Lower heart rate in patients with acute heart failure: the role of left ventricular ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: The clinical impact of heart rate (HR) in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a matter of debate. Among those with HFpEF, chronotropic incompetence (CI) has emerged as a pathophysiological mechanism linked to the severity of the disease. In this study, we sought to evaluate whether admission heart rate in acute heart failure differs along left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS: We included retrospectively 3,712 consecutive patients admitted for acute heart failure (AHF) in the Cardiology department of a third level center. HR values were assessed at presentation. LVEF was assessed by transthoracic echocardiogram during the index admission and stratified into four categories: reduced ejection fraction (≤40%), mildly reduced ejection fraction (41-49%), preserved ejection fraction (50-64%) and supranormal ejection fraction (≥65%). The association between HR and LVEF was assessed by multivariate linear and multinomial regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 73,9 ± 11.3 years, 1,734 (47,4%) were women, and 1,214 (33,2%), 570 (15,6%), 1,229 (33,6%) and 648 (17,7%) patients showed LVEF ≤40%, 41-49%, 50-64%, and ≥65% respectively. The median HR at admission was 95 (IQR 78-120) beats per minute and 1,653 were on atrial fibrillation (45.2%). There was an inverse relationship between HR at admission and LVEF. Lower HR was significantly associated with a higher LVEF in the whole sample (p < 0,001). This inverse relationship was found in sinus rhythm but not in patients with atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION: HR at admission for AHF is a predictor of LVEF but only in patients with sinus rhythm.

Role of spot urinary sodium in outpatients with heart failure.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Spot determination of urinary sodium (UNa+) has emerged as a useful tool for monitoring diuretic response in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). However, the evidence in outpatients is scarce. We aimed to examine the relationship between spot UNa+ levels and the risk of mortality and worsening heart failure (WHF) events in individuals with chronic HF. METHODS: This observational and ambispective study included 1145 outpatients with chronic HF followed in a single center specialized HF clinic. UNa+ assessment was carried out 1-5 days before each visit. The endpoints of the study were the association between UNa+ and risk of a) long-term death and b) AHF-hospitalization and total WHF events (including AHF-hospitalization, emergency department visits or parenteral loop-diuretic administration in HF clinic), assessed by multivariate Cox and negative binomial regressions. RESULTS: The mean±standard deviation of age was 73±11 years, 670 (58.5%) were men, 902 (78.8%) were on stable NYHA class II, and 595 (52%) had LFEF ≥50%. The median (interquartile range) UNa+ was 72 (51-94) mmol/L. Over a median follow-up of 2.63 (1.70-3.36) years, there were 293 (25.6%) deaths and 382 WHF events (244 AHF-admissions) in 233 (20.3%) patients. After multivariate adjustment, baseline UNa+ was inverse and linearly associated with the risk of total WHF (IRR, 1.07; 95%CI, 1.02-1.12; P=.007) and AHF-admissions (IRR, 1.08; 95%CI, 1.02-1.14; P=.012) and borderline associated with all-cause mortality (HR, 1.04; 95%CI, 0.99-1.09; P=.068). CONCLUSIONS: In outpatients with chronic HF, lower UNa+ was associated with a higher risk of recurrent WHF events.

Colchicine in acute heart failure: Rationale and design of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (COLICA).

AIMS: Heart failure (HF) elicits a pro-inflammatory state, which is associated with impaired clinical outcomes, but no anti-inflammatory therapies have demonstrated a clinical benefit yet. Inflammatory pathways related with the interleukin-1 axis are overactivated during episodes of acute HF. Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug with proven benefits in acute pericarditis and ischaemic heart disease, may target this inflammatory response. This study aims to assess the efficacy of colchicine in acute HF patients. METHODS: COLICA is a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 278 patients across 12 sites. Patients presenting with acute HF, clinical evidence of congestion requiring ≥40 mg of intravenous furosemide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) >900 pg/ml, are eligible for participation. Patients are enrolled irrespective of left ventricular ejection fraction, HF type (new-onset or not) and setting (hospital or outpatient clinic). Patients are randomized 1:1 within the first 24 h of presentation to either placebo or colchicine, with an initial loading dose of 2 mg followed by 0.5 mg every 12 h for 8 weeks (reduced dose if <70 kg, >75 years old, or glomerular filtration rate <50 ml/min/1.73 m2). The primary efficacy endpoint is the time-averaged proportional change in NT-proBNP concentrations from baseline to week 8. Key secondary and exploratory outcomes include symptoms, diuretic use, worsening HF episodes, related biomarkers of cardiac stress and inflammation, total and cardiovascular readmissions, mortality and safety events. CONCLUSION: COLICA will be the first randomized trial testing the efficacy and safety of colchicine for acute HF.