Opportunistic screening models for high-risk men and women to detect diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in the community

Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Cause-specific Outcomes in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic affecting 64 million people worldwide. HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has traditionally received less attention than its main counterpart, HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The incidence and prevalence of HFpEF show geographic variation and are increasing over time, soon expected to surpass those of HFrEF. Morbidity and mortality rates of HFpEF are considerable, albeit lower than those of HFrEF. This review focuses on the burden of HFpEF, providing contemporary data on epidemiology, clinical characteristics and comorbidities, cause-specific outcomes, costs and pharmacotherapy.

Predictive Value of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in the Development of Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis

We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the proinflammatory monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the diagnosis of asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction (DD) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA) was determined using clinical and laboratory parameters, and echocardiography was performed to estimate DD. Serum MCP-1 concentrations were elevated in PsA patients with DD diagnosed with ultrasound (median (25th percentile, 75th percentile): 366.6 pg/mL (283, 407.1 pg/mL) vs. 277.5 pg/mL (223.5, 319.1 pg/mL) in controls; $P<0.0017$ ). PsA patients with serum MCP-1 concentration higher than the cut-off value of 347.6 pg/mL had a 7.74-fold higher chance of developing DD than PsA patients with lower serum MCP-1 concentrations (controls), with a specificity of 86.36% and sensitivity of 55%, as verified using ultrasound. The group with MCP-1 concentrations above the cut-off value also showed a higher late peak diastolic mitral inflow velocity, A-wave value ( $P=0.000005$ ), E/E ${}^{\prime }$ ratio ( $P=0.00005$ ), and a lower E/A ratio ( $P=0.000002$ ), peak systolic left atrial reservoir strain, SA value ( $P=0.0066$ ), early peak diastolic displacement of the mitral septal annulus, E ${}^{\prime }$ wave value ( $P=0.003$ ), than controls. Systolic blood pressure ( $P=0.01$ ), LDL cholesterol concentration ( $P=0.012$ ), glucose concentration ( $P=0.011$ ), and DAPSA ( $P=0.0000$ ) increased in the PsA group with higher MCP-1 concentrations, although there were no differences in comorbidities and therapy between the groups compared. Thus, the serum MCP-1 concentration was a significant and independent prognostic indicator for asymptomatic DD in PsA patients ( $\text{area}\text{under}\text{the}\text{curve}=0.730$ , $P=0.001$ ). The DAPSA score in PsA patients might indicate the need for echocardiography and adjustment of anti-inflammatory treatment in terms of DD prevention.

Epidemiological and clinical boundaries of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is highly prevalent and is associated with relevant morbidity and mortality. However, an evidence-based treatment is still absent. The heterogeneous definitions, differences in aetiology/pathophysiology, and diagnostic challenges of HFpEF made it difficult to define its epidemiological landmarks so far. Several large registries and observational studies have recently disclosed an increasing incidence/prevalence, as well as its prognostic significance. An accurate definition of HFpEF epidemiological boundaries and phenotypes is mandatory to develop novel effective and rational therapeutic approaches.

Role of comorbidities in heart failure prognosis Part I: Anaemia, iron deficiency, diabetes, atrial fibrillation

Cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular comorbidities are frequently observed in heart failure patients, complicating the therapeutic management and leading to poor prognosis. The prompt recognition of associated comorbid conditions is of great importance to optimize the clinical management, the follow-up, and the treatment of patients affected by chronic heart failure. Anaemia and iron deficiency are commonly reported in all heart failure forms, have a multifactorial aetiology and are responsible for reduced exercise tolerance, impaired quality of life, and poor long-term prognosis. Diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in heart failure and a poor glycaemic control is associated with worst outcome. Two specific heart failure forms are usually observed in diabetic patients: an ischaemic cardiomyopathy or a typical diabetic cardiomyopathy. The implementation of use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors will much improve in the near future the long-term prognosis of patients affected by heart failure and diabetes. Among cardiovascular comorbidities, atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmic disease of heart failure patients and it is still not clear whether its presence should be considered as a prognostic indicator or as a marker of advanced disease. The aim of the present review was to explore the clinical and prognostic impact of anaemia and iron deficiency, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation in patients affected by chronic heart failure.

10 year trends in hospitalization rates due to heart failure and related in-hospital mortality in Poland (2010-2019)

AIMS

Heart failure (HF) remains a major public health challenge worldwide. Contemporary epidemiological data on HF hospitalization rates and related in-hospital mortality are scarce also in Poland. The aim of the study was to determine the trends in hospitalization rates due to HF and related in-hospital mortality in Poland in the recent decade.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data on HF hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality in patients aged >17 years in Poland between 2010 and 2019 were obtained from the central database of the Polish National Health Fund. Hospitalizations with either primary or secondary diagnosis of HF were identified using the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes (I50, I42, J81 with extensions, and R57.0). There were 4 259 698 HF hospitalizations and 608 577 in-hospital deaths (14% in-hospital mortality) reported during 2010-2019 in Poland. During this period, there was a steady increase in the number of HF hospitalizations per 1000 inhabitants in subsequent years, being more pronounced in men than in women (in 2019: 16 and 13 HF hospitalizations per 1000 inhabitants in men and women, respectively). The relative risk of HF hospitalization was higher in men than in women, and this gender-related difference steadily increased from 9% in 2010 to 25% in 2019. During 2010-2019, there was an increase in the number of HF hospitalizations per 1000 inhabitants in subsequent age groups, with a trend being more pronounced in men than in women (129 and 99 HF hospitalizations per 1000 inhabitants in men and women aged ≥80 years, respectively). During this period, there was a slight increase in in-hospital mortality during HF hospitalization in subsequent years, being more pronounced in women than in men (in 2019: 16% and 14% of in-hospital mortality in women and men, respectively). The relative risk of in-hospital mortality during HF hospitalization was higher in women than in men, and this gender-related difference steadily increased from 8% in 2010 to 18% in 2019. During this period, in-hospital mortality during HF hospitalization was ~12% for women and men aged 18-29 years, whereas the highest values of in-hospital mortality reached ~19% for patients aged ≥80 years.

CONCLUSIONS

We have observed steady growing trends in HF hospitalization rates and related in-hospital mortality in Poland over the last decade. Both age and gender have differentiated the reported epidemiological patterns.

Sex-opposed inflammatory effects of 27-hydroxycholesterol are mediated via differences in estrogen signaling

Despite the increased awareness of differences in the inflammatory response between men and women, only limited research has focused on the biological factors underlying these sex differences. The cholesterol derivative 27‐hydroxycholesterol (27HC) has been shown to have opposite inflammatory effects in independent experiments using mouse models of atherosclerosis and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), pathologies characterized by cholesterol‐induced inflammation. As the sex of mice in these in vivo models differed, we hypothesized that 27HC exerts opposite inflammatory effects in males compared to females. To explore whether the sex‐opposed inflammatory effects of 27HC translated to humans, plasma 27HC levels were measured and correlated with hepatic inflammatory parameters in obese individuals. To investigate whether 27HC exerts sex‐opposed effects on inflammation, we injected 27HC into female and male Niemann–Pick disease type C1 mice (Npc1^nih) that were used as an extreme model of cholesterol‐induced inflammation. Finally, the involvement of estrogen signaling in this mechanism was studied in bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) that were treated with 27HC and 17β‐estradiol (E2). Plasma 27HC levels showed opposite correlations with hepatic inflammatory indicators between female and male obese individuals. Likewise, hepatic 27HC levels oppositely correlated between female and male Npc1^nih mice. Twenty‐seven hydroxycholesterol injections reduced hepatic inflammation in female Npc1^nih mice in contrast to male Npc1^nih mice, which showed increased hepatic inflammation after 27HC injections. Furthermore, 27HC administration also oppositely affected inflammation in female and male BMDMs cultured in E2‐enriched medium. Remarkably, female BMDMs showed higher ERα expression compared to male BMDMs. Our findings identify that the sex‐opposed inflammatory effects of 27HC are E2‐dependent and are potentially related to differences in ERα expression between females and males. Hence, the individual’s sex needs to be taken into account when 27HC is employed as a therapeutic tool as well as in macrophage estrogen research in general. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Integrating natriuretic peptides and diastolic dysfunction to predict adverse events in high-risk asymptomatic subjects

Background

Natriuretic peptides and diastolic dysfunction have prognostic value in asymptomatic subjects at risk for heart failure. Their integration might further refine the risk stratification process in this setting. Aim of this paper was to explore the possibility to predict heart failure and death combining diastolic dysfunction and natriuretic peptides in an asymptomatic population at risk for heart failure.

Methods

Among 4047 subjects aged ≥55/≤80 years followed by 10 general practitioners in Italy, the DAVID-Berg study prospectively enrolled 623 asymptomatic outpatients at increased risk for heart failure. Baseline evaluation included electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and natriuretic peptides collection. Based on diastolic dysfunction and natriuretic peptides, subjects were classified in four groups: control group (no diastolic dysfunction/normal natriuretic peptides, 57%), no diastolic dysfunction/high natriuretic peptides (9%), diastolic dysfunction/normal natriuretic peptides (24%), and diastolic dysfunction/high natriuretic peptides (11%). We applied Cox multivariable and Classification and Regression Tree analyses.

Results

The mean age of the population was 69 ± 7 years, 44% were women, mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 61%, and 35% had diastolic dysfunction. During a median follow-up of 5.7 years, 95 heart failure/death events occurred. Overall, diastolic dysfunction and natriuretic peptides were predictive of adverse events (respectively, hazard ratio 1.91, confidence interval 1.19–3.05, padjusted = 0.007, and hazard ratio 2.25, confidence interval 1.35–3.74, padjusted = 0.002) with Cox analysis. However, considering the four study subgroups, only the group with diastolic dysfunction/high natriuretic peptides had a significantly worse prognosis compared to the control group (hazard ratio 4.48, confidence interval 2.31–8.70, padjusted &lt; 0.001). At Classification and Regression Tree analysis, diastolic dysfunction/high natriuretic peptides was the strongest prognostic factor (risk range 24–58%).

Conclusions

The DAVID-Berg data suggest that we look for the quite common combination of diastolic dysfunction/high natriuretic peptides to correctly identify asymptomatic subjects at greater risk for incident heart failure/death, thus more suitable for preventive interventions.