Validation of a Supportive and Palliative Care Indicator Tool among hospitalized patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care including symptom alleviation and advance care planning is relevant for patients with heart failure (HF). The Supportive and Palliative Care Indicator Tool (SPICT) is a tool for identifying patients who may benefit from palliative care assistance but is not validated in patients hospitalized for HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical backgrounds, symptom burdens, and outcomes were evaluated using SPICT assessed on admission in consecutive hospitalized patients with HF. SPICT positive was defined as two or more general indicators and a New York Heart Association ≥III were present. Of 601 hospitalized patients with HF (mean age: 79±12 years, male: 314 [52%], and mean left ventricular ejection fraction: 44±18%), 100 (17%) patients were SPICT-positive. SPICT-positive patients were older (85±9 vs. 78±12 years; P<0.001) with higher clinical frailty scale (6±1 vs. 4±1 points; P<0.001), while symptom burdens assessed by the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale were not different (17 [13, 28] vs. 20 [11, 26] points; P=0.97) when compared with SPICT-negative. During the median follow-up period of 518 days, 178 patients (30%) died. SPICT positive was independently associated with higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 3.49, 95% confidence interval: 2.41-5.05; P<0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, New York Heart Association class IV, Get-With-The-Guideline risk score, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide level, and left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted for HF, SPICT positive was significantly associated with higher all-cause mortality, suggesting the utility of SPICT as an indicator to initiate advance care planning for end-of-life care among hospitalized patients with HF.

Growth differentiation factor-15 and metabolic features in chronic heart failure: Insights from the SUPPORT Trial -GDF15 across the BMI spectrum.

BACKGROUND: GDF15 plays pivotal metabolic roles in nutritional stress and serves as a physiological regulator of energy balance. However, the patterns of GDF15 levels in underweight or obese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are not well-understood. METHODS: We assessed serum GDF15 levels at baseline and 3 years and the temporal changes in 940 Japanese patients (642 paired samples), as a sub-analysis of the SUPPORT trial (age 65.9 ± 10.1 years). The GDF15 levels were analyzed across BMI groups (underweight [<18.5 kg/m2; n = 50], healthy weight [18.5-22.9; n = 27 5], overweight [23-24.9; n = 234], and obese [≥25; n = 381]), following WHO recommendations for the Asian-Pacific population. Landmark analysis at 3 years assessed the association between GDF15 levels and HF hospitalization or all-cause death. RESULTS: Compared to the healthy weight group, the underweight group included more females (54.0%) with advanced HF (NYHA class III; 20.0%) and exhibited increased GDF15 level (1764 pg/mL [IQR 1067-2633]). Obese patients, younger (64.2 years) and diabetic (53%), had a similar GDF15 level to the healthy weight group. A higher baseline GDF15 level was associated with worse outcomes across the BMI spectrum. GDF15 increased by 208 [21-596] pg/mL over 3 years, with the most substantial increase observed in the underweight group (by +28.9% [6.2-81.0]). Persistently high GDF15 levels (≥1800 pg/mL) was independently associated with worse outcomes after 3 years (adjusted HR 1.8 [95%CI 1.1-2.9]). CONCLUSIONS: In underweight patients with CHF, GDF15 level was elevated at baseline and experienced the most significant increase over 3 years. Its consistent elevation suggested a worse outcome.

Longitudinal NT-proBNP: Associations With Echocardiographic Changes and Outcomes in Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: The relationship of serial NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) measurements with changes in cardiac features and outcomes in heart failure (HF) remains incompletely understood. We determined whether common clinical covariates impact these relationships. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 2 nationwide observational populations with HF, the relationship of serial NT-proBNP measurements with serial echocardiographic parameters and outcomes was analyzed, further stratified by HF with reduced versus preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, inpatient versus outpatient enrollment, age, obesity, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and attainment of ≥50% guideline-recommended doses of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and ß-blockers. Among 1911 patients (mean±SD age, 65.1±13.4 years; 26.6% women; 62% inpatient and 38% outpatient), NT-proBNP declined overall, with more rapid declines among inpatients, those with obesity, those with atrial fibrillation, and those attaining ≥50% guideline-recommended doses. Each doubling of NT-proBNP was associated with increases in left ventricular volume (by 6.1 mL), E/e' (transmitral to mitral annular early diastolic velocity ratio) (by 1.4 points), left atrial volume (by 3.6 mL), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (by -2.1%). The effect sizes of these associations were lower among patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, atrial fibrillation, or advanced age (Pinteraction<0.001). A landmark analysis identified that an SD increase in NT-proBNP over 6 months was associated with a 27% increase in the risk of the composite event of HF hospitalization or all-cause death between 6 months and 2 years (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.15-1.40]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The relationships between NT-proBNP and structural/functional remodeling differed by age, presence of atrial fibrillation, and HF phenotypes. The association of increased NT-proBNP with increased risk of adverse outcomes was consistent in all subgroups.

Prognostic significance of growth differentiation factor-15 across age in chronic heart failure.

AIMS: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), a cytokine in the transforming growth factor family, is up-regulated in stress and inflammatory conditions and is elevated in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the age-specific attributes and prognostic significance of GDF15 across age remain unknown in chronic HF (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum levels of GDF15 were examined in 942 hypertensive patients (median 68 years) with CHF from the SUPPORT trial across the four age groups [under 50 (n = 73), 51-59 (n = 158), 60-69 (n = 296), and 70-79 years (n = 415)] and in the continuous spectrum. Clinical correlates of GDF15 were explored using the classic stepwise and LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression approaches. Interaction terms with age were tested in the LASSO regression approach. The associations with the composite outcome of HF hospitalization or all-cause death were investigated across ages. Median GDF15 levels (pg/mL) increased along with aging, from 691 in under 50 years to 855 in 51-59 years, 1114 in 60-69 years, and 1516 in 70-79 years (trend P < 0.001). Age, sex, systolic blood pressure, history of diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension, LV ejection fraction, estimated glomerular filtration rate, haemoglobin, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), troponin, C-reactive protein, and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, and statins were mutually selected as clinical covariates of GDF15. The LASSO regression analysis identified significant interactions between age and the history of diabetes and NT-proBNP, with particularly robust associations in patients aged between 60 and 70 years. During the mean follow-up of 8.6 years, 474 composite endpoints of HF hospitalization or death occurred. GDF15 was associated with a higher risk of HF hospitalization or all-cause death [adjusted hazard ratio 1.84 (95% confidence interval 1.45-2.33)], with a particularly heightened risk in patients aged around 70 years (Pinteraction = 0.0008). The model with GDF15 on top of other established risk factors yielded marginally higher C-statistics compared with the model without GDF15 (0.803 and 0.796, P = 0.045). The additive value of GDF15 on top of other established risk factors appeared similar across ages. A universal cut-off value of 1400 pg/mL performed well in discriminating between those with and without HF hospitalization or death. CONCLUSIONS: Some clinical correlates of GDF15 have an interaction with age. GDF15 is an important determinant of cardiovascular endpoints, particularly in patients aged around 70 years. The additive value of GDF15 appeared consistent across ages, suggesting the use of a universal cut-off value.

External validation of a deep learning algorithm for automated echocardiographic strain measurements.

Aims: Echocardiographic strain imaging reflects myocardial deformation and is a sensitive measure of cardiac function and wall-motion abnormalities. Deep learning (DL) algorithms could automate the interpretation of echocardiographic strain imaging. Methods and results: We developed and trained an automated DL-based algorithm for left ventricular (LV) strain measurements in an internal dataset. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was validated externally in (i) a real-world Taiwanese cohort of participants with and without heart failure (HF), (ii) a core-lab measured dataset from the multinational prevalence of microvascular dysfunction-HF and preserved ejection fraction (PROMIS-HFpEF) study, and regional strain in (iii) the HMC-QU-MI study of patients with suspected myocardial infarction. Outcomes included measures of agreement [bias, mean absolute difference (MAD), root-mean-squared-error (RMSE), and Pearson's correlation (R)] and area under the curve (AUC) to identify HF and regional wall-motion abnormalities. The DL workflow successfully analysed 3741 (89%) studies in the Taiwanese cohort, 176 (96%) in PROMIS-HFpEF, and 158 (98%) in HMC-QU-MI. Automated GLS showed good agreement with manual measurements (mean ± SD): -18.9 ± 4.5% vs. -18.2 ± 4.4%, respectively, bias 0.68 ± 2.52%, MAD 2.0 ± 1.67, RMSE = 2.61, R = 0.84 in the Taiwanese cohort; and -15.4 ± 4.1% vs. -15.9 ± 3.6%, respectively, bias -0.65 ± 2.71%, MAD 2.19 ± 1.71, RMSE = 2.78, R = 0.76 in PROMIS-HFpEF. In the Taiwanese cohort, automated GLS accurately identified patients with HF (AUC = 0.89 for total HF and AUC = 0.98 for HF with reduced ejection fraction). In HMC-QU-MI, automated regional strain identified regional wall-motion abnormalities with an average AUC = 0.80. Conclusion: DL algorithms can interpret echocardiographic strain images with similar accuracy as conventional measurements. These results highlight the potential of DL algorithms to democratize the use of cardiac strain measurements and reduce time-spent and costs for echo labs globally.

Clinical Features of Heart Failure With Normal Ejection Fraction: Insights From the ASIAN-HF Registry.

Background: Heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction in the normal range (HFnEF) (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] of ≥55% for men and ≥60% for women) is understudied. Objectives: The authors aimed to characterize patients with HFnEF compared with those with preserved (≥50%) yet below the normal LVEF. Methods: In an Asian HF registry, clinical characteristics, echocardiographic features, and outcomes were compared across: 1) HFnEF; 2) heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) (LVEF of ≥50%) and below normal LVEF; and 3) community-based controls without HF. Cluster analysis of echocardiographic parameters was performed and validated in an external cohort. Results: Among 1,765 patients with HFpEF (age 68 ± 12 years; 50% women), 1,313 (74.4%) had HFnEF. Compared with patients with HFpEF and below normal LVEF, patients with HFnEF had less coronary artery disease (33.7% vs 27.9%), greater LV wall thickness, and higher stroke volume, but similar 2-year age-adjusted all-cause mortality (HR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6-1.2). Five echocardiographic clusters with similar 2-year mortality were identified: 1) normal LV (normal structure despite increased filling pressure; least comorbidities) in 25%; 2) restrictive (smallest stroke volume; predominantly elderly women) in 26%; 3) hypertrophic (most concentric hypertrophy; more men) in 25%; 4) high output (greatest stroke volume; predominantly obese younger men) in 10%; and 5) atrial dominant (most left atrial myopathy; mainly elderly women with multiple comorbidities) in 10%. Similar patterns were found in the validation cohort. Conclusions: The majority of patients with HFpEF had normal LVEF, which consists of patients with different patterns of cardiac features and clinical characteristics. Results may carry implications for targeted treatment approaches in HFpEF.

Cognitive transitions based on functional status in older adults with heart failure: a population-based study.

AIMS: Cognitive impairment and functional status are both important determinants of poor outcomes in heart failure (HF). However, little is known about how functional status impacts the changes in cognitive status during the disease course. This study aimed to describe the cognitive transitions in patients with HF and assess the relationship of these transitions to functional status, which was assessed by the dependency of activities of daily living (ADL). METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included 1764 patients with an International Classification of Diseases-10 code of HF (≥65 years, mean age 82.3 ± 7.9 years, 39% male) from a long-term care and medical insurance database from Nobeoka city, a rural city of south-western Japan. Cognitive status at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 month time points was collected, and participants were stratified based on ADL status at baseline. Generalized estimating equations and multi-state modelling were used to examine associations between ADL dependency and cognitive changes/mortality. Transition probabilities were estimated using multi-state modelling. At baseline, there were 1279 (73%) and 485 (27%) patients with independent and dependent ADL, respectively. In overall patients, 1656 (93.9%) patients had normal/mild cognitive status and 108 (6%) patients had a moderate/severe cognitive status at baseline. The majority [104 (96%) patients] of patients with moderate/severe cognitive status at baseline had dependent ADL. In patients with moderate/severe cognitive status, the number of patients with dependent ADL always outnumbered that of the independent ADL throughout the follow-up. Multi-state modelling estimated that patients with dependent ADL and normal/mild cognitive status at baseline had 47% probability of maintaining the same cognitive status at 24 months, while the probability of maintaining the same cognitive status was 86% for those with independent ADL. Patients with normal/mild cognitive status in the dependent ADL group at baseline had a higher risk of experiencing a transition to moderate/severe cognitive status at any time point during 24 months compared with those with independent ADL [hazard ratio 5.24 (95% confidence interval 3.47-7.90)]. CONCLUSIONS: In older patients with HF, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was always higher for those with reduced functional status. Despite having a normal/mild cognitive status at baseline, patients with dependent ADL are at high risk of experiencing cognitive decline over 24 months with substantially less chance of maintaining their cognitive status. ADL dependency was an important risk factor of cognitive decline in patients with HF.

Clinical Profile and Prognosis of Dementia in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure　- From the CURE-HF Registry.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has a poor prognosis and common comorbidities may be contributory. However, evidence for the association between dementia and clinical outcomes in patients with is sparse and it requires further investigation into risk reduction.Methods and Results: We assessed the clinical profiles and outcomes of 1,026 patients (mean age 77.8 years, 43.2% female) with ADHF enrolled in the CURE-HF registry to evaluate the relationship between investigator-reported dementia status and clinical outcomes (all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) death, non-CV death, and HF hospitalization) over a median follow-up of 2.7 years. In total, dementia was present in 118 (11.5%) patients, who experienced more drug interruptions and HF admissions due to infection than those without dementia (23.8% vs. 13.1%, P<0.01; 11.0% vs. 6.0%, P<0.01, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that dementia patients had higher mortality rates than those without dementia (log-rank P<0.001). After multivariable adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, dementia was significantly associated with an increased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.93, P=0.02) and non-CV death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.62, P=0.03), but no significant associations between dementia and CV death or HF hospitalization were observed (both, P>0.1). CONCLUSIONS: In ADHF patients dementia was associated with aggravating factors for HF admission and elevated risk of death, primarily non-CV death.

Polypill Eligibility for Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in the ASIAN-HF Registry: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: The rates of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) prescription for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in Asia remain sub-optimal. The primary objective of this study was to examine HFrEF polypill eligibility in the context of measured baseline prescription rates of individual components of GDMT among participants with HFrEF in Asia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 4,868 patients with HFrEF from the multi-national ASIAN-HF registry was performed, and 3,716 patients were included in the final, complete case analysis. Eligibility for a HFrEF polypill, upon which patients were grouped and characterized, was based on the following: left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 40% on baseline echocardiography), systolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mm Hg, heart rate ≥ 50 beats/minute, eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m, and serum potassium ≤ 5.0 mEq/L. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations of the baseline sociodemographic factors with HFrEF polypill eligibility. Results: Among 3,716 patients with HFrEF in the ASIAN-HF registry, 70.3% were eligible for a HFrEF polypill. HFrEF polypill eligibility was significantly higher than baseline rates of triple therapy prescription of GDMT across sex, all studied geographical regions, and income levels. Patients were more likely to be eligible for a HFrEF polypill if they were younger and male, with higher BMI and systolic blood pressure, and less likely to be eligible if they were from Japan and Thailand. Conclusion: The majority of patients with HFrEF in ASIAN-HF were eligible for a HFrEF polypill and were not receiving conventional triple therapy. HFrEF polypills may be a feasible and scalable implementation strategy to help close the treatment gap among patients with HFrEF in Asia.

Patient-Reported Status and Heart Failure Outcomes in Asia by Sex, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status.

Background: In heart failure (HF), symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are known to vary among different HF subgroups, but evidence on the association between changing HRQoL and outcomes has not been evaluated. Objectives: The authors sought to investigate the relationship between changing symptoms, signs, and HRQoL and outcomes by sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Using the ASIAN-HF (Asian Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure) Registry, we investigated associations between the 6-month change in a "global" symptoms and signs score (GSSS), Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall score (KCCQ-OS), and visual analogue scale (VAS) and 1-year mortality or HF hospitalization. Results: In 6,549 patients (mean age: 62 ± 13 years], 29% female, 27% HF with preserved ejection fraction), women and those in low SES groups had higher symptom burden but lower signs and similar KCCQ-OS to their respective counterparts. Malay patients had the highest GSSS (3.9) and lowest KCCQ-OS (58.5), and Thai/Filipino/others (2.6) and Chinese patients (2.7) had the lowest GSSS scores and the highest KCCQ-OS (73.1 and 74.6, respectively). Compared to no change, worsening of GSSS (>1-point increase), KCCQ-OS (≥10-point decrease) and VAS (>1-point decrease) were associated with higher risk of HF admission/death (adjusted HR: 2.95 [95% CI: 2.14-4.06], 1.93 [95% CI: 1.26-2.94], and 2.30 [95% CI: 1.51-3.52], respectively). Conversely, the same degrees of improvement in GSSS, KCCQ-OS, and VAS were associated with reduced rates (HR: 0.35 [95% CI: 0.25-0.49], 0.25 [95% CI: 0.16-0.40], and 0.64 [95% CI: 0.40-1.00], respectively). Results were consistent across all sex, ethnicity, and SES groups (interaction P > 0.05). Conclusions: Serial measures of patient-reported symptoms and HRQoL are significant and consistent predictors of outcomes among different groups with HF and provide the potential for a patient-centered and pragmatic approach to risk stratification.

Incidence, Clinical Correlates, and Prognostic Impact of Dementia in Heart Failure: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Heart failure (HF) may increase the risk of dementia via shared risk factors. Objectives: The authors investigated the incidence, types, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of dementia in a population-based cohort of patients with index HF. Methods: The previously territory-wide database was interrogated to identify eligible patients with HF (N = 202,121) from 1995 to 2018. Clinical correlates of incident dementia and their associations with all-cause mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox/competing risk regression models where appropriate. Results: Among a total cohort aged ≥18 years with HF (mean age 75.3 ± 13.0 years, 51.3% women, median follow-up 4.1 [IQR: 1.2-10.2] years), new-onset dementia occurred in 22,145 (11.0%), with age-standardized incidence rate of 1,297 (95% CI: 1,276-1,318) per 10,000 in women and 744 (723-765) per 10,000 in men. Types of dementia were Alzheimer's disease (26.8%), vascular dementia (18.1%), and unspecified dementia (55.1%). Independent predictors of dementia included: older age (≥75 years, subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR]: 2.22), female sex (SHR: 1.31), Parkinson's disease (SHR: 1.28), peripheral vascular disease (SHR: 1.46), stroke (SHR: 1.24), anemia (SHR: 1.11), and hypertension (SHR: 1.21). The population attributable risk was highest for age ≥75 years (17.4%) and female sex (10.2%). New-onset dementia was independently associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted SHR: 4.51; P < 0.001). Conclusions: New-onset dementia affected more than 1 in 10 patients with index HF over the follow-up, and portended a worse prognosis in these patients. Older women were at highest risk and should be targeted for screening and preventive strategies.

Blood pressure in heart failure management and prevention.

Hypertension is a leading cause of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. Its role in the pathogenesis of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) differs from that in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Moreover, rigorous blood pressure control may reduce the incidence of heart failure. However, once heart failure develops, prognosis is affected by blood pressure, which may differ between patients with and without heart failure. Therefore, the association between guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure and its uptitration must be considered for blood pressure management and should not be overlooked. Heart failure medications affect the blood pressure and efficacy per baseline blood pressure value. This review discusses the potential mechanisms by which hypertension leads to HFrEF or HFpEF, the impact of hypertension on incident heart failure, and the recommended approaches for blood pressure management in patients with heart failure. Comparison between patients with and without heart failure regarding blood pressure The association between CV events and SBP is linear in patients without heart failure; however, it becomes J-shaped or inverse linear in those with heart failure. The management of BP, including optimal BP or pharmacotherapy, differs between the two populations. ACEi angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, ARB angiotensin II receptor blockers; ARNi angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, BB beta-blockers, BP blood pressure, CV cardiovascular, DASH Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, GDMT guideline-directed medical therapy, HF heart failure, HFrEF heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, MRA mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, SBP systolic blood pressure, SGLT2i sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.

Patient-Reported Versus Physician-Assessed Health Status in Heart Failure With Reduced and Preserved Ejection Fraction From ASIAN-HF Registry.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess if discordance between patient-reported Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ)-overall summary (os) score and physician-assessed New York Heart Association (NYHA) class is common among patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced or preserved ejection fraction, and determine its association with outcomes. METHODS: A total of 4818 patients with HF were classified according to KCCQ-os score (range 0-100, dichotomized by median value 71.9 into high [good] versus low [bad]) and NYHA class (I/II [good] or III/IV [bad]) as concordant good (low NYHA class, high KCCQ-os score), concordant bad (high NYHA class, low KCCQ-os score), discordant worse NYHA class (high NYHA class, high KCCQ-os score), and discordant worse KCCQ-os score (low NYHA class, low-KCCQ-os score). The composite of HF hospitalization or death at 1 year was compared across groups. RESULTS: There were 2070 (43.0%) concordant good, 1099 (22.8%) concordant bad, 331 (6.9%) discordant worse NYHA class, and 1318 (27.4%) discordant worse KCCQ-os score patients. Compared with concordant good, adverse outcomes were the highest in concordant bad (HR, 2.7 [95% CI, 2.2-3.5]) followed by discordant worse KCCQ-os score (HR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.4-2.2]) and discordant worse NYHA class (HR, 1.5 [95% CI, 1.0-2.3]); with no modification by HF phenotype (preserved versus reduced ejection fraction, Pinteraction=0.52). At 6 months, 1403 (48%) experienced clinically significant improvement in KCCQ-os score (≥5 points increase over 6 months). Patients with improved KCCQ-os at 6 months (HR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.47-0.92]) had better outcomes and the association was not modified by HF phenotype (Pinteraction=0.40). CONCLUSIONS: One-third of patients with HF had discordance between patient-reported and clinician-assessed health status, largely attributable to worse patient-reported outcomes. Such discordance, particularly in those with discordantly worse KCCQ, should alert physicians to an increased risk of HF hospitalization and death, and prompt further assessment for potential drivers of worse patient-reported outcomes relative to physicians' assessment.

Chronic kidney disease begets heart failure and vice versa: temporal associations between heart failure events in relation to incident chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To investigate the interplay of incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or heart failure (HF) and their associations with prognosis in a large, population-based cohort with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: Patients aged ≥18 years with new-onset T2DM, without renal disease or HF at baseline, were identified from the territory-wide Clinical Data Analysis Reporting System between 2000 and 2015. Patients were followed up until December 31, 2020 for incident CKD and/or HF and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Among 102 488 patients (median age 66 years, 45.7% women, median follow-up 7.5 years), new-onset CKD occurred in 14 798 patients (14.4%), in whom 21.7% had HF. In contrast, among 9258 patients (9.0%) with new-onset HF, 34.6% had CKD. The median time from baseline to incident CKD or HF (4.4 vs. 4.1 years) did not differ. However, the median (interquartile range) time until incident HF after CKD diagnosis was 1.7 (0.5-3.6) years and was 1.2 (0.2-3.4) years for incident CKD after HF diagnosis (P < 0.001). The crude incidence of CKD was higher than that of HF: 17.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.3-17.9) vs. 10.6 (95% CI 10.4-10.9)/1000 person-years, respectively, but incident HF was associated with a higher adjusted-mortality than incident CKD. The presence of either condition (vs. CKD/HF-free status) was associated with a three-fold hazard of death, whereas concomitant HF and CKD conferred a six to seven-fold adjusted hazard of mortality. CONCLUSION: Cardiorenal complications are common and are associated with high mortality risk among patients with new-onset T2DM. Close surveillance of these dual complications is crucial to reduce the burden of disease.

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection (HFpEF) constitutes a large and growing proportion of patients with HF around the world, and is now responsible for more than half of all HF cases in ageing societies. While classically described as a condition of elderly, hypertensive women, recent studies suggest heterogeneity in clinical phenotypes involving differential characteristics and pathophysiological mechanisms. Despite a paucity of disease-modifying therapy for HFpEF, an understanding of phenotypic similarities and differences among patients with HFpEF around the world provides the foundation to recognise the clinical condition for early treatment, as well as to identify modifiable risk factors for preventive intervention. This review summarises the epidemiology of HFpEF, its common clinical features and risk factors, as well as differences by age, comorbidities, race/ethnicity and geography.

Temporal trends and patterns of infective endocarditis in a Chinese population: A territory-wide study in Hong Kong (2002-2019).

Background: The characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) in Asians are poorly understood. Therefore, we aim to describe the epidemiological trends and clinical features of IE in Hong Kong. Methods: All patients with incident IE from 2002-2019 in a territory-wide clinical database in Hong Kong were identified. We studied the age- and sex-adjusted and one-year mortality of IE between 2002 and 2019 and identified significant contributors to 1-year all-cause death using the attributable fraction. We used propensity score and inverse propensity of treatment weighting to study the association of surgery with mortality. Findings: A total of 5139 patients (60.4 ± 18.2years, 37% women) were included. The overall incidence of IE was 4.9 per 100,000 person-year, which did not change over time (P = 0.17). Patients in 2019 were older and more comorbid than those in 2002. The one-year crude mortality rate was 30% in 2002, which did not change significantly over time (P = 0.10). Between 2002 and 2019, the rate of surgery increased and was associated with a 51% risk reduction in 1-year all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio 0.49 [0.28-0.87], P = 0.015). Advanced age (attributable fraction 19%) and comorbidities (attributable fraction 15%) were significant contributors to death. Interpretation: The incidence of IE in Hong Kong did not change between 2002 and 2019. Patients with IE in 2019 were older and had more comorbidities than those in 2002. Mortality of IE remains persistently high in Hong Kong. Together, these data can guide public health strategies to improve the outcomes of patients with IE. Funding: This work was supported by Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen, China [No. SZSM201911020] and HKU-SZH Fund for Shenzhen Key Medical Discipline [No. SZXK2020081].

Effects of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers on Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: Animal studies have suggested that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) can attenuate or reverse the progression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, while clinical studies yielded conflicting results. We sought to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of ARBs in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched through June 2020. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, and each study's quality was assessed using the Jadad scale. The primary outcome was left ventricular mass reduction, and the secondary outcome was the change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Data were pooled using the random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 1294 articles were screened. Five RCTs were included in the final analysis, enrolling 209 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (101 patients were in the ARB arm). ARB treatment was not associated with either significant left ventricular mass reduction (standardized mean difference: - 0.25; 95% CI: - 0.73, 0.22; p = 0.29) or change in LVEF (weighted mean difference: 0.73%; 95% CI: - 1.10%, 2.56%; p = 0.43). Subgroup analysis showed that losartan, one of the most investigated and commonly used ARBs, was also not associated with significant decreases of left ventricular mass (standardized mean difference: - 0.13; 95% CI: - 0.61, 0.36; p = 0.61). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis showed that ARB treatment is not associated with reduced left ventricular mass nor remarkable LVEF change among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Further studies with a larger number of patients will be required to confirm these findings.

Mid- to Late-Life Inflammation and Risk of Cardiac Dysfunction, HFpEF and HFrEF in Late Life.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic data supporting the association of accumulated inflammation from mid- to late life with late-life risk of cardiac dysfunction and heart failure (HF) is limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 4011 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study who were free of prevalent cardiovascular disease at study Visit 5, accumulated inflammation was defined as time-averaged high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP) over 3 visits spanning 1990 to 2013. Associations with left ventricular (LV) function at Visit 5 and with incident adjudicated HF post Visit 5 were assessed using linear and Cox regression, adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. Higher accumulated hsCRP was associated with greater LV mass index, lower e', higher E/e', and higher adjusting for demographics (all P ≤0.01), but only with higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure after adjustment for comorbidities (P = 0.024). At 5.3 ± 1.2 year follow-up, higher accumulated hsCRP was associated with greater risk of incident HF (HR 1.31 [95% CI 1.18-1.47], P < 0.001), HFrEF (1.26 [1.05-1.52], P = 0.01), and HFpEF (1.30 [1.11-1.53], P = 0.001) in demographic-adjusted models, but not after adjustment for comorbidities (all P > 0.10). Only Visit 5 hsCRP remained associated with incident HF (1.12 [1.02-1.24], P = 0.02) after full adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Greater accumulated inflammation is associated with worse LV function and heightened HF risk in late-life. These relationships are attenuated after adjusting for HF risk factors.

Weather temperature and the incidence of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases in an aging society.

Weather temperatures affect the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but there is limited information on whether CVD hospitalizations are affected by changes in weather temperatures in a super-aging society. We aimed to examine the association of diurnal weather temperature changes with CVD hospitalizations. We included 1,067,171 consecutive patients who were admitted to acute-care hospitals in Japan between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2015. The primary outcome was the number of CVD hospitalizations per day. The diurnal weather temperature range (DTR) was defined as the minimum weather temperature subtracted from the maximum weather temperature on the day before hospitalization. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models were used to estimate the association of DTR with cardiovascular hospitalizations after adjusting for weather, hospital, and patient demographics. An increased DTR was associated with a higher number of CVD hospitalizations (coefficient, 4.540 [4.310-4.765]/°C change, p < 0.001), with greater effects in those aged 75-89 (p < 0.001) and ≥ 90 years (p = 0.006) than among those aged ≤ 64 years; however, there were no sex-related differences (p = 0.166). Greater intraday weather temperature changes are associated with an increased number of CVD hospitalizations in the super-aging society of Japan, with a greater effect in older individuals.