Prognostic value of nutritional screening tools in hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nutritional risk screening is fundamental to prevent undesirable outcomes in heart failure (HF). Current reviews of nutritional screening tools encompass both hospitalized and outpatient settings, which may not be suitable because of different clinical manifestations. We hypothesize that multidimensional tools would better identify prognosis of decompensated patients because the tools assess more than isolated aspects. This systematic review aims to explore the association of multidimensional nutritional risk screening tools and prognosis in patients hospitalized with decompensated HF. Five databases were searched for studies that assessed nutritional risk through multidimensional screening tools and its association with prognosis in adults hospitalized with decompensated HF. The 95% confidence interval and relative risk were computed using a random-effects model. Inverse variance method was used. Thirty-eight studies were included. Most studies demonstrated higher nutritional risk was significantly associated with worse prognosis. Quantitative analysis identified higher nutritional risk by using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), Controlling Nutritional Status, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, and Prognostic Nutritional Index to be associated with all-cause mortality. The MNA-SF demonstrated greater magnitude of association with all-cause mortality in older subjects (relative risk, 4.85; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-11.75). Higher nutritional risk was associated with poor prognosis and higher mortality in patients hospitalized with decompensated HF, especially when screened by MNA-SF. Tools were not directly compared. That might reinforce the importance of evaluating multiple aspects when screening hospitalized HF patients once symptoms associated with decompensation frequently mask the underlying nutritional status and risk. PROSPERO registration number (CRD42021256271).

Use of the ADHERE Risk Model as a Predictor of Risk of in-Hospital Worsening Heart Failure in a Cohort. / Uso do Modelo de Risco ADHERE como Preditor de Piora Intra-Hospitalar de Insuficiência Cardíaca em uma Coorte.

BACKGROUND: Patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) are subject to developing worsening episodes that require more complex interventions. The Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) risk model was developed in the United States to predict the risk of in-hospital worsening HF. OBJECTIVE: To use the ADHERE risk model in the assessment of risk of in-hospital worsening HF and to determine its sensitivity and specificity in hospitalized patients. METHODS: This cohort study was conducted at a Brazilian public university hospital, and data from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively collected. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 890 patients with a mean age of 74 ± 8 years were included. The model showed that, in the group of 490 patients at risk, 254 (51.8%) developed in-hospital worsening HF. In the group of 400 patients not at risk, only 109 (27.2%) experienced worsening HF. The results demonstrated a statistically significant curve (area under the curve = 0.665; standard error = 0.018; P < 0.01; confidence interval = 0.609 to 0.701), indicating good accuracy. The model had a sensitivity of 69.9% and a specificity of 55.2%, with a positive predictive value of 52% and a negative predictive value of 72.7%. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, we showed that the ADHERE risk model was able to discriminate patients who in fact developed worsening HF during the admission period, from those who did not.

FUNDAMENTO: Pacientes hospitalizados com insuficiência cardíaca (IC) aguda descompensada estão sujeitos a desenvolver episódios de piora que requerem intervenções mais complexas. O modelo de predição de risco "Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry" (ADHERE) foi desenvolvido nos Estados Unidos para prever o risco de piora intra-hospitalar da IC. OBJETIVO: Utilizar o modelo de predição de risco ADHERE para avaliar o risco de piora intra-hospitalar da IC e determinar a sua sensibilidade e especificidade em pacientes hospitalizados. MÉTODOS: O presente estudo de coorte foi realizado em um hospital universitário público brasileiro e os dados de 2013 a 2020 foram coletados retrospectivamente. Foram considerados estatisticamente significativos valores de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 890 pacientes com idade média de 74 ± 8 anos. O modelo mostrou que no grupo de 490 pacientes de risco, 254 (51,8%) desenvolveram piora intra-hospitalar da IC. No grupo de 400 pacientes sem risco, apenas 109 (27,2%) apresentaram piora da IC. Os resultados demonstraram uma curva estatisticamente significativa (área sob a curva = 0,665; erro padrão = 0,018; p < 0,01; intervalo de confiança = 0,609 a 0,701), indicando boa precisão. O modelo apresentou sensibilidade de 69,9% e especificidade de 55,2%, com valor preditivo positivo de 52% e valor preditivo negativo de 72,7%. CONCLUSÕES: Na presente coorte, demonstramos que o modelo de predição de risco ADHERE foi capaz de discriminar pacientes que, de fato, desenvolveram piora da IC durante o período de internação daqueles que não desenvolveram.

Functional training improves peak oxygen consumption and quality of life of individuals with heart failure: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Functional training may be an effective non-pharmacological therapy for heart failure (HF). This study aimed to compare the effects of functional training with strength training on peak VO2 and quality of life in individuals with HF. METHODS: A randomized, parallel-design and examiner-blinded controlled clinical trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. Twenty-seven participants with chronic HF were randomly allocated to functional or strength training group, to perform a 12-week physical training, three times per week, totalizing 36 sessions. Primary outcomes were the difference on peak VO2 and quality of life assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, respectively. Secondary outcomes included functionality assessed by the Duke Activity Status Index and gait speed test, peripheral and inspiratory muscular strength, assessed by hand grip and manovacuometry testing, respectively, endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, and lean body mass by arm muscle circumference. RESULTS: Participants were aged 60 ± 7 years, with left ventricular ejection fraction 29 ± 8.5%. The functional and strength training groups showed the following results, respectively: peak VO2 increased by 1.4 ± 3.2 (16.9 ± 2.9 to 18.6 ± 4.8 mL.kg-1.min-1; p time = 0.011) and 1.5 ± 2.5 mL.kg-1.min-1 (16.8 ± 4.0 to 18.6 ± 5.5 mL.kg-1.min-1; p time = 0.011), and quality of life score decreased by 14 ± 15 (25.8 ± 14.8 to 10.3 ± 7.8 points; p time = 0.001) and 12 ± 28 points (33.8 ± 23.8 to 19.0 ± 15.1 points; p time = 0.001), but no difference was observed between groups (peak VO2: p interaction = 0.921 and quality of life: p interaction = 0.921). The functional and strength training increased the activity status index by 6.5 ± 12 and 5.2 ± 13 points (p time = 0.001), respectively, and gait speed by 0.2 ± 0.3 m/s (p time = 0.002) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Functional and strength training are equally effective in improving peak VO2, quality of life, and functionality in individuals with HF. These findings suggest that functional training may be a promising and innovative exercise-based strategy to treat HF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03321682. Registered date: 26/10/2017.

Comparison of COVID-19 hospitalization costs across care pathways: a patient-level time-driven activity-based costing analysis in a Brazilian hospital.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the need to better understand where and how patient-level costs are incurred in health care organizations, as health managers and other decision-makers need to plan and quickly adapt to the increasing demand for health care services to meet patients' care needs. Time-driven activity-based costing offers a better understanding of the drivers of cost throughout the care pathway, providing information that can guide decisions on process improvement and resource optimization. This study aims to estimate COVID-19 patient-level hospital costs and to evaluate cost variability considering the in-hospital care pathways of COVID-19 management and the patient clinical classification. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that applied time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) in a Brazilian reference center for COVID-19. Patients hospitalized during the first wave of the disease were selected for their data to be analyzed to estimate in-hospital costs. The cost information was calculated at the patient level and stratified by hospital care pathway and Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (OSCI) category. Multivariable analyses were applied to identify predictors of cost variability in the care pathways that were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients were included in the study. Patients followed five different care pathways, of which Emergency + Ward was the most followed (n = 118, 57%). Pathways which included the intensive care unit presented a statistically significant influence on costs per patient (p <  0.001) when compared to Emergency + Ward. The median cost per patient was I$2879 (IQR 1215; 8140) and mean cost per patient was I$6818 (SD 9043). The most expensive care pathway was the ICU only, registering a median cost per patient of I$13,519 (IQR 5637; 23,373) and mean cost per patient of I$17,709 (SD 16,020). All care pathways that included the ICU unit registered a higher cost per patient. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first microcosting study for COVID-19 that applied the TDABC methodology and demonstrated how patient-level costs vary as a function of the care pathways followed by patients. These findings can be used to develop value reimbursement strategies that will inform sustainable health policies in middle-income countries such as Brazil.

Uso do Modelo de Risco ADHERE como Preditor de Piora Intra-Hospitalar de Insuficiência Cardíaca em uma Coorte / Use of the ADHERE Risk Model as a Predictor of Risk of in-Hospital Worsening Heart Failure in a Cohort

Resumo Fundamento Pacientes hospitalizados com insuficiência cardíaca (IC) aguda descompensada estão sujeitos a desenvolver episódios de piora que requerem intervenções mais complexas. O modelo de predição de risco "Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry" (ADHERE) foi desenvolvido nos Estados Unidos para prever o risco de piora intra-hospitalar da IC. Objetivo Utilizar o modelo de predição de risco ADHERE para avaliar o risco de piora intra-hospitalar da IC e determinar a sua sensibilidade e especificidade em pacientes hospitalizados. Métodos O presente estudo de coorte foi realizado em um hospital universitário público brasileiro e os dados de 2013 a 2020 foram coletados retrospectivamente. Foram considerados estatisticamente significativos valores de p < 0,05. Resultados Foram incluídos 890 pacientes com idade média de 74 ± 8 anos. O modelo mostrou que no grupo de 490 pacientes de risco, 254 (51,8%) desenvolveram piora intra-hospitalar da IC. No grupo de 400 pacientes sem risco, apenas 109 (27,2%) apresentaram piora da IC. Os resultados demonstraram uma curva estatisticamente significativa (área sob a curva = 0,665; erro padrão = 0,018; p < 0,01; intervalo de confiança = 0,609 a 0,701), indicando boa precisão. O modelo apresentou sensibilidade de 69,9% e especificidade de 55,2%, com valor preditivo positivo de 52% e valor preditivo negativo de 72,7%. Conclusões Na presente coorte, demonstramos que o modelo de predição de risco ADHERE foi capaz de discriminar pacientes que, de fato, desenvolveram piora da IC durante o período de internação daqueles que não desenvolveram.

Abstract Background Patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) are subject to developing worsening episodes that require more complex interventions. The Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) risk model was developed in the United States to predict the risk of in-hospital worsening HF. Objective To use the ADHERE risk model in the assessment of risk of in-hospital worsening HF and to determine its sensitivity and specificity in hospitalized patients. Methods This cohort study was conducted at a Brazilian public university hospital, and data from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively collected. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results A total of 890 patients with a mean age of 74 ± 8 years were included. The model showed that, in the group of 490 patients at risk, 254 (51.8%) developed in-hospital worsening HF. In the group of 400 patients not at risk, only 109 (27.2%) experienced worsening HF. The results demonstrated a statistically significant curve (area under the curve = 0.665; standard error = 0.018; P < 0.01; confidence interval = 0.609 to 0.701), indicating good accuracy. The model had a sensitivity of 69.9% and a specificity of 55.2%, with a positive predictive value of 52% and a negative predictive value of 72.7%. Conclusions In this cohort, we showed that the ADHERE risk model was able to discriminate patients who in fact developed worsening HF during the admission period, from those who did not.

Pancreatitis as a Potential Trigger for Severe Accelerated Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Early Post Heart Transplant: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: We present a case of severe accelerated cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), an infrequent finding usually related to dismal prognosis, in a heart recipient with recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 38-year-old male was transplanted owing to advanced heart failure related to nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. On the fifth day after transplantation, a nonbiliary acute ischemic pancreatitis occurred. Recurrent relapses ensued within the following year requiring hospital readmissions for both supportive and pain management. The patient developed graft dysfunction by the 18th month post-transplant with severe multivessel CAV. A trial of bortezomib and percutaneous coronary interventions with drug-eluting stents at coronary arteries were attempted but the patient died suddenly, before the scheduled staged percutaneous coronary intervention for the coronary total occlusion was performed. DISCUSSION: The causal mechanisms of aggressive accelerated CAV are unclear, but it is suggested that important inflammatory and/or humoral responses may play a pivotal role in this life-threatening disease pathogenesis. Increased levels of biomarkers have been linked to advanced CAV, as well as pancreatitis pathogenesis, related to cytokine activation with remarkable systemic inflammatory response. Some of those inflammatory mediators have been reported as central in both pancreatitis and CAV, more specifically interleukin-6. CONCLUSION: A pro-inflammatory state due to recurrent acute pancreatitis early after transplantation may have contributed to severely accelerated CAV development in the presented case. Comprehensive evaluation of risk factors may assist in close surveillance and targeted therapies in the management of this challenging post-heart transplant scenario.

Impact of COVID-19 Infection Among Heart Transplant Recipients: A Southern Brazilian Experience.

PURPOSE: The coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) infection is associated with a high risk of complications and death among heart transplant recipients. However, most cohorts are from high-income countries, while data from Latin America are sparse. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort of heart transplant recipients followed at a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between March 1st 2020 and October 1st 2021. RESULTS: Of the 62 heart transplant recipients on follow-up, 21 (34%) were infected by COVID-19, 58 (36-63) years of age, 67% male, body mass index of 26 (23-29) kg/m2, 48% with hypertension, 43% with chronic kidney disease, 5% with diabetes, within 2 (1-4) years of post-transplant follow-up. At presentation, the main symptoms were fever (62%), myalgia (33%), cough (33%), headache (33%), and dyspnea (19%). Hospitalization was required for 13 (62%) patients, with a time from first symptoms to the admission of 5 (1-12) days. In 38%, supplementary oxygen was needed, 19% required intensive care, and 10% mechanical ventilation. Three (14%) were infected after at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The main complications were bacterial pneumonia (38%), renal replacement therapy (19%), sepsis (10%) and venous thromboembolism (10%). Immunosuppression therapy was modified in 48%, with a reduction in the majority (89%). Two (10%) patients died in the hospital due to refractory hypoxemia and multiple organ dysfunction. The incidence of COVID-19 among transplant patients was comparable to the general population in the State of Rio Grande do Sul with a peak in December 2020. CONCLUSION: Heart transplant recipients shown a high rate of COVID-19 infection in Southern Brazil, with typical symptom presentation in most cases. There was an elevated rate of hospitalization, supplementary oxygen support, and complications. In-hospital lethality among infected heart transplanted recipients was similar to previously reported data worldwide despite the high rates of infection in Latin America.

C-Reactive Protein and Frailty in Heart Failure.

Frailty commonly coexists with heart failure and although both have been associated with neurohormonal dysregulation, inflammation, catabolism, and skeletal muscle dysfunction, there are still no defined biomarkers to assess frailty, especially from the perspective of populations with cardiovascular diseases. This is a cross-sectional study with 106 outpatients with heart failure, aged ≥60 years, which aimed to assess frailty through a physical (frailty phenotype) and multidimensional (Tilburg Frailty Indicator) approach and to analyze its association with inflammatory and humoral biomarkers (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α, insulin-like growth factor-1, and total testosterone), clinical characteristics, and functional capacity. In univariate analysis, hs-CRP was associated with frailty in both phenotype and Tilburg Frailty Indicator assessment (PR = 1.005, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001 to 1.009, p = 0.027 and PR = 1.015, 95% CI 1.006 to 1.024, p = 0.001, respectively), which remained significant in the final multivariate model in the frailty assessment by the phenotype (PR = 1.004, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.008, p = 0.025). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for other biomarkers analyzed. Frailty was also associated with worse functional capacity, nonoptimized pharmacological treatment and a greater number of drugs in use, age, female gender, and a greater number of comorbidities. In conclusion, frailty is associated with higher levels of hs-CRP, which can indicate it is a promising frailty biomarker.

Cardiogenic shock treated with temporary mechanical circulatory support in Brazil: The effect of learning curve.

AIMS: Treatment with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has been proposed to mitigate mortality in cardiogenic shock (CS). However, there is a lack of data on MCS programs implementation and the effect of the learning curve on its outcomes in limited resources countries such as Brazil. METHODS: Prospective cohort of patients with CS admitted in four tertiary-care centers treated with Impella CP or veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Clinical outcomes were peri-procedural complications, short-term mortality rate, and the centers' learning curve. The cohort was divided into two periods: from April 2017 to July 2018 (n = 24), and from August 2018 to December 2020 (n = 25). RESULTS: The study enrolled 49 patients [age 59 (43-63) years; 34 (70%) males]. The most common causes for CS were acute myocardial infarction in 22 (45%) and acute decompensation of chronic heart failure in 10 (20%). VA-ECMO was employed in 35 (71%) and Impella CP in 14 (29%) of patients. Overall complications occurred in 37 (76%) of patients, where major bleeding in 19 (38%) was the most common. The overall mortality rate was 61%, but it was lower in the second period (40%) in comparison to the first period (83%), p = 0.002. The learning curve analysis showed a decrease in the mortality rate after 40 consecutive cases. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a temporary MCS program for refractory CS in a limited resource country is feasible. The learning curve effect might have played a role on survival rate since high morbimortality has decreased within time reaching optimal results by the end of the study.

Handheld Echocardiography in a Clinical Practice Scenario: Concordances Compared to Standard Echocardiographic Reports.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of a handheld device (HH) used during common daily practice and its agreement with the results of a standard echocardiography study (STD) performed by experienced sonographers and echocardiographer. METHODS: A prospective follow-up was conducted in an adult outpatient echocardiography clinic. Experienced sonographers performed the STD and an experienced echocardiographer performed the HH. STD included 2-dimensional images, Doppler and hemodynamics analysis. Hemodynamic assessment was not performed with the HH device because the HH does not include such technology. The images were interpreted by blinded echocardiographers, and the agreement between the reports was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were included; and the concordance for left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction (EF), wall motion score index, LV and right ventricle (RV) function, RV size, and mitral and aortic stenosis was excellent with κ values greater than 0.80. Wall motion abnormalities had good concordance (κ value 0.78). The agreement for LV hypertrophy, mitral and aortic regurgitation was moderate, and tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation agreements were low (κ values of 0.26 and 0.25, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In a daily practice scenario with experienced hands, HH demonstrated good correlation for most echocardiography indications, such as ventricular size and function assessment and stenosis valve lesion analyses.

Challenges for expansion of thoracic transplant clinical pharmacy in a developing country: comparison with U.S. accredited centres and call for action.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical pharmacists' involvement in the care of solid organ transplant recipients has been discussed worldwide given its potential to improve clinical outcomes. As thoracic transplant activity grows in Brazil, it is important to understand how pharmacists are inserted in transplant programmes nationwide. We conducted a survey to explore clinical pharmacy activities in thoracic transplant centres in Brazil and compared them with accredited programmes in the United States. METHODS: An electronic questionnaire was distributed to all 40 heart and lung transplant centres registered in the Brazilian Organ Transplantation Agency (ABTO) in May 2019. Survey findings were compared to previously published data from accredited U.S. centres. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: From 22 centre respondents, ten (45.5%) declared not to have a pharmacist at any part of the transplantation process, which translated into 158 (37.6%) transplant recipients without any direct pharmaceutical care. In centres with pharmacists (n = 12), none had a full-time professional dedicated to their heart and/or lung programmes. When compared to U.S. centres, there was a significantly lower insertion of clinical pharmacist activities among Brazilian centres. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Our findings point to an unmet need related to clinical pharmacy activity within thoracic transplant programmes, especially in a developing country, and highlight a call for action in order to reach higher accredited regulatory standards regarding pharmacist-driven workforce in transplant care worldwide.

Electromyographical and Physiological Correlation in Patient with Heart Disease

Abstract Background: Walking is an economic activity, the more efficient the mechanical contribution, the less metabolic energy is necessary to keep walking. Patients with chronic heart failure and heart transplant present peripheral musculoskeletal disorders, dyspnea, and fatigue in their activities. Objective: In this scenario, the present study sought to verify the correlations between metabolic and electromyographic variables in chronic heart failure, heart transplant patients, and healthy controls. Methods: Regression and correlation between cost of transport and electromyographic cost, as well as correlation between oxygen consumption and muscle coactivation in patients and controls at five different walking speeds have been performed, with alpha = 0.05. Results: Strong correlation values (r controls: 0.99; chronic heart failure: 0.92; heart transplant: 0.88) indicate a linear relationship between the cost of transport and electromyographic cost. Oxygen consumption was significantly correlated to muscle activation in all groups. Conclusion: These results suggested that dynamic muscle coactivation was an important factor, especially for CHF and HT. These data support the idea that peripheral muscle limitations play an important role in people with CHF and HT. These findings indicate a strong relation between metabolic and electromyographic variables. For chronic heart failure and heart transplant patients, it can help to explain some difficulties in daily activities and aid in physical rehabilitation.

Limited Predictive Role of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index in Kidney Transplant: Single Center Evaluation and Comparison With International Literature.

Perioperative risk factors predicting major cardiovascular events (MACE) and the performance of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) in a retrospective cohort of 325 consecutive adult patients undergoing kidney transplant from deceased donor grafts were assessed. Primary outcome was a composite of MACE up to 30 days post-transplant. Incidence of MACE was 5.8% at 30 days. Overall proportion of patients with RCRI ≥ 4 was 5%, but was higher (28%) among those who developed MACE. Patients with RCRI ≥ 4 had lower survival free of MACE compared to those with RCRI < 4 (P <0.001); however, in multivariable analysis, RCRI was not a predictor of cardiovascular events. The RCRI demonstrated poor discrimination to predict MACE at 30 days [area under the curve 0.64 (95% CI 0.49-0.78)]. Revised Cardiac Risk Index was not associated with reduced MACE-free survival adjusted analysis and its predictive ability was poor.