scholarly journals Reassessing the NYHA classification for heart failure: a comparison between classes I and II using cardiopulmonary exercise testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Zimerman ◽  
G Cardoso De Souza ◽  
P Engster ◽  
M Spier Borges ◽  
T Ulrich Schaan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification has evolved to become a major determinant of eligibility to medical interventions and clinical trials, but its reliability to discriminate patients with mild heart failure (HF) has been questioned by studies that demonstrated a major overlap in self-reported symptoms and laboratory markers between NYHA classes I and II. Purpose To assess the reliability of NYHA classification by comparing cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) results and its overlap between HF patients classified as NYHA I and II. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from HF patients who underwent CPET in 3 medical centers in Brazil. NYHA class was defined as recorded on CPET day or during the previous clinical visit. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of HF, age ≥16, and NYHA class I or II. We analyzed overlap between kernel density estimations for the percent-predicted peak VO2, minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope, and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) in patients in NYHA classes I and II. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square tests. Results We included 684 patients, of which 42% (284) were classified as NYHA I. Mean age was 56.1 years; 44% (303) were female and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 36% (±14.2%). Regarding CPET measures, mean global percent-predicted peak VO2 was 56.6% (±26.1%), VE/VCO2 slope was 38.8 (±10.2), and OUES was 1.50 (±0.59). Kernel density overlap between NYHA classes I and II was considerable: 83% for percent-predicted peak VO2, 89% for VE/VCO2 slope, and 85% for OUES (Figure 1). There was no significant difference between NHYA I and II in CPET indicators of poor prognosis: percent-predicted peak VO2 <50% was present in 53% vs. 48% of patients classified as NYHA I and II, respectively (p=0.15); VE/VCO2 slope >36 in 54% vs. 57% (p=0.39); and OUES <1.4 in 46% vs. 48% (p=0.51). Conclusions HF patients classified as NYHA I and II overlap substantially in objective measures of functional capacity assessed by CPET. These findings suggest that NYHA classification is a poor discriminator of cardiopulmonary capacity among patients with mild HF, and raise questions about its use as a benchmark to guide HF therapy. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1

Author(s):  
Hari Prasad ◽  
Abhishek Kulkarni ◽  
Maninder Singh ◽  
Dwight Stapleton

Background: A Gap remains between evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of heart failure and current pharmacologic and device therapy. Current performance measures for Heart Failure are designed to assess medication prescription but fail to address the need to achieve optimal pharmacology dosing. Methods: We examined 405 patients’ charts who were admitted with a diagnosis of acute systolic heart failure or acute on chronic systolic heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%. Twenty-one data elements related to heart failure were abstracted based on Seattle Heart Failure Model. Results: The mean age of the population examined was 77 ± 9 years. The cohort was comprised of 72 % males, mean weight 89 ± 22.5kg, with NYHA class 2.4 ± 0.6 symptoms. Ischemic etiology was identified in 86% with a mean left ventricular EF of 29.8 ± 9 %. The one year all-cause mortality rate was 19.5 %, reflecting an advanced heart failure population. There were 97 (23.9%) patients who were not readmitted in 1 year and were considered as optimal medical therapy. The readmission group was compared against this group (Tables). Up titration of medication or addition happened only in 27 % of patients. In 61.5 % of patients there were no dose adjustments made in follow up visits. There was statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between both the groups in terms of pharmacology and device therapy. Conclusion: Up titration of heart failure medications to guideline recommended therapeutic doses reduces heart failure readmissions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti ◽  
Maria Sol Andres ◽  
Karla A Lee ◽  
Tharshini Ramalingam ◽  
Tamsin Nash ◽  
...  

Abstract PurposeTrastuzumab improves survival in patients with HER2+ early breast cancer. However, cardiotoxicity remains a concern, particularly in the curative setting, and there are limited data on its incidence outside of clinical trials. We retrospectively evaluated the cardiotoxicity rates (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] decline, congestive heart failure [CHF], cardiac death or trastuzumab discontinuation) and assessed the performance of a proposed model to predict cardiotoxicity in routine clinical practice.MethodsPatients receiving curative trastuzumab between 2011-2018 were identified. Demographics, treatments, assessments and toxicities were recorded. Fisher’s exact test, chi-squared and logistic regression were used.Results931 patients were included in the analysis. Median age was 54 years (range 24-83) and Charlson comorbidity index 0 (0-6), with 195 patients (20.9%) aged 65 or older. 228 (24.5%) were smokers. Anthracyclines were given in 608 (65.3%). Median number of trastuzumab doses was 18 (1-18). The HFA-ICOS cardiovascular risk was low in 401 patients (43.1%), medium in 454 (48.8%), high in 70 (7.5%) and very high in 6 (0.6%).Overall, 155 (16.6%) patients experienced cardiotoxicity: LVEF decline≥10% in 141 (15.1%), falling below 50% in 55 (5.9%), CHF NYHA class II in 42 (4.5%) and class III-IV in 5 (0.5%) and discontinuation due to cardiac reasons in 35 (3.8%). No deaths were observed.Cardiotoxicity rates increased with HFA-ICOS score (14.0% low, 16.7% medium, 30.3% high/very high; p=0.002). ConclusionsCardiotoxicity was relatively common (16.6%), but symptomatic heart failure on trastuzumab was rare in our cohort. The HFA-ICOS score identifies patients at high risk of cardiotoxicity


The Clinician ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
E. S. Trofimov ◽  
A. S. Poskrebysheva ◽  
N. А. Shostak

Objective: to evaluate vasopressin (VP) concentration in patients with varying severity of chronic heart failure (CHF), intensity of clinical symptoms, and decreased level of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Materials and methods. In total, 120 patients (44 males, 76 females) with CHF of varying genesis (mean age 72.12 ± 10.18 years) and 30 clinically healthy individuals (18 males, 12 females) as a control group (mean age 33.4 ± 6.23 years) were examined. All patients underwent comprehensive clinical and instrumental examination in accordance with the standards for patients with CHF. The VP level was determined using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics v. 23 software.Results. The patients with CHF had significantly higher blood VP levels compared to the control group (72.91 ± 53.9 pg/ml versus 6.6 ± 3.2 pg/ml respectively; p <0.01). At the same time, patients with stage III CHF had significantly lower VP levels than patients with stages IIВ and IIА (35.61 ± 21.53 pg/ml versus 71.67 ± 48.31 pg/ml and 86.73 ± 59.78 pg/ml respectively; p<0.01). A similar picture was observed for the functional classes (FC). For instance, for CHF FC II and III, the VP level was 91.93 ± 67.13 pg/ml and 77.95 ± 54.01 pg/ml respectively, while for FC IV it decreased to 50.49 ± 28.18 pg/ml (p <0.01). The VP concentration in patients who subsequently perished was significantly lower than in patients who survived (48.79 ± 26.30 pg/ml versus 79.72 ± 57.73 pg/ml; p = 0.012). Moreover, in patients with LVEF <50 %, the VP level was significantly lower than in patients with LVEF >50 % (59.43 ± 42.51 pg/ml versus 86.43 ± 62.46 pg/ml respectively; p <0.05).Conclusion. The observed significant differences in VP in patients with stage III and IV CFH can indicate depletion of neurohumoral mediators in this patient category. However, a correlation between the VP level and the level of LVEF decrease can indicate a significant difference in the role of VP in CHF pathogenesis in patients with preserved and decreased LVEF. This observation requires further research.


Author(s):  
Parisa Gholami ◽  
Shoutzu Lin ◽  
Paul Heidenreich

Background: BNP testing is now common though it is not clear if the test results are used to improve patient care. A high BNP may be an indicator that the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is low (<40%) such that the patient will benefit from life-prolonging therapy. Objective: To determine how often clinicians obtained a measure of LVEF (echocardiography, nuclear) following a high BNP value when the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not known to be low (<40%). Methods and Results: We reviewed the medical records of 296 consecutive patients (inpatient or outpatient) with a BNP values of at least 200 pg/ml at a single medical center (tertiary hospital with 8 community clinics). A prior diagnosis of heart failure was made in 65%, while 42% had diabetes, 79% had hypertension, 59% had ischemic heart disease and 31% had chronic lung disease. The mean age was 73 ± 12 years, 75% were white, 10% black, 15% other and the mean BNP was 810 ± 814 pg/ml. The LVEF was known to be < 40% in 84 patients (28%, mean BNP value of 1094 ± 969 pg/ml). Of the remaining 212 patients without a known low LVEF, 161 (76%) had a prior LVEF >=40% ( mean BNP value of 673 ± 635 pg/ml), and 51 (24%) had no prior LVEF documented (mean BNP 775 ± 926 pg/ml). Following the high BNP, a measure of LVEF was obtained (including outside studies documented by the primary care provider) within 6 months in only 53% (113 of 212) of those with an LVEF not known to be low. Of those with a follow-up echocardiogram, the LVEF was <40% in 18/113 (16%) and >=40% in 95/113 (84%). There was no significant difference in mean initial BNP values between those with a follow-up LVEF <40% (872 ± 940pg/ml), >=40% (704 ± 737 pg/ml), or not done (661 ± 649 pg/ml, p=0.5). Conclusions: Follow-up measures of LVEF did not occur in almost 50% of patients with a high BNP where the information may have led to institution of life-prolonging therapy. Of those that did have a follow-up study a new diagnosis of depressesd LVEF was noted in 16%. Screening of existing BNP and LVEF data and may be an efficient strategy to identify patients that may benefit from life-prolonging therapy for heart failure.


Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 138 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhil Narang ◽  
Bow Chung ◽  
Ann Nguyen ◽  
Teruhiko Imamura ◽  
Sara Kalantari ◽  
...  

Introduction: Elevated lactic acid (LA) levels carry a poor prognosis in patients admitted with shock. Data is lacking on the association of LA level with the severity of decompensated heart failure (HF). This study assesses the relationship between LA levels, invasive hemodynamics and clinical outcomes. Methods: Patients presenting to the cardiac care unit with decompensated HF between 2015-18 were prospectively enrolled into an invasive hemodynamics study. LA (normal 0.7-2.1 mmol/L) levels were obtained within 12 hours prior to right heart catheterization (RHC). No significant changes in therapy were made in the time between LA level collection & RHC. Patients were divided into 4 groups: 1) normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (< 18 mmHg)/ normal Fick cardiac index (CI) (≥ 2.2 L/min/m 2 ), 2) normal PCWP/ low CI (< 2.2 L/min/m 2 ) 3) elevated PCWP (≥ 18 mmHg )/ normal CI, 4) elevated PCWP / low CI. Results: 80 patients were enrolled. Mean age 58±14 years; 78% male, left ventricular ejection fraction was 24±4%. Prior to RHC, 55% patients were on vasoactives and/or inotropes. Mean (SD) PCWP was 26 ± 8.8 mmHg and mean CI was 2.06 ± 0.61 L/min/m 2 . Overall 48 (60%) of the patients had high PCWP and low CI (group 4). 81% had normal LA (≤2.1 mmol/L) prior to RHC. There was no correlation between LA level and PCWP (R=0.12; p=0.30); there was a moderate inverse correlation between LA level and CI (R=-0.40; p<0.01). Only 25% of patients with the highest risk hemodynamic profile (elevated PCWP/low CI) had an elevated LA level (Figure A). 90- day all cause mortality was 33% When LA was stratified by tertile, there was no significant difference in mortality between the tertiles (Figure B). Conclusion: In patients with decompensated HF, normal LA levels do not exclude the presence of cardiogenic shock with profoundly impaired cardiac output. Invasive assessment of hemodynamics should not be delayed based on LA level alone.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Maisch ◽  
Hendrik Haake ◽  
Nadine Schlotmann ◽  
Sabine Pankuweit

152 consecutive patients with myocarditis according to the quantitative World Heart Federation Criteria (> 14 infiltrating cells/mm 2 by endomyocardial biopsy(EMB)) were analysed for cardiotropic agents. In 90 pts parvoviruses B19 (59,5%) and in 36 pts adenoviruses (23,8%) were assessd by PCR as causative viral pathogens. All virus positive patients were treated with 10 g/day Pentaglobin® i. v.(enriched IgG, IgA and IgM preparation, Biotest) at day 1 and 3. After six months all patients were reevalutated clinically, 73 patients (48%) in addition by EMB. Methods: We compared the following parameters before and after therapy: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), shortening fraction (SF) by transthoracic echocardiography and LVEF or the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) using angiography. For exercise capacity we evaluated exercise ECG by treadmill test and clinical parameters according to the NYHA classification, before and after therapy. Results: After Pentaglobin therapy, all patients demonstrated a significant clinical improvement of the NYHA class, of exercise capacity and of LVEF (from 54,4 to 60,0%, p<0,005) independent from the respective virus. In 52 of 73 (71%) rebiopsied pts inflammation had resolved. In 17 of the 19 rebiopsied patients (90%) with a positive PCR for ADV before therapy no more virus DNA was recovered after treatment, inflammation had resolved completely. In Parvo B 19 myocarditis inflammation had resolved in 31 of the 44 pts (70%), whereas Parvo B19 DNA was eradicated in only in 18 out of 44 pts(40%). In patients in whom both virus and inflammation were eliminated enddiastolic LV dimension decreased and EF increased significantly (p<0,001). Conclusion: Treatment with an intermediate dose of Pentaglobin is highly effective in resolving myocardial inflammation independent of the underlying viral etiology, but it eradicates adenoviral much better than Parvo B19 infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17
Author(s):  
Mehmet Küçükosmanoğlu ◽  
Cihan Örem

Introduction: MPI is an echocardiographic parameter that exibit the left ventricular functions globally. NT-proBNP  is an important both diagnostic and prognostic factor in heart failure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of serum NT-proBNP levels and MPI in patients with STEMI. Method: Totally 104 patients with a diagnosis of STEMI were included in the study. Patients followed for 30-days and questioned for presence of symptoms of heart failure (HF) and cardiac death. Patients were invited for outpatient control after 30-days and were divided into two groups: (HF (+) group) and (HF (-) group). Results: Totally 104 patients with STEMI were hospitalized in the coronary intensive care unit. Of those patients, 17 were female (16%), 87 were male (84%), and the mean age of the patients was 58.9±10.8 years. During the 30-day follow-up, 28 (27%) of 104 patients developed HF. The mean age, hypertension ratio and anterior STEMI rate were significantly higher in the HF (+) group compared to the HF (-) group. Ejection time (ET) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly lower and MPI was significantly higher in the HF (+) group. When the values on day first and  sixth were compared, NT-ProBNP levels were decreased in both groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the change in MPI values on the first and sixth days. Multiple regression analysis showed that the presence of anterior MI, first day NT-proBNP level and LVEF were independently associated with development of HF and death. Conclusion: In our study, NT-proBNP levels were found to be positively associated with MPI in patients with acute STEMI. It was concluded that the level of NT-proBNP detected especially on the 1st day was more valuable than MPI in determining HF development and prognosis after STEMI.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bernd Dschietzig ◽  
Karl-Heinz Kellner ◽  
Katrin Sasse ◽  
Felix Boschann ◽  
Robert Klüsener ◽  
...  

Background: Kynurenine, a metabolite of the L-tryptophan pathway, plays a pivotal role in neuro-inflammation, cancer immunology, and cardiovascular inflammation, and has been shown to predict cardiovascular events. Objectives: It was our objective to increase the body of data regarding the value of kynurenine as a biomarker in chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: We investigated the predictive value of plasma kynurenine in a CHF cohort (CHF, n = 114); in a second cohort of defibrillator carriers with CHF (AICD, n = 156), we determined clinical and biochemical determinants of the marker which was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Results: In the CHF cohort, both kynurenine and NT-proBNP increased with NYHA class. Univariate binary logistic regression showed kynurenine to predict death within a 6-month follow-up (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03–2.00, p = 0.033) whereas NT-proBNP did not contribute significantly. Kynurenine, like NT-proBNP, was able to discriminate at a 30% threshold of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; AUC-ROC, both 0.74). Kynurenine correlated inversely with LVEF (ϱ = –0.394), glomerular filtration fraction (GFR; ϱ = –0.615), and peak VO2 (ϱ = –0.626). Moreover, there was a strong correlation of kynurenine with NT-proBNP (ϱ = 0.615). In the AICD cohort, multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated highly significant associations of kynurenine with GFR, hsCRP, and tryptophan, as well as a significant impact of age. Conclusions: This work speaks in favor of kynurenine being a new and valuable biomarker of CHF, with particular attention placed on its ability to predict mortality and reflect exercise capacity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M D M Perez Gil ◽  
V Mora Llabata ◽  
A Saad ◽  
A Sorribes Alonso ◽  
V Faga ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND New echocardiographic phenotypes of heart failure (HF) are focused on myocardial systolic involvement of the left ventricle (LV), either endocardial and/or transmural. PURPOSE. To study the pattern of myocardial involvement in patients (p) with HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (pLVEF) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA). METHODS. Comparative study of 16 p with CA and HF with pLVEF, considering as cut point LVEF &gt; 50%, in NYHA class ≥ II / IV, and a control group of 16 healthy people. Longitudinal Strain (LS) and Circumferential Strain (CS) were calculated using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography, along with Mitral Annulus Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) and Base-Apex distance (B-A). Also, the following indexes were calculated: Twist (apical rotation + basal rotation, º); Classic Torsion (TorC): (twist/B-A, º/cm); Torsion Index (Tor.I): (twist/MAPSE, º/cm) and Deformation Index (Def.I): (twist/LS, º). We suggest the introduction of these dynamic torsion indexes as Tor.I and Def.I that include twist per unit of longitudinal systolic shortening of the LV instead of using TorC which is the normalisation of twist to the end-diastolic longitudinal diameter of the LV. RESULTS There were no differences of age between the groups (68.2 ± 11.5 vs 63.7 ± 2.8 years, p = 0.14). Global values of LS and CS were lower in p with CA indicating endocardial and transmural deterioration during systole, while TorC and Twist of the LV remained conserved in p with CA. However, there is an increase of dynamic torsion parameters such as Tor.I and Def.I that show an increased Twist per unit of longitudinal shortening of the LV in the CA group (Table). CONCLUSIONS In p with CA and HF with pLVEF, the impairment of LS and CS indicates endocardial and transmural systolic dysfunction. In these conditions, LVEF would be preserved at the expense of a greater dynamic torsion of the LV. Table LS (%) CS (%) Twist (º) TorC (º/cm) Tor.I (º/cm) Def.I (º/%) CA pLVEF (n = 16) -11.7 ± 4.2 17.2 ± 4.8 19.8 ± 8.3 2.5 ± 1.1 27.7 ± 13.5 -1.8 ± 0.9 Control Group (n = 15) -20.6 ± 2.5 22.7 ± 4.9 21.7 ± 6.1 2.7 ± 0.8 16.4 ± 4.7 -1.0 ± 0.3 p &lt; 0.001 &lt; 0.01 0.46 0.46 &lt; 0.01 &lt; 0.01 Dynamic Torsion Indexes and Classic Torion Parameters in pLVEF CA patients vs Control group.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Okuhara ◽  
Masanori Asakura ◽  
Yoshiyuki Orihara ◽  
Daisuke Morisawa ◽  
Yuki Matsumoto ◽  
...  

AbstractLeft ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is critical for determining the prognosis and treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). However, the influence of serial LVEF changes in patients with stable chronic HF (CHF) has not yet been completely investigated. We analyzed data of 263 outpatients with CHF from the J-MELODIC study cohort and evaluated the frequency of cardiac events. We stratified patients into tertiles based on the relative difference in LVEF in 1 year and that at baseline. We found a significant difference in the cardiac event rate among the three groups (log-rank test, p = 0.042). We identified a relative 11% LVEF reduction as the optimal cutoff value based on the receiver operating characteristics analysis. LVEF (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07; p = 0.015) and E/e′ (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01–1.12; p = 0.023) at baseline were predictors of >11% LVEF reduction. After adjusting the variables including age and sex, >11% LVEF reduction was an independent predictor of subsequent cardiac events (HR, 5.79; 95% CI, 2.49–13.2; p < 0.001). In conclusion, patients with 1-year relative >11% LVEF reduction may have subsequent worsening outcomes. Such patients should be carefully followed-up as high risk population for development of cardiac events.


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