2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

Prognostic Significance of Nutritional Scores in Patients With Heart Failure: Insights From the PARAGON-HF Trial

BACKGROUND

The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) are indices that identify individuals at risk of malnutrition. Our study sought to examine the incidence and prognostic implications of abnormal CONUT and/or GNRI in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The CONUT score and GNRI were serially analyzed in this post hoc analysis of the PARAGON-HF (Prospective Comparison of Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor With Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers Global Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial. A CONUT score >2 or GNRI ≤98 was considered to be abnormal. The association between abnormal CONUT and/or GNRI (analyzed using a time-updated approach) and total heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death was analyzed. Other outcomes included cardiovascular death, all-cause death, total heart failure hospitalizations, first all-cause hospitalization, and first noncardiovascular hospitalization. We also explored the effect of incident hospitalization on subsequent incident abnormal CONUT and/or GNRI. In 4794 patients (55% women, mean age 72±8 years), 1119 (23.3%) had at least 1 abnormal score at randomization. Among the remaining 3675 patients, 1405 (38.2%) developed at least 1 abnormal score over a median follow-up of 2.9 years. Any abnormal score during follow-up was associated with a significantly higher risk of fatal and nonfatal outcomes, and all types of hospitalizations (all-cause, heart failure, and noncardiovascular hospitalizations). Among patients with normal scores at randomization, any hospitalization during follow-up was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing at least 1 abnormal score posthospitalization, compared with prehospitalization and never-hospitalized patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.22-1.55]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the rate of individuals with abnormal CONUT and/or GNRI was high, especially following a heart failure hospitalization, and was linked with excess cardiovascular and noncardiovascular events.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01920711.

Digital health intervention to optimise heart failure management after hospital discharge in Brazil (OPT-HF): a randomised clinical trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure (HF) reduces adverse events, but is underused. Global barriers to GDMT optimisation include low frequency of visits, clinician inertia and poor patient knowledge, which may be mitigated by digital health interventions (DHI). In Brazil, low digital literacy and reduced access to technology may compromise these potential DHI's beneficial effects. Our objective is to develop and test the effectiveness of a DHI to optimise GDMT in patients recently hospitalised for HF in the Brazilian public health system (Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS)).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a randomised, controlled, multicentre, parallel-group, clinical trial in which 154 patients being discharged from an HF-related hospitalisation will be randomised. Inclusion criteria are ≥18 years of age, reduced ejection fraction HF (EF<50%) and medication optimisation gaps (at least one GDMT class not started or two among those with prescribed dosage≤50% of the target dose). All participants will receive a written booklet and SUS usual care. Randomisation will be stratified by site. The intervention includes a mobile application (app) to engage patients, developed through a human-centred design. The app's main features are a check-in page for daily collection of participants' health status, vital signs and weight; a remote educational programme; a chat function during working hours and longitudinal graphical representations of participants' data. The participants' data will be managed daily by a nurse, linked to a cardiologist for teleconsultations. Predefined clinical decision trees will guide actions, including alarm signs and GDMT optimisation. The primary outcome will be changes in GDMT from baseline to end of follow-up in 90 days. Secondary outcomes will include all-cause readmission, HF-related rehospitalisation, change in health status and HF knowledge, and implementation outcomes based on the RE-AIM framework. The analysis of outcomes will follow the intention-to-treat principle.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Recruitment started in November 2023, and patients involved will sign an informed consent form. Results will be presented at scientific meetings and published in scientific journals in 2025, and will be disclosed in social media and presented to public health stakeholders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Universal Trial Number U1111-1295-1864 Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-10vpf9bm).

Risk-Based Primary Prevention of Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

The growing morbidity, mortality, and health care costs related to heart failure (HF) underscore the urgent need to prioritize its primary prevention. Whereas a risk-based approach for HF prevention remains in its infancy, several key opportunities exist to actualize this paradigm in clinical practice. First, the 2022 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America HF guidelines provided recommendations, for the first time, on the clinical utility of multivariable risk equations to estimate risk of incident HF. Second, the American Heart Association recently developed the PREVENT (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events) equations, which not only enable prediction of incident HF separately, but also include HF in the prediction of total cardiovascular disease. Third, the predominant phenotype of HF risk has emerged as the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. Fourth, the emergence of novel therapies that prevent incident HF (eg, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors) and target multiple cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic axes demonstrate growing potential for risk-based interventions. Whereas the concept of risk-based prevention has been established for decades, it has only been operationalized for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention to date. Translating these opportunities into a conceptual framework of risk-based primary prevention of HF requires implementation of PREVENT-HF (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events-Heart Failure) equations, targeted use of cardiac biomarkers (eg, natriuretic peptides) and echocardiography for risk reclassification and earlier detection of pre-HF, and definition of therapy-specific risk thresholds that incorporate net benefit and cost-effectiveness. This scientific statement reviews the current evidence for accurate risk prediction, defines strategies for equitable prevention, and proposes potential strategies for the successful implementation of risk-based primary prevention of HF.

Validation of predictors of successful weaning from mechanical circulatory support and histological features in lymphocytic fulminant myocarditis

OBJECTIVE

To validate the prognostic utility of peak creatine kinase-myocardial band isoenzyme (CK-MB) level, left ventricular posterior wall diameter (LVPWD), and a score model for successful weaning from mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in fulminant myocarditis (FM). Furthermore, the severity of the histological data was stratified, and its relationship with the clinical findings was investigated.

METHODS

This retrospective single-centre cohort study included 20 patients with FM treated with MCS between 2013 and 2023. The primary outcome was successful weaning from MCS (MCS decannulation and survival to discharge). Two validations were conducted: Validation A, to evaluate the predictive value of peak CK-MB and LVPWD, and validation B, to evaluate the performance of the prediction model for successful MCS weaning derived from the CHANGE PUMP Study. The histological findings of 21 specimens were used for additional analyses. The pathological severity of myocardial inflammation, necrosis and oedema was stratified, and their relationship with clinical data was assessed.

RESULTS

14 patients were successfully weaned from MCS. In validation A, the weaning success rate was significantly higher in patients with peak CK-MB≤185 IU/L than in those with peak CK-MB>185 IU/L. Similar findings were observed in patients with LVPWD≤11 mm compared with those with LVPWD>11 mm. In Validation B, the median predictive MCS weaning success rate for the entire cohort was 80%. Compared with patients who underwent MCS decannulation successfully, those who did not had a significantly lower predictive success rate. The C-statistic of the model was 0.845. The histological severity at admission was not associated with the primary outcome. However, the CK-MB levels and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) obtained simultaneously were correlated with histological severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Previously reported predictors of successful weaning from MCS in FM demonstrated reasonable discrimination. The severity of FM evaluated by histological findings was associated with CK-MB levels and LVEF.

Timing and Adherence Matter for Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

It is imperative to maintain the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) in patients with diabetes both after the index diagnosis of heart failure (HF) and even prior to the index diagnosis of HF. We aimed to investigate whether timing of SGLT-2 is before the index diagnosis of HF, and second, adherence to SGLT-2is in the form of the proportion of days covered metric matter in patients with HF and diabetes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All-cause death up to 7 years were evaluated in HF with diabetes from the subgroup analysis of TRends-HF (TRends in Heart Failure in Türkiye). Patients with HF and diabetes, who were prescribed an SGLT-2i either before or after the index diagnosis of HF were identified, categorized according to duration of exposure before the index HF diagnosis and according to proportion of days covered after the index diagnosis of HF, and compared with nonusers. There were 1 229 833 patients with HF and diabetes in the cohort. A total of 247 987 were on an SGLT-2i and had available timing data, and 14.06% had SGLT-2i on board before the index HF diagnosis. Median duration of SGLT-2i exposure before the index HF diagnosis was 417 days. Prognosis was the best among patients with diabetes who were prescribed an SGLT-2i before the index diagnosis of HF with an exposure more than median duration. Of note, among patients who were prescribed an SGLT-2i after the index HF diagnosis; there was a numerically graded increase in all-cause mortality rate such that a >10% decrease in SGLT-2i proportion of days covered was associated with a 59% increase in all-cause death (hazard ratio, 1.21-2.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of time or adherence, SGLT-2is offer a remarkable all-cause death benefit to patients with HF and diabetes. SGLT-2is' all-cause death benefit for patients with HF and diabetes was greatest when it was prescribed before the HF index diagnosis. Poor adherence to SGLT-2is was associated with worsening survival in patients with HF and diabetes following the diagnosis of index HF.

Clinical Outcomes for Heart-Alone and Multiorgan Transplant Under the New Heart Allocation Policy Era

BACKGROUND

In October 2018, a new heart transplant allocation policy was implemented in the United States to address inequalities. Under the new policy, some patient outcomes for patients with heart transplant have improved; however, outcomes of multiorgan transplants combined with heart remain unclear.

METHODS

We examined the waitlist mortality, time to transplant, and posttransplant survival for all patients listed between 2013 and 2022 for multiorgan transplants with heart (n=3798) and compared the old policy era to the new policy era using cumulative incident curves and multivariable Cox regression models. Cumulative incidence curves also compared multiorgan transplants to patients listed for heart alone (n=31 840) under the new policy era.

RESULTS

Patients awaiting multiorgan transplants had higher use of intra-aortic balloon pumps (4.7% versus 11%) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (2.4% versus 4.9%) in the new policy era. Under the new policy, despite receiving transplants sooner (n=2200 transplants, hazard ratio [HR], 1.74 [95% CI, 1.59-1.91]), patients who received multiorgan transplants had no change in waitlist mortality (n=340 deaths, HR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.84-1.34]) compared with the old policy era. The rate of death post-multiorgan transplant was significantly higher in incidence curves under the new policy compared with the old policy era (log-rank P=0.02). However, in multivariable Cox models, the risk of death post-multiorgan transplant was similar under the new policy (n=287 deaths, HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.87-1.41]) compared with the old policy era.

CONCLUSIONS

Under the new policy, waitlist deaths have decreased for patients awaiting heart alone, but not for those awaiting multiorgan transplants. Post-transplant survival remains lower for patients who underwent multiorgan transplant (compared with heart-alone transplant), with no change under the new policy.

Meteorin-like protein plasma levels are associated with worse outcomes in de novo heart failure

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Meteorin-like protein (Metrnl) has been recently suggested as a new adipokine with protective cardiovascular effects. Its circulating levels in patients seem to be associated with heart failure (HF), although with contradictory results. Our aim was to ascertain whether this adipokine could estimate the prognosis of HF in de novo HF (DNHF) patients.

METHODS

Metrnl plasma levels of 400 patients hospitalized with DNHF (55% of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, 17.3% HF with mid-range ejection fraction, 27.8% HF with preserved ejection fraction) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We performed both sex-pooled and sex-specific analyses. A 12-month follow-up was conducted, during which clinical outcomes such as all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death and re-hospitalization due to HF were collected.

RESULTS

After a 12-month follow up, higher plasma Metrnl levels were associated with an increased risk for all-cause death and cardiovascular death after adjusting by sex, age, LVEF, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic aetiology, chronic renal failure, NT-proBNP and troponin (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.003, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.000-1.005; p-value<.05 and HR = 1.004, 95% CI = 1.001-1.007, p-value<.05, respectively). In line with this, DNHF patients with increased levels of circulating Metrnl had a higher number of occurrences of cardiovascular events. Regarding Metrnl associations with parameters implicated in the development and progression of HF, we found that Metrnl circulating levels were positively correlated with age (r = .322, p-value<.0001), NT-proBNP (r = .281, p-value<.0001) and with the renal dysfunction markers urea (r = .322, p-value<.0001) and creatinine (r = .353, p-value<.0001) and higher in women than men (473.7 [385.9-594.0] pg/mL vs. 428.7 [349.1-561.3] pg/mL, p-value<.006). Finally, concerning the subtype of HF, Metrnl plasma levels were higher in HF with preserved ejection fraction.

CONCLUSION

Patients with higher Metrnl levels have a worse prognosis in DNHF. Our results reinforce the association of Metrnl plasma levels with HF progression and outcomes.

Frailty, age, and treatment effect of surgical coronary revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy: a post hoc analysis of the STICHES trial

Frailty is common among older patients with heart failure (HF). The efficacy of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the risk of mortality among frail patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and HF is uncertain, and whether frailty burden modifies the treatment benefits of CABG among these patients is unknown. We performed a post hoc analysis of the STICHES trial, a randomized trial of CABG with medical therapy vs medical therapy alone among participants with ischemic cardiomyopathy with ejection fraction ≤ 35%. Baseline frailty was assessed through a Rockwood Frailty Index (FI), and based on FI cut-offs from prior HF studies, participants with FI ≥ 0.311 were classified as more frail, and those with FI < 0.311 were classified as less frail. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model with multiplicative interaction terms was constructed to evaluate whether frailty status modified the treatment effect of CABG on mortality in the overall trial cohort and among those < 60 vs ≥ 60 years of age. Of 1187 participants (12.4% female, 2.6% Black, median FI = 0.33 [IQR 0.27-0.39]), 678 were characterized as more frail. Frailty burden did not modify the efficacy of CABG on the risk of all-cause death in the overall cohort (Pint CABG × frailty = 0.2). In age stratified analysis, Baseline frailty status did not modify the treatment effect of CABG on the risk of all-cause mortality among younger (< 60 years, Pint CABG × frailty = 0.2) as well as older participants (≥60 years, Pint CABG × frailty = 0.6). In this post hoc analysis of the STICHES trial, baseline frailty status did not modify the efficacy of CABG in the overall cohort as well as among younger or older participants. Frailty alone should not be used as a criterion to determine the utilization of CABG among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Interventional therapies for chronic heart failure: An overview of recent developments

Heart failure (HF), the final manifestation of most cardiovascular diseases, has become a major global health concern, affecting millions of individuals. Despite basic drug treatments, patients present with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, recent advancements in interventional therapy have shown promising results in improving the prognosis of patients with HF. These advancements include transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis, transcatheter mitral valve repair for chronic mitral regurgitation, neuromodulation therapy for multiple targets and measures in the treatment of chronic HF and left ventricular assist device implantation for advanced HF (Figure 1). In this review, we aimed to provide an overview of the current progress in interventional therapies for chronic HF.

Efficacy and safety of roxadustat for treating anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Anaemia is a common comorbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF). Roxadustat has been approved for the treatment of anaemia in patients with CKD. However, its efficacy and safety in treating anaemia in patients with both CKD and HF remain unclear. We conducted a retrospective study with propensity score matching (PSM) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of roxadustat in this population.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled patients diagnosed with HF comorbid with CKD and anaemia. The patients were divided into two groups: a roxadustat group and a control group. One-to-one PSM was used to balance baseline characteristics between the groups. The primary endpoint was the change in haemoglobin (Hb) at week 8. Secondary endpoints included Hb response, changes in haematocrit, iron parameters, echocardiographic parameters, B-type natriuretic peptides and lipid levels. Exploratory endpoints were mortality and rehospitalization rates over 30 days-2 years. Safety endpoints included the incidence of hyperkalaemia, liver damage and thrombotic events.

Results

A total of 1055 patients were screened. After PSM, 206 patients were included. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the matched cohorts. At week 8, the roxadustat group experienced a greater increase in Hb than the control group, with a difference of 0.8 g/dl (95% confidence interval 0.3-1.3; P = .003). The roxadustat group also demonstrated a higher Hb response (60.2% versus 28.2%; P < .001) and a greater increase in haematocrit (4.7 ± 0.9% versus 2.8 ± 0.6%; P = .008) than the control group. No significant differences were observed for other secondary endpoints. Thrombotic events were similar between the two groups and there were no differences in the risks of mortality or rehospitalization.

Conclusions

Roxadustat was effective in correcting and maintaining Hb levels in patients with anaemia, HF and CKD. It did not increase thrombotic and other adverse events, mortality or rehospitalization risks, making it a promising treatment option for anaemia in this population.

Circadian variation in patients with acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

The circadian system influences the pathophysiology of many cardiovascular diseases; however, circadian variations in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are unknown. Thus, this study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and risk factors for in-hospital mortality between patients with daytime- versus nighttime-onset HFpEF.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective study included 3875 consecutive patients with acute HFpEF. Daytime and nighttime periods were defined as 6:00-17:59 and 18:00-5:59, respectively. Potential prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality were selected using univariable analyses. Those with P values of <0.10 were used in multivariable logistic regression analyses with forward selection (likelihood ratios) to identify significant prognostic factors.

RESULTS

The incidence of daytime-onset HFpEF was significantly lower but the in-hospital mortality was significantly higher than that of nighttime-onset HFpEF. Independent prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with daytime-onset HFpEF were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.057) and systolic blood pressure (OR: 0.979). In contrast, age (OR: 1.067), coexisting atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR: 2.023), systolic blood pressure (OR: 0.989), estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR: 0.971), treatment with diuretics (OR: 0.282), and treatment with beta-blockers (OR: 0.514) were independent prognostic factors in patients with nighttime-onset HFpEF.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of acute HFpEF exhibits circadian variations, and onset-related differences in clinical characteristics and prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality were identified. These findings may provide new insights for future research and guide individualized patient management strategies.

Exercise interventions for patients with heart failure: an evidence map

Background and aims

Although exercise performance is an essential tool for managing heart failure, there is still no consensus on whether exercise prescriptions can be universally applied to all types of heart failure patients. This study aimed to describe and evaluate the evidence on exercise interventions for patients with heart failure by creating an evidence map.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database to identify systematic reviews and meta-analysis. We used A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2) to evaluate the quality of included systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Bubble charts were employed to visualize key characteristics like intervention effectiveness, literature quality, literature quantity, and heart failure types. Matrix bubble charts were used to show the distribution of outcome indicators, exercise methods, literature quantity, and heart failure types.

Results

A total of 113 systematic reviews/meta-analyses were included and over 80% of studies conclude that exercise is beneficial for heart failure patients. Three heart failure types involved varied due to different classification criteria used in the included literature. Eleven types of exercise interventions have been applied in patients with heart failure and mixed modality exercise is the exercise type with the highest attention. Existing researches focus more on the improvement of exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory function in heart failure patients. Most researchers tend to focus on conducting exercise intervention studies in HFrEF.

Conclusions

The evidence map provides a visual overview of the research volume and findings on exercise interventions for heart failure patients. Exercise interventions have significant advantages for heart failure patients, but there is room for improvement in study quality, heart failure classification, and outcome indicators. Future research should focus on designing more high-quality studies to provide more high-level evidence for this field.

Nexilin mutations, a cause of chronic heart failure: A state-of-the-art review starting from a clinical case

Heart failure (HF) is a medical condition associated with high morbidity and mortality, despite ongoing advances in diagnosis and treatment. Among the various causes of HF, cardiomyopathies are particularly significant and must be thoroughly diagnosed and characterized from the outset. In this review, we aim to present a brief overview of cardiomyopathies as a driver of HF, with a specific focus on the genetic causes, particularly nexilin (NEXN) cardiomyopathy, illustrated by a clinical case. The case involves a 63-year-old male who presented with HF symptoms at moderate exertion. Six months prior, he had been asymptomatic, and a routine transthoracic echocardiography had shown a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, during the current evaluation, transthoracic echocardiography revealed a dilated left ventricle with a severely reduced LVEF of 30%. Subsequent coronary angiography ruled out ischemic heart disease, while cardiac magnetic resonance imaging indicated a non-inflammatory, non-infiltrative dilated cardiomyopathy with extensive LV fibrosis. Genetic testing identified a heterozygous in-frame deletion variant in the NEXN gene [c.1949_1951del, p.(Gly650del)], classified as likely pathogenic. State-of-the-art HF treatment was initiated, including cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator support. Following treatment, the patient's symptoms resolved, and LVEF improved to 42%. Interestingly, this patient experienced the onset of symptoms and left ventricular dysfunction within just six months, a much faster progression compared to previously documented cases where the G650del NEXN variant is typically linked to a more gradual development of dilated cardiomyopathy. Current literature offers limited data on patients with NEXN mutations, and the connection between this gene and both dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies remains an area of active research.

An Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model for Assessing the Association Between Health Literacy and mHealth Use Intention in Dyads of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Their Caregivers: Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Chronic heart failure (CHF) has become a serious threat to the health of the global population. Self-management is the key to treating CHF, and the emergence of mobile health (mHealth) has provided new ideas for the self-management of CHF. Despite the many potential benefits of mHealth, public utilization of mHealth apps is low, and poor health literacy (HL) is a key barrier to mHealth use. However, the mechanism of the influence is unclear.

Objective

The aim of this study is to explore the dyadic associations between HL and mHealth usage intentions in dyads of patients with CHF and their caregivers, and the mediating role of mHealth perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in these associations.

Methods

This study had a cross-sectional research design, with a sample of 312 dyads of patients with CHF who had been hospitalized in the cardiology departments of 2 tertiary care hospitals in China from March to October 2023 and their caregivers. A general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Heart Failure-Specific Health Literacy Scale, and the mHealth Intention to Use Scale were used to conduct the survey; the data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

Results

The results of the actor-partner interdependent mediation analysis of HL, perceived usefulness of mHealth, and mHealth use intention among patients with CHF and their caregivers showed that all of the model's actor effects were valid (β=.26-0.45; P<.001), the partner effects were partially valid (β=.08-0.20; P<.05), and the mediation effects were valid (β=.002-0.242, 95% CI 0.003-0.321; P<.05). Actor-partner interdependent mediation analyses of HL, perceived ease of use of mHealth, and mHealth use intention among patients with CHF and caregivers showed that the model's actor effect partially held (β=.17-0.71; P<.01), the partner effect partially held (β=.15; P<.01), and the mediation effect partially held (β=.355-0.584, 95% CI 0.234-0.764; P<.001).

Conclusions

Our study proposes that the HL of patients with CHF and their caregivers positively contributes to their own intention to use mHealth, suggesting that the use of mHealth by patients with CHF can be promoted by improving the HL of patients and caregivers. Our findings also suggest that the perceived usefulness of patients with CHF and caregivers affects patients' mHealth use intention, and therefore patients with CHF and their caregivers should be involved throughout the mHealth development process to improve the usability of mHealth for both patients and caregivers. This study emphasizes the key role of patients' perception that mHealth is easy to use in facilitating their use of mHealth. Therefore, it is recommended that the development of mHealth should focus on simplifying operational procedures and providing relevant operational training according to the needs of the patients when necessary.

RAAS inhibitors in pregnancy, breastfeeding and women of childbearing potential: a review of national and international clinical practice guidelines

Globally prevalent conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are frequently and effectively treated with blockers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) as a first line treatment in the UK and worldwide. RAAS blockers are prohibited in pregnancy due to their adverse fetal effects. We reviewed clinical guidelines from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on the management of cardiovascular and kidney disease with RAAS blockers in pregnancy, with other UK, European and American guidance as comparators. Whilst guidelines agree on the strict avoidance of RAAS blockers in pregnancy, nuanced considerations regarding prescription in women of childbearing potential, contraception, timing of RAAS blocker withdrawal and breastfeeding are not consistently addressed in clinical guidelines. We call for consistent wording and more explicit advice on RAAS blocker prescription in women of childbearing potential, in pregnancy and in the postpartum period in future iterations of clinical guidelines.

Application and Research of Left Bundle Branch-Optimized Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of left bundle branch-optimized cardiac resynchronization therapy (LOT-CRT) in patients diagnosed with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction due to ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods

A total of 78 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent pacemaker implantation at a single center between March 2020 and March 2022 were randomly assigned to two groups based on different pacing methods: LOT-CRT group (n = 39) and biventricular pacing (BVP) group (n = 35). Pacing threshold, impedance, electrocardiogram QRS wave duration during pacing, ventricular pacing ratio during follow-up, and cardiac ultrasound-related indicators were compared immediately after surgery and at the six-month follow-up.

Results

The two groups were similar regarding baseline characteristics, cardiac ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, and overall cardiac function. However, the BVP group demonstrated higher pacing thresholds and impedance levels immediately after surgery and at the six-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Moreover, the X-ray exposure time was significantly longer in the BVP group compared to the LOT-CRT group. While no significant differences in QRS duration were observed between the groups preoperatively, the QRS duration in the LOT-CRT group was significantly shorter both immediately after surgery and during follow-up (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), or left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). Six months post-surgery, both groups showed modest improvements in NYHA class, LVEF, and LVEDD, with the LOT-CRT group demonstrating significant improvements (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

LOT-CRT may be an alternative treatment for patients with heart failure complicated by left bundle branch block due to ischemic cardiomyopathy in whom BVP is ineffective.

Hospital Variability in the Use of Vasoactive Agents in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure for Clinical Phenotypes

BACKGROUND

The absence of practice standards in vasoactive agent usage for acute decompensated heart failure has resulted in significant treatment variability across hospitals, potentially affecting patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess temporal trends and institutional differences in vasodilator and inotrope/vasopressor utilization among patients with acute decompensated heart failure, considering their clinical phenotypes.

METHODS

Data were extracted from a government-funded multicenter registry covering the Tokyo metropolitan area, comprising consecutive patients hospitalized in intensive/cardiovascular care units with a primary diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure between January 2013 and December 2021. Clinical phenotypes, that is, pulmonary congestion or tissue hypoperfusion, were defined through a comprehensive assessment of clinical signs and symptoms, vital signs, and laboratory findings. We assessed the frequency and temporal trends in phenotype-based drug utilization of vasoactive agents and investigated institutional characteristics associated with adopting the phenotype-based approach using generalized linear mixed-effects models, with random intercepts to account for hospital-level variability.

RESULTS

Among 37 293 patients (median age, 80 years; 43.7% female), 88.6% and 21.2% had pulmonary congestion and tissue hypoperfusion status, respectively. Throughout the study period, both overall and phenotype-based vasodilator utilizations showed significant declines, with overall usage dropping from 61.4% in 2013 to 48.6% in 2021 (Ptrend<0.001). Conversely, no temporal changes were observed in overall inotrope/vasopressor utilization from 24.6% in 2013 to 25.8% in 2021 or the proportion of phenotype-based utilization. Notably, there was considerable variability in phenotype-based drug utilization among hospitals, with a median ranging from 48.3% to 77.8%. In multivariable-adjusted models, a higher number of board-certified cardiologists were significantly associated with lower rates of phenotype-based vasodilator utilization and reduced inappropriate inotrope/vasopressor utilization, while tertiary care hospitals were linked to more appropriate inotrope/vasopressor utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial variability existed among hospitals in phenotype-based drug utilization of vasoactive agents for patients with acute decompensated heart failure, highlighting the need for standardized treatment protocols.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm; Unique identifier: UMIN000013128.

Efficacy and Safety of SGLT-2 Inhibitors in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Since there is no specific recommendation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors in acute myocardial infarction (MI), this systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to address this lack of evidence. Scopus, Embase, PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception until May 30, 2024. We used both random and fixed-effects models for data analyses. Odds ratio (OR) and standard means difference (SMD) were performed for binary and continuous variables, respectively. Nine studies including five randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and four observational studies including 15,595 individuals with acute MI were entered. Overall, SGLT-2 inhibitors are significantly associated with a reduction of hospitalization for heart failure (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.97; P =  .02; I2 = 0%) and all-cause mortality (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.81; P =  .002; I2 = 0%) based on the RCTs and observational studies, respectively. SGLT-2 inhibitors also significantly improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (SMD, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.70; P =  .04; I2 = 62%) among RCTs. Further evaluation of these drugs also revealed an acceptable safety profile without any major adverse events. In conclusion, although SGLT-2 inhibitors may have some clinical benefits among acute MI individuals, further RCTs are still needed to provide robust evidence regarding the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in this setting.

Age-Based Classification and Outcomes in Pediatric Heart Failure: Findings From a Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Although heart failure is a well-known major global public health concern, the general understanding of the clinical status of pediatric heart failure (PHF) is inadequate. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the general understanding of clinical characteristics across different PHF age groups and provide references for improving PHF treatment strategies.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective cohort study involved patients from 20 Chinese provinces, primarily including hospitalized patients (aged ≤18 years) diagnosed with heart failure between January 2013 and December 2022. The study subjects were categorized into 4 groups: neonatal, infant and toddler, young children, and adolescent.

RESULTS

Herein, 2903 hospitalized patients with PHF were included. Significant differences were observed across age groups in clinical characteristics, auxiliary examination results, comorbid diagnoses, and hospitalization outcomes. After adjusting for covariates, the odds of in-hospital death were significantly lower in the infant and toddler (odds ratio [OR], 0.46 [95% CI, 0.25-0.85]), young children (OR, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.18-0.85]), and adolescent (OR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.13-0.87]) groups compared with the neonatal group. Furthermore, the odds of cardiovascular adverse events were significantly higher in the young children (OR, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.62-2.88]) and adolescent (OR, 2.16 [95% CI, 1.15-4.06]) groups compared with the neonatal group. Additionally, regarding the odds of a bad Ross class, the adolescent group had 1.85 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.11-3.09) compared with the neonatal group, 2.36 times (95% CI, 1.67-3.35) higher odds compared with the infant and toddler group, and 1.45 times (95% CI, 1.05-2.02) higher odds compared with the young children group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes the importance of age-specific stratification in PHF management, revealing distinct clinical and prognostic differences across various developmental stages.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn. Unique identifier: ChiCTR2300078262.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ( PPARG )-mediated myocardial salvage in acute myocardial infarction managed with left ventricular unloading and coronary reperfusion

Ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Improvements have been made in coronary interventions to restore blood flow, but ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury significantly impacts clinical outcomes. We previously reported that activation of percutaneous mechanical unloading of the left ventricle (LV) with a transvalvular axial-flow device simultaneously with reperfusion improves myocardial salvage. However, the underlying mechanisms, potential adjuvant pharmacological interventions and the timing of the use of LV unloading as a cardioprotective approach in AMI are not well understood. This study investigated a) the mechanisms associated with improved myocardial salvage, b) a pharmacological intervention, and c) the timing of LV unloading. Following 90 minutes of ischemia, adult swine were subjected to reperfusion alone, simultaneous unloading with reperfusion, upfront unloading with delayed reperfusion, upfront reperfusion with delayed unloading, or reperfusion with concurrent use of esmolol and milrinone. Compared to controls, the simultaneous group had a 47% increase in myocardial salvage following AMI. This was associated with increased expression of neutrophil degranulation, macrophage activation, iNOS signaling, wound healing, and PPAR signaling. From these pathways, PPARG (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) emerged as a potential cardioprotective gene that was uniquely overexpressed in the simultaneously unloaded and reperfused myocardium. Next, we showed PPARG agonism with rosiglitazone reduces mitochondrial oxygen demand in cardiomyocytes and in vivo, improves myocardial salvage following I/R injury in C57BL6/J mice. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), such as rosiglitazone could be investigated as therapies combined with simultaneous LV unloading and coronary interventions to mitigate reperfusion injury.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Phosphorylation of CRYAB induces a condensatopathy to worsen post-myocardial infarction left ventricular remodeling

Protein aggregates are emerging therapeutic targets in rare monogenic causes of cardiomyopathy and amyloid heart disease, but their role in more prevalent heart-failure syndromes remains mechanistically unexamined. We observed mislocalization of desmin and sarcomeric proteins to aggregates in human myocardium with ischemic cardiomyopathy and in mouse hearts with post-myocardial infarction ventricular remodeling, mimicking findings of autosomal-dominant cardiomyopathy induced by the R120G mutation in the cognate chaperone protein CRYAB. In both syndromes, we demonstrate increased partitioning of CRYAB phosphorylated on serine 59 to NP40-insoluble aggregate-rich biochemical fraction. While CRYAB undergoes phase separation to form condensates, the phosphomimetic mutation of serine 59 to aspartate (S59D) in CRYAB mimics R120G-CRYAB mutants with reduced condensate fluidity, formation of protein aggregates, and increased cell death. Conversely, changing serine to alanine (phosphorylation-deficient mutation) at position 59 (S59A) restored condensate fluidity and reduced both R120G-CRYAB aggregates and cell death. In mice, S59D CRYAB knockin was sufficient to induce desmin mislocalization and myocardial protein aggregates, while S59A CRYAB knockin rescued left ventricular systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction and preserved desmin localization with reduced myocardial protein aggregates. 25-Hydroxycholesterol attenuated CRYAB serine 59 phosphorylation and rescued post-myocardial infarction adverse remodeling. Thus, targeting CRYAB phosphorylation-induced condensatopathy is an attractive strategy to counter ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Review of the clinical status of cardiotoxicity of HER-2 positive breast cancer targeted therapeutic drugs

Breast cancer is a major health challenge for women worldwide, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-positive breast cancers have a relatively high incidence and are highly aggressive. Targeted therapeutic agents, represented by trastuzumab, have been effective in improving the survival rate of HER-2-positive breast cancer patients. However, in clinical applications, this type of targeted drugs exhibits varying degrees of cardiotoxicity, and the mechanism of their cardiotoxicity is currently unclear. In this paper, we classify them into three categories: monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and antibody-drug conjugate (ADCs). We list the evidence of cardiotoxicity for various drugs based on current clinical trials and summarize their corresponding epidemiological profiles. We also discuss the regulation of cardiotoxicity from three perspectives: clinical biomarkers of cardiotoxicity, permissive cardiotoxicity, and the current status of cardiotoxicity regulation.

Efficacy of vericiguat in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: a prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Vericiguat through cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted from May 2022 to May 2023, focusing on patients with HFrEF admitted to our hospital. Eligible patients were sequentially numbered and enrolled based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided into two groups: one receiving standard heart failure therapy and the other receiving standard therapy plus Vericiguat. Data were collected at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-discharge, including NT-proBNP, sST2, and echocardiographic assessments. All patients underwent CPET before discharge and again six months post-discharge for within-subject comparisons.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 158 patients, with 79 in each treatment arm. No significant baseline differences were observed in the Weber Functional Classification or CPET parameters. At six months, the Vericiguat group exhibited a significant reduction in patients classified as C (from 31.6 to 7.5%) and D (from 31.6 to 3.7%), with P values less than 0.05. Additionally, Vericiguat significantly improved Peak Oxygen Consumption (from 14.24 ± 6.21 to 19.03 ± 4.87 ml/kg/min) and Anaerobic Threshold (from 10.48 ± 3.82 to 13.48 ± 3.31 ml/kg/min). Compared to the standard treatment group, the Vericiguat group demonstrated significantly higher Peak Oxygen Consumption, Anaerobic Threshold, and a lower Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Slope, with P values all below 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

Vericiguat safely enhances exercise tolerance, as evaluated by CPET, in high-risk patients with HFrEF.

Rationale and Design of Prospective, Multicenter, Double-Arm Clinical Trial to Investigate the Efficacy of Tofogliflozin on Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (TOP-HFPEF Trial)

BACKGROUND

Recent large clinical trials have revealed that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve cardiovascular outcomes not only in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but also in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is still controversial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The TOP-HFPEF trial (Efficacy of Tofogliflozin on Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus) is a multicenter, double-arm, open-label, confirmatory, investigator-initiated clinical study to investigate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitor on LV diastolic function in patients with HFpEF and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The participants are randomly assigned (1:1) to the tofogliflozin group (20 mg once daily) or the control group (administration or continuation of antidiabetic drugs other than SGLT2 inhibitors). The estimated number of patients to be enrolled in this trial is 90 in total (45 in each group). The participants are followed up for 52 weeks with tofogliflozin or control drugs. The primary endpoint is the change in E/e' assessed by echocardiography from the baseline to the end of this study (52 weeks). This trial will also evaluate the effects of tofogliflozin on cardiovascular events, biomarkers, other echocardiographic parameters, the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, and renal function.

CONCLUSIONS

The TOP-HFPEF trial will clarify the efficacy of an SGLT2 inhibitor, tofogliflozin, on LV diastolic function in patients with HFpEF and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

IL-2Rα is a potential biomarker for heart failure diagnosis of patients with end-stage renal disease and haemodialysis

AIMS

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing haemodialysis. Identifying novel predictors of HF is essential for improving diagnostic precision and enhancing patient outcomes.

METHODS

This study included 68 participants from the Haemodialysis Centre at the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. Clinical characteristics and echocardiographic data were collected and analysed. We measured the plasma of 44 cytokines to investigate their correlation with cardiac function and their potential as HF biomarkers.

RESULTS

In the HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) group, the levels of several cytokines, including stem cell growth factor-β (SCGF-β), C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-16 (IL-16), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), C-C motif chemokine 3 (CCL3), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-2 receptor subunit alpha (IL-2Rα), tumour necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 10 (TNFSF10), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF), were significantly increased, while C-C motif chemokine 11 (CCL11)/eotaxin levels were decreased compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis highlighted TNF-α [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.85, odds ratio (OR) = 1.080, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.033-1.128, P = 0.001], IFN-γ (AUC = 0.84, OR = 1.836, 95% CI: 1.289-2.615, P = 0.003) and IL-2Rα (AUC = 0.82, OR = 1.022, 95% CI: 1.009-1.035, P = 0.001) as excellent predictors for HFrEF in haemodialysis patients with ESRD, and they outperformed soluble suppression of tumourigenicity-2 (sST2) but slightly underperformed N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). IL-2Rα (AUC = 0.77, OR = 1.018, 95% CI: 1.007-1.030, P = 0.001) demonstrated superior diagnostic capabilities when distinguishing patients with HF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% from controls. IL-2Rα emerged as a robust biomarker for left ventricular HF, while TNF-α (AUC = 0.89, OR = 1.140, 95% CI: 1.039-1.250, P = 0.005) showed promise in assessing HF severity in patients with ESRD. IL-2Rα (AUC = 0.80, OR = 1.017, 95% CI: 1.007-1.027, P = 0.001) also significantly predicted right ventricular systolic dysfunction. During a median follow-up of 14 months, 10 patients (14.7%) experienced all-cause mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that plasma IL-2Rα was an independent predictor of all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR): 1.010, 95% CI: 1.001-1.020, P = 0.039] after adjusting for other variables.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the potential of IL-2Rα as a valuable biomarker for HF diagnosis and management in haemodialysis patients with ESRD and contributes to our understanding of this high-risk population.

Intracardiac energy inefficiency during decompensated and compensated heart failure

AIMS

The mechanisms underlying the acute decompensation of heart failure (HF) remain unclear. The present study examined intracardiac dynamics during decompensated HF using echo-vector flow mapping.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Fifty patients admitted for decompensated HF were prospectively enrolled, and intracardiac energy loss (EL) was assessed by echo-vector flow mapping at admission (decompensated HF) and discharge (compensated HF). Outcome measures were average EL in the left ventricle (LV) in decompensated and compensated HF and were compared with those in 40 stable non-HF patients with cardiovascular diseases. The mean age of HF patients was 80.8 ± 12.4 years. The prevalence of both females and atrial fibrillation was 48.0%. The prevalence of HF with a reduced ejection fraction (<40%) (HFrEF) was 34.0%. The prevalence of decompensated HF classified into clinical scenario 1 was 33.3%. Blood pressure and NT-proBNP were significantly higher in decompensated HF than in compensated HF, while the ejection fraction (EF) was significantly lower. Average EL was significantly higher in compensated HF patients than in non-HF patients (40 mW/m·L vs. 26 mW/m·L, P = 0.047). A multivariable analysis identified age, systolic blood pressure, LVEF, and the absence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as independent risk factors for high LV-EL regardless of the presence of HF. Furthermore, average EL in HF patients was significantly higher under acute decompensated conditions than under compensated conditions (55 mE/m·L vs. 40 mE/m·L, [+18 mE/m·L, P = 0.03]). Higher EL under decompensated HF conditions was significant in non-HFrEF (+19 mW/m·L, P = 0.009) and clinical scenario 1 (+23 mW/m·L, P = 0.008). The multivariable analysis identified eGFR as an independent risk factor for a decrease in average LV-EL under decompensated conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Energy inefficiency in LV was apparent even in stable HF patients and significant under acute decompensated conditions, particularly in HF with preserved EF and clinical scenario 1.

Experiences of Older Adults with Heart Failure Using Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Background: Telemedicine (TM) usage increased rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is part of a larger mixed-methods study comparing TM and in-person visits of older adults with heart failure (HF) and describes patient's TM experiences during the pandemic. Methods: This study employed qualitative design using survey responses and individual interviews. Study eligibility requirements included >55 years old, HF diagnosis, and TM visit between September 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021, at one of two participating health systems in the southern United States. Results: Twenty-two TM recipients completed qualitative interviews, and 91 of 125 online survey respondents answered open-ended questions. Data were gathered, sorted, and revealed five themes. Discussion: Interview respondents identified benefits, e.g., convenience, inclusion, decreased exposure, and problems, e.g., connectivity issues, inadequate equipment, and medical conditions impacting use. Recommendations included allocating sufficient appointment time, tailoring visits, and increasing written communication. This study was part of a larger clinical trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04304833.

Machine learning-based model for worsening heart failure risk in Chinese chronic heart failure patients

AIMS

This study aims to develop and validate an optimal model for predicting worsening heart failure (WHF). Multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms were compared, and the results were interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). A clinical risk calculation tool was subsequently developed based on these findings.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This nested case-control study included 200 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (September 2019 to December 2022). Sixty-five variables were collected, including basic information, physical and chemical examinations, and quality of life assessments. WHF occurrence within a 3-month follow-up was the outcome event. Variables were screened using LASSO regression, univariate analysis, and comparison of key variables in multiple ML models. Eighty per cent of the data was used for training and 20% for testing. The best models were identified by integrating nine ML algorithms and interpreted using SHAP, and to develop a final risk calculation tool. Among participants, 68 (34.0%) were female, with a mean age (standard deviation, SD) of 68.57 (12.80) years. During the follow-up, 60 participants (30%) developed WHF. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), haemoglobin (Hb), and emotional area score on the Minnesota Heart Failure Quality of Life Questionnaire were critical predictors of WHF occurrence. The random forest (RF) model was the best model to predict WHF with an area under the curve (AUC) (95% confidence interval, CI) of 0.842 (0.675-1.000), accuracy of 0.775, sensitivity of 0.900, specificity of 0.833, negative predictive value of 0.800, and positive predictive value of 0.600 for the test set. SHAP analysis highlighted NT-proBNP, UA, and Cr as significant predictors. An online risk predictor based on the RF model was developed for personalized WHF risk assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies NT-proBNP, Cr, UA, Hb, and emotional area scores as crucial predictors of WHF in CHF patients. Among the nine ML algorithms assessed, the RF model showed the highest predictive accuracy. SHAP analysis further emphasized NT-proBNP, UA, and Cr as the most significant predictors. An online risk prediction tool based on the RF model was subsequently developed to enhance early and personalized WHF risk assessment in clinical settings.

Real-world comparative effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan versus RAS inhibition alone in patients with de novo heart failure

AIMS

Large-scale, real-world data on early initiation of sacubitril/valsartan in patients newly diagnosed (de novo) with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are limited. We examined the effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan versus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) on all-cause and cause-specific hospitalizations among patients with de novo HFrEF from the Optum® dataset in the United States.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included adult patients with de novo HFrEF (diagnosed ≤30 days) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% who were first prescribed with sacubitril/valsartan or ACEi/ARB from 1 January 2016 to 31 March 2020. The primary endpoint (all-cause hospitalization) and secondary endpoints were analysed in propensity score-matched cohorts.

RESULTS

A cohort of 3290 patients with de novo HFrEF who were prescribed with sacubitril/valsartan and a propensity-matched cohort of 6580 patients who were prescribed with ACEi/ARB were analysed. Overall, the mean (SD) age of patients was 63 (14) years, 34% were women, and baseline characteristics were balanced across treatment groups. Hypertension (67%), diabetes (33%) and chronic kidney disease (28%) were highly prevalent comorbidities. Patients in the sacubitril/valsartan cohort when compared with the ACEi/ARB cohort had lower annual rates of all-cause hospitalizations [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75-0.89, P < 0.001], cardiovascular (CV) hospitalizations (IRR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.73-0.87, P < 0.001) and HF hospitalizations (IRR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.95, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with de novo HFrEF, sacubitril/valsartan (compared with that of ACEi/ARB) was associated with fewer all-cause, CV and HF hospitalizations. These findings are consistent with clinical trial evidence suggesting potential benefits of early initiation of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with HFrEF, including those soon after diagnosis.

Ultrastructure analysis of mitochondria, lipid droplet and sarcoplasmic reticulum apposition in human heart failure

Background

Cardiomyocyte structural remodeling is reported as a causal contributor to heart failure (HF) development and progression. Growing evidence highlights the role of organelle apposition in cardiomyocyte function and homeostasis. Disruptions in organelle crosstalk, such as that between the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondria, are thought to impact numerous cellular processes such as calcium handling and cellular bioenergetics; two processes that are disrupted and implicated in cardiac pathophysiology. While the physical distance between organelles is thought to be essential for homeostatic cardiomyocyte function, whether the interactions and coupling of organelles are altered in human heart failure remains unclear.

Methods

Here, we utilized transmission electron microscopy and careful quantification of ultrastructure to characterize the changes in organelle apposition in cardiomyocytes isolated from the hearts of patients diagnosed with various types of HF. Subsequently we employed molecular approaches to examine the expression of proposed organelle tethers.

Results

We demonstrate that cardiomyocytes isolated from dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy hearts display smaller, more rounded mitochondria, as compared to nonfailing controls. Failing cardiomyocytes also exhibited disrupted SR-mitochondria juxtaposition and changes in the expression of proposed molecular tethers. Further analysis revealed alterations in lipid droplet dynamics including decreased lipid droplet content and less lipid droplets in association with mitochondria in failing cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion

Here we observed changes in organelle dynamics in cardiomyocytes isolated from heart failure patients diagnosed with differing etiologies. Our results suggest that organelle structure and apposition may be a ubiquitous contributor to human HF progression.

The ImageGuideEcho Registry: Using Data Science to Understand and Improve Echocardiography

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide a contemporary update on the American Society of Echocardiography's ImageGuideEcho Registry and present a case study of an individual institution's experience with enrollment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Technical innovation in clinical echocardiography has expanded the impact of echocardiography in cardiovascular care and provides new opportunities to leverage clinical data to inform quality improvement initiatives and research. The ImageGuideEcho Registry is the first echocardiography-specific imaging registry in the United States and provides a data infrastructure for quality improvement and multicenter research. The ImageGuideEcho Registry continues to grow, offering a window into echocardiography care across the United States in a variety of practice settings. This early experience highlights its value, opportunities, and ongoing challenges. Continued innovation, such as the addition of primary images, will further add to the substantial value of the registry.

Advances of research in diabetic cardiomyopathy: diagnosis and the emerging application of sequencing

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most prevalent and severe complications associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). The onset of DCM is insidious, with the symptoms being obvious only in the late stage. Consequently, the early diagnosis of DCM is a formidable challenge which significantly influences the treatment and prognosis of DCM. Thus, it becomes imperative to uncover innovative approaches to facilitate the prompt identification and diagnosis of DCM. On the traditional clinical side, we tend to use serum biomarkers as well as imaging as the most common means of diagnosing diseases because of their convenience as well as affordability. As we delve deeper into the mechanisms of DCM, a wide variety of biomarkers are becoming competitive diagnostic indicators. Meanwhile, the application of multiple imaging techniques has also made efforts to promote the diagnosis of DCM. Besides, the spurt in sequencing technology has made it possible to give hints about disease diagnosis from the genome as well as the transcriptome, making diagnosis less difficult, more sensitive, and more predictive. Overall, sequencing technology is expected to be the superior choice of plasma biomarkers for detecting lesions at an earlier stage than imaging, and its judicious utilization combined with imaging technologies will lead to a more sensitive diagnosis of DCM in the future. Therefore, this review meticulously consolidates the progress and utilization of various biomarkers, imaging methods, and sequencing technologies in the realm of DCM diagnosis, with the aim of furnishing novel theoretical foundation and guide future research endeavors towards enhancing the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of DCM.

Clinical efficacy and hemodynamic effects of levosimendan in cardiac surgery patients after surgery

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic effect of levosimendan on hemodynamics in patients undergoing major cardiac surgery and presenting with acute postoperative heart failure.

METHODS

The subjects of the study were 160 patients with severe cardiac conditions who underwent surgery and had acute heart failure. Eighty cases each were assigned to the research and control groups using a random number table. Document the general patient data for each of the two groups; compare the clinical outcomes of the two groups. The hemodynamic states of the two groups were compared both before and after therapy. 48 h after surgery, echocardiography was performed in both groups to determine cardiac function. 48 h after surgery, N-terminal pro-brain B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-Pro-BNP) levels were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The overall effective rate was significantly higher in the research group (92.5%) compared to the control group (76.25%, P < 0.05). Post-treatment, the research group demonstrated a significant reduction in CVP (9.25 ± 2.11 cmH2O vs. 11.36 ± 3.08 cmH2O, P < 0.001), heart rate (100.30 ± 8.69 bpm vs. 105.74 ± 7.69 bpm, P < 0.001), and lactic acid levels (1.68 ± 0.59 mmol/L vs. 2.69 ± 0.55 mmol/L, P < 0.001). The research group also showed improvements in SBP (117.23 ± 8.74 mmHg vs. 113.25 ± 7.55 mmHg, P = 0.002) and urine output (4.21 ± 1.76 mL/kg/h vs. 3.65 ± 1.23 mL/kg/h, P = 0.021). Cardiac function indicators 48 h after surgery indicated a higher LVEF (55.21 ± 8.04% vs. 47.18 ± 6.60%, P < 0.001) and lower LVEDVi and LVESVi in the research group (P < 0.001 for both). NT-Pro-BNP levels were significantly lower in the research group (6010.19 ± 1208.52 pg/mL vs. 9663.21 ± 2391.34 pg/mL, P < 0.001). The incidence of complications was lower in the research group (5% vs. 22.5%, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Cardiac surgery patients are prone to complications with acute heart failure after surgery. Treatment with levosimendan can significantly improve clinical efficacy and reduce complications. It can also effectively improve patients' cardiac function and promote hemodynamic stability.

Effect of Finerenone in Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Heart failure (HF) management is well-defined for reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) but less so for mildly reduced (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of Finerenone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in these patient populations.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed and Embase identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Finerenone's cardiovascular and renal effects. Three RCTs were included-FIDELIO-DKD, FIGARO-DKD, and FINEARTS-HF-encompassing 19,027 participants. Primary outcomes included cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization, and renal failure. Secondary outcomes focused on safety and adverse events like acute kidney injury and hyperkalemia. Meta-analyses were performed using hazard ratios (HR), confidence intervals (CI), and Relative Risk (RR).

RESULTS

Finerenone was associated with a 20% reduction in HF hospitalization risk (HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.72-0.90) and a 14% reduction in all-cause mortality (RR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.97). Finerenone did not significantly reduce cardiovascular death (HR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82-1.01, p = 0.06). Renal failure rates were similar between Finerenone and placebo (RR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.65-1.68). Hyperkalemia incidence was significantly higher with Finerenone, with a RR of 2.31 (95% CI: 1.98-2.69).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis shows that Finerenone significantly reduces HF hospitalizations and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Further studies are needed to clarify its effects on cardiovascular death and renal failure.

Early Adoption of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction

Importance

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are the first therapy shown to improve clinical outcomes for patients with heart failure (HF) and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 40%. Nationwide adoption of SGLT2is in the US since publication of the Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved) in August 2021 is unknown.

Objective

To examine trends and hospital-level variation in SGLT2i adoption.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study included patients with LVEF greater than 40% who were hospitalized for decompensated HF at 1 of 557 sites in the US between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2023, from the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure registry.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Patient-level trends and site-level variation in prescription rates of SGLT2i at hospital discharge. Site-level variation was quantified using the median odds ratio, which describes the average odds that a patient being treated at one vs another randomly selected hospital would receive SGLT2i therapy at discharge.

Results

Of 158 849 patients (median [IQR] age, 76 [66-85] years; 89 816 females [56.5%]), 22 126 eligible patients (13.9%) with HF and an LVEF greater than 40% were prescribed an SGLT2i at hospital discharge. Quarterly prescription rates increased from 4.2% in July to September 2021 to 23.5% in July to September 2023 (P for trend < .001). SGLT2i prescription was more likely among patients with HF with mildly reduced LVEF (41%-49%) than in those with preserved LVEF (≥50%; 5127 of 27 712 patients [18.5%] vs 16 999 of 131 137 patients [13.0%]; absolute standardized difference, 16.7%). After adjustment for patient characteristics, there was a high variance between hospitals in the rate of SGLT2i prescription (median odds ratio, 2.12; 95% CI, 2.02-2.25). Among 518 hospitals with 10 or more eligible discharges, 11 hospitals (2.1%) discharged 50% or more of their patients with an SGLT2i prescription, while 232 (44.8%) discharged fewer than 10% of eligible patients with an SGLT2i prescription.

Conclusion and Relevance

For patients with HF and an LVEF greater than 40%, discharge prescription of SGLT2is increased from 4.2% to 23.5% during the first 2 years after the EMPEROR-Preserved trial demonstrating treatment benefits; however, these rates varied across US hospitals.

Impact of Standardized Heart Failure Management Center Construction on the Management of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Heart failure is extremely harmful to human health and social economics. The purpose of standardized heart failure management center (SHFMC) is to correct the non-standardization of heart failure treatment.

HYPOTHESIS

SHFMC has a positive impact on the management and prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODS

The SHFMC database of Jiaxing First Hospital was retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred sixty-three patients with CHF who were hospitalized in the cardiovascular medicine department of Jiaxing First Hospital in Zhejiang Province from January 2020 to December 2020 were identified as study subjects. The SHFMC opening day, July 1, 2020, was used as the dividing line around which the patients were divided into Group A (before the completion of SHFMC, n = 137) and Group B (after, n = 126). The baseline data, treatment standardization, long-term efficacy, 1-year all-cause mortality, and readmission rate of the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

The use of angiotensin receptor enkephalinase inhibitors (ARNIs), β-blockers (β-Bs), and sodium-glucose cotransport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) increased significantly, and the long-term outcome, readmission rate, and 1-year all-cause mortality of patients improved in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

The construction of SHFMC has been associated with consistent improvements in the standardization of CHF treatment, long-term patient outcomes, 1-year cumulative survival rates, and readmission rates.

A Web-Based Education Program About Primary Palliative Care for Heart Failure: A Study Protocol of Wait-Listed Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The number of patients with heart failure (HF) is rapidly increasing as palliative care is being integrated into HF management and the need for a nursing workforce to meet these demands grows. To address this, we have developed a Web-based educational program on primary palliative care for HF among general registered nurses caring for patients with HF in Japan.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the program's effectiveness on nurse-reported palliative care practice, difficulty, and knowledge.

METHODS

In this open-label, individual-level, wait-listed randomized controlled trial, 150 Japanese general registered nurses, with experience in caring for patients with HF and clinical ladder level ≥ 2 in inpatient, outpatient, and home-visiting care settings, will be randomly divided (1:1 ratio) into a Web-based educational program group and a wait-list control group. The follow-up period is 6 months after the intervention. The primary outcome is the nurse-reported practice score in primary palliative care, and the secondary outcomes are the nurse-reported difficulties score and knowledge score.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

We herein describe the study protocol of a wait-listed randomized controlled trial regarding a Web-based educational program, which is a novel approach for these nurses. If the results of this study support our hypothesis, they could help expand primary palliative care, including daily nursing practices, such as symptom management and interdisciplinary collaboration, in the field of cardiovascular nursing.

Anti-Platelet Therapy with Cangrelor in Cardiogenic Shock Patients: A Systematic Review and Single-Arm Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a proven therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) cardiogenic shock (CS). Dual anti-platelet therapy (i.e., aspirin plus an oral P2Y12 inhibitor) is recommended in patients treated with PCI. However, CS patients present severe hemodynamic instability, deranged hemostatic balance, and the need for invasive mechanical circulatory support (MCS) alongside invasive procedures, resulting in an increased risk of both bleeding and thrombotic complications, leaving uncertainty about the best anti-thrombotic treatment. Recently, the parenteral short-acting P2Y12 inhibitor has been increasingly used in the acute cardiac care setting, mainly in light of its favourable pharmacokinetic profile and organ-independent metabolism. Materials and Methods: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we performed a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy outcomes (i.e., rates of major bleeding, occurrence of stent/any thrombosis, and hospital survival) of all existing original studies reporting on the intravenous administration of cangrelor in AMI-CS patients. Results: Ten studies (678 patients with CS) published between 2017 and 2023 were included in the present review: nine were observational and one had a randomized design. Percutaneous revascularization was performed in >80% of patients across the studies. Moreover, 26% of patients were treated with temporary MCS, and in all studies, concomitant systemic anticoagulation was performed. Cangrelor was administered intravenously at the dosage of 4 mcg/kg/min in 57% of patients, 0.75 mcg/kg/min in 37% of patients, and <0.75 mcg/kg/min in 6%. The pooled rate of major bleeding was 17% (11-23%, confidence interval [CI]), and the pooled rate of stent thrombosis and any thrombosis were 1% (0.3-2.3% CI) and 3% (0.4-7% CI), respectively. Pooled hospital survival was 66% (59-73% CI). Conclusions: Cangrelor administration in AMI-CS patients was feasible and safe with a low rate of thromboembolic complications. Haemorrhagic complications were more frequent than thrombotic events. Nevertheless, to date, the optimal dosage of cangrelor in this clinical context still remains not universally recognized.

Establishing a novel model to assess exercise capacity in chronic heart failure based on stress echocardiography

AIMS

The aim of this study was to develop a simple, fast and efficient clinical diagnostic model, composed of exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) indicators, of the exercise capacity of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) by comparing the effectiveness of different classifiers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eighty patients with CHF (aged 60 ± 11 years; 78% male) were prospectively enrolled in this study. All patients underwent both cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and ESE and were divided into two groups according to the VE/VCO2 slope: 30 patients with VE/VCO2 slope ventilation classification (VC)1 (i.e., VE/VCO2 slope < 30) and 50 patients with VC2 (i.e., VE/VCO2 slope ≥ 30). The analytical features of all patients in the four phases (rest, warm-up, peak and recovery phases) of ESE included the following parameters: left ventricular (LV) systolic function, LV systolic function reserve, LV diastolic function, LV diastolic function reserve and right ventricular function. Logistic regression (LR), extreme gradient boosting trees (XGBT), classification regression tree (CART) and random forest (RF) classifiers were implemented in a K-fold cross-validation model to distinguish VC1 from VC2 (LVEF in VC1 vs. VC2: 44 ± 8% vs. 43 ± 11%, P = 0.617). Among the four models, the LR model had the largest area under the curve (AUC) (0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73 to 0.92). In the multiple-variable LR model, the differences between the peak-exercise-phase and resting-phase values of E (ΔE), s'peak and sex were strong independent predictors of a VE/VCO2 slope ≥ 30 (P value: ΔE = 0.002, s'peak = 0.005, sex = 0.020). E/e'peak, ΔLVEF, ΔLV global longitudinal strain and Δstroke volume were not predictors of VC in the multivariate LR model (P > 0.05 for the above).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the LR, XGBT, CART and RF models, the LR model performed best at predicting the VE/VCO2 slope category of CHF patients. A score chart was created to predict VE/VCO2 slopes ≥ 30. ΔE, s'peak and sex are independent predictors of exercise capacity in CHF patients.

Identifying Patients with Heart Failure Eligible for Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy

A majority of patients with heart failure (HF) do not receive adequate medical therapy as recommended by clinical guidelines. One major obstacle encountered by population health management (PHM) programs to improve medication usage is the substantial burden placed on clinical staff who must manually sift through electronic health records (EHRs) to ascertain patients' eligibility for the guidelines. As a potential solution, the study team developed a rule-based system (RBS) that automatically parses the EHR for identifying patients with HF who may be eligible for guideline-directed therapy. The RBS was deployed to streamline a PHM program at Brigham and Women's Hospital wherein the RBS was executed every other month to identify potentially eligible patients for further screening by the program staff. The study team evaluated the performance of the system and performed an error analysis to identify areas for improving the system. Of approximately 161,000 patients who have an echocardiogram in the health system, each execution of the RBS typically identified around 4200 patients. A total 5460 patients were manually screened, of which 1754 were found to be truly eligible with an accuracy of 32.1%. An analysis of the false-positive cases showed that over 38% of the false positives were due to incorrect determination of symptomatic HF and medication history of the patients. The system's performance can be potentially improved by integrating information from clinical notes. The RBS provided a systematic way to narrow down the patient population to a subset that is enriched for eligible patients. However, there is a need to further optimize the system by integrating processing of clinical notes. This study highlights the practical challenges of implementing automated tools to facilitate guideline-directed care.

Treating sleep disordered breathing for cardiovascular outcomes: observational and randomised trial evidence

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can be treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and central sleep apnoea (CSA), in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), by peak flow-triggered adaptive servo-ventilation. Presently, there is equipoise as to whether treating SDB prevents cardiovascular events. Some propose treatment for this indication, based on observational data, while others argue against because of the lack of randomised trial evidence. This review evaluates literature concerning the cardiovascular effects of treating SDB with PAP devices in individuals with and without CVDs. Nine observational studies report significantly lower cardiovascular event rates in those treated, than in those not treated, for SDB. Conversely, 12 randomised trials in which excessive daytime sleepiness was generally an exclusion criterion showed no reduction in cardiovascular event rates. The SERVE-HF trial showed an increase in mortality with use of minute ventilation-triggered adaptive servo-ventilation for CSA in patients with HFrEF. In the ADVENT-HF trial, treating HFrEF patients with coexisting OSA or CSA using peak flow-triggered adaptive servo-ventilation was safe and improved sleep structure and heart failure-related quality of life but did not reduce all-cause mortality or cardiovascular events. More evidence is required to determine whether treating CSA in patients with HFrEF prevents cardiovascular events and improves survival. Presently, the rationale for treating SDB with PAP remains improving sleep structure and quality of life, as well as relieving excessive daytime sleepiness, but not reducing cardiovascular events.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with and without renal dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with renal dysfunction (RD) is considered to be a specific phenotype of HFpEF. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality between HFpEF-diagnosed patients with and without RD.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective study included 5867 consecutive patients with acute HFpEF. RD was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests were used to compare the in-hospital mortality between the groups. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify significant prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Across the study cohort, 68% of patients had RD. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in HFpEF patients with RD than in those without RD. The comorbidities and laboratory data differed significantly between the groups. Independent prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in the HFpEF patients with RD were age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.039), systolic blood pressure (HR, 0.991), eGFR (HR, 0.981), C-reactive protein (CRP; HR, 1.028), diuretics (HR, 0.374), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ACE-I/ARBs; HR, 0.680), and beta-blockers (HR, 0.662). In HFpEF patients without RD, age (HR, 1.039), systolic blood pressure (HR, 0.979), and ACE-I/ARBs (HR, 0.373) were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences in the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors, such as CRP and beta-blockers, were observed between the HFpEF patients with and without RD. These results have implications for future research and may help guide individualized patient management strategies.

Treatment time limit for successful weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock

AIMS

Knowing the upper time limit for successful weaning from temporary mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock will help with decision-making regarding advanced heart failure (HF) therapy or considering withdrawal of care. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the support duration and successful weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients with cardiogenic shock.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A retrospective single-centre cohort study was conducted between January 2013 and June 2023. It included 100 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who were treated with VA-ECMO. Patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were excluded. The primary outcome was successful weaning from VA-ECMO (i.e., VA-ECMO decannulation and survival to discharge). The association between the length of support duration and the weaning success rate was analysed. Patients were divided into three groups according to ECMO support duration: Group A (≤7 days), Group B (8-14 days), and Group C (≥15 days). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the length of support duration on successful weaning of VA-ECMO. The median age was 67 years, and 73% of study participants were male. The underlying aetiologies of cardiogenic shock were as follows: acute myocardial infarction, 50; fulminant myocarditis, 19; cardiomyopathy, 15; valvular heart disease, 8; and other, 8. Seventy-five patients (75%) were attempted to wean VA-ECMO, and 67 moved on to decannulation. In total, 43 (43%) patients were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO. The median length of ECMO support duration was 8 [3-15] days. Compared with those who underwent successful ECMO decannulation, those who did not had a significantly longer support duration of VA-ECMO (5 [3-9] days vs. 12 [3-22] days, P = 0.004). The weaning success rate was significantly higher in patients with short support duration; 58% (29/50), 40% (10/25), 16% (4/25) in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (P = 0.002). Overall, none of the patients supported for over 24 days (0/11) were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the length of support duration was independently associated with successful weaning after adjusting for age, sex, underlying aetiology, and left ventricular ejection fraction (odds ratio, 0.813 [per 3 days]; 95% confidence interval, 0.679-0.914; P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Long support duration of VA-ECMO was significantly associated with a low rate of successful weaning in patients with cardiogenic shock. Patients who require VA-ECMO for over 1 week should start considering advanced HF therapy or withdrawal of care.

Eligibility for vericiguat in a real-world, contemporary heart failure population

AIMS

Vericiguat is a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator and improves survival in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and an increased risk of decompensation. As real-world data on how many patients could be eligible for vericiguat therapy derive from outdated registries, we aimed to assess eligibility in a prospective cohort of patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data from consecutive HF patients undergoing an elective ambulatory visit at five university hospitals from 3 July to 28 July 2023 were collected. Independent investigators assessed which patients (i) met the eligibility criteria of the VICTORIA trial, (ii) complied with HF guideline recommendations, (iii) met regulatory agency criteria, or (iv) met criteria for refundability according to the Italian regulatory agency. Patients (n = 346, 72% men, median age 69 years) had HFrEF in 57% of cases, left ventricular ejection fraction < 45% in 68%, and New York Heart Association class II-IV symptoms in 76%. Patients meeting the eligibility criteria of the VICTORIA trial or European and American HF Guideline recommendations were 9% and 13%, respectively. Patients meeting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA) label criteria were 19% and 17%, respectively. Drug costs would be covered by the Italian National Health System in 10% of patients [if a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) is not mandatory] or in 8% (if an SGLT2i is requested).

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world study, 9% of patients met the eligibility criteria of the VICTORIA trial, but up to 13% complied with guideline recommendations and up to 19% met FDA or EMA criteria. In Italy, drug costs would be covered by up to 10% of patients.

Hyperlipidemia and apolipoprotein E are associated with intraocular pressure of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy in a Chinese population: a cross-sectional study

Objective

This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) with hyperlipidemia and to identify the key lipid indicator.

Methods

Patients with TAO were recruited to this study and divided into two groups based on the presence of hyperlipidemia. TAO patients with hyperlipidemia were further classified based on the type of hyperlipidemia. Basic and clinical information of the patients were collected, and comparisons between groups were carried out. Correlation analyses, regression analyses, and stratified analysis were performed to assess the correlations and relationship of the serum lipids with the ophthalmic indicators.

Results

A total of 273 patients with TAO were recruited, including 158 patients with hyperlipidemia and 115 patients without hyperlipidemia. Patients with hyperlipidemia, especially those with mixed hyperlipidemia, exhibited high intraocular pressure (IOP). Spearman's correlation analysis and partial correlation analysis showed that apolipoprotein E (ApoE) was positively related to IOP levels after controlling for confounding factors, including age, gender, BMI, smoking history, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH). Moreover, multiple linear regression obtained a regression equation including ApoE, gender, age, and BMI and showed that elevated ApoE levels were associated with elevated IOP [β = 0.072, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.037-0.155, p = 0.030]. Stratified analysis highlighted the impact of ApoE on IOP in younger patients (≤48 years), female patients, patients with normal BMI (<24 kg/m2), and patients with a shorter course of ophthalmopathy (≤6 months).

Conclusion

Overall, higher IOP levels were observed in patients with hyperlipidemia, especially those with mixed hyperlipidemia. Notably, a higher ApoE was identified as an independent risk factor for higher IOP. This finding confirmed the close relationship between TAO and lipid metabolism and provides a new insight into the pathogenesis research and the long-term management of TAO.

Prevalence and independent predictors of Iron deficiency in Yemeni patients with congestive heart failure: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Heart failure (HF) constitutes a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide, contributing to elevated rates of mortality and morbidity. Iron deficiency (ID), both with and without concurrent anemia, has been identified in up to half of all patients with CHF and is associated with an increased risk of HF exacerbations, higher rates of hospitalization, and diminished quality of life. However, data from resource-limited settings remain limited. In this study, we reviewed 108 adult Yemeni patients with HF who also had concomitant ID, defined as serum ferritin concentrations of < 100 ng/mL or 100-299 ng/mL with transferrin saturation < 20%. The prevalence of ID among HF patients was determined, and independent predictors of ID were assessed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Anemia was present in 64 (59.3%), ID was observed in 65 (60.2%), and both anemia and ID were concurrently present in 44 (40.7%) patients. The mean ejection fraction among the study cohort was 34.2 ± 6.3%. Multivariate regression analysis identified New York Heart Association class III (OR: 4.46; 95% CI: 1.65-12.90, p = 0.004), presence of anemia (OR: 3.95; 95% CI: 1.51-11.23, p = 0.007), and an EF < 30% (OR: 9.42; 95% CI: 1.97-54.64, p = 0.007) as independent predictors of ID. These findings highlight the potential under-recognition of ID in patients with congestive HF, suggesting the need for routine assessment of iron status in this patient population.

Impact of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Improving Home Time for Patients With Heart Failure

Home time, defined as time spent by the patient alive and out of any healthcare institution, is an important patient-centric outcome for patients with cardiovascular disease. Home time is recognized as a crucial measure of recovery post cardiovascular events but has not been extensively studied in heart failure (HF) patients, especially in India. HF in India is rapidly growing at an epidemic scale and hence the focus on improving home time in HF patients highlights the need for precise, patient-centered care strategies. Current literature lacks detailed descriptions of hospital-level patterns and predictors of home time in contemporary HF populations, which hinders tailored approaches to optimize outcomes like functional status and health-related quality of life along with reduced hospitalization and mortality risks. Literature is abundant with clinical evidence on the benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), especially angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) therapy, in HF management. All major guidelines highly recommend its initiation for reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic symptomatic HF with reduced ejection fraction. Studies indicate that sacubitril/valsartan, the first in class of ARNI, improves the quality of life and functional outcomes, along with reduced HF-related hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths. Its unique mechanism of action, combining neprilysin inhibition and angiotensin receptor blockade, targets multiple pathways of HF pathophysiology, leading to improved cardiac function and remodeling. These benefits are pivotal in supporting patients' ability to maintain an active lifestyle outside of healthcare settings. Despite its demonstrated benefits, sacubitril/valsartan is underutilized. Integrating sacubitril/valsartan more optimally into clinical practice could significantly alleviate the overall burden of HF by addressing key determinants of home time and improving patient outcomes post discharge.

Hospital Heart Failure Medical Therapy Score and Associated Clinical Outcomes and Costs

Importance

A composite score for guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for patients with heart failure (HF) is associated with increased survival. Whether hospital performance according to a GDMT score is associated with a broader array of clinical outcomes at lower costs is unknown.

Objectives

To evaluate hospital variability in GDMT score at discharge, 90-day risk-standardized clinical outcomes and costs, and associations between hospital GDMT score and clinical outcomes and costs.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted from January 2015 to September 2019. Included for analysis were patients hospitalized for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure Registry, a national hospital-based quality improvement registry. Study data were analyzed from July 2022 to April 2023.

Exposures

GDMT score at discharge.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Hospital variability in GDMT score, a weighted index from 0 to 1 of GDMT prescribed divided by the number of medications eligible, at discharge was evaluated using a generalized linear mixed model using the hospital as a random effect and quantified with the adjusted median odds ratio (AMOR). Parallel analyses centering on 90-day mortality, HF rehospitalization, mortality or HF rehospitalization, home time, and costs were performed. Costs were assessed from the perspective of the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services. Associations between hospital GDMT score and clinical outcomes and costs were evaluated using Spearman coefficients.

Results

Among 41 161 patients (median [IQR] age, 78 [71-85] years; 25 546 male [62.1%]) across 360 hospitals, there was significant hospital variability in GDMT score at discharge (AMOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.21-1.26), clinical outcomes (mortality AMOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.14-1.24; HF rehospitalization AMOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.18-1.27; mortality or HF rehospitalization AMOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.18-1.26; home time AMOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10) and costs (AMOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.21-1.26). Higher hospital GDMT score was associated with lower hospital mortality (Spearman ρ, -0.22; 95% CI, -0.32 to -0.12; P < .001), lower mortality or HF rehospitalization (Spearman ρ, -0.17; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.06; P = .002), more home time (Spearman ρ, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03-0.24; P = .01), and lower cost (Spearman ρ, -0.11; 95% CI, -0.21 to 0; P = .047) but not with HF rehospitalization (Spearman ρ, -0.10; 95% CI, -0.20 to 0; P = .06).

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this cohort study reveal that hospital variability in GDMT score, clinical outcomes, and costs was significant. Higher GDMT score at discharge was associated with lower mortality, lower mortality or hospitalization, more home time, and lower cost. Efforts to increase health care value should include GDMT optimization.

Canadian Association of Radiologists Cardiovascular Imaging Referral Guideline

The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Cardiovascular Expert Panel is made up of physicians from the disciplines of radiology, cardiology, and emergency medicine, a patient advisor, and an epidemiologist/guideline methodologist. After developing a list of 30 clinical/diagnostic scenarios, a rapid scoping review was undertaken to identify systematically produced referral guidelines that provide recommendations for one or more of these clinical/diagnostic scenarios. Recommendations from 48 guidelines and contextualization criteria in the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) for guidelines framework were used to develop 125 recommendation statements across the 30 scenarios (27 unique scenarios as 2 scenarios point to the CAR Thoracic Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guideline and the acute pericarditis subscenario is included under 2 main scenarios). This guideline presents the methods of development and the referral recommendations for acute chest pain syndromes, chronic chest pain, cardiovascular screening and risk stratification, pericardial syndromes, intracardiac/pericardial mass, suspected valvular disease cardiomyopathy, aorta, venous thrombosis, and peripheral vascular disease.