Incremental prognostic value of functional impairment assessed by 6-min walking test for the prediction of mortality in heart failure.

Natriuretic peptides (NP) are recognized as the most powerful predictors of adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that a measure of functional limitation, as assessed by 6-min walking test (6MWT), would improve the accuracy of a prognostic model incorporating a NP. This was a multicenter observational retrospective study. We studied the prognostic value of severe functional impairment (SFI), defined as the inability to perform a 6MWT or a distance walked during a 6MWT < 300 m, in 1696 patients with HF admitted to cardiac rehabilitation. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. After adjusting for the baseline multivariable risk model-including age, sex, systolic blood pressure, anemia, renal dysfunction, sodium level, and NT-proBNP-or for the MAGGIC score, SFI had an odds ratio of 2.58 (95% CI 1.72-3.88; p < 0.001) and 3.12 (95% CI 2.16-4.52; p < 0.001), respectively. Adding SFI to the baseline risk model or the MAGGIC score yielded a significant improvement in discrimination and risk classification. Our data suggest that a simple, 6MWT-derived measure of SFI is a strong predictor of death and provide incremental prognostic information over well-established risk markers in HF, including NP, and the MAGGIC score.

Taking a walk on the heart failure side: comparison of metabolic variables during walking and maximal exertion.

AIMS: Although cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold standard to assess exercise capacity, simpler tests (i.e., 6-min walk test, 6MWT) are also commonly used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cardiorespiratory parameters during CPET and 6MWT in a large, multicentre, heterogeneous population. METHODS: We included athletes, healthy subjects, and heart failure (HF) patients of different severity, including left ventricular assist device (LVAD) carriers, who underwent both CPET and 6MWT with oxygen consumption measurement. RESULTS: We enrolled 186 subjects (16 athletes, 40 healthy, 115 non-LVAD HF patients, and 15 LVAD carriers). CPET-peakV̇O2 was 41.0 [35.0-45.8], 26.2 [23.1-31.0], 12.8 [11.1-15.3], and 15.2 [13.6-15.6] ml/Kg/min in athletes, healthy, HF patients, and LVAD carriers, respectively (P < 0.001). During 6MWT they used 63.5 [56.3-76.8], 72.0 [57.8-81.0], 95.5 [80.3-109], and 95.0 [92.0-99.0] % of their peakV̇O2, respectively. None of the athletes, 1 healthy (2.5%), 30 HF patients (26.1%), and 1 LVAD carrier (6.7%), reached a 6MWT-V̇O2 higher than their CPET-peakV̇O2. Both 6MWT-V̇O2 and walked distance were significantly associated with CPET-peakV̇O2 in the whole population (R2 = 0.637 and R2 = 0.533, P ≤ 0.001) but not in the sub-groups. This was confirmed after adjustment for groups. CONCLUSIONS: The 6MWT can be a maximal effort especially in most severe HF patients and suggest that, in absence of prognostic studies related to 6MWT metabolic values, CPET should remain the first method of choice in the functional assessment of patients with HF as well as in sport medicine.

Heart failure patients with improved ejection fraction: Insights from the MECKI score database.

AIMS: Improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction is a major goal of heart failure (HF) treatment. However, data on clinical characteristics, exercise performance and prognosis in HF patients who improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) are scarce. The study aimed to determine whether HFimpEF patients have a distinct clinical phenotype, biology and prognosis than HF patients with persistently reduced ejection fraction (pHFrEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 7948 patients enrolled in the Metabolic Exercise Cardiac Kidney Indexes (MECKI) score database were evaluated (median follow-up of 1490 days). We analysed clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, exercise, and survival data from HFimpEF (n = 1504) and pHFrEF (n = 6017) patients. The primary endpoint of the study was the composite of cardiovascular death, left ventricular assist device implantation, and urgent heart transplantation. HFimpEF patients had lower HF severity: left ventricular ejection fraction 44.0 [41.0-47.0] versus 29.7 [24.1-34.5]%, B-type natriuretic peptide 122 [65-296] versus 373 [152-888] pg/ml, haemoglobin 13.5 [12.2-14.6] versus 13.7 [12.5-14.7] g/dl, renal function by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation 72.0 [56.7-89.3] versus 70.4 [54.5-85.3] ml/min, peak oxygen uptake 62.2 [50.7-74.1] versus 52.6 [41.8-64.3]% predicted, minute ventilation-to-carbon dioxide output slope 30.0 [26.9-34.4] versus 32.1 [28.0-38.0] in HFimpEF and pHFrEF, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). Cardiovascular mortality rates were 26.6 and 46.9 per 1000 person-years for HFimpEF and pHFrEF, respectively (p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that HFimpEF had better a long-term prognosis compared with pHFrEF patients. After adjustment for variables differentiating HFimpEF from pHFrEF, except echocardiographic parameters, the Kaplan-Meier curves showed the same prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure with improved ejection fraction represents a peculiar group of HF patients whose clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and exercise characteristics parallel the recovery of systolic function. Nonetheless, these patients remain at risk for adverse outcome.

Functional outcome after cardiac rehabilitation and its association with survival in heart failure across the spectrum of ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence regarding the effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS: We studied 1784 patients admitted to inpatient CR. The patients were grouped into HFpEF (EF≥0.50), HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF; EF 41-49), and HF with reduced EF (HFrEF; EF≤0.40). A standardized 6-min walking test was performed at admission and discharge. Measures of functional outcome were: (1) absolute increase in 6-min walking distance (6MWD) from admission to discharge >50 m and (2) increase in 6MWD to ≥300 among the patients who walked <300 m at admission. RESULTS: After adjustment, the patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF were as likely as those with HFrEF to achieve an increase in 6MWD >50 m (odds ratio 0.95 [95%CI 0.71-1.24; p=0.648] and 1.04 [95%CI 0.77-1.41; p=0.769], respectively) or an increase in 6MWD to ≥300 m (odds ratio 0.79 [95%CI 0.51-1.23; p=0.299] and 0.65 [95%CI 0.38-1.12; p=0.118], respectively). The adjusted hazard ratio of 5-year mortality for patients who achieved an increase in 6MWD >50 m was 0.60 (95%CI 0.51-0.71; p<0.001) and that for patients who achieved an increase in 6MWD at discharge to ≥300 m 0.61 (95%CI 0.48-0.79; p<0.001). In each EF group, both outcomes remained independently associated with improved survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF are as likely as those with HFrEF to benefit from CR in terms of functional improvement. Functional improvement was independently associated with improved long-term survival, regardless of EF.

Does moderate hyperkalemia influence survival in HF? Insights from the MECKI score data base.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of moderate hyperkalemia in reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients is still controversial. Despite this, it affects the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) with therapy down-titration or discontinuation. OBJECTIVES: Aim of the study was to assess the prognostic impact of moderate hyperkalemia in chronic HFrEF optimally treated patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed MECKI (Metabolic Exercise test data combined with Cardiac and Kidney Indexes) database, with median follow-up of 4.2 [IQR 1.9-7.5] years. Data on K+ levels were available in 7087 cases. Patients with K+ plasma level ≥ 5.6 mEq/L and < 4 mEq/L were excluded. Remaining patients were categorized into normal >4 and < 5 mEq/L (n = 4826, 68%) and moderately high ≥5.0 and ≤ 5.5 mEq/L (n = 496, 7%) K+. Then patients were matched by propensity score in 484 couplets of patients. MECKI score value was 7% [IQR 3.1-14.1%] and 7.3% [IQR 3.4-15%] (p = 0.678) in patients with normal and moderately high K+ values while cardiovascular mortality events at two years follow-up were 41 (4.2%) and 33 (3.4%) (p = 0.333) in each group respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate hyperkalemia does not influence patients' outcome in a large cohort of ambulatory HFrEF patients.

Exploring the Prognostic Performance of MECKI Score in Heart Failure Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Edoxaban.

INTRODUCTION: Risk stratification in heart failure (HF) is essential for clinical and therapeutic management. The Metabolic Exercise test data combined with Cardiac and Kidney Indexes (MECKI) score is a validated prognostic model for assessing cardiovascular risk in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). From the validation of the score, the prevalence of HF patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as edoxaban, for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) has been increasing in recent years. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the MECKI score in HFrEF patients treated with edoxaban for NVAF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included consecutive outpatients with HF and NVAF treated with edoxaban (n = 83) who underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). They were matched by propensity score with a retrospective group of HFrEF patients with NVAF treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) from the MECKI score registry (n = 844). The study endpoint was the risk of cardiovascular mortality, urgent heart transplantation, or Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) implantation. RESULTS: Edoxaban patients were treated with a more optimized HF therapy and had different clinical characteristics, with a similar MECKI score. After propensity score, 77 patients treated with edoxaban were successfully matched with the MECKI-VKA control cohort. In both groups, MECKI accurately predicted the composite endpoint with similar area under the curves (AUC = 0.757 vs. 0.829 in the MECKI-VKA vs. edoxaban-treated group, respectively, p = 0.452). The two populations' survival appeared non-significantly different at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: this study confirms the prognostic accuracy of the MECKI score in HFrEF patients with NVAF treated with edoxaban, showing improved predictive power compared to VKA-treated patients.

Revisiting a Prognosticating Algorithm from Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Chronic Heart Failure (from the MECKI Score Population).

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a prognostic tool in heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). Prognosticating algorithms have been proposed, but none has been validated. In 2017, a predictive algorithm, based on peak oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilatory response to exercise (ventilation [VE] carbon dioxide production [VCO2], the VE/VCO2 slope), exertional oscillatory ventilation (EOV), and peak respiratory exchange ratio, was recommended, according treatment with ß blockers: patients with HFrEF registered in the metabolic exercise test data combined with cardiac and kidney indexes (MECKIs) database were used to validated this algorithm. According to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 4,683 MECKI patients with HFrEF were enrolled. At 3 years follow-up, the end point was cardiovascular death and urgent heart transplantation (cardiovascular events [CV]). CV events occurred in 25% in patients without ß blockers, whereas those with ß-blockers had 11% (p <0.0001). In patients without ß blockers, 36%, 24%, and 7% CV events were observed in those with peak VO2 ≤10, with peak VO2 >10 <18, and with peak VO2 ≥18 ml/kg/min (p = 0.0001), respectively; in MECKI patients with peak VO2 ≤10 and patients with intermediate exercise capacity, a peak respiratory exchange ratio (≥1.15) and VE/VCO2 slope (≥35) were diriment, respectively (p = 0.0001). EOV, when occurred, increased risk. In MECKI patients on ß blockers, 29%, 17%, and 8% CV events were noticed in those with a peak VO2 ≤8, with peak VO2 = 8 to 12, and patients with peak VO2 ≥12 ml/kg/min, respectively (p = 0.0000); when EOV was monitored an increment of risk was witnessed. In conclusion, the outcome of this algorithm was confirmed with the MECKI cohort.

Pick Your Threshold: A Comparison Among Different Methods of Anaerobic Threshold Evaluation in Heart Failure Prognostic Assessment.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, anaerobic threshold (AT) is used to guide training and rehabilitation programs, to define risk of major thoracic or abdominal surgery, and to assess prognosis in heart failure (HF). AT of oxygen uptake (V.O2; V.O2AT) has been reported as an absolute value (V.O2ATabs), as a percentage of predicted peak V.O2 (V.O2AT%peak_pred), or as a percentage of observed peak V.O2 (V.O2AT%peak_obs). A direct comparison of the prognostic power among these different ways to report AT is missing. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the prognostic power of these different ways to report AT? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this observational cohort study, we screened data of 7,746 patients with HF with a history of reduced ejection fraction (< 40%) recruited between 1998 and 2020 and enrolled in the Metabolic Exercise Combined With Cardiac and Kidney Indexes register. All patients underwent a maximum cardiopulmonary exercise test, executed using a ramp protocol on an electronically braked cycle ergometer. RESULTS: This study considered 6,157 patients with HF with identified AT. Follow-up was median, 4.2 years (25th-75th percentiles, 1.9-5.0 years). Both V.O2ATabs (mean ± SD, 823 ± 305 mL/min) and V.O2AT%peak_pred (mean ± SD, 39.6 ± 13.9%), but not V.O2AT%peak_obs (mean ± SD, 69.2 ± 17.7%), well stratified the population regarding prognosis (composite end point: cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplant, or left ventricular assist device). Comparing area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values, V.O2ATabs (0.680) and V.O2AT%peak_pred (0.688) performed similarly, whereas V.O2AT%peak_obs (0.538) was significantly weaker (P < .001). Moreover, the V.O2AT%peak_pred AUC value was the only one performing as well as the AUC based on peak V.O2 (0.710), with an even a higher AUC (0.637 vs 0.618, respectively) in the group with severe HF (peak V.O2 < 12 mL/min/kg). Finally, the combination of V.O2AT%peak_pred with peak V.O2 and V. per CO2 production shows the highest prognostic power. INTERPRETATION: In HF, V.O2AT%peak_pred is the best way to report V.O2 at AT in relationship to prognosis, with a prognostic power comparable to that of peak V.O2 and, remarkably, in patients with severe HF.

Brisk walking can be a maximal effort in heart failure patients: a comparison of cardiopulmonary exercise and 6 min walking test cardiorespiratory data.

AIMS: Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and 6 min walking test (6MWT) are frequently used in heart failure (HF). CPET is a maximal exercise, whereas 6MWT is a self-selected constant load test usually considered a submaximal, and therefore safer, exercise, but this has not been tested previously. The aim of this study was to compare the cardiorespiratory parameters collected during CPET and 6MWT in a large group of healthy subjects and patients with HF of different severity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Subjects performed a standard maximal CPET and a 6MWT wearing a portable device allowing breath-by-breath measurement of cardiorespiratory parameters. HF patients were grouped according to their CPET peak oxygen uptake (peakV̇O2 ). One hundred and fifty-five subjects were enrolled, of whom 40 were healthy (59 ± 8 years; male 67%) and 115 were HF patients (69 ± 10 years; male 80%; left ventricular ejection fraction 34.6 ± 12.0%). CPET peakV̇O2 was 13.5 ± 3.5 mL/kg/min in HF patients and 28.1 ± 7.4 mL/kg/min in healthy subjects (P < 0.001). 6MWT-V̇O2 was 98 ± 20% of the CPET peakV̇O2 values in HF patients, while 72 ± 20% in healthy subjects (P < 0.001). 6MWT-V̇O2 was >110% of CPET peakV̇O2 in 42% of more severe HF patients (peakV̇O2  < 12 mL/kg/min). Similar results have been found for ventilation and heart rate. Of note, the slope of the relationship between V̇O2 at 6MWT, reported as a percentage of CPET peakV̇O2 vs. 6MWT V̇O2 reported as the absolute value, progressively increased as exercise limitation did. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the last minute of 6MWT must be perceived as a maximal or even supramaximal exercise activity in patients with more severe HF. Our findings should influence the safety procedures needed for the 6MWT in HF.

The Impact of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Activities of Daily Life in Elderly Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: In elderly chronic heart failure (HF) patients, activities of daily living (ADLs) require the use of a high proportion of patients' peak aerobic capacity, heart rate, and ventilation. Objectives: To assess the effects of short-term comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on the metabolic requirement of ADLs in elderly patients with chronic HF. Methods: The study population comprised 99 elderly chronic HF patients (mean age 72 ± 5 years, 80% male, 61% ejection fraction <40%, mean NT-proBNP 2,559 ± 4,511 pg/ml) participating in a short-term (mean days 19 ± 7) residential CR program. Before and after CR, participants, while wearing a portable ergospirometer, performed a standardized ADL battery: ADL1 (getting dressed), ADL2 (folding 8 towels), ADL3 (putting away 6 bottles), ADL4 (making a bed), ADL5 (sweeping the floor for 4 min), ADL6 (climbing 1 flight of stairs carrying a 1.5 Kg load), and ADL7 (a standard 6-min walking test). Results: After CR, task-related oxygen uptake did not change in any of the domestic ADLs. Notably, there was a significant decrease in the cumulative time required to perform ADLs (ADL 1-4 and ADL6; from 412 ± 147 to 388 ± 141 s, p = 0.001) and a reduction in maximal heart rate in ADL1 and 3 (p = 0.005 and p = 0.027, respectively). Changes occurred in the 6MWT with an increase in oxygen uptake (p = 0.005) and in the distance covered (p < 0.001) and a significant decrease in the Borg scale of dyspnea (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Elderly patients with chronic heart failure who are engaged in a short-term residential CR program improve the performance of routine ADLs.

Role of comorbidities in heart failure prognosis Part 2: Chronic kidney disease, elevated serum uric acid.

Despite improvements in pharmacotherapy, morbidity and mortality rates in community-based populations with chronic heart failure still remain high. The increase in medical complexity among patients with heart failure may be reflected by an increase in concomitant non-cardiovascular comorbidities, which are recognized as independent prognostic factors in this population. Heart failure and chronic kidney disease share many risk factors, and often coexist. The presence of kidney failure is associated with incremented risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality in heart failure patients. Chronic kidney disease is also linked with underutilization of evidence-based heart failure therapy that may reduce morbidity and mortality. More targeted therapies would be important to improve the prognosis of patients with these diseases. In recent years, serum uric acid as a determinant of cardiovascular risk has gained interest. Epidemiological, experimental and clinical data show that patients with hyperuricaemia are at increased risk of cardiac, renal and vascular damage and cardiovascular events. Moreover, elevated serum uric acid predicts worse outcome in both acute and chronic heart failure. While studies have raised the possibility of preventing heart failure through the use of uric acid lowering agents, the literature is still inconclusive on whether the reduction in uric acid will result in a measurable clinical benefit. Available evidences suggest that chronic kidney disease and elevated uric acid could worsen heart failure patients' prognosis. The aim of this review is to analyse a possible utilization of these comorbidities in risk stratification and as a therapeutic target to get a prognostic improvement in heart failure patients.

Long-term prognostic role of diabetes mellitus and glycemic control in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction: Insights from the MECKI Score database.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of diabetes mellitus (DM) in heart failure (HF) patients is undefined, since DM is outweighed by several DM-related variables when confounders are considered. We determined the prognostic role of DM, treatment, and glycemic control in a real-life HF population. METHODS: 3927 HF patients included in the Metabolic Exercise Cardiac Kidney Index (MECKI) score database were evaluated with a median follow-up of 3.66 years (IQR 1.70-6.67). Data analysis considered survival between DM (n = 897) vs. non-DM (n = 3030) patients, and, in diabetics, between insulin (n = 304), oral antidiabetics (n = 479), and dietary only (n = 88) treatments. The role of glycemic control was evaluated grouping DM patients according to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): <7% (n = 266), 7.1-8% (n = 133), >8% (n = 149). All analyses were performed also adjusting for ejection fraction, renal function, hemoglobin, sodium, exercise peak oxygen uptake, and ventilation/carbon dioxide relationship slope. Study primary endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device implantation. Secondary endpoints were cardiovascular and all causes death. RESULTS: For all endpoints, upon adjustment for confounders, DM status and insulin treatment or dietary regimen were not significantly associated with adverse long-term prognosis compared to non-DM and oral antidiabetic treated patients, respectively. A worse prognosis was observed in HbA1c >8% patients (Log-Rank p < 0.001), even after correction for confounding factors. All results were replicated by hazard ratio analysis. CONCLUSION: In HF patients, DM, insulin treatment and dietary regimen are not adverse outcome predictors. The only condition related to long-term prognosis, considering potential confounders, is poor glycemic control.

Gender and age normalization and ventilation efficiency during exercise in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

AIMS: Ventilation vs. carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2 ) is among the strongest cardiopulmonary exercise testing prognostic parameters in heart failure (HF). It is usually reported as an absolute value. The current definition of normal VE/VCO2 slope values is inadequate, since it was built from small groups of subjects with a particularly limited number of women and elderly. We aimed to define VE/VCO2 slope prediction formulas in a sizable population and to test whether the prognostic power of VE/VCO2 slope in HF was different if expressed as a percentage of the predicted value or as an absolute value. METHODS AND RESULTS: We calculated the linear regressions between age and VE/VCO2 slope in 1136 healthy subjects (68% male, age 44.9 ± 14.5, range 13-83 years). We then applied age-adjusted and sex-adjusted formulas to predict VE/VCO2 slope to HF patients included in the metabolic exercise test data combined with cardiac and kidney indexes score database, which counts 6112 patients (82% male, age 61.4 ± 12.8, left ventricular ejection fraction 33.2 ± 10.5%, peakVO2 14.8 ± 4.9, mL/min/kg, VE/VCO2 slope 32.7 ± 7.7) from 24 HF centres. Finally, we evaluated whether the use of absolute values vs. percentages of predicted VE/VCO2 affected HF prognosis prediction (composite of cardiovascular mortality + urgent transplant or left ventricular assist device). We did so in the entire cardiac and kidney indexes score population and separately in HF patients with severe (peakVO2 < 14 mL/min/kg, n = 2919, 61.1 events/1000 pts/year) or moderate (peakVO2 ≥ 14 mL/min/kg, n = 3183, 19.9 events/1000 pts/year) HF. In the healthy population, we obtained the following equations: female, VE/VCO2 = 0.052 × Age + 23.808 (r = 0.192); male, VE/VCO2 = 0.095 × Age + 20.227 (r = 0.371) (P = 0.007). We applied these formulas to calculate the percentages of predicted VE/VCO2 values. The 2-year survival prognostic power of VE/VCO2 slope was strong, and it was similar if expressed as absolute value or as a percentage of predicted value (AUCs 0.686 and 0.690, respectively). In contrast, in severe HF patients, AUCs significantly differed between absolute values (0.637) and percentages of predicted values (0.650, P = 0.0026). Moreover, VE/VCO2 slope expressed as a percentage of predicted value allowed to reclassify 6.6% of peakVO2 < 14 mL/min/kg patients (net reclassification improvement = 0.066, P = 0.0015). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of predicted VE/VCO2 slope value strengthens the prognostic power of VE/VCO2 in severe HF patients, and it should be preferred over the absolute value for HF prognostication. Furthermore, the widespread use of VE/VCO2 slope expressed as percentage of predicted value can improve our ability to identify HF patients at high risk, which is a goal of utmost clinical relevance.

Increased serum uric acid level predicts poor prognosis in mildly severe chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. An analysis from the MECKI score research group.

BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia prognostic impact on clinical outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF) patients has been investigated with inconclusive results. OBJECTIVES: Aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on long-term clinical outcomes in HF. METHODS: An analysis of MECKI (Metabolic Exercise Cardiac Kidney Index) database, with median follow-up of 3.4 years. RESULTS: Relation between SUA and all-cause/ cardiovascular (CV) deaths have been analysed in 4,577 patients (3,688 males, age 62.7 ±â€¯12.9 years), with reduced ejection fraction HF (35 ± 11%), peakVO2 1151 ± 440 ml/min; NYHA class I-II (72.6%), III-IV (27.4%). SUA was associated with increased total and CV mortality (HR 1.120 and HR 1.128, respectively p < 0.0001), also after adjustment for peakVO2, VE/VCO2 slope, diuretic use and MECKI score. SUA was significantly associated with CV mortality only in NYHA class I-II (HR 1.17, p < 0.0001) while there was no association in class III-IV (HR 1.03, p = NS). No prognostic added values of SUA with respect to the MECKI score was observed at the ROC analysis. CONCLUSIONS: SUA is confirmed to be associated with increased mortality, but in less severe HF only. However SUA did not show additional prognostic power to the MECKI score.

Exercise oscillatory ventilation and prognosis in heart failure patients with reduced and mid-range ejection fraction.

AIMS: Exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) is a pivotal cardiopulmonary exercise test parameter for the prognostic evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). It has been described in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (<40%, HFrEF) and with HF with preserved ejection fraction (>50%, HFpEF), but no data are available for patients with HF with mid-range ejection fraction (40-49%, HFmrEF). The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic role of EOV in HFmrEF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 1239 patients with HFmrEF and 4482 patients with HFrEF, enrolled in the MECKI score database, with a 2-year follow-up. The study endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplant, and ventricular assist device implantation. We identified EOV in 968 cases (16% and 17% of cases in HFmrEF and HFrEF, respectively). HFrEF EOV+ patients were significantly older, and their parameters suggested a more severe HF than HFrEF EOV- patients. A similar behaviour was found in HFmrEF EOV+ vs. EOV- patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis, irrespective of ejection fraction, showed that EOV is associated with a worse survival, and that patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF EOV+ had a significantly worse outcome than the EOV- of the same ejection fraction groups. EOV-associated survival differences in HFmrEF patients started after 18 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Exercise oscillatory ventilation has a similar prevalence and ominous prognostic value in both HFmrEF and HFrEF patients, indicating a group of patients in need of a more intensive follow-up and a more aggressive therapy. In HFmrEF, the survival curves between EOV+ and EOV- patients diverged only after 18 months.

Heart failure prognosis over time: how the prognostic role of oxygen consumption and ventilatory efficiency during exercise has changed in the last 20 years.

AIMS: Exercise-derived parameters, specifically peak exercise oxygen uptake (peak VO2 ) and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide relationship slope (VE/VCO2 slope), have a pivotal prognostic value in heart failure (HF). It is unknown how the prognostic threshold of peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope has changed over the last 20 years in parallel with HF prognosis improvement. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 6083 HF patients (81% male, age 61 ± 13 years), enrolled in the MECKI score database between 1993 and 2015, were retrospectively analysed. By enrolment year, four groups were generated: group 1 1993-2000 (n = 440), group 2 2001-2005 (n = 1288), group 3 2006-2010 (n = 2368), and group 4 2011-2015 (n = 1987). We compared the 10-year survival of groups and analysed how the overall risk (cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device implantation) changed over time according to peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope and to major clinical and therapeutic variables. At 10 years, a progressively higher survival from group 1 to group 3 was observed, with no further improvement afterwards. A 20% risk for peak VO2 15 mL/min/kg (95% confidence interval 16-13), 9 (11-8), 4 (4-2) and 5 (7-4) was observed in group 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, while the VE/VCO2 slope value for a 20% risk was 32 (37-29), 47 (51-43), 59 (64-55), and 57 (63-52), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure prognosis improved over time up to 2010 in a HF population followed by experienced centres. The peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope cut-offs identifying a definite risk progressively decreased and increased over time, respectively. The prognostic threshold of peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope must be updated whenever HF prognosis improves.

Acutely decompensated heart failure with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Clinical characteristics and long-term survival.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is among the most common comorbidities in patients hospitalized with heart failure and is generally associated with poor outcomes. However, the results of previous studies with regard to increased mortality and risk trajectories were not univocal. We sought to assess the prognostic impact of COPD in patients admitted for acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and investigate the association between use of ß-blockers at discharge and mortality in patients with COPD. METHODS: We studied 1530 patients. The association of COPD with mortality was examined in adjusted Fine-Gray proportional hazard models where heart transplantation and ventricular assist device implantation were treated as competing risks. The primary outcome was 5-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: After adjusting for establisked risk markers, the subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR) of 5-year mortality for COPD patients compared with non-COPD patients was 1.25 (95% confidence intervals [CIs] 1.06-1.47; p = .007). The relative risk of death for COPD patients increased steeply from 30 to 180 days, and remained noticeably high throughout the entire follow-up. Among patients with comorbid COPD, the use of ß-blockers at discharge was associated with a significantly reduced risk of 1-year post-discharge mortality (SHR 0.66, 95%CIs 0.53-0.83; p ≤.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that ADHF patients with comorbid COPD have a worse long-term survival than those without comorbid COPD. Most of the excess mortality occurred in the first few months following hospitalization. Our data also suggest that the use of ß-blockers at discharge is independently associated with improved survival in ADHF patients with COPD.

Dose-dependent efficacy of ß-blocker in patients with chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of ß-blockers in heart failure (HF) patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) has been questioned. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from HF patients (958 patients (801 males, 84%, age 67 ±â€¯11 years)) with AF enrolled in the MECKI score database. We evaluated prognosis (composite of cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplant, or left ventricular assist device) of patients receiving ß-blockers (n = 777, 81%) vs. those not treated with ß-blockers (n = 181, 19%). We also analyzed the role ß1-selectivity and the role of daily ß-blocker dose. To account for different HF severity, Kaplan-Meier survival curves were normalized for relevant confounding factors and for treatment strategies. Dose was available in 629 patients. Median follow-up was 1312 (577-2304) days in the entire population, 1203 (614-2420) and 1325 (569-2300) days in patients not receiving and receiving ß-blockers. 224 (23%, 54/1000 events/year), 163 (21%, 79/1000 events/year), and 61 (34%, 49/1000 events/year) events were recorded, respectively. At 10-year patients treated with ß-blockers had a better outcome (HR 0.447, p < 0.01) with no effects as regards ß1selective drugs (53%) vs. ß1-ß2 blockers (47%). Survival improved in parallel with ß-blocker dose increase (HR 0.296, 0.496, 0.490 for the high, medium, and low dose vs. no ß-blockers, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: HF patients with AF taking a ß-blocker have a better outcome (with a survival improvement in parallel with daily dose but no differences as regards ß1 selectivity) but this does not mean that ß-blockers improve outcomes in these patients as we cannot control for all the potential confounders associated with ß-blocker use.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for heart failure: a real-life observational study.

AIMS: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been demonstrated to improve outcomes in reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFrEF) patients. However, MRAs added to conventional treatment may lead to worsening of renal function and hyperkalaemia. We investigated, in a population-based analysis, the long-term effects of MRA treatment in HFrEF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed data of 6046 patients included in the Metabolic Exercise Cardiac Kidney Index score dataset. Analysis was performed in patients treated (n = 3163) and not treated (n = 2883) with MRA. The study endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device implantation. Ten years' survival was analysed through Kaplan-Meier, compared by log-rank test and propensity score matching. At 10 years' follow-up, the MRA-untreated group had a significantly lower number of events than the MRA-treated group (P < 0.001). MRA-treated patients had more severe heart failure (higher New York Heart Association class and lower left ventricular ejection fraction, kidney function, and peak VO2 ). At a propensity-score-matching analysis performed on 1587 patients, MRA-treated and MRA-untreated patients showed similar study endpoint values. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, MRA treatment does not affect the composite of cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation in a real-life setting. A meticulous patient follow-up, as performed in trials, is likely needed to match the positive MRA-related benefits observed in clinical trials.

Female gender and mortality risk in decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Still there is conflicting evidence about gender-related differences in prognosis among patients with heart failure. This prognostic uncertainty may have implications for risk stratification and planning management strategy. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between gender and one-year mortality in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). METHODS: We studied 1513 patients. The Cumulative Incidence Function (CIF) method was used to estimate the absolute rate of mortality, heart transplantation (HT)/ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation, and survival free of HT/VAD implantation at 1year. An interaction analysis was performed to assess the association between covariates, gender, and mortality risk. Propensity score matching and Cox regression were used to compare mortality rates in the gender subgroups. RESULTS: The CIF estimates of 1-year mortality, HT/VAD implantation, and survival free of HT/VAD implantation at 1year were 33.1%, 7.0%, and 59.9% for women and 30.2%, 10.2%, and 59.6% for men, respectively. Except for diabetes, there was no significant interaction between gender, covariates, and mortality risk. In the matched cohort, the hazard ratio of death for women was 1.19 (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.90-1.59; p=.202). After adjusting for age and baseline risk, the hazard ratio of death for women was 1.18 (95% CIs: 0.95-1.43; p=.127). The use of gender-specific predictive models did not allow improving the accuracy of risk prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Our data strongly suggest that women and men have comparable outcome in the year following a hospitalization for ADHF.