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).

Statin therapy may help HFpEF patients lower their risk of death, heart attack or stroke
All participants were free of ASCVD and had no history of statin use at the start of the study.
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.

cocaine heart failure HFrEF LVEF hospitalizations beta-blockers hypertension cardiology

How cocaine use affects outcomes for hospitalized heart failure patients

When cocaine users are hospitalized for heart failure, what should physicians expect? Are beta-blockers an effective treatment strategy?

June 3, 2022

Tablet projecting metaphorical medical hologram

EHR alerts boost care for patients with HFrEF

Simple EHR alerts helped one health system get more guideline-recommended medications to its heart failure patients.

May 31, 2022

Treating elderly atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients—even those who are traditionally ineligible for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)—with a very low dose of edoxaban is associated with improved outcomes, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.

LVAD patients spend nearly 1 in 4 days seeking care — is there a more effective way?

The study's authors noted that LVADs consistently lead to strong outcomes, but improvements are still needed to reduce the burden on patients.

May 25, 2022

Empagliflozin may reverse vascular aging, lower CVD risk

The SGLT2 inhibitor is already known as an effective medication for both type 2 diabetes and heart failure.

May 24, 2022

SCAI 2022 interventional cardiology TAVR CTO PCI TPV cath labs

TPV valves, CTO PCI and more: SCAI 2022 updates for interventional cardiologists

The first two days of SCAI 2022 were jam-packed with innovative technologies and late-breaking research.

May 20, 2022

How did the pig heart transplant patient die? A preventable infection may be to blame

The genetically modified pig heart appears to have been infected with a porcine virus, according to the surgeon who performed the initial transplant.

May 6, 2022

transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure guided by CT fusion imaging on a patient with heart failure and a blood clot. CT fusion imaging-guided deployment of the Sentinel Cerebral Protection System during a TAVR procedure. Image courtesy of Vasudev et al.

Cardiologists and surgeons perform first TAVR using CT imaging guidance on HF patient with blood clot

“We believe this case is potentially groundbreaking," one interventional cardiologist said.

May 6, 2022

Illustration showing four innovative heart failure technologies: The V-Wave interaterial shunt to relieve pressures between the left and right sides of the heart; the Carillon Transcatheter mitral valve annuloplasty system; the Revivent TC system and the AccuCinch device. Interventional cardiology heart failure cleveland clinic

4 promising heart failure therapies interventional cardiologists should keep an eye on

The devices, currently being investigated by teams of heart specialists, could make a big impact in the years ahead.

May 3, 2022

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Heart Failure

Statin therapy may help HFpEF patients lower their risk of death, heart attack or stroke

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

Around the web