Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Diabetic cardiomyopathy treatment shows promise in ARISE-HF
James Januzzi Jr., MD, said the treatment's overall impact was neutral, but he and his team saw "a very clear and encouraging signal."
Keto diet ‘does not fulfill the criteria of a healthy diet,’ could be harmful for heart patients
The popular high-fat, low-carb diet is associated with multiple short-term benefits, but they appear to diminish over time.
Bayer subsidiary granted FDA’s fast track designation for new congestive heart failure treatment
AskBio, acquired by Bayer for more than $2 billion in 2020, is enrolling patients for a new clinical trial focused on the therapy's effectiveness in adult patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
2 out of 5 AFib patients develop heart failure later in life
Stroke is typically seen as the biggest danger for patients after they receive an AFib diagnosis. This study, however, suggests heart failure could be an even bigger threat.
FDA announces new recall of Abbott’s HeartMate LVADs after 14 deaths
The issue at the center of this recall, which includes both the HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 LVAD, is the gradual buildup of biological materials. This can impact the device's performance, creating a heightened risk of injury or death.

Multiple factors can interfere with pulse oximetry accuracy including skin pigmentation. Multiple studies have shown the inaccuracy of current pulse oximeters in patients with darker skin tones than whites, often over estimating their oxygenation when in fact they are hypoxic. Images courtesy of Masimo.

Inaccurate pulse oximeter readings impact Black heart failure patients and FDA plans to address this

Black patients are already less likely to receive LVADs or transplants compared to whites, and these inaccurate readings can further widen the disparities.

February 21, 2024

The Reprieve System using intelligent software and automation to manage diuretic dosing and fluid replacement for patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Heart failure startup emerges with $42 million in financing for its intelligent fluid management system

Reprieve Cardiovascular emerged from stealth mode this week with sizable financial backing and some big name board members to advance development for its intelligent, automated diuretic and fluid management system for heart failure.

February 21, 2024

Ranking heart transplant candidates in terms of medical urgency: Is there a better way?

Researchers explored data from nearly 17,000 U.S. heart transplant candidates, developing an updated model that ranks patients based on their mortality risk.

February 15, 2024

money business cash flow dollar. Kingsway Financial Services, a Chicago-based holding company with subsidiaries in several industries, has acquired New Jersey-based Digital Diagnostics Imaging (DDI) for $11 million. The transaction was funded with $5.4 million in cash and $5.6 million in debt financing.

Medical device company raises $136M to continue work on new 2-in-1 heart failure technology

New Jersey-based Impulse Dynamics says it will use the new financing to fund clinical research and continue developing advanced heart failure devices.

February 14, 2024

Former NBA champion, Survivor contestant now fighting for his life as he waits for a heart transplant

Scot Pollard has a long family history of heart disease, and he’s been on a watch list for several years now due to his size. He's been in and out of hospitals for more than three years due to an ongoing fight with cardiomyopathy.

February 8, 2024

Francisco Arabia, MD, Banner Health, explains trends in total artificial hearts (TAH) in advanced heart failure patients and what is coming in new technology.

Total artificial hearts: Exploring the future of heart transplant technology with a renowned surgeon

Francisco Arabia, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the present and future of total artificial heart technology.

February 5, 2024

Procyrion's Aortix percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) device targets acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients with cardiorenal syndrome (CRS).

Heart failure specialists raise $58M for new device designed to improve cardiac, renal function

Researchers are presently tracking the safety and effectiveness of the new device in patients with ADHF compared to diuretics alone.

February 5, 2024

Tablet projecting metaphorical medical hologram

AI-powered risk score predicts how heart failure patients will respond to loop diuretics

New research out of Texas could go a long way toward improving care for patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

January 31, 2024

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Heart Failure

Diabetic cardiomyopathy treatment shows promise in ARISE-HF

Keto diet ‘does not fulfill the criteria of a healthy diet,’ could be harmful for heart patients

Bayer subsidiary granted FDA’s fast track designation for new congestive heart failure treatment

2 out of 5 AFib patients develop heart failure later in life

FDA announces new recall of Abbott’s HeartMate LVADs after 14 deaths

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