Bariatric surgery decreases the number of future hospital admissions for diastolic heart failure in subjects with severe obesity: a retrospective analysis of the US National Inpatient Sample database

Treatment options for heart failure in individuals with overweight or obesity: a review

Obesity and heart failure are interlaced global epidemics, each contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Obesity is not only a risk-factor for heart failure, but also complicates its management, by distinctive pathophysiological mechanisms and cumulative comorbidities, requiring tailored treatment plan. To present current treatment options for heart failure in individuals with overweight/obesity, emphasizing available pharmacological therapies, non-pharmacological strategies, and the management of related comorbidities. We conducted a comprehensive literature review regarding the results of heart failure treatments in individuals with overweight/obesity, including cornerstone interventions as well as emerging therapeutic options. Specific drug classes, including angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, have demonstrated consistent efficacy in heart failure irrespective of body mass index, while diuretics remain a key for fluid management. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists have shown promising results in improving relevant outcomes and warrant further research. Non-pharmacological approaches, including weight-loss strategies and lifestyle modifications, have shown to improve symptoms, exercise tolerance and quality of life. Managing heart failure in individuals with overweight/obesity requires a multidisciplinary, individualized approach integrating pharmacological and non-pharmacological options. Emerging therapies and preventive strategies arise to address the unique challenges in this population and provide improved outcomes.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease: an ESC clinical consensus statement

The global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over the past four decades, currently affecting more than a billion individuals. Beyond its recognition as a high-risk condition that is causally linked to many chronic illnesses, obesity has been declared a disease per se that results in impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy. Notably, two-thirds of obesity-related excess mortality is attributable to cardiovascular disease. Despite the increasingly appreciated link between obesity and a broad range of cardiovascular disease manifestations including atherosclerotic disease, heart failure, thromboembolic disease, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, obesity has been underrecognized and sub-optimally addressed compared with other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. In the view of major repercussions of the obesity epidemic on public health, attention has focused on population-based and personalized approaches to prevent excess weight gain and maintain a healthy body weight from early childhood and throughout adult life, as well as on comprehensive weight loss interventions for persons with established obesity. This clinical consensus statement by the European Society of Cardiology discusses current evidence on the epidemiology and aetiology of obesity; the interplay between obesity, cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac conditions; the clinical management of patients with cardiac disease and obesity; and weight loss strategies including lifestyle changes, interventional procedures, and anti-obesity medications with particular focus on their impact on cardiometabolic risk and cardiac outcomes. The document aims to raise awareness on obesity as a major risk factor and provide guidance for implementing evidence-based practices for its prevention and optimal management within the context of primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease: an ESC clinical consensus statement

The global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over the past four decades, currently affecting more than a billion individuals. Beyond its recognition as a high-risk condition that is causally linked to many chronic illnesses, obesity has been declared a disease per se that results in impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy. Notably, two-thirds of obesity-related excess mortality is attributable to cardiovascular disease. Despite the increasingly appreciated link between obesity and a broad range of cardiovascular disease manifestations including atherosclerotic disease, heart failure, thromboembolic disease, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, obesity has been underrecognized and sub-optimally addressed compared with other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. In the view of major repercussions of the obesity epidemic on public health, attention has focused on population-based and personalized approaches to prevent excess weight gain and maintain a healthy body weight from early childhood and throughout adult life, as well as on comprehensive weight loss interventions for persons with established obesity. This clinical consensus statement by the European Society of Cardiology discusses current evidence on the epidemiology and aetiology of obesity; the interplay between obesity, cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac conditions; the clinical management of patients with cardiac disease and obesity; and weight loss strategies including lifestyle changes, interventional procedures, and anti-obesity medications with particular focus on their impact on cardiometabolic risk and cardiac outcomes. The document aims to raise awareness on obesity as a major risk factor and provide guidance for implementing evidence-based practices for its prevention and optimal management within the context of primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.

CD36-mediated ferroptosis destabilizes CD4+ T cell homeostasis in acute Stanford type-A aortic dissection

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a lethal pathological process within the aorta with high mortality and morbidity. T lymphocytes are perturbed and implicated in the clinical outcome of ATAAD, but the exact characteristics of T cell phenotype and its underlying mechanisms in ATAAD remain poorly understood. Here we report that CD4+ T cells from ATAAD patients presented with a hypofunctional phenotype that was correlated with poor outcomes. Whole transcriptome profiles showed that ferroptosis and lipid binding pathways were enriched in CD4+ T cells. Inhibiting ferroptosis or reducing intrinsic reactive oxygen species limited CD4+ T cell dysfunction. Mechanistically, CD36 was elevated in CD4+ T cells, whose blockade effectively alleviated palmitic acid-induced ferroptosis and CD4+ T cell hypofunction. Therefore, targeting the CD36-ferroptosis pathway to restore the functions of CD4+ T cells is a promising therapeutic strategy to improve clinical outcomes in ATAAD patients.

Laparoscopic versus robotic-assisted primary bariatric-metabolic surgery. Are we still expecting to overcome the learning curve? A propensity score-matched analysis of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program database

BACKGROUND

Robotic surgery is becoming increasingly popular in bariatric-metabolic surgery. However, its superiority regarding postoperative outcomes compared with conventional laparoscopy has not been clearly proven. With growing adoption of robotic surgery and improved technologies, benefits should become more evident.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate readmission and reoperation rates after bariatric-metabolic surgery performed by conventional laparoscopy versus robotic-assisted from 2015 to 2021.

SETTING

Academic institution.

METHODS

The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) was reviewed for primary bariatric operations performed with conventional laparoscopy versus robotic-assisted. Postoperative outcomes were compared in a propensity score-matched sample.

RESULTS

Of 1,059,348 cases meeting inclusion criteria, 921,322 (87%) were conventional laparoscopic bariatric-metabolic surgeries, which were matched 1:1 with robotic-assisted cases (138,026). Reoperation (odds ratio [OR] 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.15, P = .0463), postoperative morbidity (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.01-1.12, P = .0193), readmission (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.09-1.18, P < .0001), and emergency department visits (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.03-1.09, P = .0003) at 30 days postoperatively were significantly greater for robotic-assisted cases. Robotic-assisted cases had a similar mortality rate at 30 days postoperatively and length of stay >3 days when compared with conventional laparoscopic cases. Similar results were observed in cases from 2020 to 2021, except for reoperation and emergency department visits, which showed no difference between groups and length of stay >3 days, which was greater in robotic-assisted cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show a greater readmission and reoperation rate and greater morbidity at 30 days postoperatively in robotic-assisted bariatric-metabolic surgery compared with conventional laparoscopy. Analyzing only cases performed between 2020 and 2021, robotic surgery also does not show superiority over conventional laparoscopy.

Ventricular Remodeling Following Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Decreases Need for Heart Transplantation: A Predictive Model

PURPOSE

For patients with obesity and congestive heart failure (CHF) who require heart transplantation (HT), aggressive weight loss has been associated with ventricular remodeling, or subclinical alterations in left and right ventricular structure that affect systolic function. Many have suggested offering metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) for these patients. As such, we evaluated the role of MBS in HT for patients with obesity and CHF using predictive modelling techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Markov decision analysis was performed to simulate the life expectancy of 30,000 patients with concomitant obesity, CHF, and 30% ejection fraction (EF) who were deemed ineligible to be waitlisted for HT unless they achieved a BMI < 35 kg/m2. Life expectancy following diet and exercise (DE), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) was estimated. Base case patients were defined as having a pre-intervention BMI of 45 kg/m2. Sensitivity analysis of initial BMI was performed.

RESULTS

RYGB patients had lower rates of HT and received HT quicker when needed. Base case patients who underwent RYGB gained 2.2 additional mean years survival compared with patients who underwent SG and 10.3 additional mean years survival compared with DE. SG patients gained 6.2 mean years of life compared with DE.

CONCLUSION

In this simulation of 30,000 patients with obesity, CHF, and reduced EF, MBS was associated with improved survival by not only decreasing the need for transplantation due to improvements in EF, but also increasing access to HT when needed due to lower average BMI.

The association of multidimensional sleep health with adiposity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

There are bi-directional relationships between sleep disturbances and obesity, both of which are prevalent in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, little is known about the sleep-obesity association in HFpEF.

OBJECTIVES

To determine associations of multidimensional sleep health, night movement, sleep fragmentation, and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) risk with overall and regional adiposity in HFpEF patients.

METHODS

Men and women with HFpEF (n = 49) were assessed via 14-day actigraphy, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale to derive multidimensional sleep health. SDB risk was assessed via Berlin Questionnaire. Body composition was measured using anthropometry; MRI quantification of epicardial, abdominal, liver, and thigh adipose tissue was performed in a subsample (n = 22). Spearman correlation (rs) and linear regression analyses (β coefficient) were used to estimate bivariate and age-adjusted associations.

RESULTS

Multidimensional sleep health was inversely associated with BMI (rs = -0.50, p < .001; unadjusted: β = -4.00, 95%CI: -5.87, -2.13; age-adjusted: β = -2.48, 95%CI: -4.65, -0.30), thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue (rs = -0.50, p = .018; unadjusted: β = -36.95, 95%CI: -67.31, -6.59), and thigh intermuscular fat (age-adjusted: β = -0.24, 95%CI: -0.48, -0.01). Night movement and sleep fragmentation were associated with greater intermuscular thigh and lower liver fat. High SDB risk was associated with a higher visceral-to-subcutaneous ratio of abdominal adiposity and lower thigh adiposity.

CONCLUSIONS

Adverse multidimensional sleep health is associated with higher adiposity measures in HFpEF patients. Further studies are needed to determine whether intervening on sleep could ameliorate excess adiposity or whether weight loss could improve sleep quality in HFpEF.

Challenges in Cardiovascular Evaluation and Management of Obese Patients: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Many unique clinical challenges accompany the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people living with overweight/obesity. Similarly, physicians encounter numerous complicating factors when managing obesity among people with CVD. Diagnostic accuracy in CVD medicine can be hampered by the presence of obesity, and pharmacological treatments or cardiac procedures require careful adjustment to optimize efficacy. The obesity paradox concept remains a source of confusion within the clinical community that may cause important risk factors to go unaddressed, and body mass index is a misleading measure that cannot account for body composition (eg, lean mass). Lifestyle modifications that support weight loss require long-term commitment, but cardiac rehabilitation programs represent a potential opportunity for structured interventions, and bariatric surgery may reduce CVD risk factors in obesity and CVD. This review examines the key issues and considerations for physicians involved in the management of concurrent obesity and CVD.