Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction Are at Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Adverse Events Requiring Hospitalization Following Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure with versus without Systolic Dysfunction

BACKGROUND

The safety and efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in individuals with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (EF), particularly concerning the occurrence of post-procedural adverse events necessitating hospitalization, including anticoagulant-associated major bleeding, still lack conclusive determination.

METHODS

Data from patients with HF and AF who underwent catheter ablation for AF between 2019 and 2022 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. All participants were divided into an EF < 50% group or an EF ≥ 50% group according to their baseline left ventricular EF. The composite incidence of the clinical events following catheter ablation was compared between the two groups: (1) all-cause death, (2) HF hospitalization, (3) stroke or systemic embolism, and (4) major bleeding.

RESULTS

A total of 122 patients (75 years old, 68 male) were included. Of them, 62 (50.8%) patients had an EF ≥ 50%. EF ≥ 50% was an independent predictor of the composite endpoint (adjusted odds ratio 6.07, 95% confidence interval 1.37-26.99, p = 0.018). The incidences of each adverse event were not significantly different between the two groups, except for a higher incidence of major bleeding in the EF ≥ 50% group (12.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with HF coupled with AF, the incidence of adverse events following AF ablation proved notably elevated in patients with EF ≥ 50% in contrast to their counterparts with EF < 50%. This disparity primarily stems from a heightened occurrence of major bleeding within the EF ≥ 50% cohort. The strategy to reduce adverse events, especially in patients with EF ≥ 50%, remains the next concern.

Predictors of bleeding events in acute decompensated heart failure patients with antithrombotic therapy: AURORA study

AIMS

Heart failure (HF) is reported to be one of the major risks of bleeding events. On the other hand, HF patients frequently receive anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy to manage various co-morbidities. However, predictors of bleeding events in patients with HF have rarely been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of bleeding events and relationship between bleeding events and HF re-hospitalizations.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 1660 acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients from the AURORA registry between January 2015 and December 2020. A total of 1429 patients were excluded because of history of HF admission, missing echocardiographic data at discharge, lost to follow-up, haemodialysis and no antithrombotic drugs. Finally, we evaluated 231 patients from AURORA registry. The bleeding events were defined as Type 2 to 5 bleeding according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium definition. We divided our patients into the bleeding group and non-bleeding group. We compared the baseline characteristics, medications, laboratory data, and echocardiographic data between the two groups. Median age was 78 (IQR 71-82) years old and male accounted for 59%. Approximately half of the patients had an antiplatelet therapy and 70% had an anticoagulant therapy. During a median follow-up of 651 (IQR 357-1139) days, 32 patients (13.8%) suffered from bleeding events. The major driver of the registered events was gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 21, 65.6%), and the other events were cerebral bleeding (n = 4, 12.5%), intraarticular bleeding (n = 2, 6.3%), urogenital bleeding (n = 2, 6.3%), haemorrhagic pericardial effusions (n = 1, 3.1%), subcutaneous hematomas (n = 1, 3.1%), and haemothorax (n = 1, 3.1%). There was a significantly lower haemoglobin level (P < 0.01), higher proportion of inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter ≥21 mm (P < 0.01), and higher furosemide equivalent doses per kilogram (P < 0.01) in the bleeding group than non-bleeding group. A multivariate analysis revealed an equivalent dose of furosemide per kilogram ≥0.66 mg/kg (hazard ratios (HR) of 2.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-5.68, P = 0.01), haemoglobin ≤10.3 g/dL (HR of 2.43, 95% CI 1.14-5.03, P = 0.02), and IVC diameter ≥21 mm (HR of 2.79, 95% CI 1.16-6.29, P = 0.02) were independently associated with bleeding events. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that HF re-hospitalization rates were higher in the bleeding group than non-bleeding group (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

High doses of oral loop diuretics, IVC dilatation, and anaemia were predictors of bleeding events in patients hospitalized with ADHF patients. In addition, bleeding events were associated with HF re-hospitalizations.

Hepatic T1-Time Predicts Cardiovascular Risk in All-Comers Referred for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: A Post-Hoc Analysis

BACKGROUND

Liver damage is frequently observed in patients with cardiovascular disease but infrequently quantified. We hypothesized that in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance, liver T1-times indicate liver damage and are associated with cardiovascular outcome.

METHODS

We measured hepatic T1-times, displayed on standard cardiac T1-maps, in an all-comer cardiac magnetic resonance-cohort. At the time of cardiac magnetic resonance, we assessed validated general liver fibrosis scores. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox-regression models were used to investigate the association between hepatic T1-times and a composite endpoint of non-fatal myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, and death.

RESULTS

One thousand seventy-five participants (58±18 year old, 47% female) were included (972 patients, 50 controls, 53 participants with transient elastography). Hepatic T1-times were 590±89 ms in patients and 574±45 ms in controls (P=0.052). They were significantly correlated with cardiac size and function, presence of atrial fibrillation, NT-pro-BNP levels, and gamma-glutamyl-transferase levels (P<0.001 for all). During follow-up (58±31 months), a total of 280 (29%) events occurred. On Cox-regression, high hepatic T1-times yielded a significantly higher risk for events (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.45-1.89] per 100 ms increase; P<0.001), even when adjusted for age, sex, left and right ventricular ejection fraction, NT-proBNP (N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide), and myocardial T1-time. On receiver operating characteristic analysis and restricted cubic splines, we found that a hepatic T1-time exceeding 610 ms was associated with excessive risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic T1-times on standard cardiac magnetic resonance scans were significantly associated with cardiac size and function, comorbidities, natriuretic peptides, and independently predicted cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. A hepatic T1-time >610 ms seems to indicate excessive risk.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov; Unique identifier: NCT04220450.

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Rivaroxaban and Warfarin for Stroke Prevention in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation in an Omani Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective:

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban and warfarin as well as to determine the appropriateness of dosing and prescribing of rivaroxaban in Omani patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Royal Hospital data registry. The study included all adults newly diagnosed with NVAF and treated with rivaroxaban or warfarin. The outcomes measured include ischaemic stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), non-gastrointestinal bleeding (NGIB), as well as appropriateness of dosing and prescribing of rivaroxaban.

Results:

The analysis included 96 rivaroxaban users and 183 warfarin users; 51% of the cohort included males. There were no significant differences observed in the risk of ischaemic stroke between the two groups (hazard ratio (HR), 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4-3.4; p=0.8). However, those on rivaroxaban exhibited a significantly higher rate of GIB compared to those on warfarin (HR, 5.9; 95% CI: 2.9-11.7; p=0.001). There were no differences observed with regards to NGIB between the two groups (HR, 0.9; 95% CI: 0.4-1.9; p=0.8). Dosing and prescribing of rivaroxaban were found to be appropriate in 89% of the patients, with only 6% being prescribed an inappropriately lower dose.

Conclusion:

The study demonstrated no significant differences in the risk of ischaemic stroke or NGIB between rivaroxaban and warfarin groups in newly diagnosed NVAF patients. However, rivaroxaban users were found to have a significantly higher risk of GIB. Rivaroxaban was appropriately prescribed to the majority of the patients, and only a small proportion of the group received an inappropriately lower dose of rivaroxaban.

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia in heart failure and during CF LVAD support

Angiodysplasias (AGD) are common sites of bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract after Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device (CF-LVAD) implantation. We sought to investigate whether AGDs are formed as a result of LVAD physiology or preexist as a consequence of heart failure. Thirty-six subjects with HF reduced EF (HFrEF) underwent video capsule endoscopy (VCE) to assess for the presence of AGD. Fifty-three subjects without HF who underwent VCE for a nonbleeding indication formed a control group. The prevalence of AGD was significantly higher in the HFrEF compared to the non-HF controls (50% vs 13%, p = 0.0002). This association persisted after controlling for age and comorbidities. Within the HFrEF cohort, higher Ang2, NT-proBNP and BUN were associated with the presence of AGD. AGD in the GI tract are associated with HFrEF. This is the first description of a new pathology associated with HFrEF and adds to our understanding of CF LVAD associated GI bleeding.

Analysis of outcome of 6-month readmissions after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion

OBJECTIVE

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is an alternative strategy for prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and unsuitable for long-term oral anticoagulation. The study aimed to evaluate the causes and timing of readmissions within 6 months following percutaneous LAAO in a real-world setting.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of percutaneous LAAO performed in the USA between January and June of 2016-2018 using the Nationwide Readmissions Database.

RESULTS

Overall, 12 446 patients who underwent LAAO were included in the analyses and 3477 patients (28%) were readmitted within 6 months following the interventions. Readmitted patients were more often women (p=0.001). The index hospitalisation was characterised by longer duration of hospital stay (p<0.001) and complicated with acute kidney injury (p<0.001) among readmitted patients compared with those without readmissions. Readmissions within 6 months following the index intervention were mainly due to heart failure (13%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (12%). Characteristics associated with readmissions due to heart failure included previously known heart failure (HR 2.39; 95% CI 1.70 to 3.37), valvular heart disease (HR 1.39; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.84) and chronic kidney disease (HR 1.42; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.94). Readmissions due to gastrointestinal bleeding were associated with diabetes mellitus (HR 1.78; 95% CI 1.25 to 2.53), chronic kidney disease (HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.81) and previous anaemia (HR 2.41; 95% CI 1.54 to 3.77).

CONCLUSIONS

After percutaneous LAAO, over a quarter of the patients in the USA required rehospitalisation within 6 months, mainly due to heart failure and gastrointestinal bleeding.

CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA Scores and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) patients have high risks of thromboembolic events regardless of the category of left ventricular ejection fraction. We sought to assess whether the CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and female sex) and ATRIA (anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation) scores could predict clinical outcomes in HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis in a multicenter, America-based population of 1766 HFpEF patients who were stratified according to their baseline CHA2DS2-VASc or ATRIA scores. The CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA scores were analyzed as a continuous or categorical variable. The outcomes were stroke, all-cause death, cardiovascular death, any hospitalization, and HF hospitalization.

RESULTS

When score was considered as a continuous variable, each point increase in CHA2DS2-VASc was associated with increased risks of stroke (hazard ratio (HR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-1.41, C-index = 0.62), HF hospitalization (HR 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01-1.17, C-index = 0.59), and any hospitalization (HR 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01-1.11, C-index = 0.57) whereas each point increase in ATRIA was associated with increased risks of stroke (HR 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01-1.21, C-index = 0.62), all-cause death (HR 1.09, 95% CI = 1.05-1.14, C-index = 0.61), cardiovascular death (HR 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02-1.14, C-index = 0.59), HF hospitalization (HR 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03-1.12, C-index = 0.58), and any hospitalization (HR 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06, C-index = 0.57). When score was regarded as a categorical variable, compared with controls, CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 4 was associated with increased risks of stroke and hospitalization whereas ATRIA ≥ 8 was associated with increased risks of stroke, death, and hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

The CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA scores are associated with risks of adverse outcomes in HFpEF patients. However, the predictive abilities of CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA are modest, and their clinical utility in HFpEF remains to be determined.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

https://clinicaltrials.gov . Identifier: NCT00094302.

Glasgow-Blatchford Score Predicts Post-Discharge Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure

Background: The Glasgow-Blatchford Score (GBS) is one of the most widely used scoring systems for predicting clinical outcomes for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). However, the clinical significance of the GBS in predicting GIB in patients with heart failure (HF) remains unclear. Methods and Results: We conducted a prospective observational study in which we collected the clinical data of a total of 2236 patients (1130 men, median 70 years old) who were admitted to Fukushima Medical University Hospital for acute decompensated HF. During the post-discharge follow-up period of a median of 1235 days, seventy-eight (3.5%) patients experienced GIB. The GBS was calculated based on blood urea nitrogen, hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and history of hepatic disease. The survival classification and regression tree analysis revealed that the accurate cut-off point of the GBS in predicting post-discharge GIB was six points. The patients were divided into two groups: the high GBS group (GBS > 6, n = 702, 31.4%) and the low GBS group (GBS ≤ 6, n = 1534, 68.6%). The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that GIB rates were higher in the high GBS group than in the low GBS group. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis adjusted for age, malignant tumor, and albumin indicated that a high GBS was an independent predictor of GIB (hazards ratio 2.258, 95% confidence interval 1.326–3.845, p = 0.003). Conclusions: A high GBS is an independent predictor and useful risk stratification score of post-discharge GIB in patients with HF.

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor represents exercise tolerance and predicts adverse cardiac events in patients with heart failure

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a membrane-binding protein that is released into the blood stream by immune activation. Recent reports suggest that circulating suPAR levels are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Exercise tolerance is an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF); however, the relationship between serum suPAR level and exercise tolerance is unclear. We prospectively enrolled 94 patients who were hospitalized for worsening of HF. All patients underwent a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test to evaluate exercise tolerance. The median value of serum suPAR was 4848 pg/ml. During follow up, 44 patients (47%) were admitted for all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization for HF. Median serum suPAR was significantly higher in the patients with cardiac events than in the patients with non-event group. Patients were divided into two groups according to circulating suPAR levels. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that adverse cardiac events were significantly higher in the high suPAR group (log-rank p = 0.023). Multivariate analysis revealed that suPAR was independently correlated with the parameters of exercise tolerance such as anaerobic threshold (p = 0.007) and peak oxygen uptake (p = 0.005). suPAR levels predicted adverse cardiac events and independently correlated with the parameters of exercise tolerance. suPAR could be a useful surrogate biomarker of exercise tolerance in patients with HF.