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).

Bayer subsidiary granted FDA’s fast track designation for new congestive heart failure treatment
Ask Bio, 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.
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.

Penn State doctor clarifies surprising comments about myocarditis and COVID-19

Myocarditis continues to make headlines in the world of college athletics.

September 4, 2020

Why some heart attack patients are at a greater risk of post-discharge heart failure

Cardiologists may way want to pay close attention to a new study published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

September 3, 2020

Empagliflozin reduces risk of cardiovascular death, hospitalization among heart failure patients

The EMPEROR-Reduced trial included data from more than 3,700 adult patients with HF and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or less.

August 31, 2020

cardiologist patient heart compensation starting salary 2022 interventional cardiologist

Combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can induce CV mortality, heart failure

The meta-analysis included data from more than 950,000 patients.

August 25, 2020

Healing damaged hearts: New breakthrough could change cardiac care as we know it

Chemists have uncovered a new technique that could make it possible to heal a patient’s damaged heart tissue after a myocardial infarction (MI).

August 24, 2020

AI and imaging help answer a cardiac mystery centuries in the making

Trabeculae, detailed networks of muscle fibers on the heart, were first sketched by Leonardo da Vinci 500 years ago. He wondered what they were and what, exactly, they did.

August 19, 2020

Why older patients are especially vulnerable to heart damage from COVID-19

COVID-19 enters a person’s heart cells by attacking certain proteins—and when more of those proteins are present, the virus has more chances to cause damage.

August 18, 2020

Large peridevice leaks after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) are incredibly rare and not associated with a greater risk of adverse outcomes, according to new research published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.[1] Smaller residual links are more common, however, and associated with a risk of thromboembolic and bleeding events.

Policy update: CMS proposes expanded coverage for artificial hearts, LVADs

The proposed changes, announced August 12, are focused on easing a variety of requirements.

August 12, 2020

Around the web

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Heart Failure

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

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

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

Around the web