Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Systolic as Compared With Diastolic Heart Failure in Urban America

Worse In-Hospital Outcomes Among Patients With Heart Failure (HF) and Concomitant Influenza Infection

INTRODUCTION

 A sizable proportion of heart failure (HF) admissions is precipitated by respiratory infections. Influenza has been linked to higher rates of HF hospitalizations and in-hospital morbidity and mortality.

AIM/OBJECTIVE

 We aim to describe the in-hospital outcomes of systolic HF vs. diastolic HF admissions with concomitant influenza infection in US hospitalizations from 2016 to 2017.  Materials and Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2017 for discharge diagnosis for SHF and DHF and influenza per ICD-10 CM codes. Using binominal logistic regression analysis and adjusting for demographic and comorbid conditions, we compared the outcomes of SHF vs. DHF admissions with concomitant influenza as an independent risk factor for inpatient mortality, acute respiratory failure, ICU admission, assisted ventilation, as well as length of stay, and total hospital costs.

RESULTS

 A total of 7,490,596 HF weighted admissions were analyzed, among which 0.9% had concomitant influenza infection. SHF and DHF admissions with influenza had higher mortality, ICU admission, ventilation assistance, and acute respiratory failure when compared to those without influenza. Among influenza admissions, those with SHF had higher mortality (6.6% vs. 5%, adjusted odds ratio - aOR 1.31, p<0.001) compared to DHF. While intensive care unit (ICU) admission (7.8% vs. 5.2%, aOR 1.30, p<0.001) and ventilation assistance rates (22.1% vs. 18.9%, aOR 1.15, p<0.001) were greater among SHF patients with influenza, acute respiratory failure was more common amongst diastolic HF with influenza (46.6% vs. 51.2%, aOR 0.86, p<0.001). Finally, SHF patients with concomitant influenza had higher inpatient costs ($82,788) when compared to diastolic HF patients ($66,373) and a longer in-hospital stay (7.29 days compared to 6.98 days in the diastolic HF group) p <0.001.

CONCLUSION

 Concomitant influenza infection in hospitalized patients with HF is associated with higher mortality, ICU admission, and the need for assisted ventilation, especially in those with SHF. A greater emphasis on vaccination against influenza may improve in-patient outcomes among HF patients.

Trends in Hospital Admissions for Systolic and Diastolic Heart Failure in the United States Between 2004 and 2017

Heart failure (HF) affects 6 million people in the United States and costs $30 billion annually. It is unclear whether improvements in length of stay and mortality over the last few decades hold true for both systolic and diastolic HF. To better assess the epidemiological and economic burden of HF, we assessed the trends in outcomes and costs for both systolic and diastolic HF. We identified hospitalizations for systolic and diastolic HF in the National Inpatient Sample database and evaluated trends over the period from 2004 to 2017, adjusting for demographics and co-morbidities. The proportion of patients admitted with an exacerbation of systolic HF increased from 42% to 63% over the study period. We found an overall decreasing trend between 2004 and 2011 in the length of stay for HF in general with a sharper decrease in diastolic than systolic HF. Inpatient mortality decreased between 2004 and 2007 and stabilized between 2008 and 2016. Systolic HF was associated with higher mortality than diastolic HF. The total inflation-adjusted cost did not change significantly over the study period, with systolic HF costing, on average, $3,036 more than diastolic HF per admission. In conclusion, systolic HF overtook diastolic HF, accounting for most HF hospitalizations in 2008. The higher hospitalization costs for systolic HF relative to diastolic HF may have resulted, in part, from greater use of advanced support devices in patients with systolic HF.

Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Compared to Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insights From the VCOR Heart Failure Snapshot

BACKGROUND

Heart failure is increasing in prevalence, creating a greater public health and economic burden on our health care system. With a rising proportion of hospitalisations for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and lack of proven therapies for HFpEF, patient characterisation and defining clinical outcomes are important in determining optimal management of heart failure patients. There is scarce Australian-specific data with regards to the burden of disease of patients with HFpEF which further limits our ability to appropriately manage this syndrome.

AIM

To determine the characteristics, management practices and outcomes of patients with HFpEF compared to patients diagnosed with HFrEF.

METHOD

Data was sourced from the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry-Heart Failure (VCOR-HF) snapshot of patients admitted with acute heart failure to one of 16 Victorian health services between 2014-2017 over one consecutive month annually. Outcomes measured were in-hospital mortality, and 30-day readmission and mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 1,132 HF patients, 436 patients were diagnosed with HFpEF and were more likely to be female (59%) and older (81.5±9.8 vs 73.2±14.5 years). They were also more likely to have hypertension (80%), atrial fibrillation (59.9%), chronic obstructive airways disease (36.2%) and chronic kidney disease (68.8%). Patients with HFrEF were more likely to have ischaemic heart disease with a history of previous myocardial infarction (36.6%), percutaneous coronary intervention and cardiac bypass surgery (35.2%). There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality between HFpEF and HFrEF (10.2% vs 7.8%; p=0.19, respectively) and 30-day readmission rates (22.1% vs 25.9%; p=0.15, respectively).

CONCLUSION

VCOR-HF Snapshot data provides important insight into the burden of acute heart failure. Whilst patients with HFpEF and HFrEF have differing clinical profiles, morbidity, mortality and re-admission rates are similar.

Mitral annular velocity measurement with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using a novel annular tracking algorithm: Validation against echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Doppler based mitral annular velocities are an integral part of echocardiographic left ventricular diastolic function assessment. Although these measurements can be obtained by phase contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (PC-CMR), this approach has limitations. The aims of this study were to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of a high temporal resolution steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine acquisition coupled with semi-automated mitral annular tracking to measure tissue velocity, and compare to echocardiography as the reference method.

METHODS

High temporal resolution (17 ms) 4-chamber cines were acquired in 25 volunteers using retrospective and prospective gating on a 3.0 T magnet. Mitral annular early (e') and late (a') tissue velocities were derived using a novel algorithm to semi-automatically detect the mitral valve insertion points and track its motion. Additionally, PC-CMR was used to measure mitral inflow early diastolic (E) velocity. Those measurements were also obtained using echocardiography based pulsed and tissue Doppler techniques, on the same day.

RESULTS

Subjects were on average 34 ± 14 years-old (48% male). The lateral annulus e' measurements had the best agreement with echocardiography with a concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) of 0.76 and 0.75 for prospectively and retrospectively gated cine CMR respectively. There was no significant difference in the lateral annular tissue velocities between echocardiography (13.8 ± 3.7 cm/s) and prospective (13.4 ± 3.7 cm/s) or retrospective (14.0 ± 3.7) acquisitions. Similarly, CMR measurement of E/e' (a surrogate marker for LV filling pressures) using the lateral e' velocity showed moderate agreement with echocardiography (CCC of 0.56 and 0.51 for prospective and retrospective acquisitions respectively) without a significant difference in ratios (5.3 ± 1.6 and 5.0 ± 1.3) compared to echocardiography (5.2 ± 1.4). Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of the CMR-based annular velocity measurements was good.

CONCLUSION

Measurements of mitral annular tissue velocities can be obtained from SSFP 4-chamber cine images using a semi-automated annular tracking algorithm, and demonstrates moderate agreement with echocardiography. The semi-automated method can provide quantitative mitral annular velocity measurements directly from conventional cine images, thereby providing additional clinically relevant information. The accuracy of this method in patients with diastolic dysfunction remains to be determined.

A Call to Action to Develop Integrated Curricula in Cardiorenal Medicine

With the adoption of the new definition and classification of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and its relevant subtypes, much attention has been placed on elucidating the mechanisms of heart and kidney interactions. Of great interest are the pathophysiological pathways by which acute heart failure may result in acute kidney injury (AKI; type 1), chronic heart failure accelerating the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD; type 2), AKI provoking cardiac events (type 3), and CKD increasing the risk and severity of cardiovascular disease (type 4). A remarkable interest has also been placed on the acute and chronic systemic conditions, such as sepsis and diabetes, which simultaneously affect heart and kidney function (type 5). Furthermore, the physiology of acute and chronic heart-kidney cross talk is drawing attention to hemodynamics (fluids, pressures, flows, resistances, perfusion), physiochemical (electrolytes, pH, and toxins), and biological (inflammation, immune system activation, neurohormonal signals) processes. Common clinical scenarios call for recognition, knowledge, and skill in managing CRS. There is a clear need for medical and surgical specialists that are well versed in the pathophysiology and the clinical manifestations that arise in the setting of CRS. With this editorial, we are making a call to action to stimulate universities, medical schools, and teaching hospitals to create a core curriculum for cardiorenal medicine to better equip the physicians of the future for these common, serious, and frequently fatal syndromes.

[Epidemiology and prognosis of heart failure]

Heart failure (HF) is a major and growing health problem in western communities. Recent data indicate that more than 50% of patients with the clinical syndrome of HF have a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HF with preserved ejection fraction, HFpEF). In contrast to the calculated expectations, the observed incidence of HF is rising. Despite the fact that the relative proportion of patients with preserved left ventricular function is also increasing, other factors, such as ageing of the population and the concomitant change of compound risk factors may also contribute to the actual rise in the incidence of HF. Patients with HF suffer from reduced exercise capacity, impaired quality of life and also from recurrent hospitalization due to HF. Over the past decades, an increase of recurrent HF events has been documented. In contrast to earlier reports in which HFpEF was considered to be more benign than HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), recent data suggest that once hospitalized for HF, patients with HFpEF and those with HFrEF have a comparable prognosis in terms of morbidity and mortality. Despite increasing clinical and economic relevance, no treatment has yet been shown to convincingly reduce mortality in HFpEF. In contrast, strategies for improving survival have now been established for HFrEF. The problem of HF will continue to be major challenge for the healthcare systems in western communities; therefore, consolidated clinical research is necessary to further improve therapeutic strategies for HFrEF and to generally establish treatment options for HFpEF.

Comparison of Risk of Re-hospitalization, All-Cause Mortality, and Medical Care Resource Utilization in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Versus Reduced Ejection Fraction

Because heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are different clinical entities with differing demographic characteristics, common HF outcomes may occur at different rates. Comparative outcome studies have been equivocal, and studies comparing resource utilization are scant. We used an observational cohort design to study 6,513 patients hospitalized for HF who had an EF measured during the hospitalization and were discharged alive within 30 days. We excluded 677 patients with borderline EF values (41% to 49%) and categorized the remaining as HFrEF (EF ≤40%, n = 2,205) and HFpEF (EF >50%, n = 3,631). Patients were followed for up to 1 year for all-cause re-hospitalization and mortality and annualized medical resource utilization. Patients with HFrEF and HFpEF experienced similar adjusted incidence rates of re-hospitalization, but those with HFrEF had a 39% increased risk of mortality at 30 days (rate ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 1.76) and 25% greater risk at 1 year (rate ratio1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 1.41). After adjustment for covariates, patients with HFpEF incurred significantly more annualized outpatient visits (21.5 vs 20.1, p = 0.002) and emergency room visits (3.24 vs 2.94, p = 0.002) than those with HFrEF, but absolute differences were small. High inpatient and pharmacy utilization did not differ. Our study suggests that whether a patient has HFrEF or HFpEF has little bearing on risk of re-hospitalization or inpatient resource utilization in the year after an HF hospitalization. Both groups experienced high mortality, but those with HFrEF had greater risk. In conclusion, from the standpoint of resource use, HF can be considered a single entity.

Influence of previous heart failure hospitalization on cardiovascular events in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

Hospitalization for acute heart failure (HF) is associated with high rates of subsequent mortality and readmission. We assessed the influence of the time interval between previous HF hospitalization and randomization in the Candesartan in Heart failure: Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) trials on clinical outcomes in patients with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

CHARM enrolled 7599 patients with New York Heart Association class II to IV HF, of whom 5426 had a history of previous HF hospitalization. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association between time from previous HF hospitalization and randomization and the primary outcome of cardiovascular death or unplanned admission to hospital for the management of worsening HF during a median of 36.6 months. For patients with HF and reduced or preserved ejection fraction, rates of cardiovascular mortality and HF hospitalization were higher among patients with previous HF hospitalization than those without. The risk for mortality and hospitalization varied inversely with the time interval between hospitalization and randomization. Rates were higher for patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction within each category. Event rates for those with HF with preserved ejection fraction and a HF hospitalization in the 6 months before randomization were comparable with the rate in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction with no previous HF hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization are greatest in those who have been previously hospitalized for HF. Independent of EF, rates of death and readmission decline as time from HF hospitalization to trial enrollment increased. Recent HF hospitalization identifies a high-risk population for future clinical trials in HF and reduced ejection fraction and HF with preserved ejection fraction.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00634400.

Calcium mishandling in diastolic dysfunction: mechanisms and potential therapies

Diastolic dysfunction is characterized by slow or incomplete relaxation of the ventricles during diastole, and is an important contributor to heart failure pathophysiology. Clinical symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, and pulmonary and peripheral edema, all contributing to decreased quality of life and poor prognosis. There are currently no therapies available that directly target the heart pump defects in diastolic function. Calcium mishandling is a hallmark of heart disease and has been the subject of a large body of research. Efforts are ongoing in a number of gene therapy approaches to normalize the function of calcium handling proteins such as sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase. An alternative approach to address calcium mishandling in diastolic dysfunction is to introduce calcium buffers to facilitate relaxation of the heart. Parvalbumin is a calcium binding protein found in fast-twitch skeletal muscle and not normally expressed in the heart. Gene transfer of parvalbumin into normal and diseased cardiac myocytes increases relaxation rate but also markedly decreases contraction amplitude. Although parvalbumin binds calcium in a delayed manner, it is not delayed enough to preserve full contractility. Factors contributing to the temporal nature of calcium buffering by parvalbumin are discussed in relation to remediation of diastolic dysfunction. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cardiomyocyte Biology: Cardiac Pathways of Differentiation, Metabolism and Contraction.

Aging and heart failure: changing demographics and implications for therapy in the elderly

The elderly population (age > or =65) is increasing and with it morbidity, hospitalizations, costs and mortality due to heart failure (HF). HF is a progressive disorder that is superimposed on an on-going aging process. The two broad categories of HF, HF with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction or low ejection fraction (HF/low-EF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HF/PEF) are equally prevalent in the elderly. Trials of therapy for HF/low-EF in primarily non-elderly patients showed mortality benefit in elderly patients. In contrast, trials for HF/PEF have not shown mortality benefit in elderly or non-elderly patients. HF pharmacotherapy in the elderly is challenging and needs to be individualized and consider several aging-related changes. More research into the biology of aging and more clinical trials in elderly patients are needed to improve morbidity and mortality in elderly HF patients.

Cardiorenal syndrome caused by heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Since cardiorenal dysfunction is usually secondary to multiple factors acting in concert (and not only reduced cardiac output) in the present paper we are going to focus on the interrelationship between heart failure with normal ejection fraction and the development of cardiorenal syndrome. The coexistence of renal impairment in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (CRS type 2 and 4) is common especially in older females with hypertension and/or diabetes. It can be hypothesized that the incidence of this disease association is growing, while clinical trials enrolling these patients are still lacking. The main mechanisms thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of this condition are represented by the increase of intra-abdominal and central venous pressure and the activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Differently from CRS in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, the involvement of the kidney may be under-diagnosed in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction and the optimal therapeutic strategy in this condition, though challenging, is far to be completely elucidated. Further studies are needed to assess the best therapeutic regimen in patients with renal dysfunction (and worsening) and heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure in the elderly: advances and challenges

The elderly population (age > or =65 years) is increasing, and with it the prevalence of heart failure and associated morbidity, hospitalizations and costs. Despite advances, clinical trial data on heart failure therapy exclusively for elderly patients are lacking. However, trials of therapy for heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction or low ejection fraction in primarily non-elderly patients showed mortality benefit in elderly patients. By contrast, trials for heart failure with normal left ventricular systolic function or preserved ejection fraction have not shown mortality benefit in elderly or non-elderly patients. Heart failure pharmacotherapy in the elderly is challenging; it needs to be individualized and consider aging-specific changes in physiology, drug metabolism, drug pharmacokinetics and tolerance, comorbidities, polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions that can contribute to adverse effects. More research into the biology of aging and clinical trials in elderly patients may lead to the discovery of new therapies for heart failure in the elderly.

Cross-Talk Between Mineralocorticoid and Angiotensin II Signaling for Cardiac Remodeling

Experimental and clinical studies show that aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation has deleterious effects in the cardiovascular system that may cross-talk with those of angiotensin II (Ang II). This study, using a transgenic mouse model with conditional and cardiomyocyte-restricted overexpression of the human MR, was designed to assess the cardiac consequences of Ang II treatment and cardiomyocyte MR activation. Two-month-old MHCtTA/tetO-hMR double transgenic males (DTg) with conditional, cardiomyocyte-specific human MR expression, and their control littermates were infused with Ang II (200 ng/kg per minute) or vehicle via osmotic minipump. Ang II induced similar increases in systolic blood pressure in control and DTg mice but a greater increase in left ventricle mass/body weight in DTg than in control mice. In DTg mice, Ang II–induced left ventricle hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction without affecting systolic function, as assessed by echography. These effects were associated with an increase in the expression of collagens and fibronectin, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 activities, and histological fibrosis. Ang II treatment of DTg mice did not affect inflammation markers, but oxidative stress was substantially increased, as indicated by gp91 expression, apocynin-inhibitable NADPH oxidase activity, and protein carbonylation. These molecular and functional alterations were prevented by pharmacological MR antagonism. Our findings indicate that the effects of Ang II and MR activation in the heart are additive. This observation may be relevant to the clinical use of MR or of combined Ang II type 1 receptor-MR antagonists for hypertrophic cardiomyopathies or for heart failure, particularly when diastolic dysfunction is associated with preserved systolic function.

Role of Angiotensin II in the Evolution of Diastolic Heart Failure

More than half of all persons with heart failure (HF) have diastolic HF. The prevalence of diastolic HF increases from 46% in persons younger than 45 years to 59% in those 85 years and older. The annual mortality rate associated with diastolic HF is >10%. Diagnosis is based on signs and symptoms of HF, elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide, preserved left ventricular systolic function, and evidence of diastolic dysfunction by Doppler examination on two-dimensional echocardiography. Approximately 80% of patients with diastolic HF have increased left ventricular mass and a history of hypertension. Neurohormonal activation is a key aspect of this condition. Studies suggest that activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, specifically direct cardiac effects of angiotensin II and aldosterone, contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of diastolic dysfunction. Hence, there is a rationale for use of agents that antagonize the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and aldosterone antagonists, in patients with heart failure.

Curriculum in cardiology: integrated diagnosis and management of diastolic heart failure

Among the general heart failure (HF) population, over half have diastolic HF (DHF). The proportion of DHF increases with age, from 46% in patients younger than 45 years to 59% in patients older than 85 years. The diagnosis of DHF is made by the combination of signs and symptoms of HF with preserved systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction >50%), and evidence of diastolic dysfunction obtained by echocardiographic Doppler examination, invasive hemodynamic evaluation, or an elevation of serum B-type natriuretic peptide. The most common risk factors for the development of diastolic dysfunction and DHF include long-standing hypertension, older age, female sex, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease. Acute decompensation occurs in the setting of pressure overload, volume overload, or superimposed cardiac ischemia. The cornerstones of in-hospital management include blood pressure and volume control, heart rate control, and correction of precipitating factors. Priorities in the outpatient clinic include optimal blood pressure control, maintenance of euvolemia with minimal or no diuretics, and, potentially, use of disease-modifying drugs including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, aldosterone receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and digoxin. Long-term regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, improvement in diastolic filling parameters, and sustained reductions in B-type natriuretic peptide may be future treatment targets for this condition.

Trends in prevalence and outcome of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction may be changing as a result of changes in population demographics and in the prevalence and treatment of risk factors for heart failure. Changes in the prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction may contribute to changes in the natural history of heart failure. We performed a study to define secular trends in the prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction among patients at a single institution over a 15-year period.

METHODS

We studied all consecutive patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure at Mayo Clinic Hospitals in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1987 through 2001. We classified patients as having either preserved or reduced ejection fraction. The patients were also classified as community patients (Olmsted County residents) or referral patients. Secular trends in the type of heart failure, associated cardiovascular disease, and survival were defined.

RESULTS

A total of 6076 patients with heart failure were discharged over the 15-year period; data on ejection fraction were available for 4596 of these patients (76 percent). Of these, 53 percent had a reduced ejection fraction and 47 percent had a preserved ejection fraction. The proportion of patients with the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction increased over time and was significantly higher among community patients than among referral patients (55 percent vs. 45 percent). The prevalence rates of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes among patients with heart failure increased significantly over time. Survival was slightly better among patients with preserved ejection fraction (adjusted hazard ratio for death, 0.96; P=0.01). Survival improved over time for those with reduced ejection fraction but not for those with preserved ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction increased over a 15-year period, while the rate of death from this disorder remained unchanged. These trends underscore the importance of this growing public health problem.