Articles tagged with Heart Failure
Researchers analyzed nearly 1 million heart failure admissions over 14 years, finding mortality and length of stay peak in January and Friday admissions. The study suggests staffing levels may contribute to seasonal variations in mortality and length of stay for these patients.
Despite improvements, one-third of advanced heart failure patients don't survive three years. The study found decreased mortality and sudden cardiac death rates, but patient mortality from progressive heart failure increased.
A recent study found that mild hypothyroidism can have a higher mortality risk among patients with heart failure, especially in African-American populations. The research suggests that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach may not be suitable for assessing risk and determining treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism.
A clinical trial of 75 patients with acute decompensated heart failure found that aggressive fluid and sodium restriction had no impact on weight loss or clinical stability at three days. Instead, these restrictions were associated with an increase in perceived thirst.
Researchers found that patients with heart failure and heart attack face a high risk of death and re-hospitalization within the first year after discharge. The risk of re-hospitalization for heart failure takes more than 43 days to decline significantly, highlighting the importance of post-discharge care.
A study published in the American Heart Association found that middle-aged individuals who improved their fitness levels reduced their heart failure risk by 20% for every one MET improvement. This research highlights the importance of incorporating regular exercise into mid-life routines to decrease the risk of heart failure.
A recent study published in JAMA Network found that dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are associated with a higher risk of device-related complications compared to single-chamber ICDs. The study analyzed over 32,000 patients and discovered that rates of complications were lower for single-chamber devices.
A study found that growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) declines with age and can reverse signs of cardiac aging in old mice. The discovery sheds light on the underlying causes of age-related heart failure, offering a potential treatment strategy.
Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers have identified a protein, GDF-11, that reverses the effects of aging on mouse hearts. The protein was found to reduce heart size and thickness, similar to healthy younger mice.
Researchers identified five trajectories for patients with end-stage heart failure, providing a framework to predict the path to death and improve quality of life. The study's findings can help caregivers plan for the last months of life, enabling patients to gain control over their illness.
A study published in Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that grapes reduce heart failure associated with hypertension by increasing antioxidant defense genes in the heart. Grapes are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which help improve glutathione levels and reduce oxidative stress.
Scientists identify mitofusin 2 as key player linking mitochondrial quality control to Parkinson's disease and heart failure. The discovery may lead to new genetic forms of Parkinson's disease diagnosis and improved treatment options.
By 2030, heart failure costs are projected to exceed $70 billion, with 8 million people affected, up from 5 million in 2012. Improved prevention and treatment strategies are needed to address this growing burden.
Researchers found that shock wave-facilitated cell therapy improved left ventricular ejection fraction and reduced major adverse cardiac events in patients with chronic postinfarction heart failure. The treatment used high-dose ultrasound to precondition the target heart tissue before administering bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells.
A common EKG test may predict serious cardiovascular illness in people with left anterior fascicular block (LAFB), a previously thought benign condition. The study found those with LAFB had a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and death.
A new study published in the European Heart Journal has found no evidence that digoxin increases mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation. The study analyzed data from over 3,400 patients and found that digoxin was not associated with an increased risk of death or hospitalization.
A new Northwestern Medicine study found that both black and white Americans have a similar lifetime risk of heart failure, ranging from 20 to 45 percent. The study explored the long-term risk of heart failure in different race groups and found that higher blood pressure and body mass index increased the risk.
Researchers at Yale University found that even though one of three approved loop diuretics offers more benefits, it is rarely prescribed due to cost concerns. The study compared the effectiveness of toresemide, furosemide, and bumetanide in treating heart failure.
A UCLA study found that heart failure medications recommended by national guidelines are highly cost-effective in saving lives and may also provide savings to the healthcare system. The combination of these medical therapies demonstrated the greatest gains in quality-adjusted life years for heart failure patients.
Researchers found that moderate-to-severe depression in heart failure patients increases their risk of death by almost 60% and emergency room visits by 35%. The study's lead author emphasizes the need for tailored treatment programs to manage depression in these patients.
A recent international study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that darbepoetin alfa, a commonly used anemia drug for heart failure patients, does not reduce the risk of death or hospitalization. The treatment only increased hemoglobin levels but did not provide any significant clinical benefits.
A commonly used erectile dysfunction drug, sildenafil, was found to be ineffective in treating patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. The RELAX study, a multicenter trial of 216 patients, showed no benefit from the drug in improving maximum exercise ability or walking distance.
A study published in JAMA found that adding aliskiren to standard therapy did not improve long-term outcomes in patients hospitalized for heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. The results showed no significant reduction in cardiovascular death or rehospitalization rates at 6 or 12 months after discharge.
Researchers found that digoxin was associated with a 34% reduction in 30-day all-cause hospital admission among ambulatory older patients with chronic heart failure. Digoxin also did not increase all-cause mortality during the first 30 days of follow-up.
A multicenter trial of sildenafil for diastolic heart failure failed to confirm results of smaller studies, finding no improvement in exercise capacity or cardiovascular structure and function. The study's lead author notes that the disease process may be different and not responsive to this category of drug.
A 24-week trial found no significant improvement in exercise capacity or clinical status for patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction treated with sildenafil. Renal function worsened and adverse events increased in the sildenafil group, contradicting previous findings on PDE-5 inhibitors.
The REMINDER trial found that eplerenone significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure in patients after a heart attack. Patients taking eplerenone had a 38% lower risk of poor outcomes compared to those given a placebo.
A recent study published by the American College of Cardiology found no significant benefits from using the blood pressure-lowering medication aliskiren to treat patients with recent heart failure hospitalizations. However, patients on aliskiren did show improved NT-proBNP levels, which can help physicians plan treatment.
A simple blood test screening and targeted care program effectively prevented heart failure in asymptomatic patients over 40 years old with risk factors for the condition. The five-year study showed a significantly lower number of patients experiencing new onset heart failure requiring hospitalization or left ventricular dysfunction.
A Phase 3 clinical trial by Cleveland Clinic and Sahlgrenska University Hospital found that darbepoetin alfa does not reduce the risk of death from any cause or hospitalization for worsening heart failure in anemic patients. Despite increasing hemoglobin levels, treatment did not provide improved health outcomes.
A study at Henry Ford Hospital found that patients taking GLP-1 medications had a reduced risk of hospitalization for heart failure and fewer deaths. The retrospective study included 4,427 diabetic patients and adjusted for various factors to identify the effect of GLP-1 medication use.
Researchers developed an innovative tool, IMRS-HF, to predict 30-day hospital readmissions in heart failure patients. The tool uses a statistical model that analyzes several variables and provides a risk score for physicians, helping ensure healthier discharge conditions.
A study reveals that Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, can be deadly when compounded by other co-morbidities. Researchers found that severe hypotensive heart failure and low blood pressure are linked to high mortality rates in women, highlighting the need for improved diagnosis and treatment guidelines.
Researchers found African-Americans have a 1.4-fold greater risk for heart failure compared to their white counterparts after breast cancer treatment. The study also highlights the importance of closer monitoring and pretreatment with cardioprotective drugs.
Researchers found that electronic discharge orders significantly improved patient care by increasing adherence to core measures and lowering hospital readmission rates. The study showed a 23% lower all-cause hospital readmission rate and a 10-fold increase in compliance with quality care measures among heart failure patients.
A multicenter study found that even minor weight loss is associated with worse health outcomes among patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator devices. Patients who lost more than 2 kilograms during the 12-month observation period had a significant increase in risk of heart failure or death.
A large study found that people with insomnia symptoms, including trouble falling asleep and waking up feeling unrefreshed, have a higher risk of developing heart failure. The study followed 54,279 participants for over 11 years and found those with all three insomnia symptoms had a more than three-fold increased risk.
Researchers at Temple University School of Medicine have identified a biochemical step underlying heart failure that could aid the development of new drugs. GRK5 enzyme gains access to heart cells' nucleus via calcium and calmodulin, leading to hypertrophy and ultimately heart failure.
A study found that long-term treatment with spironolactone did not improve symptoms or quality of life in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction. However, it improved left ventricular diastolic function and reduced potassium levels.
Researchers used a 'homing' signal to activate stem cells in heart failure patients, improving symptoms and heart function. The study found that 50% of patients showed positive effects one year after treatment, indicating potential for this therapy to widely treat heart failure patients.
A new gene therapy trial aims to promote the regeneration of heart tissue by encouraging the body to deploy more stem cells to the injury site. The therapy, called JVS-100, has shown clinically significant improvements in exercise levels in patients with ischemic heart failure.
A recent study found a strong association between income inequality and hospital readmission risk, particularly for patients with heart attacks, heart failure, and pneumonia. The researchers estimated nearly 40,000 extra admissions due to income inequality over the three year period.
Researchers created an optimized parvalbumin protein, ParvE101Q, that acts as a 'calcium sponge' for heart muscle, allowing efficient relaxation after contraction. This discovery offers a promising step forward in solving diastolic heart failure, a common killer of both men and women.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine found striking similarities between heart cells and brain cells in patients with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a new treatment paradigm for heart failure. Misfolded proteins in heart cells are a key factor in the process of heart failure.
Research at Yale School of Medicine shows that patients are at high risk of readmission for a broad spectrum of medical conditions within the first month after hospital discharge. The study found that readmissions were frequent and resulted from different medical conditions than the initial hospitalization.
The REVIVE-IT study will investigate the potential benefits of left ventricular assist devices for patients with advanced heart failure. Researchers aim to determine if implanting these devices earlier can improve patient outcomes.
A Swedish study found commonly used heart failure and high blood pressure medications can benefit patients with a rare type of heart failure. The use of ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers lowered mortality rates by 10% in HFPEF patients.
Two studies investigate heart failure therapies, finding varying outcomes regarding mortality rates among older patients. RAS antagonists are associated with improved survival in patients with preserved ejection fraction, while aldosterone antagonist therapy shows limited effectiveness.
A study by Yale University researchers found that older women with breast cancer treated with adjuvant trastuzumab are at a higher risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy. The use of trastuzumab was associated with a 14% increased incidence rate of heart failure over three years.
The new guidelines aim to provide a framework for early recognition and treatment of pediatric heart failure, which often goes unrecognized until it's too late. The guidelines recommend specialized care, including echocardiography by a pediatric specialist, and evidence-based treatments such as diuretics and inotropic drugs.
A new study found that reducing symptoms of depression in heart failure patients can improve their physical health, social functioning and quality of life. Participants whose depression remitted had significant improvements on measures of physical health, including endurance.
A new genetic test has been developed to predict which patients with heart failure will respond best to the beta-blocker drug bucindolol. The test, based on two specific genes, analyzes a small blood sample and can identify individuals who are likely to benefit from the treatment.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have found that low levels of the protein S100A1 are associated with critical lower limb ischemia, a condition characterized by reduced blood flow to legs. The study suggests that S100A1 could be a potential therapeutic target in critical limb ischemia to promote revascularization.
Researchers found a link between prolonged QRS wave and increased mortality in heart failure. A new type of pacemaker could be effective for treating this condition, which is often overlooked.
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that paroxetine inhibits GRK2, a protein kinase involved in heart failure, improving myocardial contractility without affecting heart rate. The team hopes to optimize and develop these compounds into therapeutic leads for heart failure treatment.
Researchers found that troponin I's phosphorylation levels are altered in patients with heart failure, leading to muscle dysfunction. The discovery paves the way for new diagnostic tools and therapies for heart failure, a condition affecting over 6 million adults in the US.
Galectin-3 protein has been linked to an increased risk of heart failure and death in older adults, according to a new study. The study found that individuals with high levels of galectin-3 were more likely to experience heart failure, highlighting the potential for measuring blood levels as an early warning sign.
The European Society of Cardiology sets a new standard for CRT management, covering pre-implant evaluation, device implantation, and follow-up. Key findings include improved symptoms, cardiac function, hospitalization rates, and mortality in CRT patients.
A study at ESC Congress 2012 found that renal denervation improved contractile function of the left side of the heart by more than 10% in patients with advanced heart failure. In contrast, standard drug treatment showed no change in contractile function.
A study found sharp increases in heart failure and pneumonia following the Japanese earthquake, while stroke and cardio-pulmonary arrest rates followed seismic peaks. Blood pressure was also elevated, but medication disruptions may have contributed to cardiovascular events.