment for HF often worsens renal function, consequently to hemodynamic and clinical improvement do not correspond an effective improvement in HF prognosis. Association between HF and renal impairment (RI) is now classified as cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) pointing out the bidirectional nature of this vicious circle leading to a mutual and progressive damage of both organs. The clinicians can rely on circulating biomarkers that give insights into the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and help in risk stratification. Recently, a multimarker strategy including biomarker tool to traditional risk scores has been purposed and applied: Although each biomarker provided incremental outcome benefit, the combination of multiple biomarkers should offer the greatest improvement in risk prediction. Natriuretic peptides (NP) and cardiac troponins (TN) are the two biomarkers most studied in this setting, probably because of their organ-specific nature. However, both NP and TN cutoffs in presence of renal dysfunction need to be revised and discussed in relation to age, gender and stage of RI. In this context, the biomarkers are a unique opportunity to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms, tailor clinical management to the single patient and improve outcomes. Specific studies about the exact role of biomarkers as in HF as in CRS should be planned and considered for future trials.