Clinical Heart fAilure Management Program: Changing the practice by partnering primary care and specialists (CHAMP-HF).

Background: While significant gains were made in the management of heart failure (HF), most patients are still diagnosed when they are acutely ill in hospital, often with advanced disease. Earlier diagnosis in the community could lead to improved outcomes. Whether a partnership and an educational program for primary care providers (PCP) increase HF awareness and management is unknown. Methods: We conducted an observational study between March 2019 and June 2020 during which HF specialists gave monthly HF conferences to PCP. Using a pre-post design, medical charts and administrative databases were reviewed and a questionnaire was completed by participating PCP. Primary and secondary endpoints included: 1) the number of patients diagnosed with HF, 2) implementation of GDMT for patients with HFrEF; 3) PCPs' experience and confidence. Results: Six PCP agreed to participate. Amongst the 11,909 patients of the clinic, 70 (0.59 %) patients met the criteria for HF. This number increased by 28.6 % (n = 90) after intervention. Increased use of GDMT for HFrEF patients at baseline (n = 35) was observed for all class of agents, with doubling of patients on triple therapies, from 8 (22.9 %) to 16 (45.7 %), p = 0.0047. Self-confidence on HF management was low (1, 16.7 %) but increased after the educational intervention of physicians (3, 50 %). Conclusion: An educational and collaborative approach between HF specialists and community PCP increased the number of new HF cases diagnosed, enhanced implementation of GDMT in patients with HFrEF and increase PCPs' confidence in treating HF, despite being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Optimization of pharmacotherapies for ambulatory patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction is associated with improved outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In heart failure, specific target doses for each drug are recommended, but some patients receive suboptimal dosing, others are undertreated or remain chronically in a titration phase, despite having no apparent contraindication or intolerance. We assessed the association of different levels of adherence to guidelines with outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: Medical records of patients with HFrEF followed at our heart failure (HF) clinic for at least 6 months (n = 511) were reviewed and patients categorized as: 1) optimized (25.4%); 2) in-titration (29.0%); 3) undertreated (32.7%); and 4) intolerant/contraindicated (12.9%). Risk of mortality or HF events (hospitalization, emergency visit or ambulatory administration of intravenous diuretics) within one year was assessed using Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Compared to optimized patients, those intolerant (HR: 4.60 [95%CI: 2.23-9.48]; p < 0.0001) had the highest risk of outcomes, followed by those undertreated (3.45 [1.78-6.67]; p = 0.0002) and in-titration (1.99 [0.97-4.06]; p = 0.0588). Overall predictors of outcomes included loop diuretics' use (4.54 [2.39-8.60]), undertreatment (2.38 [1.22-4.67]), intolerance/ contraindication to triple therapy (3.08 [1.47-6.42]), peripheral vascular disease (2.13 [1.29-3.50]) and NYHA class III-IV (1.89 [1.25-2.85]); all p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Level of adherence to guidelines is associated with outcomes, with intolerant/contraindicated patients having the worst prognosis and those undertreated and in-titration at intermediate risk compared to those optimized. Up-titration of therapy should be attempted whenever possible, considering patients' limitations, to potentially improve outcomes.

Early Detection and Correction of Cerebral Desaturation With Noninvasive Oxy-Hemoglobin, Deoxy-Hemoglobin, and Total Hemoglobin in Cardiac Surgery: A Case Series.

Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rS o2 ) obtained from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides valuable information during cardiac surgery. The rS o2 is calculated from the proportion of oxygenated to total hemoglobin in the cerebral vasculature. Root O3 cerebral oximetry (Masimo) allows for individual identification of changes in total (ΔcHbi), oxygenated (Δ o2 Hbi), and deoxygenated (ΔHHbi) hemoglobin spectral absorptions. Variations in these parameters from baseline help identify the underlying mechanisms of cerebral desaturation. This case series represents the first preliminary description of Δ o2 Hbi, ΔHHbi, and ΔcHbi variations in 10 cardiac surgical settings. Hemoglobin spectral absorption changes can be classified according to 3 distinct variations of cerebral desaturation. Reduced cerebral oxygen content or increased cerebral metabolism without major blood flow changes is reflected by decreased Δ o2 Hbi, unchanged ΔcHbi, and increased ΔHHbi Reduced cerebral arterial blood flow is suggested by decreased Δ o2 Hbi and ΔcHbi, with variable ΔHHbi. Finally, acute cerebral congestion may be suspected with increased ΔHHbi and ΔcHbi with unchanged Δ o2 Hbi. Cerebral desaturation can also result from mixed mechanisms reflected by variable combination of those 3 patterns. Normal cerebral saturation can occur, where reduced cerebral oxygen content such as anemia is balanced by a reduction in cerebral oxygen consumption such as during hypothermia. A summative algorithm using rS o2 , Δ o2 Hbi, ΔHHbi, and ΔcHbi is proposed. Further explorations involving more patients should be performed to establish the potential role and limitations of monitoring hemoglobin spectral absorption signals.

Care Gaps in Adherence to Heart Failure Guidelines: Clinical Inertia or Physiological Limitations?

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the impact of clinical and physiological factors limiting treatment optimization toward recommended medical therapy in heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Although guidelines aim to assist physicians in prescribing evidence-based therapies and to improve outcomes of patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), gaps in clinical care persist. METHODS: Medical records of all patients with HFrEF followed for at least 6 months at the authors' HF clinic (n = 511) allowed for drug optimization and were reviewed regarding the prescription rates of recommended pharmacological agents and devices (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator [ICD] or cardiac resynchronization therapy [CRT]). Then, an algorithm integrating clinical (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class, heart rate, blood pressure and biologic parameters (creatinine, serum potassium) based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria of landmark trials guiding these recommendations) was applied for each agent and device to identify potential explanations for treatment gaps. RESULTS: Gross prescription rates were high for beta-blockers (98.6%), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) (93.4%), vasodilators (90.3%), ICDs (75.1%), and CRT (82.1%) among those eligible, except for ivabradine (46.3%, n = 41). However, achievement of target physiological doses was lower (beta-blockers, 67.5%; MRA, 58.9%; and vasodilators, 63.4%), and one-fifth of patient dosages were still being up-titrated. Suboptimal doses were associated with older age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.221; p < 0.0001) and history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (no vs. yes, OR: 0.264; p = 0.0336). CONCLUSIONS: Gaps in adherence to guidelines exist in specialized HF setting and are mostly explained by limiting physiological factors rather than inertia. Older age and history of stroke/TIA, potential markers of frailty, are associated with suboptimal doses of guideline-directed medical therapy, suggesting that an individualized rather than a "one-size-fits-all" approach may be required.

Noncardiovascular Disease and Critical Care Delivery in a Contemporary Cardiac and Medical Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Noncardiovascular comorbidities and critical illness are increasing in cardiovascular intensive care units (CICUs). There are limited data comparing critical care delivery, resource utilization, and costs between contemporary CICUs and medical intensive care units (MICUs). METHODS: All CICU (n = 6967; 22 748 patient-days) and MICU (n = 10 892; 39 211 patient-days) admissions to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a tertiary care academic medical center, between January 2011 and December 2016 were reviewed. Both the CICU and MICU admitted patients for primary cardiovascular or medical conditions during the study period, but not for postoperative surgical care. RESULTS: Patients admitted to the CICU were more frequently older, male, and had more preexisting cardiac disease ( P < .0001). More than one-fifth (21.4%) of CICU patients had a noncardiovascular primary admission diagnosis, compared to 89.2% of MICU patients. Cardiovascular intensive care unit patients had lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores (51.1 [19.9] vs 61.1 [24.9], P < .0001) and shorter median hospital length of stay ( P < .001), but not in-unit stay, as compared to MICU patients. Mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, inotropes, renal replacement therapy, and/or blood transfusion were required in 35.0% of CICU patients compared with 62.2% of MICU patients ( P < .0001). The unit mortality rate was lower for CICU than MICU patients (4.8% vs 13.0%, P < .0001), as was the hospital mortality rate (9.3% vs 21.6%, P < .0001). The standardized mortality ratio was 0.73 for the CICU and 0.86 for the MICU. There was no difference in the mean direct cost of care per patient-day between the CICU and MICU ($4011 USD [376] vs $3990 USD [214], P = .77). CONCLUSIONS: The burden of noncardiovascular diseases and the requirement for critical care therapies are high in contemporary CICU patients but remain lower compared to the MICU population. Our findings support the growing complexity of care in tertiary CICUs. Further studies are required to explore the association between critical care delivery and outcomes in this evolving population.

A comparison of the effects of selective and non-selective mineralocorticoid antagonism on glucose homeostasis of heart failure patients with glucose intolerance or type II diabetes: A randomized controlled double-blind trial.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However, spironolactone, a non-selective MRA, has been shown to exert a harmful effect on glucose homeostasis. The objective of this multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial was to compare the effects of spironolactone to those of the selective MRA eplerenone on glucose homeostasis among 62 HF patients with glucose intolerance or type II diabetes. Trial registration number:NCT01586442.

The Association Between Pulsatile Portal Flow and Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Venous congestion is a possible mechanism leading to acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery. Portal vein flow pulsatility is an echographic marker of cardiogenic portal hypertension and might identify clinically significant organ congestion. This exploratory study aims to assess if the presence of portal flow pulsatility measured by transthoracic echography in the postsurgical intensive care unit is associated with AKI after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Specialized care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery between May 2015 and February 2016 and had at least 1 Doppler assessment of portal flow performed by the attending critical care physician during the week following cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: The association between portal flow pulsatility defined as a pulsatility fraction ≥50% and the risk of subsequent AKI was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The files of 132 consecutive patients were reviewed and 102 patients were included in the analysis. Significant portal flow pulsatility was detected in 38 patients (37.3%) in the week following surgery. During this period, 60.8% developed AKI and 13.7% progressed to severe AKI. The detection of portal flow pulsatility was associated with an increased risk for the development of AKI (odds ration [OR] 4.31, confidence interval [CI] 1.50-12.35, p = 0.007). After adjustment, portal flow pulsatility and AKI were independently associated (OR 4.88, CI 1.54-15.47, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of portal flow using Doppler ultrasound at the bedside might be a promising tool to detect patients at risk for AKI due to cardiogenic venous congestion.

Changes in Outcomes of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Over 30 Years Following Heart Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated temporal changes in the demographics and the prognosis of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) over 30 years following heart transplantation (HTx). BACKGROUND: Effects of the changing HTx demographics on CAV outcomes, based on International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) classification of CAV, have been incompletely investigated. METHODS: Patients who underwent HTx at the Montreal Heart Institute were classified according to the severity of CAV (CAV 0 is no presence of CAV; CAV 1 is mild, CAV 2 to 3 is moderate to severe) and era of HTx (early: 1983 to 1998; recent: 1999 to 2011). We compared the risk of progression, survival, and independent predictors of outcomes among the groups. RESULTS: A total of 298 patients were followed for 11.6 ± 6.6 years. Patients who received transplants in the early era exhibited a higher risk for progression from CAV 1 to a higher grade (adjusted odds ratio: 8.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 62.6). The presence of CAV was associated with a significantly increased risk for all-cause mortality in the early era (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.5) but not in the recent era (HR: 1.1; 95% CI: 0.2 to 4.9). Regardless of the era, CAV classes 2 to 3 and CAV 1 were associated with a significantly increased risk for all-cause mortality compared to CAV 0 (HR: 6.5; 95% CI: 2.7 to 15.7; and HR: 1.750; 95% CI: 1.001 to 3.046, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The progression and prognosis of CAV have improved over 30 years. The ISHLT CAV classification accurately and independently predicts long-term outcome following HTx.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Cardiovascular Critical Care Society/Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology Position Statement on the Optimal Care of the Postarrest Patient.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with a low rate of survival to hospital discharge and high rates of neurological morbidity among survivors. Programmatic efforts to institute and integrate OHCA best care practices from the bystander response through to the in-hospital phase have been associated with improved patient outcomes. This Canadian Cardiovascular Society position statement was developed to provide comprehensive yet practical recommendations to guide the in-hospital care of OHCA patients. Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system recommendations have been generated. Recommendations on initial care delivery on the basis of presenting rhythm, appropriate use of targeted temperature management, postarrest angiography, and revascularization in the initial phase of care of the OHCA patient are detailed within this statement. In addition, further description of best practices on sedation, use of neuromuscular blockade, oxygenation targets, hemodynamic monitoring, and blood product transfusion triggers in the critical care environment are contained in this document. Last, discussion of optimal care systems for the OHCA patient is provided. These guidelines aim to serve as a practical guide to optimize the in-hospital care of survivors of cardiac arrest and encourage the adoption of "best practice" protocols and treatment pathways. Emphasis is placed on integrating these aspects of in-hospital care as part of a postarrest "care bundle." It is hoped that this position statement can assist all medical professionals who treat survivors of cardiac arrest.

Preoperative Optimization of the Heart Failure Patient Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Heart failure patients who undergo cardiac surgery are exposed to significant perioperative complications and high mortality. We herein review the literature concerning preoperative optimization of these patients. Salient findings are that end-organ dysfunction and medication should be optimized before surgery. Specifically: (1) reversible causes of anemia should be treated and a preoperative hemoglobin level of 100 g/L obtained; (2) renal function and volume status should be optimized; (3) liver function must be carefully evaluated; (4) nutritional status should be assessed and cachexia treated to achieve a preoperative albumin level of at least 30 g/L and a body mass index > 20; and (5) medication adjustments performed, such as withholding inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system before surgery and continuing, but not starting, ß-blockers. Levels of natriuretic peptides (brain natriuretic peptide [BNP] and N-terminal proBNP) provide additional prognostic value and therefore should be measured. In addition, individual patient's risk should be objectively assessed using standard formulas such as the EuroSCORE-II or Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores, which are simple and validated for various cardiac surgeries, including left ventricular assist device implantation. When patients are identified as high risk, preoperative hemodynamic optimization might be achieved with the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter and hemodynamic-based tailored therapy. Finally, a prophylactic intra-aortic balloon pump might be considered in certain circumstances to decrease morbidity and even mortality, like in some high risk heart failure patients who undergo cardiac surgery, whereas routine preoperative inotropes are not recommended and should be reserved for patients in shock, except maybe for levosimendan.

Extracardiac Signs of Fluid Overload in the Critically Ill Cardiac Patient: A Focused Evaluation Using Bedside Ultrasound.

Fluid balance management is of great importance in the critically ill cardiac patient. Although intravenous fluids are a cornerstone therapy in the management of unstable patients, excessive administration coupled with cardiac dysfunction leads to elevation in central venous pressure and end-organ venous congestion. Fluid overload is known to have a detrimental effect on organ function and is responsible for significant morbidity in critically ill patients. Multisystem bedside point of care ultrasound imaging can be used to assess signs of fluid overload and venous congestion in critically ill patients. In this review we describe the ultrasonographic extracardiac signs of fluid overload and how they can be used to complement clinical evaluation to individualize patient management.

From Coronary Care Units to Cardiac Intensive Care Units: Recommendations for Organizational, Staffing, and Educational Transformation.

Medical care in Canadian cardiac units has changed considerably over the past 3 decades in response to an increasingly complex and diverse patient population admitted with acute cardiac pathology. To maintain the highest level of care for these patients, there is a pressing need to evolve traditional coronary care units into contemporary cardiac intensive care units. In this article we aim to highlight the current variations in Canadian units, develop approaches to overcome logistical and infrastructural obstacles, and propose staffing and training recommendations that would allow for the establishment of contemporary cardiac intensive care units.

Decreased circulating and neutrophil mediated VEGF-A165 release in stable long-term cardiac transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may play a role on the allograft remodelling following cardiac transplantation (CTx). We measured the circulating levels of VEGF-A165 concomitantly with the proinflammatory (Interleukin-8; IL-8), anti-inflammatory (IL-1 receptor antagonist; IL-1RA) and their release from neutrophils of CTx recipients. METHODS: Eighteen CTx recipients aged 49.6 ± 3.1 years, being transplanted for 145 ± 20 months were age-matched to 35 healthy control (HC) subjects. Concomitantly to plasma assessment, circulating neutrophils were isolated, purified and stimulated by vehicle (PBS), N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP, 10(-7) M), bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 µg/mL), or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α, 10 ng/mL). RESULTS: Compared with HC, CTx recipients exhibited a decrease (-80%) in plasmatic levels of VEGF-A165 (225 ± 42 (HC) vs 44 ± 10 pg/mL (CTx); (p < 0.001). There were no differences in the levels of IL-8 and IL-1RA. Under basal or stimulated conditions, neutrophils from CTx patients exhibited a marked decrease ranging from -30 to -88% on their capacity to release VEGF-A165, IL-8 and IL-1RA upon stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term CTx recipients exhibit a marked reduction in the circulating levels of VEGF-A165, as well as neutrophil-mediated release of VEGF-A165, IL-1RA and IL-8 compared to healthy volunteers. The mechanisms and physiological impacts of these findings deserve additional investigations.

Innovative approaches in the perioperative care of the cardiac surgical patient in the operating room and intensive care unit.

Perioperative care for cardiac surgery is undergoing rapid evolution. Many of the changes involve the application of novel technologies to tackle common challenges in optimizing perioperative management. Herein, we illustrate recent advances in perioperative management by focusing on a number of novel components that we judge to be particularly important. These include: the introduction of brain and somatic oximetry; transesophageal echocardiographic hemodynamic monitoring and bedside focused ultrasound; ultrasound-guided vascular access; point-of-care coagulation surveillance; right ventricular pressure monitoring; novel inhaled treatment for right ventricular failure; new approaches for postoperative pain management; novel approaches in specialized care procedures to ensure quality control; and specific approaches to optimize the management for postoperative cardiac arrest. Herein, we discuss the reasons that each of these components are particularly important in improving perioperative care, describe how they can be addressed, and their impact in the care of patients who undergo cardiac surgery.

Heart failure with anemia: novel findings on the roles of renal disease, interleukins, and specific left ventricular remodeling processes.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a highly prevalent and strong independent prognostic marker in heart failure (HF), yet this association is not completely understood. Whether anemia is simply a marker of disease severity and concomitant chronic kidney disease or represents the activation of other detrimental pathways remains uncertain. We sought to determine which pathophysiological pathways are exacerbated in patients with HF, reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and anemia in comparison with those without anemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective study involving 151 patients, selected biomarkers were analyzed, each representing proposed contributive mechanisms in the pathophysiology of anemia in HF. We compared clinical, echocardiographic, and circulating biomarkers profiles among patients with HFrEF and anemia (group 1), HFrEF without anemia (group 2), and chronic kidney disease with preserved EF, without established HF (chronic kidney disease control group 3). We demonstrate here that many processes other than those related to chronic kidney disease are involved in the anemia-HF relationship. These are linked to the pathophysiological mechanisms pertaining to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and remodeling, systemic inflammation and volume overload. We found that levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10, specific markers of cardiac remodeling (procollagen type III N-terminal peptide, matrix metalloproteinase-2, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1, left atrial volume), myocardial stretch (NT-proBNP [N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide]), and myocyte death (troponin T) are related to anemia in HFrEF. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is strongly associated not only with markers of more advanced and active heart disease but also with the level of renal dysfunction in HFrEF. Increased myocardial remodeling, inflammation, and volume overload are the hallmarks of patients with anemia and HF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00834691.

Long-term evolution, secular trends, and risk factors of renal dysfunction following cardiac transplantation.

Recent reports suggest that individuals who underwent heart transplantation in the last decade have improved post-transplant kidney function. The objectives of this retrospective study were to describe the incidence and to identify fixed and time-dependent predictors of renal dysfunction in cardiac recipients transplanted over a 25-year period (1983-2008). To illustrate temporal trends, patients (n = 306) were divided into five groups based on year of transplantation. The primary endpoint was the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at year 1. Secondary endpoints were time to moderate (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ) and severe renal dysfunction (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ). Risk factor analyses relied on multivariable regression models. Kidney function was mildly impaired before transplant (median eGFR=61.0 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ), improved at discharge (eGFR=72.3 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ; P < 0.001), decreased considerably in the first year (eGFR = 54.7 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ; P < 0.001), and deteriorated less rapidly thereafter. At year 1, 2004-2008 recipients exhibited a higher eGFR compared with all other patients (P < 0.001). Factors independently associated with eGFR at year 1 and with moderate and severe renal dysfunction included age, gender, pretransplant eGFR, blood pressure, glycemia, and use of prednisone (P < 0.05). In summary, kidney function worsens constantly up to two decades after cardiac transplantation, with the greatest decline occurring in the first year. Corticosteroid minimization and treatment of modifiable risk factors (hypertension, diabetes) may minimize renal deterioration.

An unusual case of giant cell myocarditis missed in a Heartmate-2 left ventricle apical-wedge section: a case report and review of the literature.

Herein we present a case of fulminant myocarditis in a woman previously treated for B-cell lymphoma. While the clinical context was suggestive of adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy, the initial pathology of the Heartmate-2 apical core showed lymphocytic myocarditis. After 8 months of stability, the patient presented with progressive heart failure and recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. An endomyocardial biopsy revealed findings typical of giant cell myocarditis (GCM); poor response to immunosuppressive therapy and marked hemodynamic instability led to urgent transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of GCM following an acute lymphocytic myocarditis and the second GCM case associated with B-cell lymphoma.

Impaired heart rate responses and exercise capacity in heart failure patients with paced baseline rhythms.

BACKGROUND: Conduction system disease and beta-blocker therapy are both common among heart failure (HF) patients and contribute to increasing reliance on paced rhythms. We hypothesized that many HF patients dependent on pacing have suboptimal heart rate responses and associated limitations in exercise capacity. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 122 HF patients (left ventricular ejection fractions ≤40%) referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing, comparing those with pacing at baseline with those with native rhythms. The paced group (PG) had lower resting (71 ± 9 vs 75 ± 15 beats/min; P = .048) and peak heart rates (103 ± 22 vs 127 ± 27 beats/min; P < .0001). Although beta-blockers were prescribed with similar frequency in both groups (90% vs 85%), average dose was higher in the PG. Inotropic reserve (oxygen pulse) was similar in both groups (11.1 ± 3.3 vs 11.1 ± 3.4 mL/beat; P = .94), consistent with equivalent stroke volumes, but chronotropic incompetence was higher (95% vs 71%, P = .001) and peak VO(2) was lower (12.2 ± 3.4 vs 14.2 ± 4.1 mL/kg/min; P = .004) in the PG. CONCLUSIONS: Chronotropic incompetence and exercise capacity are worse in HF patients depending on paced heart rate responses. This has implications for quality of life as well as advanced therapy choices based on exercise capacity. Reevaluating beta-blocker dosing and optimizing pacemaker programming may therefore benefit the growing population of HF patients with device-dependent rhythms.

Rubbing salt into wounds: hypertonic saline to assist with volume removal in heart failure.

Traditionally accepted management strategies for patients with heart failure include sodium and fluid restriction, neurohormonal blockade, and the use of loop diuretics to achieve and maintain euvolemia. Despite continued advances in medical and device therapy, fluid management remains a significant problem in patients with the cardiorenal syndrome (manifested as diuretic resistance and worsening renal function with more aggressive attempts at volume removal). This article examines the counterintuitive use of hypertonic saline as a potential therapy to facilitate diuresis in patients with decompensated heart failure and diuretic resistance. Low-volume hypertonic saline administration offsets counterproductive neurohormonal upregulation, transiently improves hemodynamics, and promotes renal sodium excretion with accompanied net water loss and preservation of renal function. This "new" therapeutic tool should be explored further as an adjunct to current medical therapies in the management of patients with refractory volume overload.