Natriuretic peptide-guided management in heart failure

Natriuretic peptides: role in the diagnosis and management of heart failure: a scientific statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America and Japanese Heart Failure Society

Natriuretic peptides, brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are globally and most often used for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF). In addition, they can have an important complementary role in the risk stratification of its prognosis. Since the development of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), the use of natriuretic peptides as therapeutic agents has grown in importance. The present document is the result of the Trilateral Cooperation Project among the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, the Heart Failure Society of America and the Japanese Heart Failure Society. It represents an expert consensus that aims to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date perspective on natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis and management of HF, with a focus on the following main issues: (1) history and basic research: discovery, production and cardiovascular protection; (2) diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers: acute HF, chronic HF, inclusion/endpoint in clinical trials, and natriuretic peptide-guided therapy; (3) therapeutic use: nesiritide (BNP), carperitide (ANP) and ARNIs; and (4) gaps in knowledge and future directions.

Natriuretic Peptides: Role in the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America and Japanese Heart Failure Society

Natriuretic peptides, brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are globally and most often used for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF). In addition, they can have an important complementary role in the risk stratification of its prognosis. Since the development of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), the use of natriuretic peptides as therapeutic agents has grown in importance. The present document is the result of the Trilateral Cooperation Project among the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, the Heart Failure Society of America and the Japanese Heart Failure Society. It represents an expert consensus that aims to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date perspective on natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis and management of HF, with a focus on the following main issues: (1) history and basic research: discovery, production and cardiovascular protection; (2) diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers: acute HF, chronic HF, inclusion/endpoint in clinical trials, and natriuretic peptides-guided therapy; (3) therapeutic use: nesiritide (BNP), carperitide (ANP) and ARNIs; and (4) gaps in knowledge and future directions.

Development and acceptance of a new adherence monitoring package to identify non-adherent patients with polypharmacy in primary care: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Adherence to pharmacotherapy is crucial to prevent symptom deterioration in chronic diseases. However, non-adherence to chronic treatments is prevalent, especially in polypharmacy. Practical tools to assess adherence to polypharmacy in primary care are missing.

AIMS

We aimed to develop an Adherence Monitoring Package (AMoPac) for general practitioners (GPs) to identify patient non-adherence. We tested the feasibility and acceptance of AMoPac in the primary healthcare setting.

METHODS

AMoPac was developed based on peer-reviewed literature. It consists in (1) electronic monitoring of patients' medication intakes for 4 weeks, (2) receiving feedback on intake behaviour by the pharmacist and (3) generating an adherence report to communicate to the GPs. A feasibility study was conducted with heart failure patients. GPs' acceptance of AMoPac was explored with semistructured interviews. Electronic transmission of the reports into the GP's electronic health record along with laboratory reports stating N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels was analysed.

RESULTS

We developed AMoPac and tested its feasibility with six GPs and seven heart failure patients. GPs were satisfied with the adherence report including the pharmaceutical-clinical recommendations. Integrated transmission of adherence reports to GPs was not feasible due to technical incompatibilities. Mean taking adherence was 86.4%±12.8% and three patients had low correct dosing-days (69%, 38% and 36%, respectively). NT-proBNP ranged from 102 to 8561 pg/mL and four patients had elevated values (>1000 pg/mL).

CONCLUSION

AMoPac is feasible in the primary healthcare setting, excluding the integrated transmission of adherence reports to GPs. The procedure was highly accepted by GPs and patients. AMoPac fills a gap by combining clinical values with adherence data, and therefore, delivers a multifaceted picture of the patient's behaviour. In case of unmet adherence, our tool might facilitate the selection of patient-centred approaches to optimise pharmacological therapies in chronic heart failure patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04326101.

Updates in heart failure: sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and beyond – major changes are coming

Prevalence of heart failure is increasing worldwide mainly due to the ageing of the population and the improvement in diagnosis and treatment. In recent years, huge progress has been made in the management of heart failure patients. A new definition of chronic heart failure based on left ventricular ejection fraction and its possible trajectories has been reported. New drug classes have been introduced for the treatment of chronic heart failure. In particular, the prognostic benefit of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors was demonstrated across all the heart failure phenotypes. Therapies for patients with advanced heart failure (long-term mechanical circulatory supports and heart transplantation) are now indicated also in the case of mild-to-moderate symptoms but with high risk of progression. In patients with acute heart failure, monitoring of urinary sodium and the use of acetazolamide may lead to better decongestion. Importantly, pre- and postdischarge assessment should lead to optimal treatment. Devices and telemonitoring can also be of help. Cardiovascular and noncardiovascular comorbidities are major determinants of the clinical course and need proper management. This review will summarize these important advances.

Roadmap for the management of heart failure patients during the vulnerable phase after heart failure hospitalizations: how to implement excellence in clinical practice

Patients discharged after an episode of acute heart failure have an increased risk of hospitalizations and deaths within the subsequent 3 months. This phase is commonly called the 'vulnerable period' and it represents a window of opportunity of intervention in order to improve longer term outcomes. Prompt identification of signs of residual haemodynamic congestion is a priority in planning for the out-of-hospital management strategies. Patients will also need to be screened for frailty and have a prioritization of the management of their comorbidities. Life-saving medications should be started together or in a short time and up-titrated (when needed) according to blood pressure, heart rate and concomitant comorbidities. Ideally, patients should be assessed by their general practitioner within 1 week of discharge and have a hospital/clinic follow-up within 4 weeks of discharge. Patients should progressively resume physical activities and adhere to an educational programme with appropriate lifestyle adjustments best implemented during a cardiac rehabilitation programme.

Prognosis of acute heart failure based on clinical data of congestion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This work aims to assess whether symptoms/signs of congestion in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) evaluated in hospital emergency departments (HED) allows for predicting short-term progress.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study group comprised consecutive patients diagnosed with AHF in 45 HED from EAHFE Registry. We collected clinical variables of systemic congestion (edema in the lower extremities, jugular vein distention, hepatomegaly) and pulmonary congestion (dyspnea on exertion, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary crackles) and analysed their individual and group association with all-cause 30-day of mortality crudely and adjusted for differences between groups.

RESULTS

We analysed 18,120 patients (median = 83 years, interquartile range [IQR] = 76-88; women = 55.7%). Of them, 44.6% had > 3 congestive symptoms/signs. Individually, the 30-day adjusted risk of death increased 14% for jugular vein distention (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.01-1.28) and 96% for dyspnea on exertion (HR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.55-2.49). Assessed jointly, the risk progressively increased with the number of symptoms/signs present; compared to patients without symptoms/signs of congestion, the risk increased by 109%, 123 %, and 156% in patients with 1-2, 3-5, and 6-7 symptoms/signs, respectively. These associations did not show interaction with the final disposition of the patient after their emergency care (discharge/hospitalization) with the exception of edema in the lower extremities, which had a better prognosis in discharged patients (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49-0.89) than hospitalised patients (HR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.65-1.57; interaction p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The presence of a greater number of congestive symptoms/signs was associated with greater all-cause 30-day mortality. Individually, jugular vein distention and dyspnea on exertion were associated with higher short-term mortality.

Clinical phenotypes, aetiologies, management, and mortality in acute heart failure: a single-institution study in Latin-America

Aims

Little is known regarding acute heart failure (AHF) clinical characteristics and its hospital outcome in Latin America. This study sought to assess the prevalence of, and identify differences among, in‐hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized for AHF who were stratified by clinical phenotype at a hospital in Latin America.

Methods and results

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with AHF who were hospitalized in the coronary care unit of a Latin American teaching hospital from January 2006 to December 2018. Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors of mortality. Of 21 042 patients admitted, 7759 (36.6%) had AHF. Their median age was 62 years, and 35% were women. De novo heart failure was seen in 39.4% of patients. Most common was AHF‐associated acute coronary syndromes (ACS‐HF) in 43.0%, decompensated heart failure (DHF) in 33.7%, hypertensive heart failure (HT‐HF) in 11.8%, and cardiogenic shock (CS) in 5.2%. Pulmonary oedema (PO) (3.3%) and right heart failure (RHF) (3.0%) were least frequent. Coronary artery disease was the most frequent aetiology in 56.5% of patients, valvular heart disease in 22.4%, and cardiomyopathies in 12.3%. Other less frequent aetiology included adult congenital heart disease (2.5%), lung diseases (2.1%), acute aortic syndromes (1.4%), pericardial diseases (0.8%), and intracardiac tumours (0.3%). Aetiology could not be established in 1.6% of patients. Before admission, patients with worsening chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockers (60.4%), beta‐blockers (42.5%), or spironolactone (34.4%). The percentages of patients given in‐hospital management with intravenous diuretics, vasodilators, inotropes, and vasopressors were 81.2%, 33.4%, 18.9%, and 20.4%, respectively. The overall in‐hospital mortality was 17.9% (71.3%, 43.9%, 23.8%, 14.9%, 13.6%, and 10.1% for CS, PO, RHF, DHF, ACS‐HF, and HT‐HF, respectively; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that PO (hazard ratio [HR] 2.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.73–4.14, P < 0.0001) and CS (HR 3.37, 95% CI 2.12–5.35, P < 0.0001) were independent predictors of in‐hospital mortality. Use of intravenous diuretics was linked to reduction of in‐hospital mortality (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59–0.59, P < 0.0001). By contrast, increased in‐hospital mortality was associated with the use of intravenous inotrope or vasopressor (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.27–1.76 and HR 2.91, 95% CI 2.41–3.51, P < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

Real‐world evidence from a university hospital in Latin America shows that the high mortality among patients with AHF may depend, among other factors, on patients' AHF clinical phenotypes. The clinical characteristics and aetiologies of AHF appear to differ between these data from Mexico and those from European and US registries.

Natriuretic peptide-guided treatment for heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

GUIDE-IT, the largest trial to date, published in August 2017, evaluating the effectiveness of natriuretic peptide (NP)-guided treatment of heart failure (HF), was stopped early for futility on a composite outcome. However, the reported effect sizes on individual outcomes of all-cause mortality and HF admissions are potentially clinically relevant.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to combine all available trial level evidence to determine if NP-guided treatment of HF reduces all-cause mortality and HF admissions in patients with HF.

STUDY SELECTION

Eight databases, no language restrictions, up to November 2017 were searched for all randomised controlled trials comparing NP-guided treatment versus clinical assessment alone in adult patients with HF. No language restrictions were applied. Publications were independently double screened and extracted. Fixed-effect meta-analyses were conducted.

FINDINGS

89 papers were included, reporting 19 trials (4554 participants), average ages 62-80 years. Pooled risk ratio estimates for all-cause mortality (16 trials, 4063 participants) were 0.87, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.99 and 0.80, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.89 for HF admissions (11 trials, 2822 participants). Sensitivity analyses, restricted to low risk of bias, produced similar estimates, but were no longer statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering all the evidence to date, the pooled effects suggest that NP-guided treatment is beneficial in reducing HF admissions and all-cause mortality. However, there is still insufficient high-quality evidence to make definitive recommendations on the use of NP-guided treatment in clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Systematic Review Cochrane Database Number: CD008966.

Acute heart failure congestion and perfusion status - impact of the clinical classification on in-hospital and long-term outcomes; insights from the ESC-EORP-HFA Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

AIMS

Classification of acute heart failure (AHF) patients into four clinical profiles defined by evidence of congestion and perfusion is advocated by the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)guidelines. Based on the ESC-EORP-HFA Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, we compared differences in baseline characteristics, in-hospital management and outcomes among congestion/perfusion profiles using this classification.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 7865 AHF patients classified at admission as: 'dry-warm' (9.9%), 'wet-warm' (69.9%), 'wet-cold' (19.8%) and 'dry-cold' (0.4%). These groups differed significantly in terms of baseline characteristics, in-hospital management and outcomes. In-hospital mortality was 2.0% in 'dry-warm', 3.8% in 'wet-warm', 9.1% in 'dry-cold' and 12.1% in 'wet-cold' patients. Based on clinical classification at admission, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for 1-year mortality were: 'wet-warm' vs. 'dry-warm' 1.78 (1.43-2.21) and 'wet-cold' vs. 'wet-warm' 1.33 (1.19-1.48). For profiles resulting from discharge classification, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for 1-year mortality were: 'wet-warm' vs. 'dry-warm' 1.46 (1.31-1.63) and 'wet-cold' vs. 'wet-warm' 2.20 (1.89-2.56). Among patients discharged alive, 30.9% had residual congestion, and these patients had higher 1-year mortality compared to patients discharged without congestion (28.0 vs. 18.5%). Tricuspid regurgitation, diabetes, anaemia and high New York Heart Association class were independently associated with higher risk of congestion at discharge, while beta-blockers at admission, de novo heart failure, or any cardiovascular procedure during hospitalization were associated with lower risk of residual congestion.

CONCLUSION

Classification based on congestion/perfusion status provides clinically relevant information at hospital admission and discharge. A better understanding of the clinical course of the two entities could play an important role towards the implementation of targeted strategies that may improve outcomes.

Therapeutic Advances in the Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is the most common presenting phenotype of acute heart failure (AHF). The main goal of this article was to review the contemporary management strategies in these patients and to describe how future clinical trials may address unmet clinical needs.

AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY

The current pathophysiologic understanding of AHF is incomplete. The guideline recommendations for the management of ADHF are based only on algorithms provided by expert consensus guided by blood pressure and/or clinical signs of congestion or hypoperfusion. The lack of adequately conducted trials to address the unmet need for evidence therapy in AHF has not yet been surpassed, and at this time, there is no evidence-based strategy for targeted decongestive therapy to improve outcomes. The precise time point for initiation of guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs), as respect to moment of decompensation, is also unknown.

DATA SOURCES

The available data informing current management of patients with ADHF are based on randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and administrative databases.

THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES

A major step-forward in the management of ADHF patients is recognizing congestion, either clinical or hemodynamic, as a major trigger for heart failure (HF) hospitalization and most important target for therapy. However, a strategy based exclusively on congestion is not sufficient, and at present, comprehensive assessment during hospitalization of cardiac and noncardiovascular substrate with identification of potential therapeutic targets represents "the corner-stone" of ADHF management. In the last years, substantial data have emerged to support the continuation of GDMTs during hospitalization for HF decompensation. Recently, several clinical trials raised hypothesis of "moving to the left" concept that argues for very early implementation of GDMTs as potential strategy to improve outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of ADHF is still based on expert consensus documents. Further research is required to identify novel therapeutic targets, to establish the precise time point to initiate GDMTs, and to identify patients at risk of recurrent hospitalization.

Amino Acid-Based Metabolic Panel Provides Robust Prognostic Value Additive to B-Natriuretic Peptide and Traditional Risk Factors in Heart Failure

Metabolic disturbances represent functional perturbation in peripheral tissues and predict outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). This study developed an amino acid-based metabolic panel and sought to see whether this panel could add diagnostic and prognostic value to currently used B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements. Mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography were performed on 1288 participants, including 129 normal controls and 712 patients at HF stages A to D in the initial cohort and 447 stage C patients in the validation cohort. Patients were followed up for composite events (death/HF-related rehospitalization). Histidine, ornithine, and phenylalanine were 3 metabolites found strongly significant to identify patients at stage C and were adopted to develop the HOP panel. Compared to BNP, HOP had better value in discriminating the patients at different stages, especially in elderly patients and those with atrial fibrillation, high body mass index, or kidney dysfunction. HOP was correlated with the distance of 6 min walking distance better than BNP. For prognosis, HOP predicted composite events in patients at stages C and D, independent of log (BNP), age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association functional class, HF stage, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, hemoglobin, and albumin. Higher BNP (≥750 pg/mL) along with higher HOP (≥14) robustly predicted lower event-free survival compared to all others [hazard ratio = 3.15 (2.23-4.46), p < 0.001]. The prognostic value of HOP was confirmed in the validation cohort. In conclusion, aiming for clinical applications, this study proved that the HOP panel provides diagnostic and prognostic value additive to BNP and traditional risk factors.

Simplified plasma essential amino acid-based profiling provides metabolic information and prognostic value additive to traditional risk factors in heart failure

In heart failure (HF), metabolic disturbances represent functional perturbations in peripheral tissues and also predict patient outcomes. This study developed a simplified essential amino acid-based profile and tested whether it could improve prognostication. Plasma essential amino acids and lipidomics were measured on 1084 participants. The initial cohort included 94 normal controls and 599 patients hospitalized due to acute/decompensated HF. The validation cohort included 391 HF patients. Patients were followed for composite events (death/HF related re-hospitalization) and were categorized into three groups: high risk type 1 (leucine ≥145 μM and phenylalanine ≥ 88.9 μM), high risk type 2 (leucine < 81.2 μM), and low risk (other). Types 1 and 2 were associated with higher event rates [hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals) = 1.88 (1.27-2.79) and 7.71 (4.97-11.9), respectively, p < 0.001]. Compared to the low-risk group, both types of high-risk patients were older and had lower blood pressure and estimated glomerular filtration rates, but higher B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP). In addition, type 1 was associated with more incompletely metabolized lipids in the blood; type 2 patients had lower body mass indexes, rates of using guideline-based medications, and levels of cholesterol, hemoglobin, and albumin. The prognostic value of types 1 and 2 remained significant after adjusting for age, BNP and other risk factors. The value of using high-risk types for prognosis was confirmed in the validation cohort. In conclusion, simplified essential amino acid-based profiling identified two high-risk populations and provided metabolic information and prognostic value additive to traditional risk factors.

Expanded algorithm for managing patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Heart failure is a complex disease process, the manifestation of various cardiac and noncardiac abnormalities. General treatment approaches for heart failure have remained the same over the past decades despite the advent of novel therapies and monitoring modalities. In the same vein, the readmission rates for heart failure patients remain high and portend a poor prognosis for morbidity and mortality. In this context, development and implementation of improved algorithms for assessing and treating HF patients during hospitalization remains an unmet need. We propose an expanded algorithm for both monitoring and treating patients admitted for acute decompensated heart failure with the goal to improve post-discharge outcomes and decrease rates of rehospitalizations.

The application of lung ultrasound in acute decompensated heart failure in heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction

OBJECTIVES

Lung ultrasound detection of B-lines has become a simple, semiquantitative, noninvasive tool for evaluating pulmonary congestion in heart failure (HF) patients. This study compared the correlation of B-lines with E/e', NT-proBNP, and ejection fraction (EF) in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

METHODS

Eighty-two consecutive patients who were diagnosed with acute decompensated HF were divided into two groups: preserved ejection fraction heart failure (HFpEF, EF≥50%, n=32) and reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFrEF, EF<50%, n=50). Spearman's correlation was used to evaluate associations of B-lines with E/e', NT-proBNP, and EF in the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare B-lines with the E/e' ratio.

RESULTS

Results revealed no significant differences were observed in the B-lines between the HFpEF and HFrEF groups. However, compared with the control group, B-lines were significantly increased in the HFpEF and HFrEF groups (P<.05). The B-lines were positively correlated with E/e' (r=0.742, r=0.52) and NT-proBNP (r=0.678, r=0.417) but were negatively correlated with EF (r=-0.365, r=-0.337), and the correlation coefficients were higher in the HFpEF group than in the HFrEF group. In ROC analyses, considering E/e' ≥14 as a reference, B-lines yielded a C-statistic value of 0.94 (sensitivity 92%, specificity 83%) in the HFpEF group and 0.84 (sensitivity 86%, specificity 78%) in the HFrEF group.

CONCLUSIONS

B-lines were significantly correlated with the more established parameters of ADHF. The correlation between B-lines and E/e' was better, especially in the HFpEF group.

Natriuretic Peptides and Normal Body Fluid Regulation

Natriuretic peptides are structurally related, functionally diverse hormones. Circulating atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are delivered predominantly by the heart. Two C-type natriuretic peptides (CNPs) are paracrine messengers, notably in bone, brain, and vessels. Natriuretic peptides act by binding to the extracellular domains of three receptors, NPR-A, NPR-B, and NPR-C of which the first two are guanylate cyclases. NPR-C is coupled to inhibitory proteins. Atrial wall stress is the major regulator of ANP secretion; however, atrial pressure changes plasma ANP only modestly and transiently, and the relation between plasma ANP and atrial wall tension (or extracellular volume or sodium intake) is weak. Absence and overexpression of ANP-related genes are associated with modest blood pressure changes. ANP augments vascular permeability and reduces vascular contractility, renin and aldosterone secretion, sympathetic nerve activity, and renal tubular sodium transport. Within the physiological range of plasma ANP, the responses to step-up changes are unimpressive; in man, the systemic physiological effects include diminution of renin secretion, aldosterone secretion, and cardiac preload. For BNP, the available evidence does not show that cardiac release to the blood is related to sodium homeostasis or body fluid control. CNPs are not circulating hormones, but primarily paracrine messengers important to ossification, nervous system development, and endothelial function. Normally, natriuretic peptides are not powerful natriuretic/diuretic hormones; common conclusions are not consistently supported by hard data. ANP may provide fine-tuning of reno-cardiovascular relationships, but seems, together with BNP, primarily involved in the regulation of cardiac performance and remodeling. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 8:1211-1249, 2018.

Clinical profile of patients with heart failure can predict rehospitalization and quality of life

BACKGROUND

The aim of this retrospective study was to identify clinical, humoral and echocardiographic variables predicting rehospitalization and poor quality of life (QOL) in patients with reduced or mid-range ejection fraction heart failure.

METHODS

From 2009 to 2012, 310 patients were admitted having signs and symptoms of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. All the patients were followed by phone, calling the patients or the referring general practitioner. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) was used as the instrument to evaluate QOL: MLHFQ less than 24 is a good QOL, 24-45 is moderate QOL and more than 45 is poor QOL. The primary event was poor QOL and/or rehospitalization at 4 years.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients died at median time of 21 months; 4-year survival was 72 ± 3%. Rehospitalization due to heart failure was recorded in 60 cases. Among 231 survivors, MLHFQ score was good in 99 (42%), moderate in 50 (21%) and poor in 88 (37%). Four-year freedom from death, poor QOL or rehospitalization was 51 ± 3%. Multivariable analysis identified the following risk factors: heart rate at discharge at least 70 bpm, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, hypercholesterolemia, chronic pulmonary disease, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide at discharge, severe tricuspid regurgitation and mitral regurgitation more than moderate.

CONCLUSION

Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic profile is crucial to predict long-term QOL of patients admitted for heart failure.

Elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an early marker for patients at risk for complications after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC)

BACKGROUND

Elevated BNP is associated with adverse cardiac outcomes after noncardiac surgery. We assessed BNP values as markers of perioperative fluid status and their correlation with major/cardiopulmonary (CP) complications following CRS + HIPEC.

METHODS

Fluid balance, BNP levels, and morbidity data were collected for all patients undergoing CRS + HIPEC between 6/2014 and 2/2016.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-nine patients underwent CRS + HIPEC for appendiceal adenocarcinoma (n = 99), mesothelioma (n = 16), and colon cancer (n = 14). Less than 10% had CP comorbidities. The median PCI was 14 (range 4-39); 89% underwent CC0/1 resection (n = 115). Median blood loss (EBL) was 497 mL (50-2700). Major complications (Clavien III-V) occurred in 16 (12%), CP in 17 (13%), and major/CP in 24 (18%). Thirty-day mortality occurred in 2 (1.5%). Elevated BNP on POD1 correlated with increased risk of major/CP complications (OR 2.2, P = 0.052). This was most pronounced in the 25 patients receiving cisplatin: for each 100 unit increase in POD1 BNP the OR for major/CP complication was 7.4 versus 1.2 for the remaining patients, P = 0.083. Multivariate analysis identified increased EBL (OR 4.1 P = 0.011) and a trend toward increased BNP on POD1 (OR for each 100 unit increase 2.0, P = 0.10) as risk factors for major/CP complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative BNP measurement after CRS + HIPEC may guide postoperative fluid resuscitation and facilitate identification of patients at risk for major and/or cardiopulmonary complications.

An Effective Treatment for Heart Failure Caused by Valvular Heart Diseases: Thoracic Sympathetic Block

BACKGROUND

The pilot study is designed to investigate the effect of continuous thoracic sympathetic block (TSB) on cardiac function, reconstruction, and hemodynamic parameters in patients with heart failure resulting from valvular heart disease.

METHOD

The cardiac function parameters, including left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricle end-diastole diameter (LVEDD), fractional shortening (FS), and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), were measured in 19 patients before and after TSB treatment. The patients were also classified on the basis of NYHA classification system.

RESULTS

4 weeks of TSB administration improved cardiac function in 18 of 19 patients (94.74%). The patients' LVEF, LVEDD, and NT-proBNP were all improved significantly after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The favorable clinical outcome of TSB administration suggests an alternative treatment for the patients with heart failure caused by valvular dysfunctions.

Resetting the neurohormonal balance in heart failure (HF): the relevance of the natriuretic peptide (NP) system to the clinical management of patients with HF

The natriuretic peptide (NP) system, which includes atrial natriuretic peptide, B-type natriuretic peptide, and C-type natriuretic peptide, has an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis, promoting a number of physiological effects including diuresis, vasodilation, and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Heart failure (HF) is associated with defects in NP processing and synthesis, and there is a strong relationship between NP levels and disease state. NPs are useful biomarkers in HF, and their use in diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis is well established, particularly in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). There has also been interest in their use to guide disease management and therapeutic decision making. An understanding of NPs in HF has also resulted in interest in synthetic NPs for the treatment of HF and in treatments that target neprilysin, a protease that degrades NPs. A novel drug, the angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696), which simultaneously inhibits neprilysin and blocks the angiotensin II type I receptor, was shown to have a favorable efficacy and safety profile in patients with HFrEF and has been approved for use in such patients in Europe and the USA. In light of the development of treatments that target neprilysin and of recent data in relation to synthetic NPs, it is timely to review the current understanding of the role of NPs in HF and their use in diagnosis, evaluating prognosis and guiding treatment, as well as their place in HF therapy.

Predictors of Post-discharge Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure

Acute Heart Failure (AHF) is a " multi-event disease" and hospitalisation is a critical event in the clinical course of HF. Despite relatively rapid relief of symptoms, hospitalisation for AHF is followed by an increased risk of death and re-hospitalisation. In AHF, risk stratification from clinically available data is increasingly important in evaluating long-term prognosis. From the perspective of patients, information on the risk of mortality and re-hospitalisation would be helpful in providing patients with insight into their disease. From the perspective of care providers, it may facilitate management decisions, such as who needs to be admitted and to what level of care (i.e. floor, step-down, ICU). Furthermore, risk-stratification may help identify patients who need to be evaluated for advanced HF therapies (i.e. left-ventricle assistance device or transplant or palliative care), and patients who need early a post-discharge follow-up plan. Finally, risk stratification will allow for more robust efforts to identify among risk markers the true targets for therapies that may direct treatment strategies to selected high-risk patients. Further clinical research will be needed to evaluate if appropriate risk stratification of patients could improve clinical outcome and resources allocation.