Heart Failure Reviews最新文献

Delivering valvular intervention for all eligible patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) in a timely manner remains a challenge. Therefore, a high number of patients with heart failure (HF) and VHD receive pharmacotherapy while awaiting intervention or as destination therapy if they are deemed inoperable. The sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are recommended with a class I indication for patients with chronic HF throughout the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction. However, all randomized trials of SGLT2i in HF patients have consistently excluded patients with significant VHD. Considering the proven benefit of SGLT2i for stable outpatients and acutely hospitalized patients with HF, SGLT2i could potentially be used for patients with HF secondary to significant VHD. This article highlights the unmet need to produce robust clinical evidence for the pharmacological management of patients with HF and significant VHD while summarizing the potential benefit from SGLT2i in the management of these patients.

Pregnancy is a period of substantial changes to the body's normal physiology, and the failure to adapt to these changes can lead to life-threatening pathology, particularly involving the cardiovascular system. In comparison to pre-pregnancy physiology, pregnant women have increased blood volume and physical demands which exert increased stress on the heart. This is important to consider in women with and without previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease, as the physiologic changes during pregnancy and postpartum can lead to sudden decompensation. The management of heart failure is particularly important as it remains the most common cardiovascular complication during pregnancy and is associated with substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This is especially true in patients with pre-existing heart failure, who should receive counseling before conception and in certain cases be advised against pregnancy. For these reasons, healthcare professionals must be well-versed in the different strategies of diagnosis, management, treatment, and monitoring. This review will outline the pathophysiology, diagnostics, management, and general approach to heart failure in pregnant patients.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic heart disease, affecting 1:200 to 1:500 individuals worldwide. Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of HCM have been recently published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American societies. The ESC guidelines cover a broad range of cardiomyopathies, including HCM, with 119 recommendations, whereas the American guidelines focus exclusively on HCM with 141 specific recommendations. Both guidelines emphasize a comprehensive diagnostic approach, including imaging and genetic testing, but differ in some specific aspects. For example, sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk assessment is a primary point of divergence. The ESC guidelines advocate for the use of a validated Risk-SCD calculator, while the American guidelines rely on specific risk markers for individualized risk evaluation. Management strategies also vary: both guidelines prioritize beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers in patients with resting or provocable left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. If beta-blockers (or verapamil/diltiazem) are ineffective, either disopyramide or the myosin inhibitor mavacamten may be an option with slightly different indications among the two guidelines. Septal reduction therapy is recommended in ESC guidelines for symptomatic patients with significant LVOT gradients, while American guidelines suggest earlier myectomy for certain clinical factors and emphasize shared decision-making. The ESC guidelines recommend sequential atrioventricular pacing and dual-chamber defibrillators for reducing LVOT gradients. The American guidelines focus on genetic testing for risk assessment and suggest periodic cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. This paper provides a detailed comparison of these guidelines, highlighting key differences and areas needing further research and expert debate.

In recent years, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) emerged as promising therapeutic agents in managing heart failure (HF). They demonstrated a significant impact on reducing HF hospitalizations and related mortality in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. However, evidence supporting their use in patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and heart transplant (HT) recipients is still limited. We identified six key studies investigating the safety and efficacy of SGLT2i in LVAD and HT recipients. In patients with LVAD, prescription of SGLT2i was predominantly associated with improved fluid management and reduced pulmonary artery pressures. However, the results regarding their effects on body weight, hemoglobin A1c, diuretic use, and right ventricular function were contradictory. In terms of safety, SGLT2i were generally well-tolerated in the LVAD population, and the reported incidence of adverse events was low. In HT recipients, SGLT2i were associated with better glycemic control and weight reduction. No relevant adverse events were reported. Despite these encouraging results, the long-term safety and efficacy of SGLT2i in these vulnerable patient populations are yet to be investigated. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to address existing gaps in evidence and help integrate SGLT2i into clinical practice for LVAD and HT recipients.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system has been attributed to the development of hypertension. Two established approaches for treating hypertension are pharmacotherapy and lifestyle changes. With an improved understanding of renal nerve anatomy and physiology, renal denervation has been proposed as an alternative treatment for hypertension. Specifically, it has been shown that the interruption of sympathetic nerves connecting the kidney and the sympathetic nervous system can reduce blood pressure. Here, we present a review on how renal denervation can help hypertension patients, specifically focusing on our novel understanding of renal nerve anatomy, denervation technique, and subsequent clinical trials, and how it may be used to treat other cardiovascular diseases like heart failure.

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a disorder in which inadequate glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormone production leads to a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weight loss, and nausea. In some patients with unknown AI, adrenal crisis-induced cardiogenic shock (ACCS) can be the first presentation, resulting in a fatal situation. The ACCS may exhibit unresponsiveness to inotropes and fluid therapy; thus, glucocorticoid administration is the primary vital intervention, making early detection of AI essential. Hence, in this study, we review the case reports demonstrating acute cardiomyopathies in the context of AI. The review addresses the suggested underlying mechanisms, including the diminished protective effects of glucocorticoids against catecholamines in AI. We also highlighted some clues to aid physicians in considering AI as a differential diagnosis in critically ill patients presenting cardiogenic shock.

The clinical and economic impact of heart failure (HF) is immense and will continue to rise due to the increasing prevalence of the disease. Despite the availability of guideline-recommended medications that improve mortality, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance quality of life, there are major gaps in the implementation of such care. Quality improvement interventions have generally focused on clinicians. While certain interventions have had modest success in improving the use of heart failure medications, they remain insufficient in optimizing HF care. Here, we discuss how patient-facing interventions can add value and supplement clinician-centered interventions. We discuss how digital health can be leveraged to create patient activation tools that create a larger, sustainable impact. Small studies have suggested the promise of digital tools for patient engagement and self-care, but there are also important barriers to the adoption of such interventions that we describe. We share key principles and strategies around the design and implementation of digital health innovations to maximize patient participation and engagement. By uniquely activating patients in their own care, digital health can unlock the full potential of both existing and new quality improvement initiatives to drive forward high-quality and equitable heart failure care.

Myocarditis, marked by heart muscle inflammation, poses significant clinical challenges. This study, guided by PRISMA guidelines, explores the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in myocarditis, aiming to consolidate current knowledge and guide future research. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. MeSH terms including artificial intelligence, deep learning, machine learning, myocarditis, and inflammatory cardiomyopathy were used. Inclusion criteria involved original articles utilizing AI for myocarditis, while exclusion criteria eliminated reviews, editorials, and non-AI-focused studies. The search yielded 616 articles, with 42 meeting inclusion criteria after screening. The identified articles, spanning diagnostic, survival prediction, and molecular analysis aspects, were analyzed in each subsection. Diagnostic studies showcased the versatility of AI algorithms, achieving high accuracies in myocarditis detection. Survival prediction models exhibited robust discriminatory power, particularly in emergency settings and pediatric populations. Molecular analyses demonstrated AI's potential in deciphering complex immune interactions. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of AI applications in myocarditis, highlighting transformative potential in diagnostics, survival prediction, and molecular understanding. Collaborative efforts are crucial for overcoming limitations and realizing AI's full potential in improving myocarditis care.

The concept of quadruple therapy as a "one-size-fit-all" approach is effective among all eligible patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, with consistent and significant clinical benefits including reduced mortality across various subgroups. However, with exception of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, the consistency of benefit with therapies does not extend to patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The clinical benefits of other promising medical therapies, such as angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, have been demonstrated only in certain phenotypes of the highly heterogenous heart failure with preserved ejection fraction population. This variability can confuse frontline practicing cardiologists, potentially leading to the under-implementation of these medications. Therefore, we propose a simple approach: "targeted" combination therapy. This strategy aims to optimize evidence-based medications in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction by tailoring treatments to specific subgroups within the heart failure with preserved ejection fraction population where significant benefits are most evident.

Increased sympathetic and reduced parasympathetic nerve activity is associated with disease progression and poor outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure. The demonstration that markers of autonomic imbalance and vagal dysfunction, such as reduced heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity, hold prognostic value in patients with chronic heart failure despite modern therapies encourages the research for neuromodulation strategies targeting the vagus nerve. However, the approaches tested so far have yielded inconclusive results. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the role of the parasympathetic nervous system in chronic heart failure, describing the pathophysiological background, the methods of assessment, and the rationale, limits, and future perspectives of parasympathetic stimulation either by drugs or bioelectronic devices.