Prognostic impact of systolic blood pressure in acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in older patients

Blood pressure levels and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Existing data on the association between blood pressure levels and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) are inconsistent. The optimal blood pressure targets for patients with HF remain uncertain. This study sought to assess the associations between blood pressure (systolic [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP]) levels and adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases up to 5 May 2023. The outcomes of interest included adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Forty-three unique observational cohort studies, comprising 120 643 participants with HF, were included. The pooled RRs (95% CIs) for SBP thresholds of ≥140 mmHg versus <140 mmHg were 0.92 (0.83-1.01) for all-cause mortality, 0.83 (0.67-1.04) for CVD death, and 0.98 (0.80-1.21) for HF hospitalization. The pooled RR (95% CI) for SBP thresholds of ≥160 mmHg versus <160 mmHg and all-cause mortality was 0.67 (0.62-0.74). SBP levels below <130, <120, and <110 mmHg were each associated with an increased risk of various cardiovascular endpoints and all-cause mortality. The pooled RR (95% CI) for DBP thresholds of ≥80 mmHg versus <80 mmHg and all-cause mortality was 0.86 (0.67-1.10). A 10 mmHg increase in SBP or DBP was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality and other cardiovascular endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that lower and normal baseline SBP levels (<130, <120, and <110 mmHg) may be associated with future risk of worse outcomes in patients with HF. Optimal baseline blood pressure levels for these patients may lie within the range of ≥140 mmHg for SBP. In the absence of observational studies with repeated blood pressure measurements or definitive trials evaluating optimal blood pressure targets, individualized blood pressure targets based on patients' unique circumstances are warranted in HF management.

Sympathomodulation in Heart Failure with High vs. Normal Ejection Fraction

Background

Despite recent advances in the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the overall outcome is poor and evidence-based therapeutic options are scarce. So far, the only evidence-based therapy in HFpEF, sodium glucose linked transporter 2 inhibitors, has only insignificant effects in patients with a high EF (EF > 60%, HEF) when compared to a normal EF (EF 50%-60%, NEF). This could be explained by different biomechanical and cellular phenotypes of HFpEF across the range of EFs rather than a uniform pathophysiology. We aimed to investigate the concept of different phenotypes in the HEF and NEF using noninvasive single-beat estimations and to observe alterations in pressure-volume relations in both groups following sympathomodulation using renal denervation (RDN).

Methods

Patients from a previous study on RDN in HFpEF were stratified by having HFpEF with an HEF or NEF. Single-beat estimations were used to derive arterial elastance (Ea), end-systolic elastance (Ees), and diastolic capacitance (VPED₂₀).

Results

Overall, 63 patients were classified as having an HEF, and 36 patients were classified as having an NEF. Ea did not differ between the groups and was reduced at follow-up in both groups (p < 0.01). Ees was higher and VPED₂₀ was lower in the HEF than those in the NEF. Both were changed significantly at follow-up in the HEF but not in the NEF. Ees/Ea was lower in the NEF (0.95 ± 0.22 vs 1.15 ± 0.27, p < 0.01) and was significantly increased in the NEF (by 0.08 ± 0.20, p < 0.05) but not in the HEF.

Conclusions

Beneficial effects of RDN were observed in the NEF and HEF, supporting the further investigation of sympathomodulating treatments for HFpEF in future trials.