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).

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.
Inter-atrial shunt in RELIEVE-HF improves symptoms in HFrEF, but not HFpEF
Gregg Stone, MD, explains the details of the late-breaking RELIEVE-HF trial at ACC.24, where an inter-atrial shunt improved symptoms in HFrEF, but not in HFpEF patients.
Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments
CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open.
Weight loss drug semaglutide benefits obese patients presenting with HFpEF, type 2 diabetes
The new research, based on data from more than 600 patients, was presented at ACC.24 in Atlanta and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Semaglutide is sold by Novo Nordisk under the brand name Wegovy.

A patient has a telehealth visit with their doctor remotely in their home via video conferencing. The COVID-19 cause massive movement to telehealth since 2020.

Telehealth provided value for heart failure patients during COVID-19 pandemic

Overall, researchers found, 30-day readmission was less common when heart failure patients used telehealth to check in with a physician after discharge.

March 14, 2022

Pfizer finalizes $6.7 billion acquisition of Arena Pharmaceuticals, gaining key cardiovascular treatments

Etrasimod, an oral medication developed to treat certain inflammatory conditions, was at the center of Pfizer’s acquisition, but some key cardiovascular assets were also part of the transaction.

March 14, 2022

AI-powered ECG analysis could boost care for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Advanced algorithms can pick up on key details in a 12-lead ECG that human readers are unable to see.

March 11, 2022

Pig heart transplant patient dies 2 months after historic procedure

The 57-year-old patient was able to communicate with his family in his final hours.

March 9, 2022

David Bennett with two of his physical therapists at the University of Maryland Medical Center. #pigheart #pighearttransplant #heartfailure

Pig heart transplant patient doing well weeks after procedure—he even watched the Super Bowl

The 57-year-old patient is working with physical therapists on a daily basis, according to a recent update from the University of Maryland Medical Center.

March 4, 2022

Cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) can be used to significantly improve mortality and hospitalization rates among older heart failure patients. CRT-D illustration courtesy of Boston Scientific.

CRT-D associated with major improvements among older HFrEF patients

The study's authors said CRT use among older patients represents a "major gap in knowledge."

March 3, 2022

COVID-19 vaccines help reduce the serious coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. Multiple studies have shown that the risk from very rare vaccine side effects are far outweighed by the much greater risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID infections.

How COVID-19 vaccination affects the risk of ED visits for cardiac, respiratory issues

The study's authors said their research “further highlights the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine overall.”

February 28, 2022

FDA approves empagliflozin for reducing risk of cardiovascular death, hospitalization among adult HFpEF patients

The SGLT2 inhibitor, already approved for some high-risk heart failure patients, has now received a much wider approval.

February 24, 2022

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Heart Failure

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

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

Inter-atrial shunt in RELIEVE-HF improves symptoms in HFrEF, but not HFpEF

Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments

Weight loss drug semaglutide benefits obese patients presenting with HFpEF, type 2 diabetes

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