Characteristics and outcomes of patients with tricuspid regurgitation and advanced heart failure

Association between tricuspid regurgitation and heart failure outcomes: A meta-analysis

This study aimed to perform a systematic meta-analysis to investigate how varying severities of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) affect mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched up to March 2024. Heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses as well as subgroup analyses were carried out using Stata (15.1). In total, 12 cohort studies involving 45 829 HF patients were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the TR group exhibited notably higher all-cause mortality [risk ratio (RR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.29, P < 0.05] and HF rehospitalization rate (RR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.13-1.36, P < 0.001) than the non-TR group. Subgroup analysis by the severity of TR indicated that all-cause mortality (RR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.10-1.63, P < 0.05), HF rehospitalization rate (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.16-1.45, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (RR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.04-2.15, P < 0.05) were notably higher in the moderate/severe TR group than in the non-TR/mild TR group. Subgroup analysis showed that ejection fraction, region, regression methods and publication year affected the results of both groups. Moderate and severe TR can increase the risk of all-cause mortality and HF rehospitalization rate. However, these results may be influenced by other factors. More studies on the prognosis of HF patients with different ejection fractions and regions are desired to further validate and improve our findings.

Clinical Impact of Renal Dysfunction in Patients with Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation and Chronic Heart Failure

Background

Renal dysfunction (RD) is common in patients with heart failure (HF), however its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and HF is still debated; therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of RD on clinical outcomes in this population.

Methods

All patients with HF and a prevalent or incident diagnosis of TR presenting at two centers between January 2020 and July 2021 were enrolled, in both acute (in-hospitalized patients) and chronic settings (outpatient). Patients were stratified according to the degree of RD (Group 1 <30 mL/min (n = 70), Group 2 30-59 mL/min (n = 123) and Group 3 ≥60 mL/min (n = 56).

Results

Out of 249 patients, those with severe RD had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (41.8 ± 13.1% vs. 45.7 ± 14.2% vs. 48.6 ± 13.1%, p = 0.020) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (16.6 ± 3.7 mm vs. 17.6 ± 4.0 mm vs. 20.0 ± 4.4 mm, p < 0.001) while brain natriuretic peptides levels were higher (979 ± 1514 pg/mL vs. 490 ± 332 pg/mL vs. 458 ± 543 pg/mL, p = 0.049) than in the other subgroups. After a median follow-up of 279 (interquartile range, IQR 195-481) days, all-cause mortality was higher in patients with severe RD (37.7% vs. 23.3% vs. 13.7%, p = 0.012). HF hospitalizations (32.7% vs. 31.2% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.970) and the composite of all-cause mortality or HF hospitalization (54.1% vs. 47.9% vs. 42.0%, p = 0.444) did not differ between subgroups.

Conclusions

Severe RD is highly present in patients with HF and TR and is associated with increased incidence of all-cause mortality.

2024 update in heart failure

In the last years, major progress has occurred in heart failure (HF) management. The 2023 ESC focused update of the 2021 HF guidelines introduced new key recommendations based on the results of the last years of science. First, two drugs, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and finerenone, a novel nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), are recommended for the prevention of HF in patients with diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Second, SGLT2 inhibitors are now recommended for the treatment of HF across the entire left ventricular ejection fraction spectrum. The benefits of quadruple therapy in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are well established. Its rapid and early up-titration along with a close follow-up with frequent clinical and laboratory re-assessment after an episode of acute HF (the so-called 'high-intensity care' strategy) was associated with better outcomes in the STRONG-HF trial. Patients experiencing an episode of worsening HF might require a fifth drug, vericiguat. In the STEP-HFpEF-DM and STEP-HFpEF trials, semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly administered for 1 year decreased body weight and significantly improved quality of life and the 6 min walk distance in obese patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with or without a history of diabetes. Further data on safety and efficacy, including also hard endpoints, are needed to support the addition of acetazolamide or hydrochlorothiazide to a standard diuretic regimen in patients hospitalized due to acute HF. In the meantime, PUSH-AHF supported the use of natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy. Further options and most recent evidence for the treatment of HF, including specific drugs for cardiomyopathies (i.e., mavacamten in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and tafamidis in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis), device therapies, cardiac contractility modulation and percutaneous treatment of valvulopathies, with the recent finding from the TRILUMINATE Pivotal trial, are also reviewed in this article.

Tricuspid Regurgitation Complicating Heart Failure: A Novel Clinical Entity

With the escalating incidence of heart failure, accurate diagnosis is paramount for tailored therapeutic interventions. The tricuspid valve, particularly tricuspid regurgitation, once relegated as the "forgotten valve", has gained prominence due to increasing evidence implicating severe tricuspid valve disease in the prognosis of diverse cardiovascular conditions. This review delineates recent significant advancements in imaging modalities, transcatheter interventions, and epidemiological and pathophysiological insights regarding tricuspid regurgitation complicating heart failure. A comprehensive understanding of these innovative concepts and technologies can significantly improve patient outcomes.

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of isolated or combined moderate to severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation in patients with cardiac amyloidosis

AIMS

Evidence on the epidemiology and prognostic significance of mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is scarce.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Overall, 538 patients with either transthyretin (ATTR, n = 359) or immunoglobulin light-chain (AL, n = 179) CA were included at three Italian referral centres. Patients were stratified according to isolated or combined moderate/severe MR and TR. Overall, 240 patients (44.6%) had no significant MR/TR, 112 (20.8%) isolated MR, 66 (12.3%) isolated TR, and 120 (22.3%) combined MR/TR. The most common aetiologies were atrial functional MR, followed by primary infiltrative MR, and secondary TR due to right ventricular (RV) overload followed by atrial functional TR. Patients with isolated or combined MR/TR had a more frequent history of heart failure (HF) hospitalization and atrial fibrillation, worse symptoms, and higher levels of NT-proBNP as compared to those without MR/TR. They also presented more severe atrial enlargement, atrial peak longitudinal strain impairment, left ventricular (LV) and RV systolic dysfunction, and higher pulmonary artery systolic pressures. TR carried the most advanced features. After adjustment for age, sex, CA subtypes, laboratory, and echocardiographic markers of CA severity, isolated TR and combined MR/TR were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause death or worsening HF events, compared to no significant MR/TR [adjusted HR 2.75 (1.78-4.24) and 2.31 (1.44-3.70), respectively].

CONCLUSION

In a large cohort of patients with CA, MR, and TR were common. Isolated TR and combined MR/TR were associated with worse prognosis regardless of CA aetiology, LV, and RV function, with TR carrying the highest risk.