Sex-Related Differences in Heart Failure Diagnosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The literature on the importance of sex in heart failure diagnosis is scarce. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on sex differences regarding the diagnosis of heart failure. RECENT FINDINGS: Comorbidities are frequent in patients with heart failure, and their prevalence differs between sexes; some differences in symptomatology and diagnostic imaging techniques were also found. Biomarkers also usually show differences between sexes but are not significant enough to establish sex-specific ranges. This article outlines current information related to sex differences in HF diagnosis. Research in this field remains to be done. Maintaining a high diagnostic suspicion, actively searching for the disease, and considering the sex is relevant for early diagnosis and better prognosis. In addition, more studies with equal representation are needed.

Inflammation as a New Therapeutic Target among Older Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease.

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases remain a global health challenge, with ischemic heart disease (IHD) being the primary cause of both morbidity and mortality. Despite optimal pharmacological therapy, older patients with IHD exhibit an increased susceptibility to recurrent ischemic events, significantly impacting their prognosis. Inflammation is intricately linked with the aging process and plays a pivotal role in the evolution of atherosclerosis. Emerging anti-inflammatory therapies have shown promise in reducing ischemic events among high-risk populations. This review aims to explore the potential of targeted anti-inflammatory interventions in improving clinical outcomes and the quality of life for older patients with IHD.

Consensus document on palliative care in cardiorenal patients.

There is an unmet need to create consensus documents on the management of cardiorenal patients since, due to the aging of the population and the rise of both pathologies, these patients are becoming more prevalent in daily clinical practice. Chronic kidney disease coexists in up to 40%-50% of patients with chronic heart failure cases. There have yet to be consensus documents on how to approach palliative care in cardiorenal patients. There are guidelines for patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease separately, but they do not specifically address patients with concomitant heart failure and kidney disease. For this reason, our document includes experts from different specialties, who will not only address the justification of palliative care in cardiorenal patients but also how to identify this patient profile, the shared planning of their care, as well as knowledge of their trajectory and the palliative patient management both in the drugs that will help us control symptoms and in advanced measures. Dialysis and its different types will also be addressed, as palliative measures and when the decision to continue or not perform them could be considered. Finally, the psychosocial approach and adapted pharmacotherapy will be discussed.