Renal dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved versus reduced ejection fraction: impact of the new Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration Group formula

Management of patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure are often co-existing conditions due to a shared pathophysiological process involving neurohormonal activation and hemodynamic maladaptation. A wide range of pharmaceutical and interventional tools are available to patients with CKD, consisting of traditional ones with decades of experience and newer emerging therapies that are rapidly reshaping the landscape of medical care for this population. Management of patients with heart failure and CKD requires a stepwise approach based on renal function and the clinical phenotype of heart failure. This is often challenging due to altered drug pharmacokinetics interactions with various degrees of kidney function and frequent adverse effects from the therapy that lead to poor patient tolerance. Despite a great body of clinical evidence and guidelines that have offered various treatment options for patients with heart failure and CKD, respectively, patients with CKD are still underrepresented in heart failure clinical trials, especially for those with advanced CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Future studies are needed to better understand the generalizability of these therapeutic options among heart failures with different stages of CKD.

Impact of inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system on early cardiac and renal abnormalities in Sprague Dawley rats fed short-term high fructose plus high salt diet

Introduction

The combination of a high fructose and high salt diet typical of western diet induces high blood pressure, aortic stiffening, left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and impaired renal function in rodents. Despite an activated renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rats fed high fructose and high salt, acute inhibition of the RAS pathway does not improve cardiac and vascular parameters. It may well be that longer term treatment is required to permit remodeling and improve cardiovascular function. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic RAS inhibition fructose+high salt-fed rats to restore blood pressure (BP) to levels similar to glucose plus normal salt-fed controls will improve cardiorenal function and histopathology.

Methods

Male and female Sprague Dawley rats monitored by hemodynamic telemetry were fed 0.4% NaCl chow during baseline, then changed to chow containing either 20% glucose+0.4% NaCl (G) or 20% fructose+4% NaCl (F) and treated with vehicle, enalapril (Enal, 4 mg/kg/d) or losartan (Los, 8 mg/kg/d) by osmotic minipump for 25-26 days.

Results

BP was elevated in the fructose+high salt groups of both sexes (P < 0.05) and restored to control levels by Enal or Los. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was lower in female F+Los rats and cardiac output higher in female F+Enal rats. GFR was not changed by diet or treatment. Fructose+high salt groups of both sexes displayed higher albuminuria that was decreased by Enal in male rats. Cardiac fibrosis and mesangial hypercellularity were greater in fructose+high salt-fed rats of both sexes and improved with either Los or Enal.

Discussion

Thus, inhibition of the RAS improves early changes in cardiac and renal histopathology in both sexes and albuminuria in male rats fed high fructose and high salt diet. Functional improvements in cardiorenal parameters may require longer treatment.

AI hybrid survival assessment for advanced heart failure patients with renal dysfunction

Renal dysfunction (RD) often characterizes the worse course of patients with advanced heart failure (AHF). Many prognosis assessments are hindered by researcher biases, redundant predictors, and lack of clinical applicability. In this study, we enroll 1736 AHF/RD patients, including data from Henan Province Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases (which encompasses 11 hospital subcenters), and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. We developed an AI hybrid modeling framework, assembling 12 learners with different feature selection paradigms to expand modeling schemes. The optimized strategy is identified from 132 potential schemes to establish an explainable survival assessment system: AIHFLevel. The conditional inference survival tree determines a probability threshold for prognostic stratification. The evaluation confirmed the system's robustness in discrimination, calibration, generalization, and clinical implications. AIHFLevel outperforms existing models, clinical features, and biomarkers. We also launch an open and user-friendly website www.hf-ai-survival.com , empowering healthcare professionals with enhanced tools for continuous risk monitoring and precise risk profiling.

Diuretic Treatment in Heart Failure: A Practical Guide for Clinicians

Congestion and fluid retention are the hallmarks of decompensated heart failure and the major reason for the hospitalization of patients with heart failure. Diuretics have been used in heart failure for decades, and they remain the backbone of the contemporary management of heart failure. Loop diuretics is the preferred diuretic, and it has been given a class I recommendation by clinical guidelines for the relief of congestion symptoms. Although loop diuretics have been used virtually among all patients with acute decompensated heart failure, there is still very limited clinical evidence to guide the optimized diuretics use. This is a sharp contrast to the rapidly growing evidence of the rest of the guideline-directed medical therapy of heart failure and calls for further studies. The loop diuretics possess a unique pharmacology and pharmacokinetics that lay the ground for different strategies to increase diuretic efficiency. However, many of these approaches have not been evaluated in randomized clinical trials. In recent years, a stepped and protocolized diuretics dosing has been suggested to have superior benefits over an individual clinician-based strategy. Diuretic resistance has been a major challenge to decongestion therapy for patients with heart failure and is associated with a poor clinical prognosis. Recently, therapy options have emerged to help overcome diuretic resistance to loop diuretics and have been evaluated in randomized clinical trials. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the pharmacology and clinical use of loop diuretics in the context of heart failure, with attention to its side effects, and adjuncts, as well as the challenges and future direction.

SGLT2 Inhibitors in Kidney Diseases-A Narrative Review

Some of the most common conditions affecting people are kidney diseases. Among them, we distinguish chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. Both entities pose serious health risks, so new drugs are still being sought to treat and prevent them. In recent years, such a role has begun to be assigned to sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. They increase the amount of glucose excreted in the urine. For this reason, they are currently used as a first-line drug in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Due to their demonstrated cardioprotective effect, they are also used in heart failure treatment. As for the renal effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, they reduce intraglomerular pressure and decrease albuminuria. This results in a slower decline in glomelular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with kidney disease. In addition, these drugs have anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects. In the following article, we review the evidence for the effectiveness of this group of drugs in kidney disease and their nephroprotective effect. Further research is still needed, but meta-analyses indicate SGLT2 inhibitors' efficacy in kidney disease, especially the one caused by diabetes. Development of new drugs and clinical trials on specific patient subgroups will further refine their nephroprotective effects.

Pathophysiological Link and Treatment Implication of Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) results from a complex interplay of age, genetic, cardiac remodeling, and concomitant comorbidities including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renal failure is an important comorbidity of HFpEF, as well as a major pathophysiological mechanism for those patients at risk of developing HFpEF. Heart failure (HF) and CKD are intertwined conditions sharing common disease pathways; the so-called "kidney tamponade", explained by an increase in intracapsular pressure caused by fluid retention, is only the latest model to explain renal injury in HF. Recognizing the different phenotypes of HFpEF remains a real challenge; the pathophysiological mechanisms of renal dysfunction may differ across the HF spectrum, as well as the prognostic role. A better understanding of the role of cardiorenal interactions in patients with HF in terms of symptom status, disease progression, and prognosis remains essential in HF management. Historically, patients with HF and CKD have been scarcely represented in clinical trial populations. Current concerns affect the practical approach to HF treatment, and, in this context, physicians are frequently hesitant to prescribe and titrate both new and old treatments. Therefore, the extensive application of HF drugs in diverse HF subtypes with numerous comorbidities and different renal dysfunction etiologies remains a controversial matter of discussion. Numerous recently introduced drugs, such as sodium-glucose-linked transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), constitute a new therapeutic option for patients with HF and CKD. Because of their protective vascular and hormonal actions, the use of these agents may be safely extended to patients with renal dysfunction in the long term. The present review delves into the phenotype of patients with HFpEF and CKD from a pathophysiological perspective, proposing a treatment approach that suggests a practical stepwise algorithm for the proper application of life-saving therapies in clinical practice.

Epidemiology and Management of Patients With Kidney Disease and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) comprises approximately one-half of all diagnoses of heart failure. There is significant overlap of this clinical syndrome with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with many shared comorbid conditions. The presence of CKD in patients with HFpEF is one of the most powerful risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes, including death and heart failure hospitalization. The pathophysiology linking HFpEF and CKD remains unclear, but it is postulated to consist of numerous bidirectional pathways, including endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, and impaired sodium handling. The diagnosis of HFpEF requires certain criteria to be satisfied, including signs and symptoms consistent with volume overload caused by structural or functional cardiac abnormalities and evidence of increased cardiac filling pressures. There are numerous overlapping metabolic clinical syndromes in patients with HFpEF and CKD that can serve as targets for intervention. With an increasing number of therapies available for HFpEF and CKD as well as for obesity and diabetes, improved recognition and diagnosis are paramount for appropriate management and improved clinical outcomes in patients with both HFpEF and CKD.

Clinical Implications of Estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate with Different Equations in Heart Failure Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction

INTRODUCTION

The prognostic values of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by different formulas have not been adequately compared in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

AIM

We compared the predictive values of serum creatinine-based eGFRs calculated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) 2009 equation, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD) formula, and full-age-spectrum creatinine (FAS Cr) equation in 1751 HFpEF patients.

METHODS

The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were employed.

RESULTS

eGFR values were lowest calculated with FAS Cr equation (p < 0.001). When patients were classified into 4 subgroups (eGFR ≥ 90, 89-60, 59-30, and  < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2) or only 2 subgroups (≥ 60 or  < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2), the 3 formulas correlated significantly, with the best correlation found between the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas (kappa = 0.871 and 0.963, respectively). The 3 formulas conveyed independent prognostic information. After adjusting for potential cofounders, risk prediction for all-cause mortality was more accurate (p = 0.001) using the CKD-EPI equation than MDRD formula as assessed by AUC. Compared with MDRD formula, CKD-EPI equation exhibited superior predictive ability assessed by IDI and NRI of 0.32% (p < 0.001)/10.4% (p = 0.010) for primary endpoint and 0.37% (p = 0.010)/10.8% (p = 0.010) for HF hospitalization. The risk prediction for deterioration of renal function was more accurate (p ≤ 0.040) using the CKD-EPI equation than FAS Cr equation as assessed by AUC, IDI, and NRI.

CONCLUSION

The CKD-EPI formula might be the preferred creatinine-based equation in clinical risk stratification in HFpEF patients.

Circulating osteoprotegerin as a cardiac biomarker for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease: the KNOW-CKD study

BACKGROUND

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a major cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and diagnosis is challenging. Moreover, no specific biomarker for HFpEF has been validated in patients with CKD. The present study aimed to investigate the association between serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and the risk of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), a surrogate of HFpEF, in patients with pre-dialysis CKD.

METHODS

A total of 2039 patients with CKD at stage 1 to pre-dialysis 5 were categorized into quartiles (Q1 to Q4) by serum OPG levels, and were cross-sectionally analyzed. The study outcome was LVDD, which was operationally defined as the ratio of early transmitral blood flow velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e') > 14.

RESULTS

In the analysis of baseline characteristics, higher serum OPG levels were clearly related to the risk factors of HFpEF. A scatter plot analysis revealed a moderate correlation between serum OPG levels and E/e' (R = 0.351, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of LVDD in Q3 (adjusted odds ratio 2.576, 95% confidence interval 1.279 to 5.188) and Q4 (adjusted odds ratio 3.536, 95% confidence interval 1.657 to 7.544) was significantly higher than that in Q1.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated serum OPG levels are associated with the risk of LVDD in patients with pre-dialysis CKD. The measurement of serum OPG levels may help the diagnosis of LVDD, which is an important echocardiographic feature of HFpEF.

Urinary Marker Profiles in Heart Failure with Reduced Versus Preserved Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

Recent data suggest different causes of renal dysfunction between heart failure with reduced (HFrEF) versus preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We therefore studied a wide range of urinary markers reflecting different nephron segments in heart failure patients.

METHODS

In 2070, in chronic heart failure patients, we measured several established and upcoming urinary markers reflecting different nephron segments.

RESULTS

Mean age was 70 ± 12 years, 74% was male and 81% (n = 1677) had HFrEF. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was lower in patients with HFpEF (56 ± 23 versus 63 ± 23 ml/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.001). Patients with HFpEF had significantly higher values of NGAL (58.1 [24.0-124.8] versus 28.1 [14.6-66.9] μg/gCr, P < 0.001) and KIM-1 (2.28 [1.49-4.37] versus 1.79 [0.85-3.49] μg/gCr, P = 0.001). These differences were more pronounced in patients with an eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73m2.

CONCLUSIONS

HFpEF patients showed more evidence of tubular damage and/or dysfunction compared with HFrEF patients, in particular when glomerular function was preserved.

A Higher Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Associated with Better Survival in Subjects with Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Failure with a Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction

Subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) have myocardial ischemia and associated abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). Heart failure with mildly reduced EF (41-49%) (HFmrEF) is a new subgroup of EF for heart failure. Although prognostic factors for CAD and HF with reduced EF are well known, fewer studies have been conducted on factors related to the survival of CAD and HFmrEF. We recruited study subjects with significant CAD and HFmrEF from our cardiac catheterization data bank. Data were recorded from traceable chart records from our hospital. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were recorded until December 2019 and served as a follow-up outcome. A total of 348 subjects with CAD and HFmrEF were analyzed. The median duration of follow-up was 37 months. Seventy-eight subjects died during the follow-up period and 30 of them were due to cardiovascular causes. In univariate analyses, those who died were of older ages, and with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (47 ± 30 versus 71 ± 30 mL/minute/1.73 m2, P < 0.001), and lower usage of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and beta blockers. In the Cox survival regression analysis, a higher eGFR (hazard ratio 0.980, P < 0.001) was protective, while older age and a higher serum total cholesterol (hazard ratio 1.006, P = 0.048) were related to all-cause mortality for CAD with HFmrEF. Furthermore, a higher eGFR was also associated with less cardiovascular mortality. In conclusion, for subjects with CAD and HFmrEF, a higher eGFR was protective and associated with a lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

[The effect of kidney function on the optimization of medical therapy and on mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction]

INTRODUCTION

Renal dysfunction is a main limiting factor of applying and up-titrating guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

OBJECTIVE

Our retrospective monocentric observational study aimed to analyse the application ratio of combined neurohormonal antagonist therapy (RASi: ACEI/ARB/ARNI + βB + MRA) and 12-month all-cause mortality differences in terms of renal dysfunction among HFrEF patients hospitalized for heart failure.

METHOD

We retrospectively analysed the cohort of consecutive HFrEF patients, hospitalized at the Heart Failure Unit of our tertiary cardiological centre in 2019-2021. The application ratio of discharge triple therapy (TT) in five groups established on admission eGFR parameters, representing severity of renal dysfunction (eGFR≥90, eGFR = 60-89, eGFR = 45-59, eGFR = 30-44, eGFR<30 ml/min/1.73 m2) was investigated with chi-square test, while 12-month mortality differences were analysed with Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

257 patients were included. Median eGFR was 57 (39-75) ml/min/1.73 m2, 54% of patients had eGFR<60 ml/min/1.73 m2. The proportion of patients in eGFR≥90, 60-89, 45-59, 30-44, <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 subgroups was 12%, 34%, 18%, 21%, 15%, respectively. 2% of patients were on dialysis. Even though the application rate of TT was notably high (77%) in the total cohort, more severe renal dysfunction led to a significantly lower implementation rate of TT (94%, 86%, 91%, 70%, 34%; p<0.0001): the application rate of RASi (100%, 98%, 96%, 89%, 50%, p<0.0001), βB (94%, 88%, 96%, 79%, 68%; p = 0.003) and MRA therapy (97%, 99%, 98%, 94%, 82%; p = 0.001) differed significantly. 12-month all-cause mortality was 23% in the whole cohort. Mortality rates were higher in more severe renal dysfunction (3%, 15%, 22%, 31%, 46%; p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Even though the proportion of patients on TT in the whole cohort was remarkably high, renal dysfunction led to a significantly lower application ratio of TT, associating with worse survival. Our results highlight that despite renal dysfunction the application of HFrEF cornerstone pharmacotherapy is essential. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(35): 1387-1396.

Prognostic role of renal replacement therapy among hospitalized patients with heart failure in the Brazilian national public health system

Introduction

Data on patients hospitalized with acute heart failure in Brazil scarce.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional, retrospective, records-based study using data retrieved from a large public database of heart failure admissions to any hospital from the Brazilian National Public Health System (SUS) (SUS Hospital Information System [SIHSUS] registry) to determine the in-hospital all-cause mortality rate, in-hospital renal replacement therapy rate and its association with outcome.

Results

In total, 910,128 hospitalizations due to heart failure were identified in the SIHSUS registry between April 2017 and August 2021, of which 106,383 (11.7%) resulted in in-hospital death. Renal replacement therapy (required by 8,179 non-survivors [7.7%] and 11,496 survivors [1.4%, p < 0.001]) was associated with a 56% increase in the risk of death in the univariate regression model (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.52 -1.59), a more than threefold increase of the duration of hospitalization, and a 45% or greater increase of cost per day. All forms of renal replacement therapy remained independently associated with in-hospital mortality in multivariable analysis (intermittent hemodialysis: HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.60 -1.69; continuous hemodialysis: HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.42 -1.63; peritoneal dialysis: HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.20 -1.88).

Discussion

The in-hospital mortality rate of 11.7% observed among patients with acute heart failure admitted to Brazilian public hospitals was alarmingly high, exceeding that of patients admitted to North American and European institutions. This is the first report to quantify the rate of renal replacement therapy in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure in Brazil.

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: a Pharmacotherapeutic Update

While guidelines for management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are consensual and have led to improved survival, treatment options for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remain limited and aim primarily for symptom relief and improvement of quality of life. Due to the shortage of therapeutic options, several drugs have been investigated in multiple clinical trials. The majority of these trials have reported disappointing results and have suggested that HFpEF might not be as simply described by ejection fraction as previously though. In fact, HFpEF is a complex clinical syndrome with various comorbidities and overlapping distinct phenotypes that could benefit from personalized therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes the results from the most recent phase III clinical trials for HFpEF and the most promising drugs arising from phase II trials as well as the various challenges that are currently holding back the development of new pharmacotherapeutic options for these patients.

Cardiorenal Syndrome: A Literature Review

Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a condition characterized by the intricate two-way relationship between the heart and kidneys, which can lead to acute or chronic dysfunction in these organs. The interplay between cardiorenal connectors and both hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic factors is crucial to understanding this syndrome. The clinical importance of these interactions is evident in the changes observed in hemodynamic factors, neurohormonal markers, and inflammatory processes. Identifying and understanding biomarkers associated with CRS is valuable for early detection and enabling intervention before significant organ dysfunction occurs. This comprehensive review focuses on the clinical significance of biomarkers in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of CRS. Finally, it highlights the necessity for further advancements in managing this condition.

Tolvaptan's Association with Low Risk of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease and Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

INTRODUCTION

Furosemide, a loop diuretic, is often empirically used to treat acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) initially. Conversely, decongestion using tolvaptan, an aquaretic, is thought to maintain renal function compared to furosemide. However, it has not been investigated in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) at high risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI). This study aimed to investigate AKI incidence using tolvaptan add-on treatment, compared to increased furosemide treatment for patients with ADHF complicated by advanced CKD.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied patients with advanced CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <45 mL/min/1.73 m2) who developed ADHF under outpatient furosemide treatment. The exposure was set to tolvaptan add-on treatment, and the control was set to increased furosemide treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 163 patients enrolled, 79 were in the tolvaptan group and 84 in the furosemide group. The mean age was 71.6 years, the percentage of males was 63.8%, the mean eGFR was 15.7 mL/min/1.73 m2, and patients with CKD stage G5 were 61.9%. AKI incidence was 17.7% in the tolvaptan group and 42.9% in the furosemide group (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.34 [0.13-0.86], p = 0.023 in multivariate logistic regression analysis). Persistent AKI incidence was 11.8% in the tolvaptan group and 32.9% in the furosemide group (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.34 [0.10-1.06], p = 0.066 in the multinomial logit analysis).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that tolvaptan may be better than furosemide in patients with ADHF experiencing complicated advanced CKD.

Pulmonary Artery Pressure-Guided Heart Failure Management Reduces Hospitalizations in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

Hemodynamic-guided heart failure management is a superior strategy to prevent decompensation leading to hospitalization compared with traditional clinical methods. It remains unstudied if hemodynamic-guided care is effective across severities of comorbid renal insufficiency or if this strategy impacts renal function over time.

METHODS

In the CardioMEMS US PAS (Post-Approval Study), heart failure hospitalizations were compared from 1 year before and after pulmonary artery sensor implantation in 1200 patients with New York Heart Association class III symptoms and a previous hospitalization. Hospitalization rates were evaluated in all patients grouped into baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) quartiles. Chronic kidney disease progression was evaluated in patients with renal function follow-up data (n=911).

RESULTS

Patients with stage 2 or greater chronic kidney disease at baseline exceeded 80%. Heart failure hospitalization risk was lower in all eGFR quartiles ranging from a hazard ratio of 0.35 (0.27-0.46; P<0.0001) in patients with eGFR >65 mL/min per 1.73 m2 to 0.53 (0.45-0.62; P<0.0001) in patients with eGFR ≤37 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Renal function was preserved or improved in most patients. Survival was different between quartiles and lower in quartiles with more advanced chronic kidney disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemodynamic-guided heart failure management using remotely obtained pulmonary artery pressures is associated with lower hospitalization rates and general preservation of renal function in all eGFR quartiles or chronic kidney disease stages.

Representation of Chronic Kidney Disease in Randomized Controlled Trials Among Patients With Heart failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Systematic Review

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) have largely been excluded from randomized control trials (RCTs) in heart failure (HF). This creates a paucity of high quality evidence for guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT), particularly in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and CKD. This is a systematic review looking at the patterns and rates of inclusion of CKD in RCTs among patients with HFrEF. The search included RCTs from January 2010 to December 2020. A heat map was constructed to reflect the stages of CKD stages. The percentage of studies that included advanced CKD (stages IV-V) was recorded and log transformed, and then fitted into a time regression model. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Out of the 3052 screened, 706 studies were included in the analysis. Only 61% of the RCTs reported at least some information on kidney function. There was a trend of increase in percentage of studies that included CKD stages IV-V from years 2010 to 2020. This was confirmed with a statistically significant linear trend P = 0.02 while the percentage of studies that included dialysis and kidney transplant recipients remained consistently low. There is a paucity of high-quality evidence for GDMT in the HFrEF population with CKD, particularly in those with advanced non-dialytic CKD, those on maintenance dialysis and kidney transplant recipients. There is a pressing need for wider inclusion of patients with advanced CKD in RCTs of GDMT in HFrEF.

All-Cause and Cardiovascular-Related Mortality in CKD Patients With and Without Heart Failure: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Kaiser Permanente Southern California

Rationale & Objective

Heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently coexist reflective of the strong interplay between these organ systems. A better understanding of the prevalence of different types of heart failure (preserved and reduced ejection fraction) and their subsequent mortality risks among advanced CKD patients would provide important epidemiologic insights and may pave the way for more focused and proactive management strategies.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting & Population

Patients aged ≥18 years with incident CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m²) with and without heart failure in a large integrated health care system in Southern California.

Exposure

Heart failure, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Outcomes

All-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality within one year of CKD identification.

Analytical Approach

HRs were estimated using Cox proportional-hazards model for risk of all-cause mortality and Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model for risk of cardiovascular-related mortality within 1 year.

Results

The study cohort included 76,688 patients with incident CKD between 2007 and 2017, of which 14,249 (18.6%) had prevalent heart failure. Among these patients, 8,436 (59.2%) had HFpEF and 3,328 (23.3%) had HFrEF. Compared with patients without heart failure, the HR for 1-year all-cause mortality was 1.70 (95% CI, 1.60-1.80) among patients with heart failure. The HRs were 1.59 (95% CI, 1.48-1.70) for patients with HFpEF and 2.43 (95% CI, 2.23-2.65) for patients with HFrEF. Compared with patients without heart failure, the 1-year cardiovascular-related mortality HR for patients with heart failure was 6.69 (95% CI, 5.93-7.54). Cardiovascular-related mortality HR was even higher among those with HFrEF (HR, 11.47; 95% CI, 9.90-13.28).

Limitations

Retrospective design with a short 1-year follow-up period. Additional variables including medication adherence, medication changes, and time-varying variables were not accounted for in this intention-to-treat analysis.

Conclusions

Among patients with incident CKD, heart failure was highly prevalent with HFpEF accounting for over 70% among patients with known ejection fraction. Although the presence of heart failure was associated with higher 1-year all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality, patients with HFrEF were the most vulnerable.

Chronic Kidney Disease as a Comorbidity in Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is one of the greatest problems in healthcare and it often coexists with declining renal function. The pathophysiology between the heart and the kidneys is bidirectional. Common mechanisms leading to the dysfunction of these organs result in a vicious cycle of cardiorenal deterioration. It is also associated with difficulties in the treatment of aggravating HF and chronic kidney disease (CKD) and, as a consequence, recurrent hospitalizations and death. As the worsening of renal function has an undeniably negative impact on the outcomes in patients with HF, searching for new treatment strategies and identification of biomarkers is necessary. This review is focused on the pathomechanisms in chronic kidney disease in patients with HF and therapeutic strategies for co-existing CKD and HF.

Managing Heart Failure in Patients on Dialysis: State-of-the-Art Review

Heart failure (HF) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) frequently coexist; 1 comorbidity worsens the prognosis of the other. HF is responsible for almost half the deaths of patients on dialysis. Despite patients' with ESKD composing an extremely high-risk population, they have been largely excluded from landmark clinical trials of HF, and there is, thus, a paucity of data regarding the management of HF in patients on dialysis, and most of the available evidence is observational. Likewise, in clinical practice, guideline-directed medical therapy for HF is often down-titrated or discontinued in patients with ESKD who are undergoing dialysis; this is due to concerns about safety and tolerability. In this state-of-the-art review, we discuss the available evidence for each of the foundational HF therapies in ESKD, review current challenges and barriers to managing patients with HF on dialysis, and outline future directions to optimize the management of HF in these high-risk patients.

Prognostic significance of cardiorenal dysfunction within 1 year after atrial fibrillation ablation in patients with systolic dysfunction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and renal function and can even reduce mortality in patients with impaired LVEF. However, the effect of post-ablation cardiorenal dysfunction on the prognosis of patients with impaired LVEF who underwent AF ablation remains unclear. Of the 1243 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation, the prognosis of 163 non-dialysis patients who underwent AF ablation with < 50% LVEF was evaluated. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and a need for modification of the treatment for heart failure. During the median follow-up of 4.2 years after the first AF ablation procedure, the primary outcome occurred in 30 of 163 patients (18%). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the post-LVEF (LVEF within 1 year after the procedure, and before the occurrence of primary outcome) had larger areas under the curve (0.70) than the pre-LVEF (LVEF before the procedure), and the most optimal cutoff value was LVEF ≤ 42%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with post-LVEF ≤ 42% and worsening renal function (WRF; an absolute increase in serum creatinine [SCr] ≥ 0.3 mg/dL compared with the SCr at baseline within 1 year after the procedure and before the occurrence of primary outcome) had a 3.4- to 4.3-fold and 3.4- to 3.7-fold higher risk of the primary outcome compared with those without these predictors, respectively. Patients were categorized using post-LVEF ≤ 42% and WRF as follows: group 1 (post-LVEF > 42% without WRF), group 2 (post-LVEF ≤ 42% without WRF), group 3 (post-LVEF > 42% with WRF), and group 4 (post-LVEF ≤ 42% with WRF). Group 4 had a 15.8-fold (P = 0.0001) higher risk of the primary outcome compared with group 1 after adjusting for pre-procedural factors. In patients with impaired LVEF undergoing AF ablation, post-LVEF ≤ 42% and WRF were independent predictors of poor prognosis. The combination of post-LVEF ≤ 42% and WRF is strongly associated with a poor prognosis in patients with AF undergoing ablation, who with these post-ablation cardiorenal dysfunction may have to be treated more intensively after AF ablation.

Efficacy of new medical therapies in patients with heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, and chronic kidney disease already receiving neurohormonal inhibitors: a network meta-analysis

AIMS

We assessed the efficacy of the drugs developed after neurohormonal inhibition (NEUi) in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The literature was systematically searched for phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving ≥90% patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <45%, of whom <30% were acutely decompensated, and with published information about the subgroup of estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Six RCTs were included in a study-level network meta-analysis evaluating the effect of NEUi, ivabradine, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), vericiguat, and omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) on a composite outcome of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for HF. In a fixed-effects model, SGLT2i [hazard ratio (HR) 0.78, 95% credible interval (CrI) 0.69-0.89], ARNI (HR 0.79, 95% CrI 0.69-0.90), and ivabradine (HR 0.82, 95% CrI 0.69-0.98) decreased the risk of the composite outcome vs. NEUi, whereas OM did not (HR 0.98, 95% CrI 0.89-1.10). A trend for improved outcome was also found for vericiguat (HR 0.90, 95% CrI 0.80-1.00). In indirect comparisons, both SLGT2i (HR 0.80, 95% CrI 0.68-0.94) and ARNI (HR 0.80, 95% CrI 0.68-0.95) reduced the risk vs. OM; furthermore, there was a trend for a greater benefit of SGLT2i vs. vericiguat (HR 0.88, 95% CrI 0.73-1.00) and ivabradine vs. OM (HR 0.84, 95% CrI 0.68-1.00). Results were comparable in a random-effects model and in sensitivity analyses. Surface under the cumulative ranking area scores were 81.8%, 80.8%, 68.9%, 44.2%, 16.6%, and 7.8% for SGLT2i, ARNI, ivabradine, vericiguat, OM, and NEUi, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Expanding pharmacotherapy beyond NEUi improves outcomes in HFrEF with CKD.

Left ventricular dysfunction with preserved ejection fraction: the most common left ventricular disorder in chronic kidney disease patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease. As kidney function declines, the presence of left ventricular abnormalities increases such that by the time kidney replacement therapy is required with dialysis or kidney transplantation, more than two-thirds of patients have left ventricular hypertrophy. Historically, much research in nephrology has focussed on the structural and functional aspects of cardiac disease in CKD, particularly using echocardiography to describe these abnormalities. There is a need to translate knowledge around these imaging findings to clinical outcomes such as unplanned hospital admission with heart failure and premature cardiovascular death. Left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis, which are common in CKD, predispose to the clinical syndrome of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF). There is a bidirectional relationship between CKD and HFpEF, whereby CKD is a risk factor for HFpEF and CKD impacts outcomes for patients with HFpEF. There have been major improvements in outcomes for patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction as a result of several large randomized controlled trials. Finding therapy for HFpEF has been more elusive, although recent data suggest that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition offers a novel evidence-based class of therapy that improves outcomes in HFpEF. These observations have emerged as this class of drugs has also become the standard of care for many patients with proteinuric CKD, suggesting that there is now hope for addressing the combination of HFpEF and CKD in parallel. In this review we summarize the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic strategies and treatment of HFpEF with a focus on patients with CKD.

An overview of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists as a treatment option for patients with heart failure: the current state-of-the-art and future outlook

INTRODUCTION

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure. These benefits of MRAs vary in different heart failure populations based on left ventricular ejection fraction and associated comorbidities.

AREAS COVERED

We define the pharmacologic properties of MRAs and the pathophysiological rationale for their utility in heart failure. We outline the current literature on the use of MRAs in different heart failure populations, including reduced and preserved ejection fraction (HFrEF/ HFpEF), and acute heart failure decompensation. Finally, we describe the limitations of currently available data and propose future directions of study.

EXPERT OPINION

While there is strong evidence supporting the use of MRAs in HFrEF, evidence in patients with HFpEF or acute heart failure is less definitive. Comorbidities such as obesity or atrial fibrillation could be clinical modifiers of the response to MRAs and potentially alter the risk/benefit ratio in these subpopulations. Emerging evidence for new non-steroidal MRAs reveal promising preliminary results that, if confirmed in large randomized clinical trials, could favor a change in clinical practice.

Cardiorenal Interactions: A Review

A complex interaction occurs between cardiac and renal function. They are intricately tied together, and a range of disorders in both the heart and kidneys can alter the function of the other. The pathophysiology is complex, and these conditions are termed cardiorenal syndromes. They can be acute and/or chronic in nature, they result in and from hemodynamic consequences, systemic congestion, and metabolic abnormalities, and they lead to dysfunction of both the heart and kidneys. The aim of this article is to provide a review for cardiologists and intensivists who are treating patients for whom cardiac and renal interactions may complicate their picture. We review acute kidney injuries, management of the complications of renal dysfunction, renal replacement therapy, and cardiorenal syndromes.

Defining the Phenotypes for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) imposes a significant burden on society and healthcare. The lack in efficacious therapies is likely due to the significant heterogeneity of HFpEF. In this review, we define various phenotypes based on underlying comorbidities or etiologies, discuss phenotypes arrived at by novel methods, and explore therapeutic targets.

RECENT FINDINGS

A few studies have used machine learning methods to uncover sub-phenotypes within HFpEF in an unbiased manner based on clinical features, echocardiographic findings, and biomarker levels. We synthesized the literature and propose three broad phenotypes: (1) young, with few comorbidities, usually obese and with low natriuretic peptide levels, (2) obese with substantive cardiometabolic burden and comorbidities and impaired ventricular relaxation, (3) old, multimorbid, with high rates of atrial fibrillation, renal and coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy. We also propose potential therapeutic strategies for these phenotypes.

Machine learning to predict post-operative acute kidney injury stage 3 after heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 3, one of the most severe complications in patients with heart transplantation (HT), is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict post-transplant AKI stage 3 based on preoperative and perioperative features.

METHODS

Data from 107 consecutive HT recipients in the provincial center between 2018 and 2020 were included for analysis. Logistic regression with L2 regularization was used for the ML model building. The predictive performance of the ML model was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) in tenfold stratified cross-validation and was compared with that of the Cleveland-clinical model.

RESULTS

Post-transplant AKI occurred in 76 (71.0%) patients including 15 (14.0%) stage 1, 18 (16.8%) stage 2, and 43 (40.2%) stage 3 cases. The top six features selected for the ML model to predicate AKI stage 3 were serum cystatin C, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), right atrial long-axis dimension, left atrial anteroposterior dimension, serum creatinine (SCr) and FVII. The predictive performance of the ML model (AUC: 0.821; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.740-0.901) was significantly higher compared with that of the Cleveland-clinical model (AUC: 0.654; 95% [CI]: 0.545-0.763, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The ML model, which achieved an effective predictive performance for post-transplant AKI stage 3, may be helpful for timely intervention to improve the patient's prognosis.

Impaired renal function and mortalities in acute heart failure with different phenotypes

AIMS

Impaired renal function (IRF) prevails in patients with acute heart failure. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of on-admission IRF and its association with short-term and long-term mortalities in patients hospitalized for HF with reduced (HFrEF), mildly reduced (HFmrEF), and preserved (HFpEF) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

METHODS

Patients hospitalized for acute heart failure were enrolled and stratified by LVEF into three phenotypes as HFpEF (≥50%), HFmrEF (40-49%), and HFrEF (<40%). IRF was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≤60 mL/min/1.73m² on admission. National Death Registry was linked for the identification of mortality.

RESULTS

Of 2613 patients enrolled, 673 (25.7%) had HFrEF, 367 (14.0%) had HFmrEF, and 1573 (60.1%) had HFpEF, whereas IRF was prevalent among 63.7, 68.6, and 67.5% of them, respectively. IRF significantly correlated with higher long-term mortality in each phenotype of HF. However, IRF was associated with 90-day and 1-year mortality in subjects with HFrEF and HFmrEF, but not HFpEF. After accounting for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, stroke, serum sodium, de novo heart failure, date of enrolment, and systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg or use of inotropic agents, IRF remained related to 5-year mortality in patients with HFrEF (hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.346, 1.034-1.751), HFmrEF (2.210, 1.435-3.404), and HFpEF (1.493, 1.237-1.801).

CONCLUSIONS

On-admission IRF was independently predictive of long-term mortality in patients hospitalized for HF, irrespective of HF phenotypes. Furthermore, IRF was also associated with short-term mortality in HFrEF and HFmrEF, but not in HFpEF.

Association of Hyperuricemia with Impaired Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Preserved Kidney Function: Analysis of the POL-AF Registry Cohort

Hyperuricemia is associated with the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure. However, coexisting chronic kidney disease and certain cardiovascular drugs make it difficult to determine whether hyperuricemia is a risk factor or merely a marker of pathology. We retrieved data from the Polish Atrial Fibrillation (POL-AF) registry, which included consecutive patients hospitalized with AF from January to December, 2019. We included 829 patients (mean age: 72.7 ± 11.1 years) with data on serum uric acid (UA, mean: 6.56 ± 1.78 mg/dL) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. We found that UA and ejection fraction (EF) were significantly correlated (r = −0.15, p < 0.05), but not EF and eGFR or eGFR and UA. A multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, eGFR, and UA, showed that UA was significantly associated with a reduced EF (R2: 0.021; p < 0.001). The UA cut-off indicative of an EF < 40% was 6.69 mg/dL (AUC, area under the curve: 0.607; 95% CI: 0.554−0.660; p = 0.001). Among drugs known to effect UA concentrations, we found that only diuretics were used more frequently in patients with high UA (above the median) than in patients with low UA (77.5% vs. 67%, p < 0.001). Among patients that used diuretics, UA remained significantly correlated with EF. Thus, we showed that reduced EF was associated with UA in patients with AF and normal renal function, independent of eGFR and diuretic use.

Novel Biomarkers of Kidney Disease in Advanced Heart Failure: Beyond GFR and Proteinuria

PURPOSE

Kidney disease is a common finding in patients with heart failure and can significantly impact treatment decisions and outcomes. Abnormal kidney function is currently determined in clinical practice using filtration markers in the blood to estimate glomerular filtration rate, but the manifestations of kidney disease in the setting of heart failure are much more complex than this. In this manuscript, we review novel biomarkers that may provide a more well-rounded assessment of kidney disease in patients with heart failure.

RECENT FINDINGS

Galectin-3, ST2, FGF-23, suPAR, miRNA, GDF-15, and NAG may be prognostic of kidney disease progression. L-FABP and suPAR may help predict acute kidney injury (AKI). ST2 and NAG may be helpful in diuretic resistance. Several biomarkers may be useful in determining prognosis of long-term kidney disease progression, prediction of AKI, and development of diuretic resistance. Further research into the mechanisms of kidney disease in heart failure utilizing many of these biomarkers may lead to the identification of therapeutic targets.

The Treatment of Heart Failure in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Doubts and New Developments from the Last ESC Guidelines

Patients with heart failure (HF) and associated chronic kidney disease (CKD) are a population less represented in clinical trials; additionally, subjects with more severe estimated glomerular filtration rate reduction are often excluded from large studies. In this setting, most of the data come from post hoc analyses and retrospective studies. Accordingly, in patients with advanced CKD, there are no specific studies evaluating the long-term effects of the traditional drugs commonly administered in HF. Current concerns may affect the practical approach to the traditional treatment, and in this setting, physicians are often reluctant to administer and titrate some agents acting on the renin angiotensin aldosterone system and the sympathetic activity. Therefore, the extensive application in different HF subtypes with wide associated conditions and different renal dysfunction etiologies remains a subject of debate. The role of novel drugs, such as angiotensin receptor blocker neprilysin inhibitors and sodium glucose linked transporters 2 inhibitors seems to offer a new perspective in patients with CKD. Due to its protective vascular and hormonal actions, the use of these agents may be safely extended to patients with renal dysfunction in the long term. In this review, we discussed the largest trials reporting data on subjects with HF and associated CKD, while suggesting a practical stepwise algorithm to avoid renal and cardiac complications.

Impact of the estimated glomerular filtration rate on long-term mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis visiting the emergency department

Background

The association between renal function and all-cause mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis remains unclear. We aimed to identify the impact of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on all-cause mortality in patients with hypertensive crisis visiting the emergency department (ED).

Methods

This retrospective study included patients aged ≥18 years admitted to the ED between 2016 and 2019 for hypertensive crisis (systolic blood pressure ≥180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mmHg). They were classified into four groups according to the eGFR at admission to the ED: ≥90, 60–89, 30–59, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m².

Results

Among the 4,821 patients, 46.7% and 5.8% had an eGFR of ≥90 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively. Patients with lower eGFR were older and more likely to have comorbidities. The 3-year all-cause mortality rates were 7.7% and 41.9% in those with an eGFR ≥90 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, those with an eGFR of 30–59 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47–2.54) and <30 mL/min/1.73 m² (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.71–3.24) had significantly higher 3-year all-cause mortality risks than those with an eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m². Patients with an eGFR of 60–89 mL/min/1.73 m² had a higher mortality (21.1%) than those with an eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m² (7.7%); however, the difference was not significant (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.94–1.56).

Conclusions

Renal impairment is common in patients with hypertensive crisis who visit the ED. A strong independent association was observed between decreased eGFR and all-cause mortality in these patients. eGFR provides useful prognostic information and permits the early identification of patients with hypertensive crisis with an increased mortality risk. Intensive treatment and follow-up strategies are needed for patients with a decreased eGFR who visit the ED.

Association of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction With Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Pre-dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: Findings From KNOW-CKD Study

Background

The impact of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) on cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been rarely unveiled. We here investigated the association of LVDD with CV outcomes and all-cause mortality in patients with pre-dialysis CKD.

Methods

A total of 2,135 patients with pre-dialysis CKD from the Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) cohort were dichotomized by the absence or presence of LVDD, which was defined as the ratio of the early transmitral blood flow velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e′) &gt; 14.

Results

Cox regression analysis revealed that LVDD was significantly associated with increased risk of composite CV events [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.194, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.486–3.240] and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.830, 95% CI 1.168–2.869). Restricted cubic splines visualized stringent linear correlations of E/e′ with both composite CV events and all-cause mortality. In the sensitivity analysis only including the subjects with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50%, LVDD was still significantly associated with adverse CV outcomes (adjusted HR 1.984, 95% CI 1.325–3.000) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.727, 95% CI 1.083–2.754), suggesting that the impact of LVDD on the outcomes in patients with CKD is independent of LV systolic function. Subgroup analyses revealed that the associations were not modified by various clinical contexts, such as age, sex, burden of comorbid conditions, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albuminuria.

Conclusion

LVDD is independently associated with adverse CV outcomes and all-cause mortality in patients with pre-dialysis CKD.

The unmet need of evidence-based therapy for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and heart failure: Position paper from the Cardiorenal Working Groups of the Spanish Society of Nephrology and the Spanish Society of Cardiology

Despite the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its high cardiovascular risk, patients with CKD, especially those with advanced CKD (stages 4-5 and patients on kidney replacement therapy), are excluded from most cardiovascular clinical trials. It is particularly relevant in patients with advanced CKD and heart failure (HF) who have been underrepresented in many pivotal randomized trials that have modified the management of HF. For this reason, there is little or no direct evidence for HF therapies in patients with advanced CKD and treatment is extrapolated from patients without CKD or patients with earlier CKD stages. The major consequence of the lack of direct evidence is the under-prescription of HF drugs to this patient population. As patients with advanced CKD and HF represent probably the highest cardiovascular risk population, the exclusion of these patients from HF trials is a serious deontological fault that must be solved. There is an urgent need to generate evidence on how to treat HF in patients with advanced CKD. This article briefly reviews the management challenges posed by HF in patients with CKD and proposes a road map to address them.

Microalbuminúria e seu Significado Prognóstico em Pacientes com Insuficiência Cardíaca Aguda com Fração de Ejeção Preservada, Intermediária e Reduzida

Fundamento

A prevalência e o significado da microalbuminúria não foram bem estudados em pacientes com diferentes subtipos de insuficiência cardíaca.

Objetivo

A prevalência e o significado da microalbuminúria não foram bem estudados em pacientes com diferentes subtipos de insuficiência cardíaca. Portanto, nosso objetivo foi investigar a frequência e o valor prognóstico da microalbuminúria em pacientes hospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca aguda (ICA) com fração de ejeção preservada (ICFEp), fração de ejeção de faixa média (ICFEfm) e fração de ejeção reduzida (ICFEr).

Métodos

Todos os pacientes adultos consecutivos encaminhados ao hospital devido a ICA entre junho de 2016 e junho de 2019 foram inscritos. A microalbuminúria é definida como o nível de albumina urinária para relação de creatinina (AURC) na faixa de 30–300 mg/g. A mortalidade hospitalar foi o critério de valoração deste estudo.

Resultados

Dos 426 pacientes com ICA (idade média de 70,64 ± 10,03 anos, 53,3% do sexo feminino), 50% tinham ICFEr, 38,3% tinham ICFEp e 11,7% tinham ICFEfm na apresentação. A prevalência de microalbuminúria foi de 35,2%, 28,8% e 28,0% em ICFEr, ICFEp e ICFEfm, respectivamente. Um total de 19 (4,5%) pacientes morreram durante o curso intra-hospitalar, e a mortalidade intra-hospitalar foi maior em pacientes com ICFEr (6,6%) em comparação com pacientes com ICFEr (2,5%) e ICFEfm (2,0%). A análise multivariada mostrou que a presença de microalbuminúria previu mortalidade intra-hospitalar em pacientes com ICFEr e ICFEfm, mas não em ICFEp.

Conclusão

Embora a microalbuminúria fosse comum em todos os subgrupos de pacientes com ICA, descobriu-se que ela prediz o prognóstico apenas em pacientes com ICFEr e ICFEfm.

Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease

Despite significant advances in the management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), there remains an enormous health problem with high morbidity and mortality over the last few decades. The neprilysin inhibitor enhances the activity of natriuretic peptides, producing vasodilation, natriuresis, and diuresis. Angiotensin receptor blockers inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Sacubitril/valsartan, a first-in-class angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes in HFrEF and delay the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with HFrEF. The PARADIGM-HF study showed a reduction in diuretic need in the ARNI group. While the use of diuretics is effective in volume control in patients with HFrEF, their use has the potential to adversely affect renal function. Therefore, ARNI therapy could benefit patients with heart failure and CKD by reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and possibly retarding the progression of CKD, although more clinical evidence is required in patients with severe CKD and end-stage renal disease.

Heart, kidney and left ventricular assist device: a complex trio

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome affecting the whole body, kidneys included. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a valid option for patients with very severe HF. Focusing on renal function, LVAD implantation could theoretically reverse the detrimental effects of HF syndrome on kidneys. However, implanting an LVAD is a high-risk surgical procedure, and LVAD patients have higher risk of bleeding, device thrombosis, strokes, renal impairment, multi-organ failure and infections. Furthermore, an LVAD has its own particular effects on the renal system.

METHODS

In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the complex interaction between LVAD and the kidneys from the pathophysiological and clinical perspectives. An analysis of the different effects of pulsatile-flow and continuous-flow LVAD is provided.

RESULTS

Despite their limitations, creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) formulas help to stratify patients by their post-LVAD placement prognosis. Poor basal renal function, the onset of acute kidney injury or the need for renal replacement therapy after LVAD implantation negatively influences a patient's prognosis. LVAD can also prompt an improvement in renal function, however, with some counterintuitive effects on a patient's prognosis.

CONCLUSION

It is still hard to say whether different trends in eGFR depend on different renal conditions before LVAD placement, on a patient's better overall status or on a particular patient management strategy before and/or after the device's implantation. Steps should be taken to solve this question because finding the best candidates for LVAD implantation is of paramount importance to ensure the best outcomes.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Heart Failure-Everyday Diagnostic Challenges

Is advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) a cardiac “no man’s land”? Chronic heart failure (HF) is widely believed to be one of the most serious medical challenges of the 21st century. Moreover, the number of patients with CKD is increasing. To date, patients with estimated glomerular filtration rates <30 mL/min/1.73 m² have frequently been excluded from large, randomized clinical trials. Although this situation is slowly changing, in everyday practice we continue to struggle with problems that are not clearly addressed in the guidelines. This literature review was conducted by an interdisciplinary group, which comprised a nephrologist, internal medicine specialists, and cardiologist. In this review, we discuss the difficulties in ruling out HF for patients with advanced CKD and issues regarding the cardiotoxicity of dialysis fistulas and the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with CKD. Due to the recent publication of the new HF guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology, this is a good time to address these difficult issues. Contrary to appearances, these are not niche issues, but problems that affect many patients.

The Prognostic Impact of Estimated Creatinine Clearance by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Heart Failure: Comparison of Different eGFR Formulas

The estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) provides prognostic information in patients with heart failure (HF). Bioelectrical impedance analysis may calculate eGFR (Donadio formula). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Donadio formula in predicting all-cause mortality in patients with HF as compared to Cockroft-Gault, MDRD-4 (Modification of Diet in renal Disease Study), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas. Four-hundred thirty-six subjects with HF (52% men; mean age 75 ± 11 years; 42% acute HF) were enrolled. Ninety-two patients (21%) died during the follow-up (median 463 days, IQR 287-669). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for eGFR, as estimated by Cockroft-Gault formula (AUC = 0.75), was significantly higher than those derived from Donadio (AUC = 0.72), MDRD-4 (AUC = 0.68), and CKD-EPI (AUC = 0.71) formulas. At multivariate analysis, all eGFR formulas were independent predictors of death; 1 mL/min/1.73 m2 increase in eGFR-as measured by Cockroft-Gault, Donadio, MDRD-4, and CKD-EPI formulas-provided a 2.6%, 1.5%, 1.2%, and 1.6% increase, respectively, in mortality rate. Conclusions. eGFR, as calculated with the Donadio formula, was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with HF as well as the measurements derived from MDRD4 and CKD-EPI formulas, but less accurate than Cockroft-Gault.

Phenomapping in patients experiencing worsening renal function during hospitalization for acute heart failure

Aims

The impact of worsening renal function (WRF) on the prognosis of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) remains controversial. We aimed to identify phenotypically distinct subgroups among individuals with both AHF and WRF using cluster analysis.

Methods and results

Overall, the data of 483 patients with both AHF and WRF enrolled in the West Tokyo Heart Failure Registry were analysed. Using cluster analysis, we identified three phenotypically distinct subgroups (phenogroups 1, 2, and 3). We assessed the impact of WRF on the prognosis of each phenogroup by comparing the incidence of composite endpoints, including all‐cause death and re‐hospitalization due to heart failure, with those of a propensity score‐matched, non‐WRF control group. Participants in phenogroup 1 (N = 122) were the youngest (69.3 ± 13.7 years), had relatively preserved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, 70.0 ± 27.7 mL/min/1.73 m²), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (41.8 ± 13.7%). Conversely, participants in phenogroup 3 (N = 122) were the oldest (81.7 ± 8.5 years), had the worst eGFR (33.0 ± 20.9 mL/min/1.73 m²), and had preserved LVEF (51.7 ± 14.8%). The characteristics of the participants in phenogroup 2 (N = 239) were between those of phenogroups 1 and 3. The propensity score matching analysis showed that WRF was associated with a higher incidence of composite endpoints in phenogroup 1, whereas this association was not observed in phenogroups 2 and 3.

Conclusions

Using cluster analysis, we revealed three phenotypically distinct subgroups of patients with both AHF and WRF. WRF was associated with worse clinical outcomes in the subgroup of younger patients with reduced LVEF and preserved renal function.

Impact of kidney function on the occurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to examine the prognostic impact of decreased kidney function at admission on the occurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

METHODS

The study enrolled 3,115 consecutive patients with STEMI. Kidney function was assessed by estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at admission. Patients with cardiogenic shock at admission, patients on hemodialysis, and patients with a medical history of previous AF (paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent) were excluded. The follow-up period was six years.

RESULTS

New-onset AF occurred in 215 (6.9%) patients, 75 (34.9%) patients presented with AF, and 140 (65.1%) patients developed AF after pPCI. The median time of AF occurrence in patients who did not present with AF was 4.5 (interquartile range 1-25) hours after pPCI. New-onset AF was associated with a higher short- and long-term mortality. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, all stages of reduced kidney function were independent predictors for the occurrence of new-onset AF, and negative prognostic impact increased with the deterioration of kidney function: eGFR <90 mL/min/m2, hazard ratio (HR) 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42-2.89, p=0.011; eGFR 60-89 mL/min/m2, HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.13-2.57, p=0.045; eGFR 45-59 mL/min/m2-, HR 2.09, 95% CI 1.24-2.85, p=0.023; eGFR 30-44 mL/min/m2-, HR 2.93, 95% CI 1.64-5.29, p<0.001; eGFR 15-29 mL/min/m2-, HR 5.51, 95% CI 2.67-11.39, p<0.001.

CONCLUSION

Decreased kidney function was significantly associated with the occurrence of new-onset AF, and its impact increased with the deterioration in kidney function, starting with an eGFR value of 90 mL/min/m2. New-onset AF was an independent predictor of long-term all-cause mortality in the analyzed patients.

Biomarkers in Cardiorenal Syndrome

Cardiorenal syndrome is a clinical manifestation of the bidirectional interaction between the heart and kidney diseases. Over the last years, in patients with cardiovascular diseases, several biomarkers have been studied in order to better assess renal function as well as to identify patients prone to experiencing chronic or acute worsening of renal function. The aim of this review is to focus on the possible clinical usefulness of the most recent biomarkers in the setting of cardiorenal syndrome.

Intersection Between Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The incidence of chronic kidney disease is increasing worldwide, and the previously decreasing incidence of cardiovascular disease has now plateaued. Understanding the intersection of both heart and kidney disease is crucial.

RECENT FINDINGS

Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors and specific pathogenic mechanisms and impact a significant segment of the population. Patients with chronic kidney disease are more likely to have cardiovascular disease than progress to end-stage kidney disease requiring renal replacement therapy. We discuss shared risk factors and mechanisms for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. The following also addresses contemporary cardiovascular treatment considerations in patients with chronic kidney disease with a focus on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

Renal Dysfunction and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) constitute a high-risk phenotype with significant morbidity and mortality and poor prognosis. Multiple proinflammatory comorbid conditions influence the pathogenesis of HFpEF and CKD. Renal dysfunction in HFpEF is a consequence of the complex interplay between hemodynamic factors, systemic congestion, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and neurohormonal mechanisms. In contrast to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, there is a dearth of effective targeted therapies for HFpEF. Tailoring study design toward the different phenotypes and delving into their pathophysiology may be fruitful in development of effective phenotype-specific targeted pharmaceutical therapies.

Impacts of Heart Failure and Physical Performance on Long-Term Mortality in Old Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), physical functional limitations and heart failure (HF) are common, and each is associated with adverse outcomes. However, their joint effects on mortality are not clear.

Design and Methods: Using administration data from the geriatric department in a tertiary hospital, retrospective longitudinal analyses of patients aged ≥65 years with CKD were consecutively enrolled from February 2010 to November 2015. Baseline CKD stages, HF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (HFrEF and HFpEF), Rockwood frailty index, handgrip strength (HGS), 6-m walking speed, and timed up-and-go test were used to predict the prevalence of frailty, physical disability, and all-cause mortality.

Results: Among 331 old patients with CKD, their mean age was 81.3 ± 6.6 years. CKD stages showed the following distributions: stage 3, 74.9%; stage 4, 15.7%; stage 5, 9.4%. The prevalence of HF was 23.3%, and Rockwood frailty was 74.3%. Rockwood frailty and HF were both significantly associated with CKD stages. After a mean follow-up period of 3.1 ± 2.1 years, 44 patients died, and a crude analysis showed that stage 4, stage 5 CKD, low HGS, and Rockwood frailty index were associated with mortality. Regarding the survival of these patients, the adjusted mortality hazard ratio for CKD stage 5 was 3.84 against stage 3A [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51–9.75], 1.04 (95% CI 1.01–1.07) for higher Rockwood frailty score, 4.78 (95% CI 1.26–18.11) for HFrEF, and 3.47 (95% CI 1.15–10.42) for low HGS. Survival analysis using Kaplan–Meier survival plots showed that patients with both HF and poor HGS had the poorest survival.

Conclusions: Our study shows that both low physical performance and HF were common in old CKD patients and were associated with CKD stages. HF, frailty, and HGS all independently predicted the mortality of these CKD patients. The mortality is especially high amongst individuals with both HF and decreased HGS.

Sex-specific temporal evolution of circulating biomarkers in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

We aimed to assess differences in clinical characteristics, prognosis, and the temporal evolution of circulating biomarkers in male and female patients with HFrEF.

METHODS

We included 250 patients (66 women) with chronic heart failure (CHF) between 2011 and 2013 and performed trimonthly blood sampling during a median follow-up of 2.2 years [median (IQR) of 8 (5-10) urine and 9 (5-10) plasma samples per patient]. After completion of follow-up we measured 8 biomarkers. The primary endpoint (PE) was the composite of cardiac death, cardiac transplantation, left ventricular assist device implantation, and hospitalization due to acute or worsened CHF. Joint models were used to determine whether there were differences in the temporal patterns of the biomarkers between men and women as the PE approached.

RESULTS

A total of 66 patients reached the PE of which 52 (78.8%) were male and 14 (21.2%) were female. The temporal patterns of all studied biomarkers were associated with the PE, and overall showed disadvantageous changes as the PE approached. For NT-proBNP, HsTnT, and CRP, women showed higher levels over the entire follow-up duration and concomitant numerically higher hazard ratios [NT-proBNP: women: HR(95%CI) 7.57 (3.17-21.93), men: HR(95%CI) 3.14 (2.09-4.79), p for interaction = 0.104, HsTnT: women: HR(95%CI) 6.38 (2.18-22.46), men: HR(95%CI) 4.91 (2.58-9.39), p for interaction = 0.704, CRP: women: HR(95%CI) 7.48 (3.43-19.53), men: HR(95%CI) 3.29 [2.27-5.44], p for interaction = 0.106). In contrast, temporal patterns of glomerular and tubular renal markers showed similar associations with the PE in men and women.

CONCLUSION

Although interaction terms are not statistically significant, the associations of temporal patterns of NT-proBNP, HsTnT, and CRP appear more outspoken in women than in men with HFrEF, whereas associations seem similar for temporal patterns of creatinine, eGFR, Cystatin C, KIM-1 and NAG. Larger studies are needed to confirm these potential sex differences.

Optimizing Guideline-directed Medical Therapies for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction During Hospitalization

Heart failure remains a huge societal concern despite medical advancement, with an annual direct cost of over $30 billion. While guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is proven to reduce morbidity and mortality, many eligible patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are not receiving one or more of the recommended medications, often due to suboptimal initiation and titration in the outpatient setting. Hospitalization serves as a key point to initiate and titrate GDMT. Four evidence-based therapies have clinical benefit within 30 days of initiation and form a crucial foundation for HFrEF therapy: renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors with or without a neprilysin inhibitor, β-blockers, mineralocorticoid-receptor-antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. The authors present a practical guide for the implementation of these four pillars of GDMT during a hospitalization for acute heart failure.