Prognostic Significance of Blood Pressure at Rest and After Performing the Six-Minute Walk Test in Patients With Acute Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear whether systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressure and BP response after six-minute walk test (6MWT) are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

METHODS

We investigated these associations in 98 AHF patients (24.5% women; mean age, 70.5 years) enrolled in the ROSE trial (The Low-dose Dopamine or Low-dose Nesiritide in Acute Heart Failure with Renal Dysfunction). The primary endpoint consisted of any death or rehospitalization within 6 months after randomization. We computed hazard ratios (HRs) of the risks associated with 1-SD increase in post-exercise BP levels and BP ratios, calculated as BP immediately after 6MWT divided by BP before 6MWT.

RESULTS

The BP before and after 6MWT averaged 110.6/117.5 mm Hg for SBP and 61.9/64.7 mm Hg for DBP. In multivariable-adjusted analyses including clinic BP measured at the same day of 6MWT, higher DBP after 6MWT was associated with lower risk of the primary endpoint (HR, 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.95; P = 0.034). Both higher SBP and DBP immediately after 6MWT were associated with lower risk of 6-month mortality (HRs, 0.39/0.16; 95% CI, 0.17-0.90/0.065-0.40; P ≤ 0.026). The post-exercise SBP ratio was associated with the risk of 6-month mortality in multivariable-adjusted analyses (HR, 0.44; P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher BP levels and BP ratios immediately after 6MWT conferred lower risk of adverse health outcomes. Our observations highlight that 6MWT-related BP level and response may refine risk estimates in patients hospitalized AHF and may help further investigation for the development of HF preventive strategies.

The prospects for NT-pro BNP level determining in physical activity conditions in patients during the rehabilitation period after the myocardial infarction, complicated with decompensated heart failure

The aim of the study was to determine the futility of NT-pro BNP level analysis during dosed physical exercise for diagnosing decompensated HF in the postinfarction period and the possibility to determine the HF functional class. Materials and methods. 160 patients with previous MI were examined, patients’ average age was (56.67±5.72) years. The patients were randomized in 2 groups dependently on the presence of the signs of II А-B according to V. Kh. Vasylenko and M. D. Strazhesko classification and FC III-IV (according to NYHA) decompensated chronic HF. Group I consisted of 120 patients with Q-QS and non-Q MI; group II (the control one) had 40 patients with MI without signs of decompensated HF; 20 healthy people made up a norm group. Results. Signs of coronary insufficiency such as dizziness and signs of poor peripheral perfusion (cyanosis/paleness) occurred in 104 (86.7 %) and 79 (65.8 %) cases that differ from the same values in the second group 4 (10.0 %) and 14 (35.0 %) respectively. 88 (73.3 %) patients with the signs of decompensated HF felt general weakness, fatigue, and expressed a request to stop the test. The HR in the postinfarction patients with the signs of decompensated HF was before the exercise (88.2±3.18) bpm (p≤0.05); in the patients with past MI without the signs of decompensated HF, it was (75.32±3.41) bpm (p≤0.05); and in the practically healthy people, it was (77.73±3.02) bpm. We found out a reverse moderate correlation between the distances that had been covered by a patient during the 6MWT NT-proBNP level in blood serum of examined patients. Conclusions. Inadequate response to dosed physical exercises and increased immunological parameters as quantitative HF markers could be useful not only for diagnostics, but also for the risk stratification for decompensated HF that had occurred in patients on different rehabilitation stages after an acute MI.

Depression and cardiovascular disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to outline the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression, both as a cause of and a result of CVD.

RECENT FINDINGS

The prevalence of depression seems to be increasing in the general population.It is likely that depression will be even more of a problem for CVD patients in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.New studies confirm the independent association of depression with later incident CVD, although perhaps not as strong as suggested by some previous studies.Depression seems to be becoming even more prevalent in CVD patients, with new data for stroke and peripheral arterial disease patients.Cardiologists rarely screen for depression and most do not believe that they have a responsibility for detecting or treating depression.There are new data suggesting that patients who are more in control of their lives have better outcomes and that change is possible.

SUMMARY

Depression is preventable and treatable. It is imperative to detect and manage depression in CVD patients. Additional research is required to see whether or not comprehensive patient screening for depression translates into both better quality of life and improved clinical outcomes.

Diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential of 6-minute walk test in patients with heart failure

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a well-known exercise test used in medical practice to assess the functional status of patients with various chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The results of modern research describe new potential of 6MWT, which allow a more accurate interpretation and predict the course of diseases. Heart failure (HF) is the outcome of many structural and functional heart disorders. To improve the prognosis of patients with HF, early diagnosis, appropriate therapy and effective control of the disease course are important components. This review describes the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential of 6MWT in patients with HF.