Health insurance and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure in Latin America: an observational study of the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA).

The effect of the health insurance type on the prognosis of heart failure (HF) patients in Colombia and Latin America is poorly known. We aimed to analyze the characteristics of HF patients that participated in the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA) as stated by their health insurance type and their relationship with the immediate prognosis of these patients. Patients with HF diagnosis were included in the RECOLFACA registry between 2017-2019. The registry was conducted in 60 centers in Colombia. All-cause mortality was the principal outcome. To evaluate the impact of health insurance on mortality, a Cox proportional hazards regression model was used. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare survival probabilities according to insurance type. All statistical analyses were two-tailed and were considered significant with a p value < 0.05. Of the 2,528 participants enrolled in the registry, 99% held details about their health insurance. Of those, 897 patients (35.6%) were covered by public insurance. These patients were significantly younger, with a lower proportion of men, more frequently from rural origin, and lower prevalence of most comorbidities (omitting hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and Chagas disease) than those with private insurance. Furthermore, patients with public insurance had a worse functional class, as well as a poorer quality of life, and lower frequency of use of implantable devices, while exhibiting similar prescription rates of triple medical therapy for HF. Finally, no differences in short-term mortality were observed between the two groups (HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.79, 1.51). The type of health insurance represents a condition related with relevant differences in the profile of patients with HF in Colombia. Despite this, no significant differences were detected in the short-term prognosis of these patients based on the type of health insurance.

Impact of sex on clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with heart failure: insights from the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA).

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to assess the impact of sex on sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters in patients with HF who were included in the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analytical research. All 2528 patients included in RECOLFACA were analysed. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare median values as well as first and third quartiles (Q1-Q3). The age-related trend of NT-proBNP levels for both men and women groups was statistically evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 2528 patients with HF (1072 women and 1456 men). The echocardiographic evidence showed that men presented reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (79.63 vs. 69.75%, respectively; p < 0.001) more often than women, which had a significantly higher proportion of preserved LVEF (20.46 vs.11.24%, respectively; p < 0.001). Women displayed a higher value of systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001) and heart rate (p = 0.014) compared to men. Haemoglobin, creatinine, and sodium levels were significantly higher in men. Men had a considerably lower glomerular filtration rate value, with the median reaching a G3a value for chronic renal failure. According to age, the levels of NT-proBNP in each sex increased equivalently with age. CONCLUSION: Sex differences presented in this study are comparable to those discovered in other nations. However, certain variations show that these sex differences may differ by geographical area, which should encourage further investigations to describe them.

Quality of Life is an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Patients with Heart Failure: A Prospective Cohort Study from the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA).

AIM: Patients with Heart Failure (HF) commonly have poor quality of life (QoL), secondary to the persistence and severity of HF symptoms. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of QoL measures on all-cause mortality in patients with HF from the Colombian registry of heart failure (RECOLFACA). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from patients registered in RECOLFACA during 2017-2019. QoL was measured using the EuroQol-5D questionnaire (EQ-5D). From the questionnaire, two independent predictors of mortality were obtained, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the utility score (US). Primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary variables evaluated were demographic factors, comorbidities, NYHA classification, medications used and laboratory test results. To analyze survival among patients, the Kaplan-Meier method and the hierarchical Cox proportional-hazards regression model were used. This study included 2514 patients from RECOLFACA. Most patients were male (57.6%), and mean age was 67.8 years. Mean value and standard deviation (SD) of the VAS score was 78.8 ± 20.1 points, while the mean and SD of the US score was 0.81 ± 0.20. As the Kaplan-Meier curve illustrated, patients in the lower quartiles of both VAS and US scores had a significantly higher probability of mortality (log-rank test: p<0.001 for both scores). CONCLUSION: QoL, as calculated by the EQ-5D questionnaire, served as an independent predictor of mortality in patients from RECOLFACA. Further studies may be needed to evaluate whether provision of optimizing therapies and follow-up care based on patients' perceived QoL reduces short- and long-term mortality rates in this population.

Diabetes mellitus in patients with heart failure and effect modification of risk factors for short-term mortality: An observational study from the Registro Colombiano de Falla Cardíaca (RECOLFACA). / Diabetes mellitus en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca y modificación del efecto de los factores de riesgo de mortalidad a corto plazo: un estudio observacional del Registro Colombiano de Falla Cardíaca (RECOLFACA)

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus are critical public health issues. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the risk factors for mortality in patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus from a large registry in Colombia and to evaluate the potential effect modifications by type 2 diabetes mellitus over other risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Heart failure patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus enrolled in the Registro Colombiano de Falla Cardíaca (RECOLFACA) were included. RECOLFACA enrolled adult patients with heart failure diagnosis from 60 medical centers in Colombia during 2017-2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Survival analysis was performed using adjusted Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: A total of 2514 patients were included, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was 24.7% (n = 620). We found seven independent predictors of short-term mortality for the general cohort, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sinus rhythm, triple therapy, nitrates use, statins use, anemia, and hyperkalemia. In the type 2 diabetes mellitus group, only the left ventricle diastolic diameter was an independent mortality predictor (HR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98). There was no evidence of effect modification by type 2 diabetes mellitus on the relationship between any independent predictors and all-cause mortality. However, a significant effect modification by type 2 diabetes mellitus between smoking and mortality was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had higher mortality risk. Our results also suggest that type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis does not modify the effect of the independent risk factors for mortality in heart failure evaluated. However, type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly modify the risk relation between mortality and smoking in patients with heart failure.

Introducción. La insuficiencia cardíaca y la diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 son problemas críticos de salud pública. Objetivo. Caracterizar los factores de riesgo de mortalidad en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca y la diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 de un registro grande en Colombia y evaluar las posibles modificaciones del efecto de la diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 sobre otros factores de riesgo. Materiales y métodos. Se incluyeron pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca con y sin diabetes mellitus de tipo 2, inscritos en el Registro Colombiano de Insuficiencia Cardíaca (RECOLFACA). RECOLFACA incorporó pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de insuficiencia cardíaca de 60 centros médicos de Colombia durante 2017-2019. El resultado primario fue la mortalidad por todas las causas. El análisis de supervivencia se realizó utilizando modelos ajustados de riesgos proporcionales de Cox. Resultados. Se incluyeron 2.514 pacientes, la prevalencia de diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 fue del 24,7 % (n = 620). Encontramos siete predictores independientes de mortalidad a corto plazo para la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica del grupo sin diabetes mellitus de tipo 2, el ritmo sinusal, la terapia triple, el uso de nitratos, el uso de estatinas, la anemia y la hiperpotasemia. En el grupo de diabetes mellitus de tipo 2, solo el diámetro diastólico del ventrículo izquierdo fue un predictor de mortalidad independiente (HR = 0,96; IC95 %: 0,93 - 0,98). No hubo evidencia de modificación del efecto de la diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 sobre la relación entre ningún predictor independiente y la mortalidad por todas las causas. Sin embargo, se observó una modificación significativa del efecto de la diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 entre el tabaquismo y la mortalidad. Conclusiones. Los pacientes con diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 tuvieron mayor riesgo de mortalidad. Los resultados también sugieren que el diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 no modifica el efecto de los factores de riesgo independientes de mortalidad en IC evaluados. Sin embargo, la diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 modifica significativamente la relación de riesgo entre mortalidad y tabaquismo en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca, posiblemente debido a un efecto sinérgico negativo que resulta en lesión vascular.

Eligibility of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Insights from the Colombian heart failure registry (RECOLFACA).

Background: The value of Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2 inhibitor) therapy in individuals with heart failure with preserved EF (HFpEF) was unknown until the EMPEROR-Preserved trial. We aimed to assess the proportion of patients with HFpEF that are eligible for empagliflozin therapy within the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA). Methods: RECOLFACA enrolled adult patients with a HF diagnosis during 2017-2019 from 60 medical centers in Colombia. Criteria of the EMPEROR-Preserved Trial were used to recruit participants. The main outcome was individual eligibility with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) criteria, while the secondary outcome was eligibility without NT-proBNP data. Results: RECOLFACA had 799 patients with HFpEF (mean age70.7 ± 13.5; 50.7 % males). According to the major selection criteria of the EMPEROR Preserved Trial, 73.7 % patients would be eligible for empagliflozin therapy initiation when considering the NT-proBNP threshold. The NT-proBNP threshold represented the main determinant of ineligibility in patients with this biomarker measure (13.6 %; n = 16). In patients without NT-proBNP data, the main reasons for exclusion were the diagnosis of symptomatic hypotension or a systolic blood pressure below 100 mmHg (7.5 %), having an eGFR < 20 ml/min/1.73 m2 (4.3 %), and haemoglobin < 9 g/dl (3.1 %). Excluding NT-proBNP criteria increased empagliflozin eligibility to 80.6 %. Conclusion: Most patients with HFpEF from RECOLFACA are potential candidates for empagliflozin therapy initiation according to the EMPEROR-Preserved trial criteria. These findings favor the utilization of SGLT-2 inhibitor medications in daily medical practice, which may further decrease morbidity and mortality in HF patients, regardless of their EF classification.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Heart Failure Patients: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Colombian Heart Failure Registry.

Background: Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) represent conditions that commonly coexist. The impact of AF in HF has yet to be well studied in Latin America. This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical features, along with patients' outcomes with AF and HF from the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA). Methods: Patients with ambulatory HF and AF were included in RECOLFACA, mainly with persistent or permanent AF. A 6-month follow-up was performed. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. To assess the impact of AF on mortality, we used a logistic regression model. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. All statistical tests were two-tailed. Results: Of 2,528 patients with HF in the registry, 2,514 records included information regarding AF diagnosis. Five hundred sixty (22.3%) were in AF (mean age 73 ± 11, 56% men), while 1,954 had no AF (mean age 66 ± 14 years, 58% men). Patients with AF were significantly older and had a different profile of comorbidities and implanted devices compared to non-AF patients. Moreover, AF diagnosis was associated with lower quality of life score (EuroQol-5D), mainly in mobility, personal care, and daily activity. AF was prevalent in patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF), while no significant differences in N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were observed. Although higher mortality was observed in the AF group compared to individuals without AF (8.9% vs. 6.1%, respectively; P = 0.016), this association lost statistical significance after adjusting by age in a multivariate regression model (odds ratio (OR): 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95 - 1.92). Conclusions: AF is more prevalent in HF patients with higher EF, lower quality of life and different clinical profiles. Similar HF severity and non-independent association with mortality were observed in our cohort. These results emphasize the need for an improved understanding of the AF and HF coexistence phenomenon.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Heart Failure of Hypertensive Etiology: Analysis of Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA).

INTRODUCTION: Arterial hypertension represents one of the main comorbidities observed in patients with heart failure (HF) and one of the main risk factors for its development. Despite this, studies assessing this hypertensive etiology are scarce in Latin America. Our objective was to analyze the prevalence of HF of hypertensive etiology and evaluate its prognosis in patients enrolled in the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA by its Spanish acronym). METHODS: RECOLFACA recruited adult patients diagnosed with HF in 60 centers in Colombia between 2017 and 2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess factors associated with primary outcomes in patients with hypertensive HF. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. All statistical tests were two-tailed. RESULTS: Out of the total number of patients evaluated in RECOLFACA (n = 2,514), 804 had a diagnosis of HF with hypertensive etiology (31.9%). These patients were less frequently males and had a significantly older age and lower prevalence of comorbidities than those with HF of other etiologies. Additionally, patients with hypertensive HF had a higher prevalence of HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (34.1% vs. 28.3%; p = 0.004). Finally, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis, and NYHA class IV were classified as independent mortality risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertensive HF represents about one-third of the total number of patients with HF in RECOLFACA. Compared with HF of other etiologies, it presents a differential clinical profile - older age and a higher prevalence of HFpEF. RECOLFACA has become a useful tool to characterize patients with HF in Colombia, with which it has been possible to carry out a more specific search and reach the diagnosis of this pathology in our population, and it has served as an example to stimulate registries of patients with HF in other countries in the region.

Adherence to Treatment Guidelines in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction in a Latin-American Country: Observational Study of the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA).

INTRODUCTION: Although several guidelines recommend that patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) be treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ACEIs/ARBs) or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), there are still several gaps in their prescription and dosage in Colombia. This study aimed to describe the use patterns of HFrEF treatments in the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA). METHODS: Patients with HFrEF enrolled in RECOLFACA during 2017-2019 were included. Heart failure (HF) medication prescription and daily dose were assessed using absolute numbers and proportions. Therapeutic schemes of patients treated by internal medicine specialists were compared with those treated by cardiologists. RESULTS: Out of 2,528 patients in the registry, 1,384 (54.7%) had HFrEF. Among those individuals, 88.9% were prescribed beta-blockers, 72.3% with ACEI/ARBs, 67.9% with MRAs, and 13.1% with ARNIs. Moreover, less than a third of the total patients reached the target doses recommended by the European HF guidelines. No significant differences in the therapeutic schemes or target doses were observed between patients treated by internal medicine specialists or cardiologists. CONCLUSION: Prescription rates and target dose achievement are suboptimal in Colombia. Nevertheless, RECOLFACA had one of the highest prescription rates of beta-blockers and MRAs compared to some of the most recent HF registries. However, ARNIs remain underprescribed. Continuous registry updates can improve the identification of patients suitable for ARNI and SGLT2i therapy to promote their use in clinical practice.

Characterization of Patients With Heart Failure of Chagas Etiology in Colombia: An Analysis Based on the Colombian Registry of Heart Failure (RECOLFACA).

Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) represents a relevant origin of Heart Failure (HF) in countries where the disease is endemic. CCM exhibits distinct myocardial involvement and is associated with a poorer prognosis compared to different HF etiologies. The aim is to explain the features and prognosis of individuals with HF resultant to CCM registered in the Colombian Registry of Heart Failure (RECOLFACA). RECOLFACA registry enrolled 2528 adult patients with HF. A comparison was made between patients diagnosed with CCM and those diagnosed with other etiologies of HF. Eighty-eight patients (3.5%) present CCM diagnosis. The individuals diagnosed with both HF and CCM were notably younger in age, had less comorbidities, poorer functional class, and significantly inferior ejection fraction. Finally, the presence of CCM diagnosis was linked to a substantially elevated mortality risk throughout the follow-up period (HR 2.01; 95% CI, 1.01-4.00) according to a multivariate model adjusted. CCM represents an important etiology of HF in Colombia, drawing attention to a distinct clinical profile and a higher risk of mortality compared to other HF etiologies.

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Prognostic Impact of Kidney Disease on Heart Failure Patients: An Observational Study of the Colombian Heart Failure Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents one of the most frequent comorbidities observed in heart failure (HF) patients and has been observed to increase this population's risk of adverse outcomes. Nevertheless, evidence analyzing kidney dysfunction in HF is scarce in Latin American populations. We aimed to analyze the prevalence of kidney dysfunction and assess its association with mortality in patients diagnosed with HF enrolled in the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA). METHODS: RECOLFACA enrolled adult patients with HF diagnosis from 60 centers in Colombia during the period 2017-2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to assess the impact of the different categories of eGFR in mortality risk. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. All statistical tests were two-tailed. RESULTS: From the total 2,514 evaluated patients, 1,501 (59.7%) patients had moderate kidney dysfunction (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2), while 221 (8.8%) patients were classified as having a severe kidney dysfunction (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients with lower kidney function were most commonly males, had higher median age, and reported a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities. Moreover, different patterns of medications prescription were observed when comparing CKD versus non-CKD patients. Finally, eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 was significantly associated with a higher mortality risk compared to eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m2 status (HR: 1.87; 95% CI, 1.10-3.18), even after an extensive adjustment by relevant covariates. CONCLUSION: CKD represents a prevalent condition in the setting of HF. Patients with CKD and HF present with multiple sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory differences compared with those only diagnosed with HF and present a significantly higher risk of mortality. A timely diagnosis and optimal treatment and follow-up of CKD in the setting of HF may improve the prognosis of these patients and prevent adverse outcomes.

Comorbidity profile and outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure in a Latin American country: Insights from the Colombian heart failure registry (RECOLFACA).

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is usually accompanied by cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular comorbidities, which may significantly impact its prognosis. In this study we aimed to characterize the comorbidity profile and its impact in mortality in patients with HF diagnosis from the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA). METHODS: RECOLFACA enrolled adult patients with HF diagnosis from 60 centers in Colombia during the period 2017-2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the impact of the comorbidities in mortality. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: From the total 2528 patients included in the registry, 2514 patients (58% males, mean age 68 years) had information regarding comorbidity diagnoses. 2321 patients (92.3%) reported at least one comorbidity. Arterial hypertension was the most frequent individual diagnosis (72%; n = 1811), followed by anemia (30.1%, n = 726). The most frequently observed coexisting comorbidities were coronary disease (CHD) with dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Different patterns of comorbidity coexistence were observed when comparing HF patients by sex and left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) classification. The only comorbidities that were significantly associated with mortality after multivariate adjustment were T2DM (HR 1.45. 95% CI 1.01-2.12), anemia (HR 1.48. 95% CI 1.02-2.16), and CHD (HR 1.59. 95% CI 1.09-2.33). CONCLUSION: Multiple comorbidities were frequently observed in the patients from the RECOLFACA. T2DM, anemia and CHD were significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality, highlighting the importance of promoting an optimal follow-up and control of these conditions.

The Characterization of Cardiac Explants Reveals Unique Fibrosis Patterns and a Predominance of CD8+ T Cell Subpopulations in Patients with Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy.

AIM: The present study aimed to characterize the histopathological findings and the phenotype of inflammatory cells in the myocardial tissue of patients with end-stage heart failure (ESHF) secondary to CCC in comparison with ESHF secondary to non-Chagas cardiomyopathies (NCC). METHODS: A total of 32 explanted hearts were collected from transplanted patients between 2014 and 2017. Of these, 21 were classified as CCC and 11 as other NCC. A macroscopic analysis followed by a microscopic analysis were performed. Finally, the phenotypes of the inflammatory infiltrates were characterized using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Microscopic analysis revealed more extensive fibrotic involvement in patients with CCC, with more frequent foci of fibrosis, collagen deposits, and degeneration of myocardial fibers, in addition to identifying foci of inflammatory infiltrate of greater magnitude. Finally, cell phenotyping identified more memory T cells, mainly CD8+CD45RO+ T cells, and fewer transitioning T cells (CD45RA+/CD45RO+) in patients with CCC compared with the NCC group. CONCLUSIONS: CCC represents a unique form of myocardial involvement characterized by abundant inflammatory infiltrates, severe interstitial fibrosis, extensive collagen deposits, and marked cardiomyocyte degeneration. The structural myocardial changes observed in late-stage Chagas cardiomyopathy appear to be closely related to the presence of cardiac fibrosis and the colocalization of collagen fibers and inflammatory cells, a finding that serves as a basis for the generation of new hypotheses aimed at better understanding the role of inflammation and fibrogenesis in the progression of CCC. Finally, the predominance of memory T cells in CCC compared with NCC hearts highlights the critical role of the parasite-specific lymphocytic response in the course of the infection.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Heart Failure Patients from a Middle-Income Country: The RECOLFACA Registry.

Background: There is a lack of epidemiological data around heart failure (HF) in Latin America; the potential impact description of this disease in middle-income countries is relevant. Objective: This study aimed to describe the characteristics and healthcare resource utilization patterns of HF patients at baseline and six-month follow-up. Methods: This retrospective observational study used data from the RECOLFACA (Registro Colombiano de Falla Cardíaca) registry, which includes data obtained from the examination of clinical records from 2,528 patients in 60 Colombian healthcare institutions. Baseline and six-month follow-up data were evaluated from patients with previous hospital admissions due to HF during the 12 months prior to enrollment. Results: This study analyzed 2,045 patients (42.8% female) with a mean age of 67.71 ± 13.64 years. The most common etiologies were ischemic (44.4%) and hypertensive heart disease (38.5%). At baseline, 53.4% of patients were classified with NYHA class II, and 73.6% had a reduced left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF). A year prior to entering the registry, patients were hospitalized an average of 1.4 ± 1.1 times due to HF. Prescription of evidence-based treatment at baseline included sacubitril/valsartan (10%), ACEI (33%), ARB (41%), beta-blocker (79%), diuretics (68%), and MRA (56%). The average quality of life score measured using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire was 78.7 ± 20.8 at baseline and 82.3 ± 20.1 at the six-month follow-up. The mortality rate was 6.7%. Conclusions: The use of information from the RECOLFACA registry allowed characterization as well as analyses of healthcare resource utilization of patients with heart failure in Colombia. The results of this study show that multiple evidence-based treatments for HF are being widely used in Colombia, but there seems to be room for improvement regarding some interventions for the treatment of patients with HF.

Metabolomic Profiling of End-Stage Heart Failure Secondary to Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy.

Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the most frequent and severe clinical form of chronic Chagas disease, representing one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Latin America, and a growing global public health problem. There is currently no approved treatment for CCC; however, omics technologies have enabled significant progress to be made in the search for new therapeutic targets. The metabolic alterations associated with pathogenic mechanisms of CCC and their relationship to cellular and immunopathogenic processes in cardiac tissue remain largely unknown. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the potential underlying pathogenic mechanisms in the failing myocardium of patients with end-stage heart failure (ESHF) secondary to CCC by applying an untargeted metabolomic profiling approach. Cardiac tissue samples from the left ventricle of patients with ESHF of CCC etiology (n = 7) and healthy donors (n = 7) were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolite profiles showed altered branched-chain amino acid and acylcarnitine levels, decreased fatty acid uptake and oxidation, increased activity of the pentose phosphate pathway, dysregulation of the TCA cycle, and alterations in critical cellular antioxidant systems. These findings suggest processes of energy deficit, alterations in substrate availability, and enhanced production of reactive oxygen species in the affected myocardium. This profile potentially contributes to the development and maintenance of a chronic inflammatory state that leads to progression and severity of CCC. Further studies involving larger sample sizes and comparisons with heart failure patients without CCC are needed to validate these results, opening an avenue to investigate new therapeutic approaches for the treatment and prevention of progression of this unique and severe cardiomyopathy.

Worsening heart failure in Colombia: Analysis from RECOLFACA registry.

We aimed to describe and compare characteristics and outcomes of patients with a worsening heart failure episode included in the RECOLFACA registry during 2017-2019 vs population from VICTORIA trial. 2528 patients were included, 1890 (74.8%) had an ejection fraction <45% and a worsening episode. VICTORIA population was similar to RECOLFACA patients in mean age (67.3 vs 66.9 years), ejection fraction (28.9% vs 28.4%), the prevalence of COPD (17.1% vs 15.7%), and the median eGFR (61.5 vs 61.4 mL/min/1.73m2). RECOLFACA patients were mostly women, with a lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. The 1-year heart failure hospitalization rate was 29.6% in the placebo group of VICTORIA, compared to 26.9% in RECOLFACA. Patients enrolled in the RECOLFACA that met the VICTORIA definition had more similar characteristics and outcomes compared to the VICTORIA population. There is an opportunity to improve this unmet need with the use of vericiguat.

Longitudinal strain by speckle tracking and echocardiographic parameters as predictors of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

To analyze the prognostic value of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and other echocardiographic parameters to predict adverse outcomes in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM). Prospective cohort study conducted in 177 consecutive patients with different CCM stages. Transthoracic echocardiography measurements were obtained following the American Society of Echocardiography recommendations. By speckle-tracking echocardiography, LV-GLS was obtained from the apical three-chamber, apical two-chamber, and apical four-chamber views. The primary composite outcome (CO) was all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and a left ventricular assist device implantation. After a median follow-up of 42.3 months (Q1 = 38.6; Q3 = 52.1), the CO incidence was 22.6% (95% CI 16.7-29.5%, n = 40). The median LV-GLS value was - 13.6% (Q1 = - 18.6%; Q3 = - 8.5%). LVEF, LV-GLS, and E/e' ratio with cut-off points of 40%, - 9, and 8.1, respectively, were the best independent CO predictors. We combined these three echocardiographic markers and evaluated the risk of CO according to the number of altered parameters, finding a significant increase in the risk across the groups. While in the group of patients in which all these three parameters were normal, only 3.2% had the CO; those with all three abnormal parameters had an incidence of 60%. We observed a potential incremental prognostic value of LV-GLS in the multivariate model of LVEF and E/e' ratio, as the AUC increased slightly from 0.76 to 0.79, nevertheless, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.066). LV-GLS is an important predictor of adverse cardiovascular events in CCM, providing a potential incremental prognostic value to LVEF and E/e' ratio when analyzed using optimal cut-off points, highlighting the potential utility of multimodal echocardiographic tools for predicting adverse outcomes in CCM.

Roadblocks in Chagas disease care in endemic and nonendemic countries: Argentina, Colombia, Spain, and the United States. The NET-Heart project.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease (CD) is endemic in Latin America; however, its spread to nontropical areas has raised global interest in this condition. Barriers in access to early diagnosis and treatment of both acute and chronic infection and their complications have led to an increasing disease burden outside of Latin America. Our goal was to identify those barriers and to perform an additional analysis of them based on the Inter American Society of Cardiology (SIAC) and the World Heart Federation (WHF) Chagas Roadmap, at a country level in Argentina, Colombia, Spain, and the United States, which serve as representatives of endemic and nonendemic countries. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This is a nonsystematic review of articles published in indexed journals from 1955 to 2021 and of gray literature (local health organizations guidelines, local policies, blogs, and media). We classified barriers to access care as (i) existing difficulties limiting healthcare access; (ii) lack of awareness about CD and its complications; (iii) poor transmission control (vectorial and nonvectorial); (iv) scarce availability of antitrypanosomal drugs; and (v) cultural beliefs and stigma. Region-specific barriers may limit the implementation of roadmaps and require the application of tailored strategies to improve access to appropriate care. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple barriers negatively impact the prognosis of CD. Identification of these roadblocks both nationally and globally is important to guide development of appropriate policies and public health programs to reduce the global burden of this disease.

COVID-19 in Health-Care Workers: A Living Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence, Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes.

Health-care workers (HCWs) are at the frontline of response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), being at a higher risk of acquiring the disease and, subsequently, exposing patients and others. Searches of 8 bibliographic databases were performed to systematically review the evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among HCWs. A total of 97 studies (all published in 2020) met the inclusion criteria. The estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection from HCWs' samples, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the presence of antibodies, was 11% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7, 15) and 7% (95% CI: 4, 11), respectively. The most frequently affected personnel were nurses (48%, 95% CI: 41, 56), whereas most of the COVID-19-positive medical personnel were working in hospital nonemergency wards during screening (43%, 95% CI: 28, 59). Anosmia, fever, and myalgia were the only symptoms associated with HCW SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Among HCWs positive for COVID-19 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, 40% (95% CI: 17, 65) were asymptomatic at time of diagnosis. Finally, severe clinical complications developed in 5% (95% CI: 3, 8) of the COVID-19-positive HCWs, and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.02, 1.3) died. Health-care workers suffer a significant burden from COVID-19, with those working in hospital nonemergency wards and nurses being the most commonly infected personnel.