scholarly journals The central arterial stiffness parameters in decompensated versus compensated states of heart failure: a paired comparative cohort study

2022 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed El Fol ◽  
Waleed Ammar ◽  
Yasser Sharaf ◽  
Ghada Youssef

Abstract Background Arterial stiffness is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of heart failure and the development of acute decompensation in patients with stable chronic heart failure. This study aimed to compare arterial stiffness indices in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) during the acute decompensated state, and three months later after hospital discharge during the compensated state. Results One hundred patients with acute decompensated HFrEF (NYHA class III and IV) and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% were included in the study. During the initial and follow-up visits, all patients underwent full medical history taking, clinical examination, transthoracic echocardiography, and non-invasive pulse wave analysis by the Mobil-O-Graph 24-h device for measurement of arterial stiffness. The mean age was 51.6 ± 6.1 years and 80% of the participants were males. There was a significant reduction of the central arterial stiffness indices in patients with HFrEF during the compensated state compared to the decompensated state. During the decompensated state, patients presented with NYHA FC IV (n = 64) showed higher AI (24.5 ± 10.0 vs. 16.8 ± 8.6, p < 0.001) and pulse wave velocity (9.2 ± 1.3 vs. 8.5 ± 1.2, p = 0.021) than patients with NYHA FC III, and despite the relatively smaller number of females, they showed higher stiffness indices than males. Conclusions Central arterial stiffness indices in patients with HFrEF were significantly lower in the compensated state than in the decompensated state. Patients with NYHA FC IV and female patients showed higher stiffness indices in their decompensated state of heart failure.

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K C Neoh ◽  
D Rasoul ◽  
F Hunt ◽  
D W S Chong

Abstract Background Sacubitril/Valsartan has been shown to improve symptoms and outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) reduced ejection fraction in a single large randomised controlled trial. However, real-world data on its effect is limited. Purpose Our centre operates a dedicated HF clinic for the initiation and titration of Sacubitril/Valsartan in suitable patients. We report on patient tolerability and incidence of adverse effects. We also assessed change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) post-treatment, as well as HF hospitalisation and mortality at 6 months. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all patients seen in the clinic between January 2016 to January 2019. Patient demographics and pre-initiation treatments were recorded. We compared NYHA class and LVEF category as measured by echocardiography, at initiation and post-titration to the maximum tolerated dose. Data on HF admissions were obtained from electronic hospital records and mortality from a national database. Results A total of 179 patients were initiated on Sacubitril/Valsartan and included in the study. Mean age was 71 years (41–90), and 138 (77%) were male. Half of the patient cohort (89) had an ischaemic aetiology. Prior to initiation, all patients were established on an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. Almost all were on a beta-blocker (99%) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (98%). 56 patients (31%) had a Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) device and 31 (17%) had an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD). Only 4 patients (2%) had to discontinue treatment completely due to an adverse reaction. Among them, 3 patients sustained an acute kidney injury (AKI) while 1 patient had increased breathlessness. 40 patients (22%) reported symptomatic hypotension which required dose reduction. 7 patients (4%) sustained an AKI. 2 patients reported a rash and 1 patient reported nausea. Figure 1 shows the change in NYHA class after establishment on Sacubitril/Valsartan. Data on change in LVEF post establishment of Sacubitril/Valsartan was available in 124 patients and is shown in figure 2. A total of 133 patients had completed titration of treatment by July 2018 and included in the analysis of 6-month outcome. 13 patients had one HF hospitalisation and all-cause mortality was 4.5% (6 patients). Only 1 patient had heart failure documented as the primary cause of death. Change in NYHA class and LVEF Conclusion In our cohort of well treated HF patients with reduced ejection fraction, 40% of patients experienced an improvement in NYHA class after establishment on Sacubitril/Valsartan while 35% of patients also experienced a significant improvement in LVEF. Treatment was well tolerated and the discontinuation rate was low when managed in a dedicated HF clinic focused on initiation of Sacubitril/Valsartan.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto A Smiseth ◽  
Anders Opdahl ◽  
Espen Boe ◽  
Helge Skulstad

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HF-PEF), sometimes named diastolic heart failure, is a common condition most frequently seen in the elderly and is associated with arterial hypertension and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Symptoms are attributed to a stiff left ventricle with compensatory elevation of filling pressure and reduced ability to increase stroke volume by the Frank-Starling mechanism. LV interaction with stiff arteries aggravates these problems. Prognosis is almost as severe as for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), in part reflecting co-morbidities. Before the diagnosis of HF-PEF is made, non-cardiac etiologies must be excluded. Due to the non-specific nature of heart failure symptoms, it is essential to search for objective evidence of diastolic dysfunction which, in the absence of invasive data, is done by echocardiography and demonstration of signs of elevated LV filling pressure, impaired LV relaxation, or increased LV diastolic stiffness. Antihypertensive treatment can effectively prevent HF-PEF. Treatment of HF-PEF is symptomatic, with similar drugs as in HF-REF.


Angiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 000331972110473
Author(s):  
Umut Karabulut ◽  
Kudret Keskin ◽  
Dilay Karabulut ◽  
Ece Yiğit ◽  
Zerrin Yiğit

The angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) sacubitril/valsartan and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor dapagliflozin have been shown to reduce rehospitalization and cardiac mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We aimed to compare the long-term cardiac and all-cause mortality of ARNI and dapagliflozin combination therapy against ARNI monotherapy in patients with HFrEF. This retrospective study involved 244 patients with HF with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II–IV symptoms and ejection fraction ≤40%. The patients were divided into 2 groups: ARNI monotherapy and ARNI+dapagliflozin. Median follow-up was 2.5 (.16–3.72) years. One hundred and seventy-five (71.7%) patients were male, and the mean age was 65.9 (SD, 10.2) years. Long-term cardiac mortality rates were significantly lower in the ARNI+dapagliflozin group (7.4%) than in the ARNI monotherapy group (19.5%) ( P = .01). Dapagliflozin [Hazard Ratio (HR) [95% Confidence Interval (CI)] = .29 [.10–.77]; P = .014] and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [HR (95% CI) = .89 (.85–.93); P < .001] were found to be independent predictors of cardiac mortality. Our study showed a significant reduction in cardiac mortality with ARNI and dapagliflozin combination therapy compared with ARNI monotherapy.


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


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 4200
Author(s):  
I. V. Zhirov ◽  
N. V. Safronova ◽  
Yu. F. Osmolovskaya ◽  
S. N. Тereschenko

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are the most common cardiovascular conditions in clinical practice and frequently coexist. The number of patients with HF and AF is increasing every year.Aim. To analyze the effect of clinical course and management of HF and AF on the outcomes.Material and methods. The data of 1,003 patients from the first Russian register of patients with HF and AF (RIF-CHF) were analyzed. The endpoints included hospitalization due to decompensated HF, cardiovascular mortality, thromboembolic events, and major bleeding. Predictors of unfavorable outcomes were analyzed separately for patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (AF+HFpEF), mid-range ejection fraction (AF+HFmrEF), and reduced ejection fraction (AF+HFrEF).Results. Among all patients with HF, 39% had HFpEF, 15% — HFmrEF, and 46% — HFrEF. A total of 57,2% of patients were rehospitalized due to decompensated HF within one year. Hospitalization risk was the highest for HFmrEF patients (66%, p=0,017). Reduced ejection fraction was associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (15,5% vs 5,4% in other groups, p<0,001) but not ischemic stroke (2,4% vs 3%, p=0,776). Patients with HFpEF had lower risk to achieve the composite endpoint (stroke+MI+cardiovascular death) as compared to patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF (12,7% vs 22% and 25,5%, p<0,001). Regression logistic analysis revealed that factors such as demographic characteristics, disease severity, and selected therapy had different effects on the risk of unfavorable outcomes depending on ejection fraction group.Conclusion. Each group of patients with different ejection fractions is characterized by its own pattern of factors associated with unfavorable outcomes. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with mid-range ejection fraction demonstrate that these patients need to be studied as a separate cohort.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abumayyaleh ◽  
Ibrahim El-Battrawy ◽  
Marvin Kummer ◽  
Christina Pilsinger ◽  
Katherine Sattler ◽  
...  

The treatment with sacubitril/valsartan in patients suffering from chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction increases left ventricular ejection fraction and decreases the risk of sudden cardiac death. We conducted a retrospective analysis regarding the impact of age differences on the treatment outcome of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Patients were defined as adults if ≤65 years (n = 51) and older if >65 years of age (n = 76). The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias at 1-year follow-up was comparable in both groups (30.8 vs 26.5%; p = 0.71). The mortality rate in adult patients is significantly lower as compared with older patients (2 vs 14.5%; log-rank = 0.04). Older patients may suffer remarkably more side effects than adult patients (21.1 vs 11.8%; p = 0.03).


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Giallauria ◽  
Giuseppe Vitale ◽  
Mario Pacileo ◽  
Anna Di Lorenzo ◽  
Alessandro Oliviero ◽  
...  

Background: Heart rate recovery (HRR) is a marker of vagal tone, which is a powerful predictor of mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) is a treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), which impressively impacts cardiovascular outcome. This study aims at evaluating the effects of S/V on HRR and its correlation with cardiopulmonary indexes in HFrEF patients. Methods: Patients with HFrEF admitted to outpatients’ services were screened out for study inclusion. S/V was administered according to guidelines. Up-titration was performed every 4 weeks when tolerated. All patients underwent laboratory measurements, Doppler-echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing (CPET) at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Results: Study population consisted of 134 HFrEF patients (87% male, mean age 57.9 ± 9.6 years). At 12-month follow-up, significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (from 28% ± 5.8% to 31.8% ± 7.3%, p < 0.0001), peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2peak) (from 15.3 ± 3.7 to 17.8 ± 4.2 mL/kg/min, p < 0.0001), the slope of increase in ventilation over carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2 slope )(from 33.4 ± 6.2 to 30.3 ± 6.5, p < 0.0001), and HRR (from 11.4 ± 9.5 to 17.4 ± 15.1 bpm, p = 0.004) was observed. Changes in HRR were significantly correlated to changes in VE/VCO2slope (r = −0.330; p = 0.003). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, multivariate analysis showed that changes in HRR were significantly associated to changes in VE/VCO2slope (Beta (B) = −0.975, standard error (SE) = 0.364, standardized Beta coefficient (Bstd) = −0.304, p = 0.009). S/V showed significant reduction in exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) detection at CPET (28 EOV detected at baseline CPET vs. 9 EOV detected at 12-month follow-up, p < 0.001). HRR at baseline CPET was a significant predictor of EOV at 12-month follow-up (B = −2.065, SE = 0.354, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In HFrEF patients, S/V therapy improves autonomic function, functional capacity, and ventilation. Whether these findings might translate into beneficial effects on prognosis and outcome remains to be elucidated.


Open Heart ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e001305
Author(s):  
Sashiananthan Ganesananthan ◽  
Nisar Shah ◽  
Parin Shah ◽  
Hossam Elsayed ◽  
Julie Phillips ◽  
...  

BackgroundSacubitril/valsartan is an effective treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) based on clinical trial data. However, little is known about its use or impact in real-world practice. The aim of this study was to describe our routine clinical experience of switching otherwise optimally treated patients with HFrEF to sacubitril/valsartan with respect to patient outcomes such as quality of life (QoL) and echocardiographic variables.Methods and resultsFrom June 2017 to May 2019, 80 consecutive stable patients with HFrEF on established and maximally tolerated guideline-directed HF therapies were initiated on sacubitril/valsartan with bimonthly uptitration. Clinical assessment, biochemistry, echocardiography and QoL were compared pretreatment and post-treatment switching. We were able to successfully switch 89% of patients from renin–angiotensin axis inhibitors to sacubitril/valsartan (71 of 80 patients). After 3 months of switch therapy, we observed clinically significant and incremental improvements in blood pressure (systolic blood pressure 123 vs 112 mm Hg, p<0.001; diastolic blood pressure 72 vs 68 mm Hg, p=0.004), New York Heart Association functional classification score (2.3 vs 1.9, p<0.001), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score (46 vs 38, p=0.016), left ventricular ejection fraction (26% vs 33%, p<0.001) and left ventricular end systolic diameter (5.2 vs 4.9 cm, p=0.013) compared with baseline. There were no significant changes in renal function or serum potassium.ConclusionThis study provides real-world clinical practice data demonstrating incremental improvements in functional and echocardiographic outcomes in optimally treated patients with HFrEF switched to sacubitril/valsartan. The data provide evidence beyond that observed in clinical trial settings of the potential benefits of sacubitril/valsartan when used as part of a multidisciplinary heart failure programme.


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