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).

FDA clears advanced AI model for predicting heart failure risk
The new algorithm from Implicity evaluates implantable device data and monitors patients for changes that suggest they could experience severe heart failure symptoms in the near future. It was designed to alert clinicians up to weeks in advance.
FDA announces another new recall involving Abbott’s HeartMate 3 LVADs after 70 injuries, 2 deaths
Abbott issued the new recall after receiving more than 80 reports of blood or air entering the LVAD during implant procedures. Customers can still use these devices, but they are advised to follow specific steps to limit the risk of complications.
COVID-19 vaccines helped heart failure patients stay out of the hospital and live longer
Vaccination was linked to key benefits in terms of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, stroke, heart attack, myocarditis, venous thromboembolism and testing positive for COVID-19.
Cardiologists and surgeons perform world’s first robot-assisted TEER
A 62-year-old women presented with severe MR and recurrent heart failure episodes. Initial data suggest the procedure was a success.
Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF
Researchers explored data from nearly 2,500 AFib ablation patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.

Exercising and dieting improves exercise capacity but not quality of life in older, obese heart failure patients

After a 20-week regimen that included an improved diet and/or an increased exercise regiment, obese, older adults with heart failure had an increase in exercise capacity, according to a randomized trial conducted at an urban academic medical center. However, the regimen did not have a significant effect on quality of life.

January 6, 2016

Age-adjusted heart failure-related deaths increase from 2012 to 2014

After declining for more than a decade, the age-adjusted rate for heart failure-related deaths increased from 2012 to 2014, according to a recent data brief from the National Center for Health Statistics.

January 4, 2016

Predicting 30-day readmissions for heart failure patients remains challenging

A model developed to predict 30-day readmissions for heart failure found that having patients self-report their socioeconomic, health status and psychosocial characteristics did not improve the researchers’ ability to determine the readmissions risk.

December 7, 2015

Patients taking sacubitril/valsartan to treat heart failure may experience survival benefit

An actuarial analysis found that patients who receive sacubitril/valsartan may have an increased life expectancy and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular causes or hospitalization for heart failure compared with patients who take enalapril.

December 3, 2015

ACC, Geisinger launch heart failure strategic initiative

The American College of Cardiology, Geisinger Health System and xG Health Solutions announced a new joint initiative to enhance the processes and outcomes of clinical care for patients with heart failure.

December 3, 2015

Pulmonary artery catheter use among heart failure patients increases despite guideline recommendations

Although guidelines recommend against the use of pulmonary artery catheters for routine management of heart failure, physicians have significantly increased their use of pulmonary artery catheters in recent years, according to an analysis of heart failure hospitalizations.

November 30, 2015

A Better Strategy for Stroke

Every year, more than 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke—with 665,000 people surviving the episode. The annual cost of stroke in the U.S. tops $33.6 billion (Circulation. 2015 ;e29-322.) and one out of six Americans will have a stroke in their lifetime. Stroke is our leading cause of disability.

November 1, 2015

FDA sends warning letter to St. Jude Medical regarding issues at Atlanta facility

The FDA sent a warning letter to St. Jude Medical regarding a facility in Atlanta where the company manufactures its CardioMEMS heart failure system. St. Jude Medical revealed the information in an 8-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Oct. 1.

October 7, 2015

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Heart Failure

FDA clears advanced AI model for predicting heart failure risk

FDA announces another new recall involving Abbott’s HeartMate 3 LVADs after 70 injuries, 2 deaths

COVID-19 vaccines helped heart failure patients stay out of the hospital and live longer

Cardiologists and surgeons perform world’s first robot-assisted TEER

Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF

Around the web