Articles tagged with Heart Failure
A recent study found that remote monitoring of implanted defibrillators in heart failure patients significantly reduces the rate of hospitalization and death. The trial showed a lower rate of primary endpoint (39.5%) compared to standard care (48.5%), with reduced cardiovascular deaths and hospitalizations.
The HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) significantly reduces strokes, pump-related blood clots, and bleeding episodes compared to the older HeartMate II. This trial enrolled 1,028 patients with advanced heart failure, showing a 40% reduction in risk favoring the HeartMate 3.
The CardioMEMS sensor reduced heart failure hospitalizations by 58% across all patient groups, including women and minorities. The device also lowered rates of all-cause hospitalizations for conditions like pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have created a smarter automatic defibrillator that accurately tracks stroke volume in addition to ECG readings. This update aims to deliver shocks only when needed, potentially preventing traumatic shocks and improving patient outcomes.
Patients with heart failure and a leaking heart valve who underwent transcatheter mitral valve repair reported significant improvements in quality of life after two years. The study found that patients treated with the procedure had better rates of survival and fewer symptoms, leading to improved daily activities.
A new study by the European Society of Cardiology found that a more precise placement of the left ventricular lead improves cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) outcomes. The trial compared two methods for positioning the lead and found an absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction of 4% with electrical guidance.
Dapagliflozin significantly decreases rates of death from cardiovascular causes and death from all causes among patients with reduced ejection fraction. It also reduces heart failure hospitalizations across all patients, regardless of ejection fraction or heart failure status.
The final results of MOMENTUM 3 show that the HeartMate 3 left-ventricular assist device markedly reduced re-operation due to pump malfunctions, lowering risk of bleeding events and strokes. The study found significant reductions in pump-related thrombosis, strokes and mucosal bleeding compared to the previous generation of cardiac pumps.
A multidisciplinary team-based approach involving cardiac and maternal/fetal/newborn specialists saved the life of a pregnant woman with heart failure. The team successfully managed her care for seven weeks, delivering the baby prematurely but saving both mom and child.
The researchers developed a molecule called SAMβA that not only stabilizes but regresses heart failure in rats. The molecule improves the heart's capacity to pump blood and reduces oxidative stress in heart cells.
A study published in The BMJ found a genetic link between high testosterone levels and increased risk of blood clots, heart failure, and heart attacks in men. Researchers suggest that treatments lowering testosterone levels could help protect against these conditions, particularly in men.
The study found that activity of the ActRII pathway increases with aging and heart failure, leading to cardiac dysfunction. Inhibiting this pathway can improve cardiac function in animal models of heart failure, suggesting a potential new treatment strategy for the deadly disease.
A high-fat diet and aging are associated with inflammation in heart failure, as well as changes to the gut microbiome. In mice, a calorie-dense diet altered the composition of the gut microbiome and increased neutrophils, leading to nonresolving inflammation.
A study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that patients in Northern Ontario had higher hospital readmission rates for heart conditions, despite similar survival rates at 30 days. The researchers suggest providing timely transitional care and improving access to specialist care as key strategies to reduce readmissions.
This CVIA special issue addresses the #1 threat to women's health, cardiovascular disease, with a focus on overlooked topics and fresh perspectives. Key findings include novel imaging modalities for diagnosing stable ischemic heart disease in women and psychosocial stressors uniquely affecting female cardiovascular risk.
A study led by McMaster University found that providing additional health-care services to help heart failure patients transition from hospital to home does not improve their outcome. Despite this, patients receiving the intervention reported improvements in discharge preparedness and quality of life.
A large UK study found that heart failure survival rates have only improved modestly since 2000, with significant disparities in outcomes across different socioeconomic groups. The research highlights the need for increased investment in heart failure services to address these inequalities.
A personalized decision aid failed to help surrogate decision makers and clinicians agree on treatment goals for critically ill patients. Nearly all surrogates chose a more aggressive treatment goal despite the aid being based on their patient's values.
Scientists identify epigenetic marker and genes that cause heart failure in fruit fly offspring, even when fed a normal diet. Reversing the epigenetic modification or over-expressing these genes protects subsequent generations from negative heart effects.
Researchers have identified a key molecule named PI3K alpha that binds to gelsolin and suppresses its enzyme activity, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy. The discovery offers potential for targeted therapies in patients with heart failure.
A study found that standard assessment tools can accurately determine which residents are most at risk of hospitalization or death. Residents with a history of heart failure were more likely to be hospitalized and have higher mortality rates.
A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that a functional heart cell defect may be the underlying cause of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a rare form of heart failure. The research found that levels of STAT3 protein were higher in PPCM patients' heart cells than in healthy women, and that a defect in releasing growth factors was ...
A study suggests that older adults with newly diagnosed heart failure can continue to drink moderate amounts without worsening their condition. Moderate drinkers had an average survival benefit of over a year longer than abstainers.
A study of 393 patients found that limited alcohol consumption was associated with increased survival, with an average additional year of life at 383 days compared to abstinence. However, the optimal levels of alcohol consumption for adults with heart failure remain unknown.
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found catheter ablation superior to conventional drug therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure. The procedure was associated with reduced all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, and improved quality of life.
A large-scale study by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology found that the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program may be associated with an increase in patient-level mortality. The researchers evaluated trends in mortality among Medicare patients hospitalized for heart failure, a hear...
Researchers discovered that metformin relaxes the key heart muscle protein titin, allowing the heart to properly fill with blood before pumping it around the body. This reduces blood supply to the rest of the body, leading to shortness of breath with exertion and difficulty exercising.
Patients with heart failure who receive early follow-up by a physician within 7 days of emergency department discharge have lower risk of death and hospital admissions. The study found that 47% of patients were seen by a physician within a week, with the lowest death rate in those who received care within 7 days.
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a new model of cardiac muscle cells that can pump together, potentially treating heart failure. The newly created cardiac muscle cells were made to work cohesively through the over-expression of a protein called CREG.
A study analyzing 6,000 people found that tracking a patient's weight history from young adulthood can provide valuable insights into their future risk of heart failure. The investigation showed that maintaining a normal weight over the lifespan is ideal, while obesity at specific ages significantly increases the risk of heart disease.
A new study found that flu vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of premature death and cardiovascular death in heart failure patients. The study analyzed data on 134,048 patients with newly diagnosed heart failure over a 12-year period.
A study found that obese patients with 'metabolically healthy obesity' had less deterioration in heart structure and function, leading to better survival rates. Metabolically healthy obese patients also had the best chance of survival compared to those with metabolic risk factors.
A meta-analysis of clinical trials found that home telemedicine programs for heart failure patients decrease mortality six months after hospitalization, but lose effectiveness after one year. The analysis also showed that these programs increase the odds of all-cause emergency room visits.
Researchers found that curcumin treatment improved muscle function and exercise capacity in mice with heart failure and healthy controls. Curcumin also increased Nrf2 activation and antioxidant enzyme levels, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy to improve quality of life for people with heart failure.
A study found top-ranked hospitals for cardiovascular care had lower 30-day mortality rates for heart attack, heart failure, and CABG compared to non-ranked hospitals. However, readmission rates were either similar or higher at the top-ranked hospitals, raising concerns about the accuracy of this metric.
Fetal single ventricle defects can be identified with echocardiograms, but irregular filling mechanics may contribute to defects in developing fetal hearts. Researchers are exploring how flow patterns affect outcome and could use fluid dynamics to advance the mechanistic understanding of heart failure in children.
Researchers have identified a gene called lrrc10 that may hold the key to repairing damaged hearts in fish. The study found that this gene is already linked to a heart condition in people and could potentially be used to develop new treatments for heart failure, which affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK.
Genetic analysis of African ancestry found a correlation with increased risk factors for heart failure, including thicker left ventricles and higher ECG voltages. This study suggests that African ancestry may be associated with an increased risk of heart failure in young adults.
A study published in Human Gene Therapy found that urocortin 3 gene therapy significantly improved left ventricular function and ejection fractions in mice with induced heart failure. The therapy resulted in a 1.9-fold increase in left ventricular function and a 32% relative increase in ejection fractions.
Patients with common heart failure are more likely to experience lethal heart rhythms, according to research from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The study found that those with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are twice as likely to suffer from pulseless electrical activity or asystole, which can be fatal.
Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that risk-score guided care improved healthcare delivery for high-risk heart failure patients, reducing mortality rates by 48% and 30-day readmission rates by 25%. This innovative approach uses personalized risk scores to direct patients to advanced levels of care.
A Yale-led research study found that a drug therapy used for chronic heart failure also improves markers of poor prognosis in individuals hospitalized with acute heart failure. The treatment reduced NT-proBNP levels more quickly than standard therapy, indicating substantial improvement in heart failure severity.
The Dapagliflozin Effect on CardiovascuLAR Events - Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 58 trial found that dapagliflozin markedly reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and progression of renal disease, with benefits seen across the study population.
Researchers discovered a self-protection mechanism in failing heart cells that triggers the regulation of genes promoting heart failure. The study reveals that one fragment of the protein junctophilin-2 protects against damage by traveling to the cell nuclei.
A study of 1244 patients found a 72% higher risk of heart failure in those receiving androgen deprivation therapy compared to non-users. The researchers recommend counseling patients on modifiable heart failure risk factors and providing cardiovascular examinations.
A University of Arizona researcher is working on a potential treatment strategy targeting cardiac fibroblasts responsible for excessive collagen production in the heart. The goal is to prevent progression to heart failure by slowing down the overproduction of scar tissue.
A team of researchers has discovered a biomarker, named cBIN1 Score, that measures muscle deterioration and protein regulation in the heart, indicating onset of heart failure. This simple blood test can aid doctors in diagnosing at-risk patients before symptoms appear.
A Loyola University Chicago study reveals that diabetes causes heart failure through the accumulation of methylglyoxal, which weakens heart muscle cells. The findings suggest new drug treatments to counter the effects of methylglyoxal and prevent heart failure in diabetics.
A new study found that a home-based rehabilitation programme for people with heart failure significantly improves their quality of life. The Rehabilitation Enablement in CHronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF) programme, which is deliverable within NHS cost guidelines, was shown to have significant clinical benefits.
Researchers discovered a micropeptide called DWORF that restores normal heart function in mice by enhancing SERCA activity and preventing calcium dysregulation. The study shows that DWORF can prevent the functional and structural effects of cardiomyopathy, making it a promising new gene therapy target for treating heart failure.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new model of heart failure that allows for the specific study of oxidative stress using chemogenetics. The approach enables researchers to activate or inactivate reactive oxygen species in the heart, leading to advanced cardiac dysfunction.
A team of researchers has used cryo-electron microscopy to study how microtubule-associated proteins regulate cell structure and transport. They found that MAP4 stabilizes microtubules while blocking kinesin's movement, which could lead to new treatment strategies for cardiac hypertrophy and neurodegenerative diseases.
Mesoblast's MPC-150-IM heart failure product candidate is being studied in a randomized trial combining cell injection with corrective surgery in children under five with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The trial aims to promote cardiac growth and regeneration, improving quality of life and longevity.
The COAPT trial found that the MitraClip device significantly reduced hospitalization rates and mortality, while improving quality-of-life measures and functional capacity in heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation. The study also showed a substantial reduction in the need for heart transplants or left ventricular as...
A multicenter clinical trial found that the transcatheter mitral valve repair significantly reduced hospitalizations and mortality for heart failure patients with moderate-to-severe or severe functional mitral regurgitation. The procedure improved symptoms, quality of life, and survival rates.
A large study found that severe cases of prosthesis-patient mismatch after transcatheter aortic valve replacement increase the risk of death and heart failure readmissions by 19% and 12%, respectively. The study identified predictors of PPM, including smaller valve prostheses, larger body surface areas, and female or younger patients.
A recent study published in Open Heart reveals that UK heart failure patients are significantly more likely to die than their Japanese counterparts, with mortality rates being nearly twice as high. The disparity persists even after accounting for differences in patient severity and risk factors.
In a mouse model, researchers found that dysfunctional regulatory T-lymphocytes contribute to sustained inflammation and cardiac enlargement. Removing these cells restored normal function and reversed disease progression. This therapeutic approach suggests a new target for treating human heart failure.
A new study found that walking more can significantly lower the risk of heart failure in older women, particularly those with reduced ejection fraction. Increased physical activity was associated with a 9-10% risk reduction for heart failure and its subtypes.
A study by researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute has identified novel lipids in the heart and plasma of exercise-trained mice compared to those with a failing heart. These findings may represent new biomarkers and/or drug targets for Atrial Fibrillation and heart failure.