Determinants and Prognostic Impact of Hyperuricemia in Hospitalization for Acute Heart Failure

Harmony in Chaos: Deciphering the Influence of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Non-Cardiac Comorbidities on Holter ECG Parameters in Chronic Heart Failure Patients: A Pilot Study

Background and Objective: In the landscape of heart failure, non-cardiac comorbidities represent a formidable challenge, imparting adverse prognostic implications. Holter ECG monitoring assumes a supplementary role in delineating myocardial susceptibility and autonomic nervous system dynamics. This study aims to explore the potential correlation between Holter ECG parameters and comorbidities in individuals with ischemic cardiomyopathy experiencing heart failure (HF), with a particular focus on the primary utility of these parameters as prognostic indicators. Materials and Methods: In this prospective inquiry, a cohort of 60 individuals diagnosed with heart failure underwent stratification into subgroups based on the presence of comorbidities, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, or hyperuricemia. Upon admission, a thorough evaluation of all participants encompassed echocardiography, laboratory panel analysis, and 24 h Holter monitoring. Results: Significant associations were uncovered between diabetes and unconventional physiological indicators, specifically the Triangular index (p = 0.035) and deceleration capacity (p = 0.002). Pertaining to creatinine clearance, notable correlations surfaced with RMSSD (p = 0.026), PNN50 (p = 0.013), and high-frequency power (p = 0.026). An examination of uric acid levels and distinctive Holter ECG patterns unveiled statistical significance, particularly regarding the deceleration capacity (p = 0.045). Nevertheless, in the evaluation of the Body Mass Index, no statistically significant findings emerged concerning Holter ECG parameters. Conclusions: The identified statistical correlations between non-cardiac comorbidities and patterns elucidated in Holter ECG recordings underscore the heightened diagnostic utility of this investigative modality in the comprehensive evaluation of individuals grappling with HF. Furthermore, we underscore the critical importance of the thorough analysis of Holter ECG recordings, particularly with regard to subtle and emerging parameters that may be overlooked or insufficiently acknowledged.

Associations of long-term mortality with serum uric acid at admission in acute decompensated heart failure with different phenotypes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It remains unclear whether the long-term prognostic value of serum uric acid (SUA) at admission differs in acute decompensated heart failure (HF) patients across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (EF).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 2375 patients (38.9% women; mean age, 68.8 years), we assessed the risk of long-term (>1 year) all-cause mortality associated with per 1-SD increase in SUA at admission, using multivariable Cox regression in HF with preserved (HFpEF), mildly reduced (HFmrEF) and reduced (HFrEF) EF. During a median follow-up of 4.1 years, the long-term mortality rate was 39.9%. In all patients, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) expressing the risk of long-term mortality associated with SUA was 1.18 (95% CI, 1.11-1.26; P < 0.001). Compared with the low tertile of the SUA distribution, the sex- and age-adjusted cumulative incidence of long-term mortality was higher in the top tertile. In patients with HFpEF and HFrEF, SUA predicted the risk of long-term mortality with HRs amounting to 1.12 (95% CI, 1.02-1.21; P = 0.012) and 1.28 (95% CI, 1.12-1.47; P < 0.001), respectively. However, there were no associations between the risk of mortality and SUA in HFmrEF. Furthermore, age, sex, NYHA class, and the prevalence of coronary heart disease interacted significantly with SUA for predicting long-term mortality.

CONCLUSION

Higher levels of SUA at admission were associated with higher risk of long-term mortality in patients with different HF subtypes. The risk conferred by SUA was age and sex dependent. Our observations highlight that measuring SUA at admission may help to improve risk stratification.

Predicting Six-Month Re-Admission Risk in Heart Failure Patients Using Multiple Machine Learning Methods: A Study Based on the Chinese Heart Failure Population Database

Since most patients with heart failure are re-admitted to the hospital, accurately identifying the risk of re-admission of patients with heart failure is important for clinical decision making and management. This study plans to develop an interpretable predictive model based on a Chinese population for predicting six-month re-admission rates in heart failure patients. Research data were obtained from the PhysioNet portal. To ensure robustness, we used three approaches for variable selection. Six different machine learning models were estimated based on selected variables. The ROC curve, prediction accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were used to evaluate the performance of the established models. In addition, we visualized the optimized model with a nomogram. In all, 2002 patients with heart failure were included in this study. Of these, 773 patients experienced re-admission and a six-month re-admission incidence of 38.61%. Based on evaluation metrics, the logistic regression model performed best in the validation cohort, with an AUC of 0.634 (95%CI: 0.599-0.646) and an accuracy of 0.652. A nomogram was also generated. The established prediction model has good discrimination ability in predicting. Our findings are helpful and could provide useful information for the allocation of healthcare resources and for improving the quality of survival of heart failure patients.

Serum uric acid: A risk factor for right ventricular dysfunction and prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

Hyperuricemia and right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) are both widespread in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients. RVD is associated with a poor prognosis in HFpEF. The correlation between serum uric acid (UA) levels and right ventricular function is unclear. The prognostic performance of UA in patients with HFpEF needs further validation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 210 patients with HFpEF were included in the study and divided into two groups according to UA level: the normal UA group (≤7 mg/dl) and the high UA group (>7 mg/dl). The variables examined included clinical characteristics, echocardiography, and serum biochemical parameters. Right ventricular function was assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (TAPSV). Baseline characteristics were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between baseline UA and RVD was assessed using multifactorial binary logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to describe all-cause mortality and heart failure readmission. Results showed that right ventricular function parameters were worse in the high UA group. After adjusting for UA, left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), atrial fibrillation (AF), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), UA (odds ratio = 2.028; p < 0.001) was independently associated with RVD, and UA >7 mg/dl (HR = 2.98; p < 0.001) was associated with heart failure readmission in patients with HFpEF.

CONCLUSION

Elevated serum UA is closely associated with RVD and significantly associated with the heart failure readmission rate in patients with HFpEF.

The fibrosis-4 score is associated with long-term mortality in different phenotypes of acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

Fibrosis-4 score (FIB4) was a non-invasive surrogate to estimate the amount of liver scarring in chronic hepatitis. Considering the presence of increased central venous pressure and congestive hepatopathy in patients with decompensated heart failure, we therefore investigated the prognostic values of FIB4 in acute heart failure (AHF) patients.

METHOD

Patients hospitalised primarily for HF were drawn from an intramural registry. FIB4 was calculated according to age, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and platelet count. All-cause mortality up to 5 years after discharge was obtained by linking to the national death registry.

RESULTS

Among a total of 1854 participants, 940 patients died during a mean follow-up of 28.3 ± 21.8 months. FIB4 score was related to mortality and the composite of cardiovascular death or HF rehospitalisation, independent of age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, left atrial dimension, sodium and haemoglobin levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate, comorbidities, and medications [hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval of mortality: 1.009 (1.002-1.015), and the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalisation: 1.020 (1.010-1.031)]. The prognostic value of FIB4 was predominantly in the subjects with heart failure and preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF and HFmrEF), or coronary artery disease (CAD) than the counterparts [interaction p-value <0.001, and 0.004, respectively].

CONCLUSIONS

FIB4 was an independent predictor of survival in AHF patients, irrespective of the phenotypes of HF. The higher predictive value of mortality of FIB4 was observed in the subjects with HFpEF, HFmrEF or CAD.

Impaired renal function and mortalities in acute heart failure with different phenotypes

AIMS

Impaired renal function (IRF) prevails in patients with acute heart failure. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of on-admission IRF and its association with short-term and long-term mortalities in patients hospitalized for HF with reduced (HFrEF), mildly reduced (HFmrEF), and preserved (HFpEF) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

METHODS

Patients hospitalized for acute heart failure were enrolled and stratified by LVEF into three phenotypes as HFpEF (≥50%), HFmrEF (40-49%), and HFrEF (<40%). IRF was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≤60 mL/min/1.73m² on admission. National Death Registry was linked for the identification of mortality.

RESULTS

Of 2613 patients enrolled, 673 (25.7%) had HFrEF, 367 (14.0%) had HFmrEF, and 1573 (60.1%) had HFpEF, whereas IRF was prevalent among 63.7, 68.6, and 67.5% of them, respectively. IRF significantly correlated with higher long-term mortality in each phenotype of HF. However, IRF was associated with 90-day and 1-year mortality in subjects with HFrEF and HFmrEF, but not HFpEF. After accounting for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, stroke, serum sodium, de novo heart failure, date of enrolment, and systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg or use of inotropic agents, IRF remained related to 5-year mortality in patients with HFrEF (hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.346, 1.034-1.751), HFmrEF (2.210, 1.435-3.404), and HFpEF (1.493, 1.237-1.801).

CONCLUSIONS

On-admission IRF was independently predictive of long-term mortality in patients hospitalized for HF, irrespective of HF phenotypes. Furthermore, IRF was also associated with short-term mortality in HFrEF and HFmrEF, but not in HFpEF.

Effect of Topiroxostat on Brain Natriuretic Peptide Level in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Various optimal medical therapies have been established to treat heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Both HFrEF and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are associated with poor outcomes. We investigated the effect of topiroxostat, an oral xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, for HFpEF patients with hyperuricemia or gout.

METHODS

In this nonrandomized, open-label, single-arm trial, we administered topiroxostat 40-160 mg/day to HFpEF patients with hyperuricemia or gout to achieve a target uric acid level of 6.0 mg/dL. The primary outcome was rate of change in log-transformed brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level from baseline to 24 weeks after topiroxostat treatment. The secondary outcomes included amount of change in BNP level, uric acid evaluation values, and oxidative stress marker levels after 24 weeks of topiroxostat treatment. Thirty-six patients were enrolled; three were excluded before study initiation.

RESULTS

Change in log-transformed BNP level was -3.4 ± 8.9% (p = 0.043) after 24 weeks of topiroxostat treatment. The rate of change for the decrease in BNP level was -18.0 (-57.7, 4.0 pg/mL; p = 0.041). Levels of uric acid and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine/creatinine, an oxidative stress marker, also significantly decreased (-2.8 ± 1.6 mg/dL, p < 0.001, and -2.3 ± 3.7 ng/mgCr, p = 0.009, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

BNP level was significantly lower in HFpEF patients with hyperuricemia or gout after topiroxostat administration; however, the rate of decrease was low. Further trials are needed to confirm our findings.

Uric acid as a cardiorenal mediator: pathogenesis and mechanistic insights

Introduction: The role of serum uric acid as a connector in cardiorenal interactions has been long debated and studied extensively in the past decade. Epidemiological, and clinical data suggest that hyperuricemia may be an independent risk factor as well as a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and renal diseases. New data suggesting that urate lowering therapies may improve outcomes in cardiovascular diseases have generated interest.Areas Covered: This review attempts to summarize the pathophysiological mechanisms by which hyperuricemia causes cardiorenal dysfunction. It also provides a summary of the recent evidence for urate lowering therapies and the possible underlying mechanisms which lead to cardiovascular benefits. This was a narrative review with essential references or cross references obtained via expert opinion.Expert Opinion: Emphasis on newer drugs that address the cardio-renal metabolic axis and the relation to their effects on uric acid may help further elucidate underlying mechanisms responsible for their cardiovascular and renal benefits. Once these benefits are well established, we will be able to come up with guidelines for targeting hyperuricemia. This can potentially lead to a change in clinical practice and can possibly lead to improved cardiovascular and renal outcomes.

Perturbations of pulsatile hemodynamics and clinical outcomes in patients with acute heart failure and reduced, mid-range or preserved ejection fraction

Background

Heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) has been proposed as a new phenotype of heart failure. We therefore investigated the pulsatile hemodynamic characteristics and outcomes in patients with HFmrEF, in comparison with those with reduced (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction.

Methods

The study was composed of two cohorts of patients hospitalized due to acute heart failure. Pulsatile hemodynamic measures, including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), carotid pulse pressure (cPP), amplitude of the backward pressure wave (Pb) and carotid augmentation index (cAIx), were recorded on admission and before discharge in Cohort A (n = 230, mean age 69.9 ±15.4 years), and long-term follow-up was performed in Cohort B (n = 2677, mean age 76.3 ± 33.4 years).

Results

In Cohort A, patients with HFmrEF had persistently greater cf-PWV, cPP, Pb, and cAI than those with HFrEF, both on admission and before discharge. In contrast, patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF had similar pulsatile hemodynamic characteristics. In cohort B, patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF had similar three-year mortality rates and both were significantly higher than that in patients with HFpEF (both P values < 0.05).

Conclusions

Patients with HFmrEF were characterized by a worse left ventricular systolic function than patients with HFpEF and excessive wave reflections than patients with HFrEF. Future studies are required to confirm that the unfavorable ventriculo-arterial coupling in HFmrEF might play a role in the pathogenesis of high long-term mortality in these patients.

Association of serum uric acid change with mortality, renal function and diuretic dose administered in treatment of acute heart failure

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hyperuricemia is reportedly associated with poor outcome in acute heart failure (AHF). The association between changes in Uric acid (UA) levels with renal function change, diuretic doses, and mortality in patients with AHF were studied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Consecutive patients hospitalized with AHF were reviewed (n = 535). UA levels were measured at admission and either at discharge or on approximately the seventh day of admission. Patients with an UA change in the top tertile were defined as having an increase (UA-increase) and were compared to those outside the top tertile (non-UA-increase). The endpoint was all-cause mortality, with a mean follow-up duration of 22.2 months. Patients in the UA-increase group presented with greater creatine increase (P < 0.001), and were administered a higher average daily dose of loop diuretic (P = 0.016) compared with the non-UA-increase group. In-hospital UA-increase was associated with higher risk of mortality even after adjusting for confounding variables including creatine change and diuretic dosage [harzard ratio (HR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-2.30, P = 0.042]. In patients with hyperuricemia on admission, UA-increase was associated with increased mortality (adjusted HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.38-3.52, P = 0.001). Whereas, in those without admission hyperuricemia, UA-increase had no significant association with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in UA during in-hospital treatment is associated with an increase in creatine levels and daily diuretic dose. Mortality associated with increased UA is restricted to patients who already have hyperuricemia at admission. A combination of UA levels at admission and UA changes on serial assessment during hospitalization may be additional value in the risk stratification of AHF patients.

Prognostic value of serum uric acid in patients with acute heart failure: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Conflicting results have been reported on the prognostic significance of serum uric acid (SUA) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). This meta-analysis aimed to determine the prognostic significance of SUA level in patients with AHF.

METHODS

We made a comprehensive literature search in Pubmed and Embase databases from inception to April 6, 2018. All available observational studies or post hoc analysis of randomized controlled trial that evaluated the prognostic value of SUA level in patients with AHF were eligible. Outcome of interests were all-cause mortality and the combined endpoint of death or readmission. Prognostic values of SUA level were summarized as higher vs lower SUA category or per 1 mg/ml SUA rise.

RESULTS

Ten studies involving 12,854 AHF patients were identified and analyzed. AHF patients with the highest SUA level had an increased risk of all-cause mortality (risk ratio [RR] 1.43; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.31-1.56) and combined endpoint of death or readmission (RR 1.68; 95% CI 1.33-2.13) after adjusting potential variables. In addition, per 1 mg/ml SUA rise significantly increased by 11% and 12% higher risk all-cause mortality and combined endpoint of death or readmission, respectively. A leave out 1 study sensitivity analysis confirmed the reliability of the pooling effect sizes.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicates that elevated SUA level independently predicts all-cause mortality and the combined endpoint of death or readmission in AHF patients. Measurement of SUA level may improve risk stratification of adverse outcomes in these patients.

Treating Diabetes in Patients with Heart Failure: Moving from Risk to Benefit

Over the past two decades, therapeutics for diabetes have evolved from drugs with known heart failure risk to classes with potential benefit for patients with heart failure. As many as 25 to 35 % of patients with heart failure carry a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, newer drug classes including dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GIP-1) agonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are being examined for cardiovascular safety as well as their effects on left ventricular function, quality of life, and other measures of disease progression. The purpose of this review is to summarize the existing evidence on these classes of anti-diabetic agents in patients with heart failure.

Hemographic indices are associated with mortality in acute heart failure

Hemographic indices have been associated with clinical outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure. We therefore investigated the prognostic values of hemographic indices in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF). Patients hospitalized primarily for AHF were drawn from an intramural registry. Hemographic indices, including white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, reciprocal of lymphocyte (RL) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were recorded. Among a total of 1923 participants (mean age 76 ± 12 years, 68% men), 875 patients died during a mean follow-up of 28.6 ± 20.7 months. Except for white blood cell counts, all the other hemographic indices were related to mortality, independently. In a forward stepwise Cox regression analysis among hemographic indices, RL was the strongest predictor (HR and 95% CI per-1SD:1.166,1.097-1.240) for mortality, after accounting for confounders. However, conditioned on the survivals, the hemographic indices were independently related to mortality within 3 years of follow-up, rather than beyond. Hemographic indices were independent risk factors of mortality in patients hospitalized for AHF, especially in patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function. As an acute presentation of inflammation, hemographic indices might be useful to identify subjects at risk of mortality soon after the index hospitalization.

Uric acid in the pathogenesis of metabolic, renal, and cardiovascular diseases: A review

The association between uric acid (UA) on one side and systemic hypertension (Htn), dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, overweight, fatty liver, renal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD) on the other side is well recognized. However, the causal relationship between UA and these different clinical problems is still debatable. The recent years have witnessed hundreds of experimental and clinical trials that favored the opinion that UA is a probable player in the pathogenesis of these disease entities. These studies disclosed the strong association between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome (MS), obesity, Htn, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertriglyceridemia, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure and increased mortality among cardiac and CKD patients. The association between UA and nephrolithiasis or preeclampsia is a non-debatable association. Recent experimental trials have disclosed different changes in enzyme activities induced by UA. Nitric oxide (NO) synthase, adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK), adenosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (AMPD), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase are affected by UA. These changes in enzymatic activities can lead to the observed biochemical and pathological changes associated with UA. The recent experimental, clinical, interventional, and epidemiologic trials favor the concept of a causative role of UA in the pathogenesis of MS, renal, and CVDs.

Prognostic Nutritional Index and the Risk of Mortality in Patients With Acute Heart Failure

Background

Nutritional status has been related to clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure. We assessed the association between nutritional status, indexed by prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and survival in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure.

Methods and Results

A total of 1673 patients (age 76±13 years, 68% men) hospitalized for acute heart failure in a tertiary medical center were analyzed. PNI was calculated as 10×serum albumin (g/dL)+0.005×total lymphocyte count (per mm³). National Death Registry was linked to identify the clinical outcomes of all‐cause and cardiovascular death. With increasing tertiles of PNI, age and N‐terminal probrain natriuretic peptide decreased, and body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and hemoglobin increased. During a mean follow‐up duration of 31.5 months, a higher PNI tertile was related to better survival free from all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in the total study population and in participants with either reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. After accounting for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, serum sodium level, and on‐admission systolic blood pressure, PNI was independently associated with cardiovascular death and total mortality (hazard ratio per 1 SD of the natural logarithm of the PNI: 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66–0.87] and 0.79 [95% CI, 0.73–0.87], respectively). In subgroup analyses stratified by age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, body mass index, or estimated glomerular filtration rate, PNI was consistently related to mortality.

Conclusions

PNI is independently associated with long‐term survival in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure with either reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Performance of AHEAD Score in an Asian Cohort of Acute Heart Failure With Either Preserved or Reduced Left Ventricular Systolic Function

Background

AHEAD (A: atrial fibrillation; H: hemoglobin; E: elderly; A: abnormal renal parameters; D: diabetes mellitus) score has been related to clinical outcomes of acute heart failure. However, the prognostic value of the AHEAD score in acute heart failure patients with either reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF and HFpEF) remain to be elucidated.

Methods and Results

The study population consisted of 2143 patients (age 77±12 years, 68% men, 38% HFrEF) hospitalized primarily for acute heart failure with a median follow‐up of 23.75 months. The performance of the AHEAD score (atrial fibrillation, hemoglobin <13 mg/dL for men and 12 mg/dL for women, age >70 years, creatinine >130 μmol/L, and diabetes mellitus) was evaluated by Cox's regression analysis for predicting cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality. The mean AHEAD scores were 2.7±1.2 in the total study population, 2.6±1.3 in the HFrEF group, and 2.7±1.1 in the HFpEF group. After accounting for sex, sodium, uric acid, and medications, the AHEAD score remained significantly associated with all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio and 95% CI: 1.49, 1.38–1.60 and 1.48, 1.33–1.64), respectively. The associations of AHEAD score with mortality remained significant in the subgroups of HFrEF (1.63, 1.47–1.82) and HFpEF (1.34, 1.22–1.48). Moreover, when we calculated a new AHEAD‐U score by considering uric acid (>8.6 mg/dL) in addition to the AHEAD score, the net reclassification was improved by 19.7% and 20.1% for predicting all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively.

Conclusions

The AHEAD score was useful in predicting long‐term mortality in the Asian acute heart failure cohort with either HFrEF or HFpEF. The new AHEAD‐U score may further improve risk stratification.

Differential Regulation of Cardiac Function and Intracardiac Cytokines by Rapamycin in Healthy and Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is comorbid with cardiovascular disease and impaired immunity. Rapamycin improves cardiac functions and extends lifespan by inhibiting the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). However, in diabetic murine models, Rapamycin elevates hyperglycemia and reduces longevity. Since Rapamycin is an immunosuppressant, we examined whether Rapamycin (750 μg/kg/day) modulates intracardiac cytokines, which affect the cardiac immune response, and cardiac function in male lean (ZL) and diabetic obese Zucker (ZO) rats. Rapamycin suppressed levels of fasting triglycerides, insulin, and uric acid in ZO but increased glucose. Although Rapamycin improved multiple diastolic parameters (E/E′, E′/A′, E/Vp) initially, these improvements were reversed or absent in ZO at the end of treatment, despite suppression of cardiac fibrosis and phosphoSer473Akt. Intracardiac cytokine protein profiling and Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis indicated suppression of intracardiac immune defense in ZO, in response to Rapamycin treatment in both ZO and ZL. Rapamycin increased fibrosis in ZL without increasing phosphoSer473Akt and differentially modulated anti-fibrotic IL-10, IFNγ, and GM-CSF in ZL and ZO. Therefore, fundamental difference in intracardiac host defense between diabetic ZO and healthy ZL, combined with differential regulation of intracardiac cytokines by Rapamycin in ZO and ZL hearts, underlies differential cardiac outcomes of Rapamycin treatment in health and diabetes.

Are atherosclerotic risk factors associated with a poor prognosis in patients with hyperuricemic acute heart failure? The evaluation of the causal dependence of acute heart failure and hyperuricemia

Atherosclerosis induces the elevation of uric acid (UA), and an elevated UA level is well known to lead to a poor prognosis in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). However, the prognostic value of atherosclerotic risk factors in hyperuricemic AHF patients remains to be elucidated. The data from 928 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital between January 2001 and December 2014, and whose serum UA levels were measured were screened. A total of 394 AHF patients with hyperuricemia were enrolled in this study. The patients were assigned to a low-risk group (≤1 atherosclerosis risk factor) and a high-risk group (≥2 atherosclerosis risk factors) according to their number of risk factors. The patients in the low-risk group were more likely to have dilated cardiomyopathy, clinical scenario 3 than those in the high-risk group. The serum total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, C-reactive protein, and brain-type natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher in the low-risk group than the high-risk group (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.003, and p = 0.008, respectively). A multivariate Cox regression model revealed that the number of risk factors (number = 1, HR (hazard ratio) 0.243, 95 % CI 0.096-0.618, p = 0.003; number = 2, HR 0.253, 95 % CI 0.108-0.593, p = 0.002; number ≥3, HR 0.209, 95 % CI 0.093-0.472, p < 0.001), eGFR (per 1.0 mmol/l increase) (HR 0.977, 95 % CI 0.961-0.994, p = 0.007), and serum UA level (per 1 mg/dl increase) (HR 1.270, 95 % CI 1.123-1.435, p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality. The prognosis, including all-cause death and HF events, was significantly poorer among the low-risk patients than among the high-risk patients. Atherosclerotic risk factors were not associated with a poor prognosis in patients with hyperuricemic AHF.

The Relation of Moderate Alcohol Consumption to Hyperuricemia in a Rural General Population

Background: although alcohol abuse is known to increase serum uric acid, the relation between moderate drinking and uric acid have remained poorly understood. We performed this study to evaluate whether different alcohol consumption level has different effects on the risk of hyperuricemia based on a rural general population. Method: multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to select a representative sample of individuals aged 35 years or older. Participants were asked to provide information about their alcohol consumption. Data regarding the demographic and lifestyle characteristics and the blood biochemical indexes of these participants were collected by well-trained personnel. Results: in total, 11,039 participants aged 35 years or older were included (4997 men and 6042 women). The prevalence of hyperuricemia in the different male alcohol consumption groups was 11.9% in non-drinkers, 12.6% in moderate drinkers, and 16.3% in heavy drinkers (p < 0.001). In females, the rates were 6.3% in non-drinkers, 8.1% in moderate drinkers, and 6.6% for heavy drinkers (p = 0.818). In males, multivariate logistic regression analyses shows heavy drinkers had an approximately 1.7-fold higher risk of hyperuricemia (OR: 1.657, 95% CI: 1.368 to 2.007, p < 0.001) than non-drinkers; moderate drinkers did not experience a significant increase in risk (OR: 1.232, 95% CI: 0.951 to 1.596, p = 0.114)). Multivariate logistic regression analyses of females showed that, compared with non-drinkers, neither moderate nor heavy drinkers had a significantly increased risk of hyperuricemia (OR: 1.565, 95% CI: 0.521 to 4.695, p = 0.425 for heavy drinkers; OR: 0.897, 95% CI: 0.117 to 6.855, p = 0.916 for moderate drinkers). Conclusions: heavy alcohol consumption increased the risk of hyperuricemia for males but not for females. Among both males and females, moderate alcohol consumption did not increase the risk of hyperuricemia.

The prognostic impact of uric acid in patients with severely decompensated acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

The serum level of uric acid (UA) is a well-known prognostic factor for heart failure (HF) patients. However, the prognostic impact of hyperuricemia and the factors that induce hyperuricemia in acute HF (AHF) patients are not well understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eight hundred eighty-nine AHF patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were assigned into a low UA group (UA≤7.0mg/dl, n=495) or a high UA group (UA>7.0mg/dl, n=394) according to their UA level on admission. A Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the survival rate of the low UA group was significantly higher than that of the high UA group. A multivariate Cox regression model identified that a high UA level (HR: 1.192, 95%CI 1.112-1.277) was an independent predictor of 180-day mortality. A multivariate logistic regression model for a high serum UA level on admission indicated that chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR: 2.030, 95%CI: 1.298-3.176, p=0.002) and the administration of loop diuretics before admission (OR: 1.556, 95%CI: 1.010-2.397, p=0.045) were independent factors. The prognosis, including all-cause death and HF events, was significantly poorer among patients who had a high UA level who had previously used loop diuretics and among CKD patients with a high UA level than among other patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The serum UA level was an independent predictor in patients who were hospitalized during an emergent situation for AHF. An elevated serum UA level on admission was associated with the presence of CKD and the use of loop diuretics. These factors were also associated with adverse outcomes in hyperuricemic patients with AHF.