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BACKGROUND: Heart failure is associated with aging. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Western countries and constitutes the main cause of hospitalization among elderly patients. The pharmacological therapy of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has greatly improved during the last years. However, elderly patients less frequently receive recommended medical treatment. SUMMARY: The quadruple therapy (sacubitril/valsartan, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors) is nowadays the cornerstone of medical treatment since it associates lower risk of heart failure hospitalizations and mortality (also of arrhythmic origin). Cardiac arrhythmias, including sudden cardiac death, are common in patients with HFrEF, entailing worse prognosis. Previous studies addressing the role of blocking the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and beta-adrenergic receptors in HFrEF have suggested different beneficial effects on arrhythmia mechanisms. Therefore, the lower mortality associated with the use of the four pillars of HFrEF therapy depends, in part, on lower sudden (mostly arrhythmic) cardiac death. KEY MESSAGES: In this review, we highlight and assess the role of the four pharmacological groups that constitute the central axis of the medical treatment of patients with HFrEF in clinical prognosis and prevention of arrhythmic events, with special focus on the elderly patient, since evidence supports that most benefits provided are irrespective of age, but elderly patients receive less often guideline-recommended medical treatment.
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Insuficiência Cardíaca , Humanos , Idoso , Insuficiência Cardíaca/complicações , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Volume Sistólico , Tetrazóis/uso terapêutico , Valsartana/farmacologia , Prognóstico , Combinação de Medicamentos , Morte Súbita Cardíaca/etiologia , Morte Súbita Cardíaca/prevenção & controle , Arritmias Cardíacas/tratamento farmacológico , Arritmias Cardíacas/prevenção & controle , Arritmias Cardíacas/induzido quimicamente , Compostos de Bifenilo/uso terapêutico , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/uso terapêutico , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/farmacologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The literature on the importance of sex in heart failure diagnosis is scarce. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on sex differences regarding the diagnosis of heart failure. RECENT FINDINGS: Comorbidities are frequent in patients with heart failure, and their prevalence differs between sexes; some differences in symptomatology and diagnostic imaging techniques were also found. Biomarkers also usually show differences between sexes but are not significant enough to establish sex-specific ranges. This article outlines current information related to sex differences in HF diagnosis. Research in this field remains to be done. Maintaining a high diagnostic suspicion, actively searching for the disease, and considering the sex is relevant for early diagnosis and better prognosis. In addition, more studies with equal representation are needed.
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Insuficiência Cardíaca , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Insuficiência Cardíaca/diagnóstico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/epidemiologia , Caracteres Sexuais , Biomarcadores , Prognóstico , ComorbidadeRESUMO
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Our aim was to assess the degree of acceptance of the European Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on heart failure (HF) among Spanish physicians according to sex. This was a cross-sectional study, employing Google Forms, conducted by a group of HF experts from the Region of Madrid (Spain), between November 2021 and February 2022, among specialists and residents of Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Primary Care from Spain. RECENT FINDINGS: A total of 387 physicians-173 women (44.7%)-from 128 different centers completed the survey. Compared to men, women were significantly younger (38.2 ± 9.1 years vs. 40.6 ± 11.2 years; p = 0.024) and had fewer years of clinical practice (12.1 ± 8.1 years vs. 14.5 ± 10.7 years; p = 0.014). Briefly, women and men had a positive opinion of the guidelines and thought that implementing quadruple therapy is feasible in less than 8 weeks. Women followed more frequently than men the new paradigm of "4 pillars at lowest doses" and considered more frequently the establishment of quadruple therapy before implanting a cardiac device. Although they agreed about "low blood pressure" as the major limitation for achieving quadruple therapy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, there were discrepancies on the second most frequent barrier, and women were more proactive when initiating SGLT2 inhibitors. In a large survey including nearly 400 doctors from all over Spain to provide real-world opinion on 2021 ESC HF Guidelines and experience with SGLT2 inhibitors, women follow more frequently the new paradigm of "4 pillars at lowest doses", consider more frequently the establishment of quadruple therapy before implanting a cardiac device, and were more proactive when initiating SGLT2 inhibitors. Further studies confirming an association of sex with a better compliance of HF guidelines are needed.
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Insuficiência Cardíaca , Médicas , Inibidores do Transportador 2 de Sódio-Glicose , Masculino , Humanos , Feminino , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Estudos Transversais , Inibidores do Transportador 2 de Sódio-Glicose/uso terapêutico , Volume SistólicoRESUMO
There is a lack of direct evidence regarding gut microbiota dysbiosis and changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in heart failure (HF) patients. We sought to assess any association between gut microbiota composition, SCFA production, clinical parameters, and the inflammatory profile in a cohort of newly diagnosed HF patients. In this longitudinal prospective study, we enrolled eighteen newly diagnosed HF patients. At admission and after 12 months, blood samples were collected for the assessment of proinflammatory cytokines, monocyte populations, and endothelial dysfunction, and stool samples were collected for analysis of gut microbiota composition and quantification of SCFAs. Twelve months after the initial HF episode, patients demonstrated improved clinical parameters and reduced inflammatory state and endothelial dysfunction. This favorable evolution was associated with a reversal of microbiota dysbiosis, consisting of the increment of health-related bacteria, such as genus Bifidobacterium, and levels of SCFAs, mainly butyrate. Furthermore, there was a decrease in the abundance of pathogenic bacteria. In vitro, fecal samples collected after 12 months of follow-up exhibited lower inflammation than samples collected at admission. In conclusion, the favorable progression of HF patients after the initial episode was linked to the reversal of gut microbiota dysbiosis and increased SCFA production, particularly butyrate. Whether restoring butyrate levels or promoting the growth of butyrate-producing bacteria could serve as a complementary treatment for these patients deserves further studies.
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Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Insuficiência Cardíaca , Humanos , Disbiose , Estudos Prospectivos , Ácidos Graxos Voláteis , ButiratosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A significant number of heart failure (HF) patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) experience ventricular function recovery during follow-up. We studied the variables associated with LVEF recovery in patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan (SV) in clinical practice. METHODS: We analyzed data from a prospective and multicenter registry including 249 HF outpatients with reduced LVEF who started SV between October 2016 and March 2017. The patients were classified into 2 groups according to LVEF at the end of follow-up (>35%: group R, or ≤35%: group NR). RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 7 ± 0.1 months, 62 patients (24.8%) had LVEF >35%. They were older (71.3 ± 10.8 vs. 67.5 ± 12.1 years, p = 0.025), and suffered more often from hypertension (83.9 vs. 73.8%, p = 0.096) and higher blood pressure before and after SV (both, p < 0.01). They took more often high doses of beta-blockers (30.6 vs. 27.8%, p = 0.002), with a smaller proportion undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (14.8 vs. 29.0%, p = 0.028) and fewer implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICD; 32.8 vs. 67.9%, p < 0.001), this being the only predictive variable of NR in the multivariate analysis (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.13-0.47, p < 0.0001). At the end of follow-up, the mean LVEF in group R was 41.9 ± 8.1% (vs. 26.3 ± 4.7% in group NR, p < 0.001), with an improvement compared with the initial LVEF of 14.6 ± 10.8% (vs. 0.8 ± 4.5% in group NR, p < 0.0001). Functional class improved in both groups, mainly in group R (p = 0.035), with fewer visits to the emergency department (11.5 vs. 21.6%, p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LVEF ≤35% treated with SV, not carrying an ICD was independently associated with LVEF recovery, which was related to greater improvement in functional class.
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Aminobutiratos/uso terapêutico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Volume Sistólico , Tetrazóis/uso terapêutico , Função Ventricular Esquerda , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Compostos de Bifenilo , Terapia de Ressincronização Cardíaca , Desfibriladores Implantáveis , Combinação de Medicamentos , Feminino , Insuficiência Cardíaca/fisiopatologia , Insuficiência Cardíaca/terapia , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Estudos Prospectivos , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica , Sistema de Registros , Resultado do Tratamento , ValsartanaRESUMO
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The alarming number of confirmed COVID-19 cases put a strain on the healthcare systems, which had to reallocate human and technical resources to respond to the emergency. Many urologists became integrated into multidisciplinary teams, dealing with this respiratory illness and its unknown management. It aims to summarize the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostical, and therapeutical characteristics of COVID-19, from a practical perspective, to ease COVID-19 management to non-physician staff. RECENT FINDINGS: We performed a narrative review of the literature regarding COVID-19, updated to May 8th, 2020, at PubMed and COVID resource platforms of the main scientific editorials. COVID-19, characterized by fever, myalgias, dyspnea, and dry cough, varies widely from asymptomatic infection to death. Arrhythmias and thrombotic events are prevalent. Lymphopenia and inflammatory reactant elevation on laboratory, as well as bilateral and peripheral ground-glass opacities or consolidations on X-Ray, are usually found in its assessment. Little is known about SARS-CoV-2 immunology. To date, no therapy has demonstrated efficacy in COVID-19. Of-level or compassionate-use therapies are prescribed in the context of clinical trials. We should become familiar with specific adverse events and pharmacological interactions. The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed the urological activity, and its long-term consequences are unpredictable. Despite not being used to deal with respiratory diseases, the urologists become easily qualified to manage COVID-19 by following protocols and being integrated into multidisciplinary teams, helping to overcome the pandemic.
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Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Coronavirus/terapia , Pneumonia Viral/diagnóstico , Pneumonia Viral/terapia , Urologia , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/complicações , Humanos , Pandemias , Pneumonia Viral/complicações , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
Sacubitril/valsartan (SV) is a new therapy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Our aim was to determine the efficacy and safety of this drug daily clinical practice. We performed a multicenter registry in 10 hospitals. All patients who started SV from October 2016 to March 2017 on an outpatient basis were included. A total of 427 patients started treatment with SV. Mean follow-up was 7.0 ± 0.1 months. Forty-nine patients (11.5%) discontinued SV, and 12 (2.8%) died. SV discontinuation was associated with higher cardiovascular (hazard ratio 13.22, 95% confidence interval, 6.71-15.73, P < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 13.51, 95% confidence interval 3.22-56.13, P < 0.001). Symptomatic hypotension occurred in 71 patients (16.6%). Baseline N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels, functional class, and left ventricular ejection fraction improved at the end of follow-up in patients who continued with SV (all P values ≤0.001). This improvement was not significant in patients with SV discontinuation. SV has a good tolerability in patients from daily clinical practice. SV withdrawal in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction was independently associated with increased all-cause mortality. Patients who continued with SV presented an improvement in functional class left ventricular ejection fraction and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels.
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Aminobutiratos/uso terapêutico , Bloqueadores do Receptor Tipo 1 de Angiotensina II/uso terapêutico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Neprilisina/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores de Proteases/uso terapêutico , Volume Sistólico/efeitos dos fármacos , Tetrazóis/uso terapêutico , Função Ventricular Esquerda/efeitos dos fármacos , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Aminobutiratos/efeitos adversos , Bloqueadores do Receptor Tipo 1 de Angiotensina II/efeitos adversos , Biomarcadores/sangue , Compostos de Bifenilo , Combinação de Medicamentos , Feminino , Insuficiência Cardíaca/sangue , Insuficiência Cardíaca/diagnóstico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Peptídeo Natriurético Encefálico/sangue , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/sangue , Estudos Prospectivos , Inibidores de Proteases/efeitos adversos , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica , Sistema de Registros , Espanha , Tetrazóis/efeitos adversos , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do Tratamento , ValsartanaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Women are underrepresented in sacubitril/valsartan (SV) clinical trials. The aim of this study was to assess sex-specific differences in efficacy, tolerability, and safety of SV in real-world heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients. METHODS: A prospective registry in 10 centers including all patients who started SV during the last 6 months was analyzed in this study. RESULTS: A total of 427 patients were included, 126 (29.5%) were women. There were no substantial differences in HFrEF treatment before SV initiation, although fewer women than men carried an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (57 [45.2%] vs. 173 [58.1%], p = 0.02). SV starting dose was 24/26 mg b.i.d. in 206 patients (48.2%), 49/51 mg b.i.d. in 184 (43.1%), and 97/103 mg b.i.d. in 34 (8.2%), without relevant differences associated to sex. There were no losses during a mean follow-up of 7.0 ± 0.1 months. The proportion of patients who discontinued the drug (16 [12.7%] women vs. 33 [11.0%] men, p = 0.66) or presented SV-related adverse effects (31 [24.6%] women vs. 79 [26.5%] men, p = 0.72) was also similar in both sexes. However, female sex was an independent predictor of functional class improvement in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio 2.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.24-4.38, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: SV in women with HFrEF has a similar tolerability as in men. Females seem to have a more frequent functional class improvement than males.
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Aminobutiratos/uso terapêutico , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/uso terapêutico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Fatores Sexuais , Volume Sistólico , Tetrazóis/uso terapêutico , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Aminobutiratos/farmacologia , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/farmacologia , Compostos de Bifenilo , Combinação de Medicamentos , Feminino , Insuficiência Cardíaca/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Estudos Prospectivos , Espanha , Tetrazóis/farmacologia , Resultado do Tratamento , ValsartanaRESUMO
Our aim is to describe the characteristics of the patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan (SV) in daily clinical practice. This is a prospective registry in 10 hospitals including all patients who started SV in everyday clinical practice. From October 2016 to March 2017, 427 patients started treatment with SV. The mean age was 68.1 ± 12.4 years, and 30.5% were women (22.0% in PARADIGM-HF, P < 0.001). Comparing our cohort with patients included in PARADIGM-HF, baseline treatment was different, with a lower ratio of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (2.7 vs. 3.5, P < 0.001), and a higher proportion of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (53.8% vs. 15%, P < 0.001), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (25.8% vs. 5%, P < 0.001). Treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists was more frequent (76.7% vs. 60.0%, P < 0.001), and the use of beta-blockers was similar (94.6% vs. 93.0%, P = 0.43). We observed more patients in functional class III-IV (30.4 vs. 24.8, P = 0.015), higher levels of Nt pro-BNP [3421 (904-4161) vs. 1631 (885-3154) pg/mL] and worse renal function (creatinine level 1.3 ± 0.7 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3 mg/dL, P < 0.001). In real life, patients receiving SV have a higher risk profile than in the pivotal trial, poorer functional class, higher levels of natriuretic peptides, and worse renal function.
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Aminobutiratos/uso terapêutico , Bloqueadores do Receptor Tipo 1 de Angiotensina II/uso terapêutico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Neprilisina/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores de Proteases/uso terapêutico , Tetrazóis/uso terapêutico , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Aminobutiratos/efeitos adversos , Bloqueadores do Receptor Tipo 1 de Angiotensina II/efeitos adversos , Biomarcadores/sangue , Compostos de Bifenilo , Combinação de Medicamentos , Feminino , Nível de Saúde , Insuficiência Cardíaca/diagnóstico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Rim/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Peptídeo Natriurético Encefálico/sangue , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/sangue , Estudos Prospectivos , Inibidores de Proteases/efeitos adversos , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica , Sistema de Registros , Fatores de Risco , Espanha , Tetrazóis/efeitos adversos , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do Tratamento , ValsartanaRESUMO
Myocarditis is defined as myocardial inflammation and its etiology is highly diverse, including infectious agents, drugs, and autoimmune diseases. The clinical presentation also varies widely, extending beyond the classic clinical picture of acute chest pain, and includes cases of cardiomyopathy of unknown cause whose etiology may be inflammatory. Because certain patients may benefit from targeted treatments, the search for the etiology should begin when myocarditis is first suspected. There remain several areas of uncertainty in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Consequently, this consensus document aims to provide clear recommendations for its diagnosis and treatment. Hence, a diagnostic algorithm is proposed, specifying when non-invasive diagnosis with cardiac MR is appropriate vs a noninvasive approach with endomyocardial biopsy. In addition, more novel aspects are discussed, such as when to suspect an underlying genetic etiology. The recommendations cover the management of myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy, both for general complications and specific clinical entities.
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Cardiomiopatias , Consenso , Miocardite , Humanos , Miocardite/diagnóstico , Miocardite/terapia , Miocardite/etiologia , Cardiomiopatias/diagnóstico , Cardiomiopatias/terapia , Cardiomiopatias/etiologia , Biópsia , Algoritmos , Miocárdio/patologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem in Western countries, and a leading cause of hospitalizations and death. There is a scarcity of data on the influence of sex on HF outcomes in elderly patients. The aim of the present study was to analyze differences between men and women in clinical characteristics, in-hospital mortality, 30-day HF readmission rates, cardiovascular mortality and HF readmission rates at 1 year after discharge in patients older than 75 years hospitalized for HF in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients discharged with a main diagnosis of HF from all Spanish public hospitals between 2016 and 2019. Patients aged 75 years or older were selected, and a comparison was made between male and female patients. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2019, a total of 354,786 episodes of HF in this age subgroup were identified, 59.2% being women. The overall mean age was 85.2 ± 5.4 years, being higher in women (85.9 ± 5.5 vs. 84.2 ± 5.3 years, p < 0.001). Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality was lower in women (odds ratio [OR]: 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-0.97; p < 0.001). Female sex also showed a protective effect for 30-day readmissions, with an OR of 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04-1.09; p < 0.001). One-year cardiovascular mortality (24.1% vs. 25.0%; p < 0.001) and one-year HF readmission rates (30.8% vs. 31.6%; p = 0.001) were lower in women. CONCLUSIONS: Almost 60% of hospital admissions for HF in people aged 75 years or older between 2016 and 2019 in Spain were female patients. Female sex seems to play a protective role on in-hospital mortality and the rate of admissions and mortality at 1 year after discharge.
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Insuficiência Cardíaca , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Readmissão do Paciente , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Insuficiência Cardíaca/terapia , Insuficiência Cardíaca/mortalidade , Insuficiência Cardíaca/diagnóstico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/epidemiologia , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Mortalidade Hospitalar/tendências , Estudos Retrospectivos , Idoso , Espanha/epidemiologia , Fatores Sexuais , Readmissão do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores de Risco , Doença Aguda , Fatores de Tempo , Fatores Etários , Medição de Risco , Prognóstico , Taxa de Sobrevida/tendênciasRESUMO
Heart failure is a disease with an increasingly greater prevalence due to the aging population, the development of new drugs, and the organization of healthcare processes. Malnutrition has been identified as a poor prognostic factor in these patients, very often linked to frailty or to other comorbidities, meaning that early diagnosis and treatment are essential. This paper reviews some important aspects of the pathophysiology, detection, and management of malnutrition in patients with heart failure.
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BACKGROUND: The prevalence of heart failure (HF) increases with age, and it is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in older patients. However, there are little data on in-hospital mortality in patients with HF ≥ 75 years in Spain. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set was performed, including all HF episodes discharged from public hospitals in Spain between 2016 and 2019. Coding was performed using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. Patients ≥ 75 years with HF as the principal diagnosis were selected. We calculated: (1) the crude in-hospital mortality rate and its distribution according to age and sex; (2) the risk-standardized in-hospital mortality ratio; and (3) the association between in-hospital mortality and the availability of an intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) in the hospital. RESULTS: We included 354,792 HF episodes of patients over 75 years. The mean age was 85.2 ± 5.5 years, and 59.2% of patients were women. The most frequent comorbidities were renal failure (46.1%), diabetes mellitus (35.5%), valvular disease (33.9%), cardiorespiratory failure (29.8%), and hypertension (26.9%). In-hospital mortality was 12.7%, and increased with age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.07-1.07, P < 0.001] and was lower in women (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-0.97, P < 0.001). The main predictors of mortality were the presence of cardiogenic shock (OR = 19.5, 95% CI: 16.8-22.7, P < 0.001), stroke (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 3.0-4.0, P < 0.001) and advanced cancer (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 2.5-2.8, P < 0.001). In hospitals with ICCU, the in-hospital risk-adjusted mortality tended to be lower (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.72-1.00, P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital mortality in patients with HF ≥ 75 years between 2016 and 2019 was 12.7%, higher in males and elderly patients. The main predictors of mortality were cardiogenic shock, stroke, and advanced cancer. There was a trend toward lower mortality in centers with an ICCU.
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INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in elderly patients. However, there is limited evidence on readmission and mortality 1-year after discharge for HF. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the Minimum Basic Data Set, including HF episodes, discharged from Spanish hospitals between 2016 and 2018 in ≥ 75 years. We calculated: (a) the rate of readmissions due to circulatory system diseases (CSD) 365 days after index episode; (b) in-hospital mortality in readmissions; and (c) predictors of mortality and readmission. RESULTS: We included 178,523 patients (59.2% women) aged 85.1 ± 5.5 years. The most frequent comorbidities were arrhythmias (56.0%) and renal failure (39.5%). During the follow-up, 48,932 patients (27.4%) had at least one readmission for CSD and a crude rate of 40.2%, the most frequent one HF (52.8%). The median between the date of readmission and discharge from the last admission was 70 days [IQI 24; 171] for the first readmission. The most relevant predictors of the number of readmissions were valvular heart disease and myocardial ischemia. During the readmissions, 26,757 patients (79.1%) died, representing a cumulative in-hospital mortality of 47,945 (26.9%). The factors in the index episode predictors of mortality during readmissions were cardio-respiratory failure and stroke. The number of readmissions was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.11-1.14). CONCLUSIONS: The readmission rate for CSD 1-year after the index episode of HF in patients ≥ 75 years was 28.4%. The cumulative in-hospital mortality rate during the readmissions was 26.9%, and the number of rehospitalizations was identified as one of the main predictors of mortality.
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Insuficiência Cardíaca , Readmissão do Paciente , Idoso , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Espanha/epidemiologia , Insuficiência Cardíaca/terapia , Fatores de Risco , Hospitais PúblicosRESUMO
The pathophysiology of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a complex process in which a number of neurohormonal systems are involved. Targeting only some of these systems, but not all, translates into a partial benefit of HF treatment. The nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cGMP pathway is impaired in HF, leading to cardiac, vascular and renal disturbances. Vericiguat is a once-daily oral stimulator of sGC that restores this system. No other disease-modifying HF drugs act on this system. Despite guidelines recommendations, a substantial proportion of patients are not taking all recommended drugs or when taking them, they do so at low doses, limiting their potential benefits. In this context, treatment should be optimized considering different parameters, such as blood pressure, heart rate, renal function, or potassium, as they may interfere with their implementation at the recommended doses. The VICTORIA trial showed that adding vericiguat to standard therapy in patients with HFrEF significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization by 10% (NNT 24). Furthermore, vericiguat does not interfere with heart rate, renal function or potassium, making it particularly useful for improving the prognosis of patients with HFrEF in specific settings and clinical profiles.
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Insuficiência Cardíaca , Humanos , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Resultado do Tratamento , Volume Sistólico/fisiologia , Prognóstico , Guanilil Ciclase Solúvel/metabolismo , Guanilil Ciclase Solúvel/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Worsening heart failure (HF) is associated with a high risk of death and HF hospitalization. AREAS COVERED: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed (MEDLINE), using the MeSH terms [Heart failure] + [Worsening] + [Treatment] + [Vulnerable period] up to February 2023. Original data from clinical trials, and observational studies were critically analyzed. EXPERT OPINION: Although the vulnerable period has been traditionally limited to the first 6 months after HF hospitalization, the fact is that there are other clinical scenarios in which the patient is particularly vulnerable. These vulnerable patients may also include those that require parenteral administration of diuretics in the day hospital or emergency department, those in which the increase of oral diuretic dose in an outpatient setting is needed to relief congestive symptoms, as well as those that remain symptomatic despite treatment. On the other hand, HF is a complex disease in which different neurohormonal systems are involved. Therefore, to actually reduce the HF burden, a comprehensive management, targeting all the neurohormonal systems that are involved in the pathogenesis of HF, through the use of those drugs that have demonstrated to positively modify the clinical course of HF, is needed.
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Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina , Insuficiência Cardíaca , Humanos , Aminobutiratos/uso terapêutico , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/uso terapêutico , Compostos de Bifenilo/uso terapêutico , Combinação de Medicamentos , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/complicações , Hospitalização , Volume Sistólico , Resultado do Tratamento , Valsartana/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
AIMS: Heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend treating all patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with quadruple therapy, although they do not establish how to start it. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of these recommendations, analyzing the efficacy and safety of the different therapeutic schedules. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective, observational, and multicenter registry that evaluated the treatment initiated in patients with newly diagnosed HFrEF and its evolution at 3 months. Clinical and analytical data were collected, as well as adverse reactions and events during follow-up. Five hundred and thirty-three patients were included, selecting four hundred and ninety-seven, aged 65.5 ± 12.9 years (72% male). The most frequent etiologies were ischemic (25.5%) and idiopathic (21.1%), with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 28.7 ± 7.4%. Quadruple therapy was started in 314 (63.2%) patients, triple in 120 (24.1%), and double in 63 (12.7%). Follow-up was 112 days [IQI 91; 154], with 10 (2%) patients dying. At 3 months, 78.5% had quadruple therapy (p < 0.001). There were no differences in achieving maximum doses or reducing or withdrawing drugs (< 6%) depending on the starting scheme. Twenty-seven (5.7%) patients had any emergency room visits or admission for HF, less frequent in those with quadruple therapy (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: It is possible to achieve quadruple therapy in patients with newly diagnosed HFrEF early. This strategy makes it possible to reduce admissions and visits to the emergency room for HF without associating a more significant reduction or withdrawal of drugs or significant difficulty in achieving the target doses.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Despite the relevant advances achieved thanks to the traditional step-by-step therapeutic approach, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of HFrEF is complex, with the implication of various neurohormonal systems, including activation of deleterious pathways (i.e. renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, sympathetic, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 [SGLT2] systems) and the inhibition of protective pathways (i.e. natriuretic peptides and the guanylate cyclase system). Therefore, the burden of HF can only be reduced through a comprehensive approach that involves all evidence-based use of available HF drugs targeting the neurohormonal systems involved. AREAS COVERED: We performed a critical analysis of evidence from recent clinical trials and assessed the effects of HF therapies on hemodynamics and renal function. EXPERT OPINION: HF therapy must be adapted to the clinical profile (i.e. congestion, blood pressure, heart rate, renal function, and electrolytes). Consequently, blood pressure is reduced by beta blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, sacubitril/valsartan, and, minimally, by SGLT2 inhibitors and vericiguat; heart rate decreases with beta blockers and ivabradine; and renal function is impaired and potassium are levels increased with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and sacubitril/valsartan. Practical recommendations on how to individualize HF therapy according to patient profile are provided.
Assuntos
Insuficiência Cardíaca , Inibidores do Transportador 2 de Sódio-Glicose , Humanos , Aldosterona , Assistência Ambulatorial , Aminobutiratos/farmacologia , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/efeitos adversos , Angiotensinas/metabolismo , Compostos de Bifenilo/uso terapêutico , Guanilato Ciclase/metabolismo , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Hospitalização , Ivabradina/farmacologia , Ivabradina/uso terapêutico , Peptídeos Natriuréticos/metabolismo , Potássio , Renina/metabolismo , Transportador 2 de Glucose-Sódio , Inibidores do Transportador 2 de Sódio-Glicose/uso terapêutico , Inibidores do Transportador 2 de Sódio-Glicose/farmacologia , Volume Sistólico/fisiologia , Valsartana/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
TEXT: Hyperkalemia, a common electrolyte disorder, is seen often in emergency departments. Patient outcomes are impacted by proper management, which requires consideration of both clinical and laboratory findings in relation to kidney function, hydration, the acid-base balance, and heart involvement. Delicate decisions about the timing of potassium level correction must be tailored in each case. For these reasons the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC), and the Spanish Society of Nephrology (SEN) joined forces to come to a consensus on defining the problem and recommending treatments that improve hospital emergency department management of hyperkalemia. Intravenous calcium, insulin and glucose, and salbutamol continue to be used to treat acute hyperkalemia. Either loop or thiazide diuretics can help patients if volume is not depleted, and dialysis may be necessary if there is kidney failure. Ion-exchange resins are falling into disuse because of adverse effects and poor tolerance, whereas novel gastrointestinal cation-exchange resins are gaining ground and may even be of some use in managing acute cases. It is essential to adjust treatment rather than discontinue medications that, even if they favor the development of hyperkalemia, will improve a patient's long-term prognosis. Valid alternative treatment approaches must therefore be sought for each patient group, and close follow-up is imperative.
TEXTO: La hiperpotasemia es un trastorno electrolítico frecuente en los servicios de urgencias y un manejo adecuado impacta en el pronóstico de los pacientes. Este requiere de la integración de datos clínicos y analíticos sobre el estado de la función renal, la hidratación, el equilibrio ácido-base y la afectación cardiaca. Además, es necesaria una precisa toma de decisiones sobre la corrección de la concentración de potasio en el tiempo indicado para cada caso. Por estos motivos la SEMES (Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias), la SEC (Sociedad Española de Cardiología) y la SEN (Sociedad Española de Nefrología) unen esfuerzos en consensuar definiciones y tratamientos que podrían mejorar el abordaje de estos pacientes en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios. El calcio intravenoso, la insulina con glucosa y el salbutamol siguen siendo los tratamientos que se emplean en la hiperpotasemia aguda. Los diuréticos de asa y tiazídicos también pueden ayudar en pacientes no depleccionados, y la hemodiálisis puede ser necesaria en hiperpotasemias graves en el contexto de insuficiencia renal. Los efectos secundarios y la baja tolerabilidad de las resinas de intercambio iónico están haciendo que caigan en desuso mientras que los nuevos intercambiadores catiónicos gastrointestinales van ganando su espacio e incluso podrían tener algún valor en el tratamiento agudo. Es fundamental el ajuste del tratamiento evitando retirar fármacos que, a pesar de favorecer la hiperpotasemia, mejoren el pronóstico a largo plazo, por lo que es imperativo buscar alternativas válidas para cada grupo de pacientes, asegurando después un estrecho seguimiento.
Assuntos
Hiperpotassemia , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Humanos , Hiperpotassemia/tratamento farmacológico , Hiperpotassemia/etiologia , Insulina/uso terapêutico , Diálise Renal/efeitos adversosRESUMO
AIMS: Hyperkalaemia (HK) is common in heart failure (HF) patients, related to renal dysfunction and medical treatment. It limits medical therapy optimization, which impacts prognosis. New potassium (K) binders help control HK, allowing better medical management of HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective multicentre register included all outpatients with HF and HK (K ≥ 5.1 mEq/L) treated with patiromer according to current recommendations. We evaluated analytic and clinical parameters before starting the treatment and at 7, 30 and 90 days, as well as adverse events related to patiromer and treatment optimization. We included 74 patients (71.6% male) with a mean age of 70.8 years (SD 9.2). Sixty-seven patients (90.5%) presented HK in the previous year. Forty patients (54.1%) underwent down-titration of a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitor (RAASi) or a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), and 27 (36.5%) stopped any of them due to HK. Initial K was 5.5 mEq/L (SD 0.6), with a significantly reduction at 7 days (4.9 mEq/L (SD 0.8); P < 0.001), maintained at 90 days (4.9 mEq/L (SD 0.8); P < 0.001). There were no other electrolyte disturbances, with a slight improvement in renal function [glomerular filtration rate 39.6 mL/min (SD 20.4) to 42.7 mL/min (SD 23.2); P = 0.005]. Adverse events were reported in 33.9% of patients, the most common being hypomagnesaemia (16.3%), gastrointestinal disturbances (14.9%) and HK (2.8%). Withdrawal of patiromer was uncommon (12.2%) due to gastrointestinal disturbances in 66.7% of cases. Nine patients (12.2%) started on a RAASi, and 15 patients (20.3%) on an MRA during the follow-up. Forty-five patients (60.8%) increased the dose of RAASi or MRA, increasing to target doses in 5.4 and 10.8% of patients, respectively. At 90 days, NTproBNP values were reduced from 2509.5 pg/mL [IQR 1311-4,249] to 1396.0 pg/mL [IQR 804-4263]; P = 0.003, but the reduction was only observed in those who optimized HF medical treatment [NTproBNP from 1950.5 pg/mL (IQR 1208-3403) to 1349.0 pg/mL (IQR 804-2609); P < 0.01]. NYHA functional class only improved in 7.5% of patients, corresponding with those who optimized HF medical treatment. Compared with the previous 3 months before patiromer treatment, the rate of hospitalization was reduced from 28.4 to 10.9% (P < 0.01), and the emergency room visits from 18.9 to 5.4% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In a real-life cohort of patients with HF, patiromer reduced and maintained K levels during 3 months of follow-up. The most common adverse events were hypomagnesaemia and gastrointestinal disturbances. Patiromer helps optimize medical treatment, increasing the percentage of patients treated with RAASi and MRA at target doses. At the end of follow-up, natriuretic peptides values and hospital visits were reduced, suggesting the benefit of optimizing HF medical treatment.