Ambulatory Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Heart Failure Do Not Specifically Predict an Increased Risk of Sudden Death

Left ventricular noncompaction is a primary cardiomyopathy with genetic transmission in the vast majority of autosomal dominant cases. It is characterized by the presence of excessive myocardial trabecularities that generally affect the left ventricle. In diagnosing this condition, echocardiography is the gold standard, although this method involves an increased risk of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. There are also uncertain cases where echocardiography is inconclusive, a multimodal approach is needed, correlating echocardiographic results with those obtained by magnetic resonance imaging. The clinical picture may range from asymptomatic patients to patients with heart failure, supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias, thromboembolic events and even sudden cardiac death. There is no specific treatment of left ventricular noncompaction, but the treatment is aimed at preventing and treating the complications of the disease. We will present the case of a young patient with left ventricular noncompactioncardiomyopathy and highlight the essential role of transthoracic echocardiography in diagnosing this rare heart disease.

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Prediction of all-cause mortality with malnutrition assessed by controlling nutritional status score in patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021002470 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Huiyang Li ◽

Peng Zhou ◽

Yikai Zhao ◽

Huaichun Ni ◽

Xinping Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Conut Score

Abstract Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between malnutrition assessed by the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Settings: A comprehensively literature search of PubMed and Embase databases was performed until 30 November 2020. Studies reporting the utility of CONUT score in prediction of all-cause mortality among patients with heart failure were eligible. Patients with a CONUT score ≥2 are grouped as malnourished. Predictive values of the CONUT score were summarized by pooling the multivariable-adjusted risk ratios (RR) with 95 % CI for the malnourished v. normal nutritional status or per point CONUT score increase. Participants: Ten studies involving 5196 patients with heart failure. Results: Malnourished patients with heart failure conferred a higher risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1·92; 95 % CI 1·58, 2·34) compared with the normal nutritional status. Subgroup analysis showed the malnourished patients with heart failure had an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (RR 1·78; 95 % CI 1·29, 2·46) and follow-up mortality (RR 2·01; 95 % CI 1·58, 2·57). Moreover, per point increase in CONUT score significantly increased 16% risk of all-cause mortality during the follow-up. Conclusions: Malnutrition defined by the CONUT score is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure. Assessment of nutritional status using CONUT score would be helpful for improving risk stratification of heart failure.

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Prevalence and prognostic impact of somatic mutations in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0966 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

D.J Vazquez Andres ◽

A Hernandez Vicente ◽

M Diez Diez ◽

M Gomez Molina ◽

A Quintas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Somatic Mutations ◽

Myocardial Dysfunction ◽

Study Endpoint ◽

Prognostic Impact ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Patients With Heart Failure

Abstract Introduction Somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells are associated with age and have been associated with higher mortality in apparently healthy adults, especially due to atherosclerotic disease. In animal models, somatic mutations are associated with atherosclerosis progression and myocardial dysfunction, especially when gene TET2 is affected. Preliminary clinical data, referred to ischemic heart failure (HF), have associate the presence of these acquired mutations with impaired prognosis. Purpose To study the prevalence of somatic mutations in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and their impact on long-term prognosis. Methods We studied a cohort of elderly patients (more than 60 years old) hospitalized with HFrEF (LVEF<45%). The presence of somatic mutations was assessed using next generation sequencing (Illumina HiSeq 2500), with a mutated allelic fraction of at least 2% and a panel of 55 genes related with clonal hematopoiesis. Patients were followed-up for a median of three years. The study endpoint was a composite of death or readmission for worsening HF. Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank test) and Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed adjusting for age, sex and LVEF. Results A total of 62 patients (46 males (74.2%), age 74±7.5 years) with HFrEF (LVEF 29.7±7.8%) were enrolled in the study. The ischemic etiology was present in 54% of patients. Somatic mutations in Dnmt3a or Tet2 were present in 11 patients (17.7%). No differences existed in baseline characteristics except for a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients with somatic mutations (70% vs. 40%, p=0.007). During the follow-up period, 40 patients (64.5%) died and 38 (61.3%) had HF re-admission. The KM survival analysis for the combined event is shown in Figure 1. Compared with patients without somatic mutations and after adjusting for covariates, there was an increased risk of adverse outcomes when the somatic mutations were present (HR 3.6, 95% CI [1.6, 7.8], p=0.0014). This results remains considering death as a competing risk (Gray's test p=0.0097) and adjusting for covariates (HR = 2.21 95% CI [0.98, 5], p=0.0556). Conclusions Somatic mutation are present in patients with HFrEF and determine a higher risk of adverse events in the follow-up. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical implications of these findings. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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The association between serum selenium concentration and prognosis in patients with heart failure in a Chinese population

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93873-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhiliang Zhang ◽

Chao Chang ◽

Yuxin Zhang ◽

Zhiyong Chai ◽

Jinbei Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Chinese Population ◽

Selenium Concentration ◽

Chinese Patients ◽

Serum Selenium ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Serum Selenium Concentration ◽

Baseline Information

AbstractWhether Selenium (Se) deficiency relates with adverse prognosis in Chinese patients with heart failure (HF) is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association of serum Se level and the outcomes of patients with HF in a Chinese population. Patients with HF and serum Se examination were retrospectively included. Baseline information were collected at patient’s first admission. The primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and rehospitalization for HF during follow-up, respectively. The study participants were divided into quartiles according to their serum Se concentrations. The Cox proportional hazard models were adopted to estimate the association of serum Se levels with observed outcomes. A total of 411 patients with HF with a mean age of 62.5 years were included. The mean serum level of Se was 68.3 ± 27.7 µg/L. There was nonsignificant difference of baseline characterizes between the four quartile groups. In comparison with patients in the highest quartile, those with the lowest quartile (17.40–44.35 µg/L) were associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) 2.32 (1.43–3.77); Ptrend = 0.001]. Our study suggested that a lower serum Se level was significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with HF.

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Abstract 17311: Ventricular Arrhythmias and Fibrosis in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_3.17311 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Natasha Cuk ◽

Jae H Cho ◽

Donghee Han ◽

Joseph E Ebinger ◽

Eugenio Cingolani

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Cardiac Mri ◽

Ventricular Arrhythmias ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

Ventricular Fibrosis

Introduction: Sudden death due to ventricular arrhythmias (VA) is one of the main causes of mortality in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Ventricular fibrosis in HFpEF has been suspected as a substrate of VA, but the degree of fibrosis has not been well characterized. Hypothesis: HFpEF patients with increased degree of fibrosis will manifest more VA. Methods: Cedars-Sinai medical records were probed using Deep 6 artificial intelligence data extraction software to identify patients with HFpEF who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI of identified patients were reviewed to measure extra-cellular volume (ECV) and degree of fibrosis. Ambulatory ECG monitoring (Ziopatch) of those patients were also reviewed to study the prevalence of arrhythmias. Results: A total of 12 HFpEF patients who underwent cardiac MRI were identified. Patients were elderly (mean age 70.3 ± 7.1), predominantly female (83%), and overweight (mean BMI 32 ± 9). Comorbidities included hypertension (83%), dyslipidemia (75%), and coronary artery disease (67%). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction by echocardiogram was 63 ± 8.7%. QTc as measured on ECG was not significantly prolonged (432 ± 15 ms). ECV was normal in those patients for whom it was available (24.2 ± 3.1, n = 9) with 3/12 patients (25%) demonstrating ventricular fibrosis by MRI (average burden of 9.6 ± 5.9%). Ziopatch was obtained in 8/12 patients (including all 3 patients with fibrosis) and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) was identified in 5/8 (62.5%). One patient with NSVT and without fibrosis on MRI also had a sustained VA recorded. In those patients who had Ziopatch monitoring, there was no association between presence of fibrosis and NSVT (X2 = 0.035, p = 0.85). Conclusions: Ventricular fibrosis was present in 25% of HFpEF patients in this study and NSVT was observed in 62.5% of those patients with HFpEF who had Ziopatch monitoring. The presence of fibrosis by Cardiac MRI was not associated with NSVT in this study; however, the size of the cohort precludes broadly generalizable conclusions about this association. Further investigation is required to better understand the relationship between ventricular fibrosis by MRI and VA in patients with HFpEF.

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Abstract 2415: Long-Term Baroreflex Activation Therapy Increases the Threshold for the Induction of Lethal Ventricular Arrhythmias in Dogs with Chronic Advanced Heart Failure

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.118.suppl_18.s_722 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽

Author(s):

Mengjun Wang ◽

Valerio Zaca ◽

Alice Jiang ◽

Itamar Ilsar ◽

Matthew Ebinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

Ventricular Arrhythmias ◽

Lv Function ◽

Baroreflex Activation Therapy ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Lv Remodeling ◽

Activation Therapy

Heart failure (HF) is associated with a high incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF). Patients with HF in whom these lethal arrhythmias can be induced by electrophysiological (EP) testing carry a high risk of sudden cardiac death. We showed that chronic electrical carotid baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) with the Rheos® System (CVRx, Inc.) improves LV function, attenuates LV remodeling and restores autonomic sympathetic-parasympathetic balance in dogs with HF. This study examined the effects of long-term therapy with BAT on the induction of VT or VF in dogs with coronary microembolization-induced HF (LV ejection fraction ~20%). Eleven dogs with HF underwent EP testing at baseline prior to therapy and after 3 and 6 months of therapy with BAT and again 6 weeks after withdrawal of BAT therapy (n = 7) or no therapy at all (Control, n = 4). Programmed ventricular stimulation was performed from the right ventricular apex and included delivery of up to 4 extrastimuli at progressively shorter coupling intervals (in steps of 10 msec). The extrastimuli were delivered following 8 ventricular paced beats with a drive cycle length between 600 and 200 msec. If a sustained monomorphic VT or VF could not be induced, isoproterenol infusion was initiated to increase the sinus rate by ~30% and the EP stimulation protocol was repeated. At baseline, a sustained VT or VF was induced in all 11 dogs (100%). After 3 and 6 months of follow-up, all Control dogs (100%) were induced into sustained VT or VF. After 3 months of BAT, only 3 of 7 dogs (43%) were induced into sustained VT or VF. After 6 months of BAT, only 2 of 7 dogs (29%) were induced into sustained VT or VF. Finally after withdrawal of BAT therapy, all dogs (100%) were again induced into systained VT or VF. In addition to improving LV function and attenuating LV remodeling, long-term monotherapy with BAT markedly increases the threshold for lethal ventricular arrhythmias in dogs with chronic HF. This is a marked improvement over inducibility of lethal arrhythmias seen in historical untreated controls. This benefit of BAT supports the continued exploration of this device as a therapeutic modality for treating patients with chronic HF and increased risk of sudden cardiac death.

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Abstract 14922: Prognostic Value of Baseline BNP and NT-ProBNP and its Interaction With Spironolactone in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction in the TOPCAT Trial

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.14922 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Inder S Anand ◽

Scott D Solomon ◽

Brian Claggett ◽

Sanjiv J Shah ◽

Eileen O’Meara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Selection Criterion ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽

Patient Selection Criterion ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Patients With Heart Failure

Background: Plasma natriuretic peptides (NP) are helpful in the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and predict adverse outcomes. Levels of NP beyond a certain cut-off level are often used as inclusion criteria in clinical trials to ensure that the patients have HF, and to select patients at higher risk. Whether treatments have a differential effect on outcomes across the spectrum of NP levels is unclear. In the I-Preserve trial a benefit of irbesartan on all outcomes was only seen in HFpEF patients with low but not high NP levels. We hypothesized that in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial, spironolactone might have a greater benefit in patients with lower NP levels. Methods and Results: BNP (n=468) or NT-proBNP (n=400) levels were available at baseline in 868 patients with HFpEF enrolled in the natriuretic peptide stratum (BNP ≥100 pg/mL or an NT- proBNP ≥360 pg/mL) of the TOPCAT trial. In a multi-variable Cox regression model, that included age, gender, region (Americas vs. Russia/Georgia), atrial fibrillation, diabetes, eGFR, BMI and heart rate, higher BNP or NT-proBNP as a continuous, standardized log-transformed variable or grouped by terciles (see Figure for BNP & NT-proBNP tercile values) was independently associated with an increased risk of the primary endpoint of cardiovascular mortality, aborted cardiac arrest, or hospitalization for heart failure (Figure-1). There was a significant interaction between the effect of spironolactone and baseline BNP or NT-proBNP terciles for the primary outcome (P=0.02, Figure-2), with greater benefit of the drug in the lower compared to higher NP terciles. Conclusions: The benefit of spironolactone in lower risk HFpEF patients may indicate effects of the drug on early, but not late higher-risk stage of the disease. These findings question the strategy of using elevated NP as a patient selection criterion in HFpEF trials.

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