Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Heart Failure: Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment for HFpEF and HFrEF

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common in heart failure (HF), and it has a significant impact on the prognosis and quality of life of patients. Additionally, COPD is independently associated with lower adherence to first-line HF therapies. In this review, we outline the challenges of identifying and managing HF with preserved (HFpEF) and reduced (HFrEF) ejection fraction with coexisting COPD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Spirometry is necessary for COPD diagnosis and prognosis but is underused in HF. Therefore, misdiagnosis is a concern. Also, disease-modifying drugs for HF and COPD are usually safe but underprescribed when HF and COPD coexist. Patients with HF-COPD are poorly enrolled in clinical trials. Guidelines recommend that HF treatment should be offered regardless of COPD presence, but modern registries show that undertreatment persists. Treatment gaps could be attenuated by ensuring an accurate and earlier COPD diagnosis in patients with HF, clarifying the concerns related to pharmacotherapy safety, and increasing the use of non-pharmacologic treatments. Acknowledging the uncertainties, this review aims to provide key clinical resources to support better physician-patient co-decision-making and improve collaboration between health professionals.

Relação da Função Pulmonar e da Força Inspiratória com Capacidade Aeróbica e com Prognóstico na Insuficiência Cardíaca

Fundamento

A espirometria é subutilizada na insuficiência cardíaca (IC) e não está claro o grau de associação de cada defeito com a capacidade de exercício e com o prognóstico desses pacientes.

Objetivo

Determinar a relação da %CVF prevista (ppCVF) e do VEF₁/CVF contínuos com: 1) pressão inspiratória máxima (PImáx), fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) e desempenho ao exercício; e 2) prognóstico, para o desfecho composto de morte cardiovascular, transplante cardíaco ou implante de dispositivo de assistência ventricular.

Métodos

Coorte de 111 participantes com IC (estágios AHA C/D) sem pneumopatia; foram submetidos a espirometria, manovacuometria e teste cardiopulmonar máximo. As magnitudes de associação foram verificadas por regressões lineares e de Cox (HR; IC 95%), ajustadas para idade/sexo, e p <0,05 foi considerado significativo.

Resultados

Com idade média 57±12 anos, 60% eram homens, 64% em NYHAIII. A cada aumento de 10% no VEF₁/CVF [β 7% (IC 95%: 3-10)] e no ppCVF [4% (2-6)], foi associado à reserva ventilatória (VRes); no entanto, apenas o ppCVF associado à PImáx [3,8cmH₂O (0,3-7,3)], à fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) [2,1% (0,5-3,8)] e ao VO₂ pico [0,5mL/kg/min (0,1-1,0)], considerando idade/sexo. Em 2,2 anos (média), ocorreram 22 eventos; tanto FEV1/FVC (HR 1,44; IC 95%: 0,97-2,13) quanto ppCVF (HR 1,13; 0,89-1,43) não foram associados ao desfecho. Apenas no subgrupo FEVE ≤50% (n=87, 20 eventos), VEF₁/CVF (HR 1,50; 1,01-2,23), mas não ppCVF, foi associado a risco.

Conclusão

Na IC crônica, ppCVF reduzido associou-se a menor PImáx, FEVE, VRes e VO₂ pico, mas não distinguiu pior prognóstico em 2,2 anos de acompanhamento. Entretanto, VEF₁/CVF associou-se apenas com VRes, e, em participantes com FEVE ≤50%, o VEF₁/CVF reduzido mostrou pior prognóstico proporcional. Portanto, VEF₁/CVF e ppFVC contribuem para melhor fenotipagem de pacientes com IC.

Effects of aerobic physical exercise on neuroplasticity after stroke: systematic review

BACKGROUND

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Interventions for stroke rehabilitation aim to minimize sequelae, promote individuals' independence and potentially recover functional damage. The role of aerobic exercise as a facilitator of post-stroke neuroplasticity in humans is still questionable.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity in patients with stroke sequelae.

METHODS

A systematic review of randomized clinical trials and crossover studies was performed, with searches for human studies in the following databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, LILACS and PeDRO, only in English, following the PRISMA protocol. The keywords used for selecting articles were defined based on the PICO strategy.

RESULTS

This systematic review evaluated the impacts of aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity through assessment of neural networks and neuronal excitability, neurotrophic factors, or cognitive and functional assessment. Studies that evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity after stroke measured through functional resonance (fMRI) or cortical excitability have shown divergent results, but aerobic exercise potentially can modify the neural network, as measured through fMRI. Additionally, aerobic exercise combined with cognitive training improves certain cognitive domains linked to motor learning. Studies that involved analysis of neurotrophic factors to assess neuroplasticity had conflicting results.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical exercise is a therapeutic intervention in rehabilitation programs that, beyond the known benefits relating to physical conditioning, functionality, mood and cardiovascular health, may also potentiate the neuroplasticity process. Neuroplasticity responses seem more robust in moderate to high-intensity exercise training programs, but dose-response heterogeneity and non-uniform neuroplasticity assessments limit generalizability.

Factors Associated With Inadequate Response to Bisphosphonate Therapy in Patients With Osteoporosis in Real-Life Clinical Practice: a Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of 300 Patients

Introduction: Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a useful tool to monitor response to osteoporosis treatment in clinical practice. Despite bisphosphonates therapy, some patients may exhibit bone loss during treatment for different reasons. These patients may have greater fracture risk than responders and may have unrecognized secondary causes that require further attention and treatment. Objectives: To identify factors associated with inadequate response (IR) to bisphosphonates therapy in patients with osteoporosis in real-life clinical practice. Methods: This is a single-center case-control study of patients with osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonates as recommended. Baseline and follow-up (12–24 months/apart) DXA scans were performed on same device (GE-Lunar Prodigy). IR was defined as loss of BMD greater than the least significant change (LSC) on the follow-up DXA. Clinical, biochemical and densitometric parameters of patients with IR were compared to responders using t-test or Mann-Whitney test (continuous), or chi-square test (categorical variables), as appropriated. We used logistic regression to assess the association magnitude between exposures and IR. Results: From 300 patients included from 2014 to 2018 (13% males, mean age 68 ±10 years), 198(66%) were treated with oral bisphosphonates and 102(34%) with zoledronic acid (ZA). IR was observed in 44(15%) patients. All parameters were similar at baseline, except for greater prevalence of oral bisphosphonates (82% vs 63%, p=0.016) and anticonvulsants use (18% vs 7%, p=0.015) in patients with IR compared to responders. Additionally, patients with IR exhibited a lower % change in CTX following therapy in comparison to responders (median -37% [IQR -68; -16%] vs -57% [-74; -32], p=0.029, respectively), and higher serum CTX levels after treatment (median 236pg/mL [IQR 162; 344] vs 165pg/mL [119; 254], p=0.004). The likelihood of IR was greater with oral bisphosphonates then with ZA (OR 2.61, IC95% 1.16–5.81, p=0.002), and with anticonvulsants use (OR 2.94. IC95% 1.19–7.25, p=0.019). The association with IR persisted for both variables (p≤0.01), when accounted simultaneously in the same model, along with age and gender. Conclusion: Inadequate bisphosphonate response was present in 15% of individuals, which was independently associated with anticonvulsant use and particularly among those on oral bisphosphonate therapy rather than ZA. This knowledge may help to clinically identify potential modifiable factors related to unresponsiveness and to optimize treatment accordingly.

Coronary Calcium Score and Stratification of Coronary Artery Disease Risk in Patients with Atherosclerotic and Non-Atherosclerotic Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Ischemic Stroke (IS) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) frequently coexist and share atherosclerotic disease risk factors. According to the American Heart Association, IS subtypes may be considered CAD risk equivalents, but the evidence for non-atherosclerotic IS is uncertain. Additionally, the Coronary Calcium Score (CCS) is an accurate marker to address CAD risk; however, CCS distribution between IS subtypes is not well characterized.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the CCS between atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic IS groups; and to determine which covariates were associated with high CCS in IS.

METHODS

This cross-sectional design included all patients with IS, 45 to 70 years of age at the time of the stroke, consecutively admitted to a rehabilitation hospital between August 2014 and December 2016, without prevalent CAD. All patients underwent CT scanning for CCS measurement. CCS≥100 was considered a high risk for CAD, with a significance level of p<0.05.

RESULTS

From the 244 studied patients (mean age 58.4±6.8 years; 49% female), 164 (67%) had non-atherosclerotic etiology. The proportions of CCS≥100 were similar between the atherosclerotic and the non-atherosclerotic groups (33% [n=26] x 29% [n=47]; p= 0.54). Among all IS patients, only age ≥60 years was independently associated with CCS≥100 (OR 3.5; 95%CI 1.7-7.1), accounting for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, sedentarism, and family history of CAD.

CONCLUSION

Atherosclerotic IS did not present a greater risk of CAD when compared to non-atherosclerotic IS according to CCS. Only age ≥60 years, but not etiology, was independently associated with CCS≥100.

Inspiratory muscle strength and six-minute walking distance in heart failure: Prognostic utility in a 10 years follow up cohort study

Background

Maximal inspiratory pressure (PI_max) and 6-minutes walk distance test (6MWD) may be more available and feasible alternatives for prognostic assessment than cardiopulmonary testing. We hypothesized that the PI_max and 6MWD combination could improve their individual accuracy as risk predictors. We aimed to evaluate PI_max ability as a mortality predictor in HF and whether the combination to 6MWD could improve risk stratification.

Methods

Prospective cohort from HF Clinics of three University Hospitals. PI_max, 6MWD and pVO₂ were obtained at baseline. The end point was all cause mortality.

Results

Consecutive 256 individuals (50% woman, 57.4±10.4years) with low ejection fraction (LVEF) (31.8±8.6%) were followed up to 10years. During a median follow-up of 34.7 (IQR 37) months, 110 participants died. Mean±SD values were: pVO₂ 14.9±5.1mL/kg/min, PI_max 5.5±1.3kPa and 6MWD 372±118m. In multivariate Cox regression, pVO₂, PI_max, 6MWD and LVEF were independent mortality predictors. The pVO₂ showed gold standard accuracy, followed by PI_max (AUC = 0.84) and 6MWD (AUC = 0.74). Kaplan-Meier mean survival time (MST±SE) for lower (≤5.0kPa) and higher (>6.0kPa) PI_max tertiles, were 37.9±2.8months and 105.0±5.2months respectively, and addition of 6MWD did not restratified risk. For intermediate PI_max tertile, MST was 81.5±5.5months, but adding 6MWD, MST was lower (53.3±7.6months) if distance was ≤350m and higher (103.1±5.7months) for longer distances.

Conclusion

PI_max is an independent mortality predictor in HF, more accurate than 6MWD and LVEF. Addition of 6MWD empowers risk stratification only for intermediate PI_max tertile. Although less accurate than pVO₂, this simpler approach could be a feasible alternative as a prognostic assessment.

Resistance exercise enhances oxygen uptake without worsening cardiac function in patients with systolic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Recent literature suggests that resistance training (RT) improves peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text] peak), similarly to aerobic exercise (AE) in patients with heart failure (HF), but its effect on cardiac remodeling is controversial. Thus, we examined the effects of RT and AE on [Formula: see text] peak and cardiac remodeling in patients with heart failure (HF) via a systematic review and meta-analysis. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL, AMEDEO and PEDro databases search were extracted study characteristics, exercise type, and ventricular outcomes. The main outcomes were [Formula: see text] peak (ml kg^-1 min^-1), LVEF (%) and LVEDV (mL). Fifty-nine RCTs were included. RT produced a greater increase in [Formula: see text] peak (3.57 ml kg^-1 min^-1, P < 0.00001, I ² = 0%) compared to AE (2.63 ml kg^-1 min^-1, P < 0.00001, I ² = 58%) while combined RT and AE produced a 2.48 ml kg^-1 min^-1 increase in [Formula: see text]; I ² = 69%) compared to control group. Comparison among the three forms of exercise revealed similar effects on [Formula: see text] peak (P = 0.84 and 1.00, respectively; I ² = 0%). AE was associated with a greater gain in LVEF (3.15%; P < 0.00001, I ² = 17%) compared to RT alone or combined exercise which produced similar gains compared to control groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that AE reduced LVEDV (- 10.21 ml; P = 0.007, I ² = 0%), while RT and combined RT and AE had no effect on LVEDV compared with control participants. RT results in a greater gain in [Formula: see text] peak, and induces no deleterious effects on cardiac function in HF patients.

Quimioprofilaxia após exposição de atletas ao vírus da imunodeficiência humana

Em 1997 a FIMS (Federação Internacional de Medicina do Esporte) publicou sua declaração de posicionamento sobre o tema: "AIDS E ESPORTES", cuja tradução foi posteriormente publicada na Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. Entretanto, tal publicação não menciona a existência da quimioprofilaxia após exposição (QP) ao HIV, prática estabelecida e de suma importância para o médico do esporte. O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma revisão da literatura existente sobre tal assunto, discutindo questões éticas, relação risco/benefício e indicações da quimioprofilaxia após exposição ao Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana, enfocando as possibilidades de transmissão em ambiente esportivo. Além disso, também fazemos uma explanação das drogas mais utilizadas e as posologias indicadas.

Critérios para seleção do intervalo RR no eletrocardiograma para quantificação da arritmia sinusal respiratória

O sistema nervoso autônomo (SNA) sofre importantes adaptações ao treinamento físico aeróbico e alterações na sua função estão relacionadas à gênese e prognóstico de várias doenças. A variação da freqüência cardíaca em função da respiração constitui fenômeno natural no qual se baseia o teste da arritmia sinusal respiratória (ASR), utilizado para avaliar o funcionamento do ramo parassimpático do SNA sobre o sistema cardiovascular. Calcula-se a ASR através da razão entre o maior intervalo R-R do eletrocardiograma (ECG) durante a expiração (E) e o menor R-R na inspiração (I). Não existe, na literatura, padronização para escolha destes intervalos quando o ECG é registrado durante dois ciclos respiratórios consecutivos. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar os métodos de escolha desses intervalos, indicando qual o critério que permite melhor avaliação da magnitude da ASR. Cinqüenta e cinco voluntários jovens foram submetidos a dois testes de ASR, sendo cada teste composto por dois ciclos respiratórios consecutivos. Foram então comparados os dois maiores índices E/I obtidos das seguintes maneiras: 1) E e I retirados do mesmo ciclo respiratório (intraciclo); 2) E e I retirados de qualquer um dos ciclos respiratórios (ciclo independente). Os índices E/I ciclo-independentes (1º teste = 1,49 ± 0,03; 2º teste = 1,44 ± 0,03) foram maiores do que os índices E/I obtidos intraciclo [1º teste = 1,44 ± 0,03; 2º teste = 1,41 ± 0,03 (P < 0,001)]. Os índices E/I ciclo-independentes do 1º teste foram maiores do que os do 2º teste (P = 0,04). A utilização de intervalos E e I escolhidos de forma independente do ciclo respiratório onde ocorreram permitiu observação da máxima variação da atividade parassimpática, mostrando a máxima magnitude da ASR. Em adendo, os resultados sugerem uma acomodação do reflexo no 2º teste, tornando desnecessária a realização deste quando o 1º prosseguir sem intercorrências técnicas.