Myocardial work em pacientes estratificados pelo escore hfa-peff na insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada / Myocardial work in patients stratified by hfa-peff score in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

INTRODUÇÃO: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) com fração de ejeção preservada (ICFEP) consiste em pelo menos metade dos casos de IC. A abordagem é desafiadora e os critérios diagnósticos propostos pela Heart Failure Association (HFA) incluem dados ecocardiográficos oriundos da análise de deformação miocárdica longitudinal do ventrículo esquerdo (VE), como método para estimar a disfunção sistólica incipiente. Mais recentemente, os índices de trabalho miocárdico, myocardial work (MW), têm sido utilizados, em diversos contextos clínicos, como novas ferramentas não invasivas mais independentes de carga para avaliação da performance miocárdica comparada ao strain. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os índices de MW em diferentes categorias de probabilidade diagnóstica de ICFEP baseadas no escore multiparamétrico HFA-PEFF. MÉTODO: Estudo unicêntrico, transversal, descritivo, de pacientes ambulatoriais em centro cardiovascular especializado de ICFEP, avaliados de 2020-2023. Avaliaram-se 300 pacientes com suspeita diagnóstica de ICFEP com janela acústica apropriada, em ritmo sinusal, sem valvopatias significativas ou marcapasso, a partir de software ecocardiográfico comercialmente disponível para análise do strain bidimensional do VE por técnica de speckle tracking e do MW. A pressão arterial sistólica obtida por método padronizado por esfigmomanômetro braquial automático foi utilizada como substituta da pressão sistólica do VE para avaliação do MW. Análises estatísticas foram realizadas por meio do software SPSS. RESULTADOS: Amostra com idade média de 60±12.1 anos, fração de ejeção VE média de 59.3±5.1%, com 64% dos pacientes do sexo feminino. Hipertensão arterial sistêmica e dislipidemia foram altamente prevalentes (> 70%). Cerca de 54% e 18% dos pacientes foram categorizados em intermediária e alta probabilidade de ICFEP, respectivamente, pelo escore. O trabalho miocárdico desperdiçado - Global Wasted Work ­ GWW - apresentou tendência crescente do grupo de baixa probabilidade para o de alta probabilidade (81.8±43.1 / 117.9±75.3 / 154.7±93.1 mmHg%; p<0.001), com decréscimo progressivo da eficiência de trabalho - Global Work Efficiency ­ GWE (95.6±1.9 / 94±3.6 / 92±4.5%; p<0.001). O GWW exibiu área sob a curva ROC de 0.78 (0.70-0.84) para predição do grupo com alto escore HFA-PEFF. CONCLUSÃO: O MW consiste em ferramenta capaz de discriminar pacientes com suspeita diagnóstica de ICFEP, apresentando potencial utilidade na caracterização da performance miocárdica nessa doença.

Nonpharmacological Approaches to Managing Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a common subtype of heart failure marked by impaired left ventricular diastolic function and decreased myocardial compliance. Given the limited availability of evidence-based pharmacological treatments for HFpEF, there is a growing interest in nonpharmacological interventions as viable therapeutic alternatives. This review aims to explore the pathophysiology of HFpEF and present recent advancements in nonpharmacological management approaches, encompassing noninvasive therapies, invasive procedures and targeted treatments for comorbidities. An extensive literature review was undertaken to identify and synthesize emerging nonpharmacological treatment options for HFpEF, assessing their potential to enhance patient outcomes. Nonpharmacological strategies, such as vagus nerve stimulation, percutaneous pulmonary artery denervation, renal denervation, transcatheter insertion of atrial shunts and pericardial resection, demonstrate promising potential for alleviating HFpEF symptoms and improving patient prognosis. Moreover, addressing comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes, may offer additional therapeutic benefits. These cutting-edge techniques, in conjunction with well-established exercise therapies, pave the way for future research and clinical applications in the field. Nonpharmacological interventions hold promise for advancing HFpEF patient care and fostering a deeper understanding of these treatment approaches, which will facilitate new clinical applications and contribute to the development of more targeted therapies.

Fatores contribuintes para doença renal crônica em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada / Contributing factors to chronic kidney disease in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

INTRODUÇÃO: A insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada (ICFEP) aumenta significativamente o risco de desenvolvimento de doença renal crônica (DRC), afetando adversamente desfechos clínicos como mortalidade prematura, morbidade, complicações multiorgânicas e custos de saúde. Este estudo investiga fatores que contribuem para a deterioração da função renal em pacientes com ICFEP, visando aprimorar o entendimento da doença e as estratégias de manejo. MÉTODOS: Em uma análise transversal, dados clínicos, laboratoriais e ecocardiográficos de pacientes ambulatoriais com suspeita de ICFEP foram avaliados. A probabilidade de ICFEP foi determinada usando os escores H2FPEF e HFA-PEFF. A função renal foi avaliada por níveis de eGFR, creatinina e microalbuminúria. Modelos de regressão logística multivariada foram utilizados para identificar fatores associados ao declínio da função renal. RESULTADOS: Dados de 569 pacientes (idade mediana: 64 anos; 66% feminino) foram analisados. Observamos uma correlação inversa entre eGFR mediano e escores de risco de ICFEP. O escore HFA-PEFF demonstrou um valor preditivo ligeiramente superior para DRC (OR: 1.8; IC 95%: 1.6-2.0) em comparação ao escore H2FPEF (OR: 1.5; IC 95%: 1.3-1.7). Maiores chances de DRC (eGFR< 60 mL/min/1.73m²) foram vinculadas ao escore HFA-PEFF com o marcador NT-ProBNP, independentemente de fibrilação atrial (FA - OR: 6.5; IC 95%: 3.1-14.1; Ritmo sinusal - OR: 3.4; IC 95%: 2.0-5.7), e com marcadores ecocardiográficos de disfunção diastólica (OR: 1.9; IC 95%: 1.4-2.7). O escore H2FPEF foi associado com idade (OR: 4.6; IC 95%: 2.8-7.9), hipertensão (OR: 3.2; IC 95%: 1.3-9.6), disfunção diastólica (OR: 2.0; IC 95%: 1.3-3.0) e fibrilação atrial (OR: 1.3; IC 95%: 1.1-1.5). Notavelmente, análises adicionais indicaram que um declínio no débito cardíaco foi associado com maiores chances de desenvolver DRC (OR: 1.6; IC 95%: 1.2-2.1). No entanto, fatores de risco tradicionais como obesidade, diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) e dislipidemia não mostraram associação significativa com o desenvolvimento de DRC nesta população. CONCLUSÃO: Associações significativas foram identificadas entre o declínio da função renal e escores de risco de ICFEP, destacando idade, hipertensão, disfunção diastólica e fibrilação atrial como fatores cruciais associados ao aumento do risco de DRC em pacientes com ICFEP. Estes resultados enfatizam o papel crucial da deterioração da função cardíaca na contribuição para o desenvolvimento de DRC em indivíduos em risco para ICFEP.

Catheter ablation versus medical therapy for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The benefit of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare catheter ablation and medical therapy (antiarrhythmics for rhythm or rate control) in patients with AF and HFpEF. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central. Outcomes were the composite endpoints of death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization, all-cause-death, cardiovascular death, all-cause-rehospitalization and HF hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using the R program (version 4.3.2). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. RESULTS We included 20,257 patients from 8 studies. Of those, 3 were derived from RCTs, either through post-hoc analysis or subgroup analysis, and 5 were observational studies. The median follow-up ranged from 24.6 to 61.2 months. As compared to medical therapy, catheter ablation was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of death or HF hospitalization (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.47 - 0.83; p=0.001; I2 =66%), all-cause-death (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.46 - 0.99; p=0.047; I2 =61%), cardiovascular death (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.21 - 0.84; p=0.014; I2 =22%) and HF hospitalization (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.23 - 0.82; p=0.011; I2 =87%). CONCLUSION In this meta-analysis, catheter ablation was associated with lower risk of the all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization and all-cause-rehospitalization in comparison to medical of patients with AF and HFpEF.

Adesão à medicação e qualidade de vida de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada / Adherence to medication and quality of life of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

INTRODUÇÃO: Indivíduos com insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada (IC- -FEp) enfrentam desafios terapêuticos no manejo de comorbidades, incluindo problemas com a adesão aos medicamentos, que contribuem para uma pior qualidade de vida. OBJETIVO: Descrever a adesão aos medicamentos e a qualidade de vida em indivíduos com IC-FEp. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma análise ad hoc como parte de um estudo de coorte retrospectivo em um ambulatório de Medicina Personalizada. A população do estudo incluiu dados de pacientes com dispneia inexplicada e fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) >50% atendidos entre novembro de 2020 e agosto de 2023. A amostra foi composta por 109 pacientes com alta probabilidade de IC-FEp de acordo com o algoritmo diagnóstico HFA-PEFF. A qualidade de vida foi medida com o Questionário de Vida com Insuficiência Cardíaca de Minnesota (MLHFQ), composto por 21 perguntas, com pontuações variando de 0 a 105; pontuações mais altas indicam pior qualidade de vida. A adesão aos medicamentos foi avaliada a Escala de Adesão aos Medicamentos de Morisky de oito itens (MMAS-8), com pontuações de 0 a 8, e a adesão classificada como alta (>8 pontos), moderada (6 a 8) ou baixa (<6). Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva. RESULTADOS: Dos 109 pacientes com alta probabilidade de IC-FEp, a média da classificação funcional da New York Heart Association foi 2,1±0,6. Os pacientes tinham uma média de idade de 67,6±11,0 anos, sendo 72 (66,1%) mulheres. A adesão aos medicamentos variou, com 46 (42,2%) apresentando alta adesão, 39 (35,8%) adesão moderada e 23 (21,1%) baixa adesão. Os itens do MMAS-8 com as pontuações mais baixas foram "Tomar medicamentos todos os dias é realmente incômodo para algumas pessoas. Você se sente incomodado em seguir seu plano de tratamento?" e "Quando você viaja ou deixa sua casa, às vezes esquece de levar seus medicamentos?". A pontuação mediana do MLHFQ foi 43,0 (Q1: 26; Q3: 57). Os itens do MLHFQ com as pontuações mais altas, indicando padrões piores, foram "Dificuldade para andar ou subir escadas" (mediana 4,0, Q1: 3,0; Q3: 5,0) e "Preocupação" (mediana 4,0, Q1: 1,0; Q3: 5,0). Conclusões: A maioria dos pacientes com IC-FEp apresenta adesão moderada a alta aos medicamentos, mas melhorias são necessárias, especialmente para mais de 20%, particularmente no que diz respeito à abordagem do sentimento de incômodo em seguir o plano de tratamento e estratégias para lembrar dos medicamentos durante as viagens. Tanto os aspectos físicos quanto psicológicos da QoL surgiram como alvos significativos para intervenção.

As relações entre adesão à medicação, probabilidade de insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada, classificação funcional e qualidade de vida em indivíduos com dispneia inexplicada / The relationships between medication adherence, probability of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, functional classification and quality of life in individuals with unexplained dyspnea

INTRODUÇÃO: Indivíduos com dispneia inexplicada recebem tratamento para comorbidades, e sua qualidade de vida (QdV) é influenciada por fatores como condições de saúde subjacentes, adesão à medicação e gravidade dos sintomas. OBJETIVO: Explorar asrelações entre adesão à medicação, classificação funcional, probabilidade de Insuficiência Cardíaca com Fração de Ejeção Preservada (ICFEP) e QdV em pessoas com dispneia inexplicada. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma análise ad hoc em um estudo de coorte retrospectivo em um ambulatório. O estudo incluiu pacientes com dispneia inexplicada e FEVE >50% entre novembro de 2020 e agosto de 2023. A probabilidade de ICFEP foi avaliada com os escores HFA-PEFF e H2FPEF, a QdV foi medida com o Questionário de Vida com Insuficiência Cardíaca de Minnesota (MLHFQ). A adesão à medicação para comorbidades foi categorizada como alta (>8 pontos), moderada (6 a 8) ou baixa (<6) com a Escala de Adesão à Medicação de Morisky (MMAS-8). As relações foram exploradas com o teste de correlação de Spearman, Kruskal Wallis e testes Qui-quadrado com correção de Bonferroni. RESULTADOS: Foram coletados dados de 434 pacientes, com idade média de 60,7±12,9 anos, 65,3% do sexo feminino e uma classe funcional mediana da NYHA de 2,0 (Q1: 1,0; Q3: 2,0). A probabilidade de ICFEP foi categorizada da seguinte forma: de acordo com o HFA-PEF, 215 (49,6%) moderados, 110 (25,3%) baixos e 109 (25,1%) altos; de acordo com o H2FPEF, 295 (68,0%) moderados, 75 (17,3%) baixos e 64 (14,7%) altos. Os escores HFA-PEF e H2FPEF foram significativamente correlacionados (rho de Spearman 0,624, p< 0,001). A alta adesão à medicação foi associada a uma probabilidade alta ou moderada de HFpEF de acordo com o HFA-PEF (p=0,008 e p< 0,001, respectivamente) e a escores mais altos do H2FPEF (p=0,007), mas não com a classe funcional da NYHA (p=0,167). O escore do MLHFQ não apresentou correlação significativa com HFA-PEF (rho de Spearman = 0,226, p< 0,001) ou H2FPEF (rho de Spearman = 0,362, p< 0,001) e não foi associado à adesão à medicação (p=0,202). CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos pacientes com suspeita de ICFEP exibiu uma probabilidade moderada da doença. A alta adesão à medicação foi associada a uma maior probabilidade de ICFEP, embora não tenha sido acompanhada por uma carga de sintomas mais significativa. Importante destacar que a QdV não apresentou associações com a adesão à medicação. Pacientes podem necessitar de investigação adicional para diagnósticos diferenciais de dispneia inexplicada e que impactam a QdV. Aprimorar a adesão à medicação para aqueles com baixa adesão é crucial.

Insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada: relação da adesão medicamentosa com a qualidade de vida e eventos cardiovasculares após um ano / Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: relationship between medication adherence and quality of life and cardiovascular events after one year

INTRODUÇÃO: A insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada (ICFEp) representa mais de 50% dos casos prevalentes de IC na população mundial. A fisiopatologia desse quadro não está totalmente clara, a falta de acordo em abordagens terapêuticas e avaliação de desfechos clínicos frente a patologia cria uma lacuna notável, exigindo investigações para estratégias de tratamento mais eficazes e direcionadas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação da adesão medicamentosa com qualidade de vida e eventos cardiovasculares em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada com diagnóstico há mais de um ano. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo observacional retrospectivo, foram incluídos no estudo pacientes com diagnóstico de ICFEp há mais de um ano em seguimento ambulatorial. Onde o paciente foi submetido a uma consulta para avaliação da adesão medicamentosa, qualidade de vida e ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares. Para avaliação da adesão medicamentosa foi aplicada a Escala de Adesão à Medicação de Morisky (MMAS-8). Já para avaliação da qualidade de vida foi utilizado o Questionário de Vida com Insuficiência Cardíaca de Minnesota (MLHFQ). Para ocorrência dos eventos cardiovasculares, o mesmo sinalizava com um indicativo de "sim" ou "não", em casos de evento, o paciente apresentava documentação hospitalar para avaliação. O Teste de Fisher foi empregado para análise estatística das relações entre adesão medicamentosa e qualidade de vida, bem como adesão medicamentosa e eventos cardiovasculares. RESULTADOS: Foram coletados dados de 48 pacientes. Composto por 17 indivíduos do sexo masculino e 29 do sexo feminino. Amédia de idade desses pacientes foi de 63 anos. A relação entre adesão medicamentosa e eventos cardiovasculares demonstrou p-valor 0.4698, segundo Teste de Fisher. Da mesma forma, a relação entre adesão medicamentosa e qualidade de vida apresentou p-valor de 0.196. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados indicam que não houve uma associação estatisticamente significativa entre a adesão medicamentosa e eventos cardiovasculares, assim como entre a adesão medicamentosa e qualidade de vida nesta amostra de pacientes com ICFEp há mais de um ano. Portanto, destaca-se a necessidade de investigar outras variáveis que podem influenciar a ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares e afetar a qualidade de vida nesse grupo específico de pacientes com ICFEp.

Hospitalizaciones y eventos por insuficiencia cardiaca sistólica y diastólica en España entre 2016 y 2019. Un estudio de base poblacional / Hospital admissions and outcomes for systolic and diastolic heart failure in Spain between 2016 and 2019: A population-based study

Antecedentes y objetivos: En España carecemos de datos poblacionales de hospitalizaciones por insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) según sea sistólica o diastólica. Analizamos las diferencias clínicas, en mortalidad intrahospitalaria y reingresos de causa cardiovascular a los 30 días entre ambos tipos. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de pacientes dados de alta con el diagnóstico principal de IC de los hospitales del Sistema Nacional de Salud entre 2016 y 2019, distinguiendo entre IC sistólica y diastólica. La fuente de datos fue el conjunto mínimo básico de datos del Ministerio de Sanidad. Se calcularon las razones de mortalidad intrahospitalaria y de reingreso a los 30 días estandarizadas por riesgo usando sendos modelos de regresión logística multinivel de ajuste de riesgo. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 190.200 episodios de IC. De ellos, 163.727 (86,1%) fueron por IC diastólica y se caracterizaron por presentar mayor edad, mayor proporción de mujeres, de diabetes y de insuficiencia renal que los de IC sistólica. Según los modelos de ajuste de riesgo la IC diastólica, frente a la sistólica, se comportó como un factor protector de mortalidad intrahospitalaria (odds ratio [OR]: 0,79; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC 95%]: 0,75-0,83; p<0,001) y de reingreso de causa cardiovascular a los 30 días (OR: 0,93; IC 95%: 0,88-0,97; p0,002). Conclusiones: En España, entre 2016 y 2019, los episodios de hospitalización por IC fueron mayoritariamente por IC diastólica. Según los modelos de ajuste de riesgo la IC diastólica, con respecto a la sistólica, fue un factor protector de mortalidad intrahospitalaria y de reingreso de causa cardiovascular a los 30 días.(AU)

Background and purpose: In Spain there is a lack of population data that specifically compare hospitalization for systolic and diastolic heart failure (HF). We assessed clinical characteristics, in-hospital mortality and 30-day cardiovascular readmission rates differentiating by HF type. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients discharged with the principal diagnosis of HF from The National Health System’ acute hospital during 2016-2019, distinguishing between systolic and diastolic HF. The source of the data was the Minimum Basic Data Set. The risk-standardized in-hospital mortality ratio and risk-standardized 30-day cardiovascular readmission ratio were calculated using multilevel risk adjustment models. Results: The 190,200 episodes of HF were selected. Of these, 163,727 (86.1%) were classified as diastolic HF and were characterized by older age, higher proportion of women, diabetes mellitus, dementia and renal failure than those with systolic HF. In the multilevel risk adjustment models, diastolic HF was a protective factor for both in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-0.83; P<.001) and 30-day cardiovascular readmission versus systolic HF (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88-0.97; P=.002). Conclusions: In Spain, between 2016 and 2019, hospitalization episodes for HF were mostly due to diastolic HF. According to the multilevel risk adjustment models, diastolic HF compared to systolic HF was a protective factor for both in-hospital mortality and 30-day cardiovascular readmission.(AU)

Prognostic Models for Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Importance: Accurate risk prediction of morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) may help clinicians risk stratify and inform care decisions. Objective: To develop and validate a novel prediction model for clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF using routinely collected variables and to compare it with a biomarker-driven approach. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data were used from the Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure (DELIVER) trial to derive the prediction model, and data from the Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (PARAGON-HF) and the Irbesartan in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Study (I-PRESERVE) trials were used to validate it. The outcomes were the composite of HF hospitalization (HFH) or cardiovascular death, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death. A total of 30 baseline candidate variables were selected in a stepwise fashion using multivariable analyses to create the models. Data were analyzed from January 2023 to June 2023. Exposures: Models to estimate the 1-year and 2-year risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death. Results: Data from 6263 individuals in the DELIVER trial were used to derive the prediction model and data from 4796 individuals in the PARAGON-HF trial and 4128 individuals in the I-PRESERVE trial were used to validate it. The final prediction model for the composite outcome included 11 variables: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level, HFH within the past 6 months, creatinine level, diabetes, geographic region, HF duration, treatment with a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, transient ischemic attack/stroke, any previous HFH, and heart rate. This model showed good discrimination (C statistic at 1 year, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.71-0.75) in both validation cohorts (C statistic at 1 year, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.69-0.74 in PARAGON-HF and 0.75; 95% CI, 0.73-0.78 in I-PRESERVE) and calibration. The model showed similar discrimination to a biomarker-driven model including high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and significantly better discrimination than the Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic (MAGGIC) risk score (C statistic at 1 year, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.58-0.63; delta C statistic, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.10-0.15; P < .001) and NT-proBNP level alone (C statistic at 1 year, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.64-0.68; delta C statistic, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.05-0.08; P < .001). Models derived for the prediction of all-cause and cardiovascular death also performed well. An online calculator was created to allow calculation of an individual's risk. Conclusions and Relevance: In this prognostic study, a robust prediction model for clinical outcomes in HFpEF was developed and validated using routinely collected variables. The model performed better than NT-proBNP level alone. The model may help clinicians to identify high-risk patients and guide treatment decisions in HFpEF.

Impact of epicardial adipose tissue on cardiac function and morphology in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

AIMS: This study aimed to identify the impact of increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and its regional distribution on cardiac function in patients with diastolic dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients with exertional dyspnoea (New York Heart Association ≥II), preserved ejection fraction (≥50%), and diastolic dysfunction (E/e' ≥ 8) underwent rest and stress right heart catheterization, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). EAT volumes were depicted from CMR short-axis stacks. First, the impact of increased EAT above the median was investigated. Second, the association of ventricular and atrial EAT with myocardial deformation at rest and during exercise stress was analysed in a multivariable regression analysis. Patients with high EAT had higher HFA-PEFF and H2FPEFF scores as well as N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels (all P < 0.048). They were diagnosed with manifest heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) more frequently (low EAT: 37% vs. high EAT: 64%; P = 0.029) and had signs of adverse remodelling indicated by higher T1 times (P < 0.001). No differences in biventricular volumetry and left ventricular mass (all P > 0.074) were observed. Patients with high EAT had impaired atrial strain at rest and during exercise stress, and impaired ventricular strain during exercise stress. Regionally increased EAT was independently associated with functional impairment of the adjacent chambers. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diastolic dysfunction and increased EAT show more pronounced signs of diastolic functional failure and adverse structural remodelling. Despite similar morphological characteristics, patients with high EAT show significant cardiac functional impairment, in particular in the atria. Our results indicate that regionally increased EAT directly induces atrial functional failure, which represents a distinct pathophysiological feature in HFpEF.

Myofilament dysfunction in diastolic heart failure.

Diastolic heart failure (DHF), in which impaired ventricular filling leads to typical heart failure symptoms, represents over 50% of all heart failure cases and is linked with risk factors, including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, and aging. A substantial proportion of patients with this disorder maintain normal left ventricular systolic function, as assessed by ejection fraction. Despite the high prevalence of DHF, no effective therapeutic agents are available to treat this condition, partially because the molecular mechanisms of diastolic dysfunction remain poorly understood. As such, by focusing on the underlying molecular and cellular processes contributing to DHF can yield new insights that can represent an exciting new avenue and propose a novel therapeutic approach for DHF treatment. This review discusses new developments from basic and clinical/translational research to highlight current knowledge gaps, help define molecular determinants of diastolic dysfunction, and clarify new targets for treatment.

Prevalence of respiratory failure and use of mechanical ventilation in heart failure patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion device implantation.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate respiratory complications in heart failure patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Adult admissions (>18 years) undergoing LAAO during 2016-2020 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample. Heart failure (HF) was stratified into systolic (SHF) and diastolic heart failure (DHF) and were compared to those without HF. Outcomes of interested included acute respiratory failure, use of non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of 74,440 admissions for atrial fibrillation undergoing LAAO, SHF and DHF were noted in 8335 (11.2%) and 10,925 (14.7%), respectively. The SHF cohort was predominantly male (78%) whereas DHF cohort were female (53%). Compared to those without HF, presence of SHF (2.3% vs. 0.6%; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.61 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.10-2.36]; p = 0.01) and DHF (2.8% vs. 0.6%; adjusted OR 2.20 [95% CI 1.58-3.06]; p < 0.001) were associated with higher rates of acute respiratory failure. SHF (1.7% vs. 0.6%; adjusted OR 1.70 [95% CI 1.07-2.71]; p = 0.02) group but not DHF (1.2% vs. 0.6%; adjusted OR 1.21 [95% CI 0.78-1.89]; p = 0.39) was associated with higher rates of non-invasive ventilation, whereas the DHF group (0.9% vs. 0.2%; adjusted OR 1.91 [95% CI 1.08-3.34]; p = 0.02) but not SHF (0.8% vs. 0.2%; adjusted OR 1.54 [95% CI 0.83-2.84]; p = 0.17) was associated with higher rates of invasive mechanical ventilation use. In-hospital mortality was comparable between cohorts. CONCLUSION: Compared to those without HF, atrial fibrillation admissions with HF undergoing LAAO had higher rates of acute respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation rates without differences in in-hospital mortality.

Effect of different types of aerobic training on peak VO2 and ejection fraction for diastolic heart failure patients; a comparative randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is described by a lack of confirmed efficient therapies and exercise intolerance. Engagement in physical activity decreases the possibility of adverse cardiovascular consequences involving heart failure. THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Determine the effect of different types of aerobic training on peak VO2 and ejection fraction in diastolic heart failure patients. SUBJECT AND METHODS: The study was designed as a randomized control trail. Forty-eight eligible male patients with diastolic heart failure, aged between 50 and 65 years old, enrolled in this study. They were picked up from Police hospital outpatient clinic and were assigned to 2 equal groups in numbers. The first group (A) received aerobic exercise for the upper limb in the form of arm ergometer exercises, while the second group (B) received aerobic exercise for the lower limb in the form of cycling. Training duration for both groups was 3 sessions/week for 12 weeks. Peak VO2, and ejection fraction of both groups were measured and compared pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the ejection fraction between groups post-treatment. However, a significant increase (p < 0.001) was observed in the peak VO2 of group B when compared to group A post-treatment. CONCLUSION: There is no effect of different types of aerobic training on ejection fraction in diastolic heart failure patients, but lower limb exercise is more effective than upper limb exercise in improving peak VO2 in diastolic heart failure patients. Therefore, the current study recommended the use of lower limb exercise over upper limb exercise in training diastolic heart failure patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered in ClinicalTrial.gov as a clinical trial ID (NCT05637125).

Serum anion gap is associated with mortality in intensive care unit patients with diastolic heart failure.

Serum anion gap (AG) is closely related to mortality in critically ill patients with several diseases. We aimed to determine the relationship between serum AG levels and 28-day intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF). This cohort study enrolled critically ill patients with DHF from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Serum AG levels were calculated using the traditional and albumin-adjusted methods. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression and restricted cubic spline curves were used to determine the correlation between serum AG levels and 28-day ICU mortality. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) to compare the ability of traditional and albumin-adjusted AG to predict mortality. Overall, 3290 patients were included. Multivariate analysis showed an association of high levels of traditional (hazard ratio [HR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.98, p = 0.009) and albumin-adjusted AG (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.79, p = 0.033) with higher risk of 28-day ICU mortality. Restricted cubic spline curves indicated a linear relationship between AG level and 28-day ICU mortality. Comparison of the ROC curves revealed that albumin-adjusted AG had a greater ability to predict 28-day ICU mortality compared with traditional AG (AUCs of 0.569 [95% CI, 0.536-0.601] and 0.619 [95% CI, 0.588-0.649], respectively). In ICU patients with DHF, higher levels of traditional and albumin-adjusted AG were associated with higher 28-day ICU mortality. Albumin-adjusted AG exhibited greater predictive ability for mortality compared with traditional AG.

Carboximaltosa férrica en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de eyección reducida y deficiencia de hierro previo cirugía cardiovascular / Ferric carboxymaltose in patients with heart failure with reduced exercise fraction and iron deficiency before cardiovascular surgery

ÁREA DESCRIPTIVA DEL PROBLEMA DE SALUD: Definición: La anemia y la ferropenia son dos importantes comorbilidades comunes en pacientes con Insuficiencia Cardíaca (IC) y se asocian a un mal estado clínico y a peores resultados a corto y largo plazo; la anemia y la ferropenia son de hecho, medidores de pobre pronóstico en pacientes con IC, corregir estas comorbilidades sería una diana terapéutica atractiva y novedosa para mejorar los resultados. La anemia se asocia de forma independiente con la gravedad de la IC y la mortalidad, y la deficiencia de hierro parece asociarse de forma exclusiva con una menor capacidad de ejercicio. La deficiencia de hierro suele definirse como un nivel de ferritina <100 µg /L o un nivel de 100 a 300 µg/L, si la saturación de transferrina es <20%. Se ha demostrado que la repleción intravenosa de hierro mejora la capacidad de ejercicio y la calidad de vida. Principales manifestaciones clínicas: la identificación de los síntomas es un paso clave en el diagnóstico; estos incluyen aquellos relacionados a la sobrecarga hídrica (disnea, ortopnea, edema, dolor por la congestión hepática, y discomfort abdominal asociado a la distensión por la ascitis) y aquellos secundarios a la reducción del gasto cardíaco (debilidad, fatiga) que se pronuncian más con el ejercicio.(2) En cuanto a la anemia, definida como la reducción de 1 o más componentes de la línea roja celular (concentración de hemoglobina, hematocrito, o conteo de glóbulos rojos) una concentración baja de hemoglobina o bajo hematocrito son los parámetros ampliamente usados para el diagnóstico, con los siguientes rangos. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó una búsqueda en las principales bases de datos bibliográficas Pubmed Carboximaltosa férrica; Insuficiencia cardiaca; Deficiencia de hierro; Hierro Sacarosa; Anemia; cirugía cardiovascular. Se filtra la búsqueda a Estudios Clínicos fase 111, controlados randomizados, Revisiones Sistemáticas, Meta-análisis, Guías de Práctica Clínica, además se limitó la búsqueda estudios en humanos. También se realiza búsqueda manual en otras bases de datos bibliográficas (Cochrane, NIH, TRIP 0ATABASE), en buscadores genéricos de internet, agencias de evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias y financiadores de salud. Se priorizó la inclusión de revisiones sistemáticas, meta-análisis, estudios clínicos aleatorizados y controlados, guías de práctica clínica, evaluaciones de tecnología sanitaria, evaluaciones económicas y políticas de cobertura de otros sistemas de salud. CONCLUSIONES. Eficacia: Carboximaltosa Férrica es un medicamento propuesto para el tratamiento de pacientes con anemia por déficit de hierro, en quienes no se puede corregir esta afección con hierro oral, o se necesita hacerlo de una manera rápida; La evaluación de este efecto se ha hecho a través de ensayos clínicos controlados y aleatorizados. Estos estudios sugieren que el uso de carboximaltosa férrica puede ser eficaz para corregir la anemia secundaria por déficit de hierro, pero es importante recalcar que los estudios pivotales están hechos comparando su uso con placebo; la utilización se asocia con mejoría en la calidad de vida de estos pacientes y menos tiempo de estancia hospitalaria; sin embargo, estos mismos informes refieren que no hay disminución en la probabilidad de muerte en general para estos pacientes; es muy importante mencionar que a pesar de que la carboximaltosa férrica al momento está siendo muy estudiada para el uso de pacientes con déficit de hierro e insuficiencia cardíaca, los preparados como Hierro Sacarosa también han sido estudiados en esta patología , y faltan más investigaciones donde se comparen estos dos preparados para obtener mayor evidencia sobre el beneficio de usar uno sobre el otro; además, también hay una gran falta de estudios específicos sobre la población preoperatoria que se someterá a cirugía cardiovascular; si bien es cierto se hace un especial énfasis acerca de la importancia de identificar y corregir la anemia preoperatoria, las guías clínicas actualizadas y revisiones de la literatura no especifican a la carboximaltosa férrica como medicamento de primera línea en el manejo de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardiovascular. También, es de hacer notar que la mayoría de investigaciones se han realizado en poblaciones específicas que no pueden ser generalizados a otras poblaciones, así como hay heterogeneidad en los parámetros estudiados entre ellos como los valores de hemoglobina en cada estudio siendo un dato importante para esta revisión. Seguridad: De acuerdo a la revisión realizada se puede concluir que la administración de Carboximaltosa férrica es segura; La reacción adversa reportada con mayor frecuencia fue náuseas (que se produce en el 3,2% de los sujetos), seguida por reacciones en el lugar de inyección/perfusión, hipofosfatemia, cefalea, rubefacción, mareos e hipertensión. Las reacciones en el lugar de inyección/perfusión se componen de varias reacciónes adversas que de forma individual son poco frecuentes o raras. La más grave es la reacción anafiláctica (rara); se han notificado muertes con su uso; los estudios también demuestran que ambas terapias presentan reacciones similares, siendo las más comunes los trastornos de hipersensibilidad, gastrointestinales y desequilibrios hidroelectrolíticos. Aunque es cierto que la literatura describe un ligero aumento en la frecuencia de estas reacciones con Hierro Sacarosa, también se menciona que la mayoría de ellas son rápidamente reversibles y no ponen en peligro la vida de los pacientes. Costo: Para el ISSS, el uso de Carboximaltosa Férrica en pacientes con Insuficiencia Cardíaca y anemia podría considerarse una opción rentable a largo plazo. Dado que se requiere una única aplicación y menos personal y espacio hospitalario, el costo de adquisición se puede recuperar a través de la reducción de recursos de salud utilizados y la ocupación de camas hospitalarias. Aunque al comparar el costo de adquisición de este medicamento con Hierro Sacarosa, un medicamento ya disponible en la institución, se observa que, a pesar de que se necesitan dosis mayores de Hierro Sacarosa para lograr el mismo efecto, el costo total de estas dosis no supera la aplicación individual de Carboximaltosa Férrica. Conveniencia: A pesar de lo antes mencionado sobre el beneficio del uso de carboximaltosa de hierro, en pacientes con déficit de hierro e insuficiencia cardíaca; La mayoría de documentos mencionan que el hierro intravenoso podría controlar los niveles de hemoglobina en los pacientes sometidos a cirugía electiva, no está clara la repercusión del hierro intravenoso sobre los resultados (transfusiones sanguíneas, riesgo de infecciones, o supervivencia en general). En la institución se cuenta con Hierro Sacarosa, un preparado endovenoso que también se utiliza para la corrección de la anemia por déficit de hierro; las ventajas que se presentan de la carboximaltosa férrica a este preparado se centran en menor número de dosis y menor estancia hospitalaria, que se traducen en menor uso de recursos y menor tiempo cama hospitalaria; sin embargo, no hay estudios que prueben el beneficio en una rápida corrección de hemoglobina utilizando carboximaltosa férrica sobre hierro sacarosa, por lo que no es posible concluir que sea más conveniente su uso en pacientes preoperatorios que necesiten un rápido restablecimiento de estos valores.

Outpatient Worsening Among Patients With Mildly Reduced and Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure in the DELIVER Trial.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalization is recognized as a sentinel event in the disease trajectory of patients with heart failure (HF), but not all patients experiencing clinical decompensation are ultimately hospitalized. Outpatient intensification of diuretics is common in response to symptoms of worsening HF, yet its prognostic and clinical relevance, specifically for patients with HF with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, is uncertain. METHODS: In this prespecified analysis of the DELIVER trial (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure), we assessed the association between various nonfatal worsening HF events (those requiring hospitalization, urgent outpatient visits requiring intravenous HF therapies, and outpatient oral diuretic intensification) and rates of subsequent mortality. We further examined the treatment effect of dapagliflozin on an expanded composite end point of cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization, urgent HF visit, or outpatient oral diuretic intensification. RESULTS: In DELIVER, 4532 (72%) patients experienced no worsening HF event, whereas 789 (13%) had outpatient oral diuretic intensification, 86 (1%) required an urgent HF visit, 585 (9%) had an HF hospitalization, and 271 (4%) died of cardiovascular causes as a first presentation. Patients with a first presentation manifesting as outpatient oral diuretic intensification experienced rates of subsequent mortality that were higher (10 [8-12] per 100 patient-years) than those without a worsening HF event (4 [3-4] per 100 patient-years) but similar to rates of subsequent death after an urgent HF visit (10 [6-18] per 100 patient-years). Patients with an HF hospitalization as a first presentation of worsening HF had the highest rates of subsequent death (35 [31-40] per 100 patient-years). The addition of outpatient diuretic intensification to the adjudicated DELIVER primary end point (cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization, or urgent HF visit) increased the overall number of patients experiencing an event from 1122 to 1731 (a 54% increase). Dapagliflozin reduced the need for outpatient diuretic intensification alone (hazard ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.64-0.82]) and when analyzed as a part of an expanded composite end point of worsening HF or cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.69-0.84]). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HF with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, worsening HF requiring oral diuretic intensification in ambulatory care was frequent, adversely prognostic, and significantly reduced by dapagliflozin. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03619213.

Association of Hypoalbuminemia With Clinical Outcomes in Patients Admitted With Acute Heart Failure.

Albumin is a protein produced by the liver essential for maintaining blood volume and regulating fluid balance. Hypoalbuminemia is characterized by low levels of albumin in the blood. It is also a marker of malnutrition-inflammatory syndrome. Several studies have demonstrated its prognostic role in patients with chronic heart failure; however, data regarding hypoalbuminemia in acute heart failure admissions are scarce. This study aims to analyze the relationship between hypoalbuminemia and heart failure. We used a retrospective cohort study surveying data from the 2016-2018 combined National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Adult hospitalizations for heart failure patients were identified using the ICD-10 codes, stratified into cohorts with and without hypoalbuminemia. Primary outcomes were (1) in-patient mortality, (2) length of stay, and total hospital charge. We also reclassified the HF admissions with hypoalbuminemia to those with systolic or diastolic heart failure to compare any differences in mortality and other in-patient complications. Multivariate linear and logistic regression were used to adjust for confounders and to analyze the outcomes. There were 1,365,529 adult hospitalizations for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), and among them 1,205,990 (88 %) had secondary diagnoses of hypoalbuminemia. Patients with comorbid hypoalbuminemia were, on average, 8 years older (P < 0.001), predominantly white race, and males (P-value <0.001). HF hospitalizations with hypoalbuminemia had double in-hospital mortality than those without (4.8% vs 2.7%, P < 0.001). However, there was no difference in mortality between patients with Systolic heart failure and Diastolic heart failure with concomitant low albumin levels (from 4.9 % vs 4.7%, P 0.13). We found that patients admitted with HF and concomitant Hypoalbuminemia (HA) had nearly twice the odds of in-patient mortality than those with normal albumin levels. The Length of Stay (LOS) was higher between comparison groups. THC remained statistically indifferent in patients regardless of albumin levels but was greater in hypoalbuminemic patients with Systolic heart failure than Diastolic heart failure ones.

Systolic Heart Failure is Associated with Higher Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Nationwide Analysis.

Heart failure (HF) is prevalent among patients with aortic stenosis and presents a poor prognosis. In order to better portray outcomes for HF patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), we evaluated clinical outcomes in patients with systolic vs diastolic heart failure who underwent TAVR in a large nationwide database. We searched the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for hospitalized adult patients who underwent TAVR with coexisting history of systolic (SHF) or diastolic heart failure (DHF) as a secondary diagnosis using the ICD-10 codes. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, with secondary outcomes of cardiac arrest (CA), cardiogenic shock (CS), respiratory failure (RF), Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), acute kidney injury (AKI), use of cardiac and respiratory assist device, and health care utilization defined as length of stay, average hospital cost (AHC) and patient charge (APC). Both univariate and multivariate logistic, generalized linear, and Poisson regression analyses were used to evaluate and test the outcomes. A P-value of <0.05 was significant. A total of 106,815 patients were admitted to acute care hospitals for TAVR, and 73% had a secondary diagnosis of heart failure (41% had SHF and 59% DHF). SHF group were older (mean age of 78.9 years [SD ± 8.9] vs 79.9 years [SD ± 8.3]) with more males (61.8% vs 48.2%) and white predominant (whites [85.9% vs 87.9%]). Compared to DHF, SHF had higher inpatient mortality (1.75% vs 1.14%, P = 0.003), CA (1.31% vs 0.81%, P = 0.01), NSTEMI (2.52% vs 1.0%, P = 0.001), RF (10.87% vs 8.01%, P = 0.001), and CS (3.94% vs 1.14%, P = 0.001). In addition, SHF had greater LOS (5.1 days vs. .3.9, P = 0.0001) & AHC ($52,901 vs $48,070, P = 0.0001). HF is common among patients admitted for TAVR. SHF had worse CV outcomes, greater use of hospital resources, and higher acute care hospital mortality compared to those with DHF.

Dapagliflozin in Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction According to Polypharmacy Status.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF) have a high burden of multimorbidity, often necessitating numerous medications. There may be clinical concern about introducing another medication, especially among individuals with polypharmacy. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the efficacy and safety of addition of dapagliflozin according to the number of concomitant medications in HF with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis of the DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) trial, 6,263 participants with symptomatic HF with left ventricular ejection fraction >40% were randomized to dapagliflozin or placebo. Baseline medication use (including vitamins and supplements) was collected. Efficacy and safety outcomes were assessed by medication use categories ("nonpolypharmacy": <5 medications; "polypharmacy": 5 to 9 medications; and "hyperpolypharmacy": ≥10 medications) and continuously. The primary outcome was worsening HF or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: Overall, 3,795 (60.6%) patients met polypharmacy and 1,886 (30.1%) met hyperpolypharmacy criteria. Higher numbers of medications were strongly associated with higher comorbidity burden and increased rates of the primary outcome. Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin similarly reduced the risk of the primary outcome irrespective of polypharmacy status (nonpolypharmacy HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.58-1.34]; polypharmacy HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.75-1.03]; hyperpolypharmacy HR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.60-0.88]; Pinteraction = 0.30). Similarly, benefits with dapagliflozin were consistent across the spectrum of total medication use (Pinteraction = 0.06). Although adverse events increased with higher number of medications, they were not more frequent with dapagliflozin, regardless of polypharmacy status. CONCLUSIONS: In the DELIVER trial, dapagliflozin safely reduced worsening HF or cardiovascular death across a broad range of baseline medication use, including among individuals with polypharmacy (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure [DELIVER]; NCT03619213).