SGLT2 inhibitors break the vicious circle between heart failure and insulin resistance: targeting energy metabolism

Heart Failure Reviews - Heart failure (HF) often coexists with insulin resistance (IR), and the incidence of HF in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is significantly higher. The reciprocal...     

Medical Therapy for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: What Recent Clinical Trials Have Taught Us About Diuretics and Vasodilators

Diuretics and vasodilators have been the cornerstone of heart failure (HF) therapy for decades. Although not shown to reduce mortality, diuretic and vasodilator therapy remain commonplace for treating acute decompensated HF, with diuretics being the mainstay of therapy for the removal of excess fluid in all patients with HF. This article discusses results of recent trials concerning diuretic or vasodilator therapy and HF, including the Diuretic Optimization Strategies Evaluation (DOSE) trial, the Placebo-Controlled Randomized Study of the Selective A1 Adenosine Receptor Antagonist Rolofylline for Patients Hospitalized With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Volume Overload to Assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and Renal Function (PROTECT), and the Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study with Tolvaptan (EVEREST), as well as results from the Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND-HF) trial and the Preliminary Study of Relaxin in Acute Heart Failure (Pre-RELAX-AHF).     

Hospital Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations for elderly adults in the United States. One in 5 Americans will be >65 years of age by 2050. Because of the high prevalence of HF in this group, the number of Americans requiring hospitalization for this disorder is expected to rise significantly. We reviewed the most recent and ongoing studies and recommendations for the management of patients hospitalized due to decompensated HF. The Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry, together with the 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation and American Heart Association heart failure guidelines, earlier retrospective and prospective studies including the Diuretic Optimization Strategies Evaluation (DOSE), the Trial of Intensified vs Standard Medical Therapy in the Elderly Patients With Congestive Heart Failure (TIME-CHF), the Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure (OPTIMIZE–HF), the Rapid Emergency Department Heart Failure Outpatient Trial (REDHOT) and the Comparison of Medical, Pacing and Defibrillation Therapies in Heart Failure (COMPANION) trial were reviewed for current practices pertaining to these patients. Gaps in our knowledge of optimal use of patient-specific information (biomarkers and comorbid conditions) still exist.     

Using video education to improve outcomes in heart failure

BackgroundHeart Failure (HF) guidelines recommend HF self-care education. An optimal method of educating HF patients does not currently exist.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of supplementing usual HF education with video education and evaluate patients’ satisfaction with video education.MethodsA mixed methods design was used. A convenience sample of 70 patients was recruited from an academic medical center. Participants completed the Atlanta Heart Failure Knowledge Test and the Self-care of Heart Failure Index before and after receiving video education, to measure HF knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care respectively. Video usage and satisfaction with video education data were collected. All-cause 30-day readmissions data were compared to a historical group.ResultsHF knowledge and self-care maintenance scores increased significantly. Self-efficacy, self-care management and all-cause 30-day readmissions did not significantly improve. Most HF patients were highly satisfied.ConclusionSupplementing usual HF education with VE was associated with improved HF knowledge and self-care maintenance.     

ACC/AHA guideline update: treatment of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 5 million persons in the United States each year. HF is predominantly a disease of the elderly: Approximately 80% of patients hospitalized with HF are older than age 65. Approximately one-half of older adult patients with CHF have a decreased ejection fraction. Elderly patients with HF and a reduced LVEF have a higher mortality than elderly patients with HF with a normal LVEF. Despite numerous excellent studies showing the efficacy of appropriate drugs in reducing mortality in patients with HF and a reduced LVEF, these medications are underutilized in the treatment of HF. This article discusses the latest guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association for the treatment of patients with HF and a reduced LVEF.     

Management strategies for stage-D patients with acute heart failure

Heart Failure (HF) accounted for 3.4 million ambulatory visits in 2000. Current guidelines from the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology, the Heart Failure Society of America, and the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation recommend aggressive pharmacologic interventions for patients with HF. This may include a combination of diuretics, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone antagonists, and digoxin. Nitrates and hydralazine are also indicated as part of standard therapy in addition to beta-blockers and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors, especially but not exclusively, for African Americans with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. For those with acute decompensated HF, additional treatment options include recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide, and in the future possible newer agents not yet approved for use in the U.S., such as Levosimendan. Medical devices for use in patients with advanced HF include LV assist devices, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. For refractory patients, heart transplantation, the gold-standard surgical intervention for the treatment of refractory HF, may be considered. Newer surgical options such as surgical ventricular restoration may be considered in select patients.     

Executive Summary: HFSA 2010 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome characterized by high mortality, frequent hospitalization, reduced quality of life, and a complex therapeutic regimen. Knowledge about HF is accumulating so rapidly that individual clinicians may be unable to readily and adequately synthesize new information into effective strategies of care for patients with this syndrome. Trial data, though valuable, often do not give direction for individual patient management. These characteristics make HF an ideal candidate for practice guidelines. The 2010 Heart Failure Society of America comprehensive practice guideline addresses the full range of evaluation, care, and management of patients with HF.     

HFSA 2006 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome characterized by high mortality, frequent hospitalization, reduced quality of life, and a complex therapeutic regimen. Knowledge about HF is accumulating so rapidly that individual clinicians may be unable to readily and adequately synthesize new information into effective strategies of care for patients with this syndrome. Trial data, though valuable, often do not give direction for individual patient management. These characteristics make HF an ideal candidate for practice guidelines. The 2006 Heart Failure Society of America comprehensive practice guideline addresses the full range of evaluation, care, and management of patients with HF.     

HFSA 2010 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome characterized by high mortality, frequent hospitalization, reduced quality of life, and a complex therapeutic regimen. Knowledge about HF is accumulating so rapidly that individual clinicians may be unable to readily and adequately synthesize new information into effective strategies of care for patients with this syndrome. Trial data, though valuable, often do not give direction for individual patient management. These characteristics make HF an ideal candidate for practice guidelines. The 2010 Heart Failure Society of America comprehensive practice guideline addresses the full range of evaluation, care, and management of patients with HF.     

Executive summary: HFSA 2006 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome characterized by high mortality, frequent hospitalization, reduced quality of life, and a complex therapeutic regimen. Knowledge about HF is accumulating so rapidly that individual clinicians may be unable to readily and adequately synthesize new information into effective strategies of care for patients with this syndrome. Trial data, though valuable, often do not give direction for individual patient management. These characteristics make HF an ideal candidate for practice guidelines. The 2006 Heart Failure Society of America comprehensive practice guideline addresses the full range of evaluation, care, and management of patients with HF.     

Multidisciplinary Care in Heart Failure Services

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Failure Society of American 2022 guidelines for heart failure (HF) recommend a multidisciplinary team approach for patients with HF. The multidisciplinary HF team-based approach decreases the hospitalization rate for HF and health care costs and improves adherence to self-care and the use of guideline-directed medical therapy. This article proposes the optimal multidisciplinary team structure and each team member's delineated role to achieve institutional goals and metrics for HF care. The proposed HF-specific multidisciplinary team comprises cardiologists, surgeons, advanced practice providers, clinical pharmacists, specialty nurses, dieticians, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, immunologists, and palliative care clinicians. A standardized multidisciplinary HF team-based approach should be incorporated to optimize the structure, minimize the redundancy of clinical responsibilities among team members, and improve clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction in their HF care.     

2020 中国心力衰竭医疗质量控制报告

心力衰竭(心衰)是各种心脏疾病的严重和终末阶段,已经成为影响我国居民健康的重要公共卫生问题。针对目前我国心衰规范化诊治方面存在的问题,积极开展心衰医疗质量评价和改进,提高心衰诊治的规范性,具有重要的意义。自从2018年3月成立国家心血管病中心心力衰竭专病医联体(HFMU-NCCD),加入医院已超过1000家。国家心血管病医疗质量控制中心专家委员会心力衰竭专家工作组(NCCQI-HF)纳入2017~2020年期间在医联体单位住院的心衰患者,开展全国心衰医疗质量评价,包括心衰的诊断与评估、指南指导的药物治疗及器械治疗、临床结局等,并依据该研究结果和我们的思考,撰写成本报告。此外,通过与China-HF注册研究(2012~2015年)结果及美国心脏学会(AHA)的“跟着指南走——心力衰竭(GWTG-HF)”项目结果做比较,发现当前我国在心衰诊疗规范化方面较以前有明显改善,但仍存在诊疗不足、治疗不当及治疗过度等现象,不同等级医院之间也存在差异,而且与美国比较仍有一定差距,也体现出心衰患者特点以及国情的不同。未来需要提高数据填报数量和质量,持续开展医疗质量控制和改进,以便从整体上提高我国心衰的诊治水平。     

Primary role of B-type natriuretic peptide across the clinical spectrum: from emergency medicine to transitional care and beyond into the community

Heart failure (HF), the most common reason for hospitalization in Medicare recipients, carries significant mortality and morbidity and is costly to the health care system. HF hospitalizations increase with the increasing age of the population and constitutes Medicare & Medicaid Services' largest expenditure. According to the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE), a database of more than 100,000 patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of HF, approximately 80% of these patients came from the emergency department (ED) and 89% had dyspnea at the time of ED presentation. Contrary to ADHERE data, the Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure (BACH) trial indicates 34.6% of 1588 patients presenting to EDs with acute shortness of breath were diagnosed with HF. Although shortness of breath is thought to be predictive of HF, this idea is based on conclusions drawn from a registry enrolling patients with an established diagnosis. The ADHERE study reflects the population with confirmed diagnosis and not the at-risk population with symptoms suggestive of HF, thus emphasizing the need to distinguish and risk-stratify the population presenting to EDs prior to implementing early intervention. This is particularly desirable in patients with diagnosed acute HF for accurate diagnosis and better treatment outcomes.     

Clinical update: the role of angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (Part II of II)

Almost 5 million individuals in the United States have chronic heart failure (HF), which is increasing in prevalence. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are standard therapies for HF, although more than 10% of patients with HF are unable to tolerate these agents. Furthermore, ACE inhibitors may not provide complete blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the long term. Because angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may block the RAS more completely than ACE inhibitors and are better tolerated, several large-scale ARB trials have been performed exploring their potential role in treating patients with symptomatic HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The Losartan Heart Failure Survival Study (ELITE II) demonstrated no significant differences in morbidity and mortality between the ARB losartan and the ACE inhibitor captopril among elderly patients with HF. The Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT) demonstrated reductions in hospitalizations for HF with the ARB valsartan when added to standard HF therapy, with no effect on mortality. Both trials suggested a potential negative interaction between ARB and beta-blocker therapy. The Candesartan in Heart failure-Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) program demonstrated significant reductions in morbidity and mortality with the ARB candesartan in patients with HF due to systolic dysfunction, with or without ACE inhibitors and with or without beta blockers. Thus, the addition of ARBs to the treatment regimen of patients with symptomatic HF should be strongly considered.     

Aufbau und Organisation von Herzinsuffizienz-Netzwerken (HF‑NETs) und Herzinsuffizienz-Einheiten („Heart Failure Units“, HFUs) zur Optimierung der Behandlung der akuten und chronischen Herzinsuffizienz

Heart failure (HF) is associated with high mortality and frequent hospitalizations. With steadily increasing prevalence, costs also rise. To optimize HF treatment results, implementation of structured collaboration across all levels of care is required to ensure both high quality and continuity of treatment. Partners in this collaboration are general practitioners, cardiologists in private practice, regional hospitals and supraregional centers offering comprehensive state-of-the-art HF therapy including cardiovascular surgery. The German Cardiac Society (GCS) and the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCS) advocate implementation of modular Heart Failure Units (HFUs) organized within a Heart Failure Network (HF-NET) with verifiable quality characteristics featuring comprehensive and cooperative HF management across all levels of care. This position paper was prepared by the Commission on Clinical Cardiology of the GCS in collaboration with representatives from GCS and GSTCS, the German Association of Cardiologists in Private Practice (BNK) and the Working Group of Leading German Hospital Cardiologists (ALKK). It describes the requirements that should be met by the modules of a HF-NET to be eligible for certification as a Heart Failure Unit (HFU).     

The Heart Failure Association Atlas: rationale,objectives, and methods

Heart failure (HF) constitutes the growing cardiovascular burden and the major public health issue, but comprehensive statistics on HF epidemiology and related management in Europe are missing. The Heart Failure Association (HFA) Atlas has been initiated in 2016 in order to close this gap, representing the continuity directly rooted in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Atlas of Cardiology. The major aim of the HFA Atlas is to establish a contemporary dataset on HF epidemiology, resources and reimbursement policies for HF management, organization of the National Heart Failure Societies (NHFS) and their major activities, including education and HF awareness. These data are gathered in collaboration with the network of NHFS of the ESC member and ESC affiliated countries. The dataset will be continuously improved and advanced based on the experience and enhanced understanding of data collection in the forthcoming years. This will enable revealing trends, disparities and gaps in knowledge on epidemiology and management of HF. Such data are highly needed by the clinicians of different specialties (aside from cardiologists and cardiac surgeons), researchers, healthcare policy makers, as well as HF patients and their caregivers. It will also allow to map the snapshot of realities in HF care, as well as to provide insights for evidence‐based health care policy in contemporary management of HF. Such data will support the ESC/HFA efforts to improve HF management ant outcomes through stronger recommendations and calls for action. This will likely influence the allocation of funds for the prevention, treatment, education and research in HF.     

Turning Failure into Success: Trials of the Heart Failure Clinical Research Network

The Heart Failure Clinical Research Network (HFN) was established in 2008 on behalf of the NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, with the primary goal of improving outcomes in heart failure (HF) by designing and conducting high-quality concurrent clinical trials testing interventions across the spectrum of HF. Completed HFN trials have answered several important and relevant clinical questions concerning the safety and efficacy of different decongestive and adjunctive vasodilator therapies in hospitalized acute HF, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition and nitrate therapies in HF with preserved ejection fraction, and the role of xanthine oxidase inhibition in hyperuricemic HF. These successes, independent of the “positive” or “negative” result of each individual trial, have helped to shape the current clinical care of HF patients and serve as a platform to inform future research directions and trial designs.     

作用于肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮系统的心力衰竭治疗新策略

心力衰竭（HF）是各种心血管病的严重和终末阶段,其患病率高、死亡率高、再住院率高,给公众带来了沉重的疾病负担。神经内分泌系统尤其是肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮系统（renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system,RAAS）的过度激活在HF病理发展过程中起着关键作用,RAAS抑制剂（ACEIs/ARBs、醛固酮受体拮抗剂）已是HF治疗的基石。近年HF治疗取得令人瞩目的成就。PARDIGM-HF试验显示沙库巴曲缬沙坦（LCZ696）治疗HF有极好的疗效,是过去20年内HF治疗领域的一个突破。本课题组已发表的研究显示,超大剂量ACEIS/ARBS治疗HF效果优于常规剂量。除此,随着对RAAS认识的不断深入,还发现了许多新的药物作用靶点,为临床治疗HF提供了新策略。本文旨在对以上内容做一综述。     

Heart Failure Prevention: Special Considerations for Women

Heart failure (HF) is a growing epidemic in the USA, and the American Heart Association estimates there are 550,000 new cases of HF in men and women annually. Despite advances in evidence-based cardiovascular care including improved awareness of women’s cardiovascular disease, important gender discrepancies persist in the diagnosis and management of HF. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of HF in the USA, and despite advancing therapies for acute coronary syndromes, young women (age?<?55) are the only population with increasing mortality from CHD. Women stand to greatly benefit from improved efforts targeting HF prevention; therefore, the purposes of this paper are to review the current literature pertaining to HF prevention in women and to identify areas where opportunities exist for improving cardiovascular care for women as well as topics that warrant further investigation.     

Cost‐Effectiveness of Remote Cardiac Monitoring With the CardioMEMS Heart Failure System

Heart failure (HF ) is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality in the United States and presents a substantial economic burden. A recently approved implantable wireless pulmonary artery pressure remote monitor, the CardioMEMS HF System, has been shown to be effective in reducing hospitalizations among New York Heart Association (NYHA ) class III HF patients. The objective of this study was to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of this remote monitoring technology compared to standard of care treatment for HF . A Markov cohort model relying on the CHAMPION (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in NYHA Class III Heart Failure Patients) clinical trial for mortality and hospitalization data, published sources for cost data, and a mix of CHAMPION data and published sources for utility data, was developed. The model compares outcomes over 5 years for implanted vs standard of care patients, allowing patients to accrue costs and utilities while they remain alive. Sensitivity analyses explored uncertainty in input parameters. The CardioMEMS HF System was found to be cost‐effective, with an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of $44,832 per quality‐adjusted life year (QALY ). Sensitivity analysis found the model was sensitive to the device cost and to whether mortality benefits were sustained, although there were no scenarios in which the cost/QALY exceeded $100,000. Compared with standard of care, the CardioMEMS HF System was cost‐effective when leveraging trial data to populate the model.