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.

Researchers are using an intra-atrial shunt to lower pressures between the upper chambers of the heart to relieve symptoms in HFpEF heart failure patients. The novel Noya device uses an RF ablation to cut a hole into the septum and then enlarge it using a stent that can then be removed from the body after the procedure.

Researchers share first human data on new interventional shunt procedure for HFpEF

The first-in-man study, completed by a team of cardiologists in China, included 10 patients presenting with HFpEF.

April 7, 2022

European Society of Cardiology publishes new genetic testing guidelines for heart conditions

The new international consensus document gives detailed recommendations on when to offer genetic testing for patients and their family members.

April 7, 2022

Steven E. Nissen, MD, discusses his late-breaking clinical trial with panelist Vera Bittner, MD.

Cholesterol medications, flu shots and heart failure: Day 2 at ACC.22

Day 2 of ACC.22 was jam-packed with late-breaking clinical trials. Read our quick rundown of what researchers shared with the public for the very first time.

April 4, 2022

Cardiology groups debut new heart failure guidelines ahead of ACC.22

The new recommendations went live just ahead of ACC.22. They can be read in full in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Circulation or Journal of Cardiac Failure.

April 1, 2022

Congress investigating FDA over heart device recall, says agency ‘failed to protect consumers’

“I am concerned by the FDA’s slow action, over multiple administrations, to protect patients from this product despite early warning signs,” one U.S. representative said in an open letter.

March 31, 2022

Researchers to develop spirituality screening tool for heart failure patients

A new literature review finds suggested links between higher spirituality and a higher quality of life for heart failure patients.

March 28, 2022

Electrocardiograms analyzed by AI can offer information about mortality risk.

AI models capable of identifying RV, LV dysfunction in ECGs

Specialists used EHR data, imaging results and natural language processing to bring their advanced AI models to life.

March 18, 2022

There has been fear of a small number of patients who experience myocarditis after COVID vaccination, but a new study found it is safe in patients with prior heart damage. Image courtesy of Banner Health. #COVID19 #COVIDvaccination

COVID-19 vaccines safe for patients with a history of heart damage

“These results provide reassuring data that may encourage patients with a history of myocarditis to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2,” one specialist said.

March 17, 2022

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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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