Articles tagged with Heart Failure
A Penn study will compare two heart failure management technologies to reduce emergency room visits and improve patient outcomes. The study aims to assess the impact of health information technologies on clinical and financial outcomes for patients with symptomatic heart failure.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at a higher risk for heart failure soon after the onset of symptoms and throughout their disease course. The elevated risk is not attributed to traditional cardiovascular factors like diabetes or high cholesterol.
Researchers developed a simple risk model using three measures from laboratory blood tests and vital signs to gauge mortality risk in heart failure patients. The tool was tested on over 100,000 hospitalizations and found to accurately distinguish between low, intermediate, and high risk patients.
A minimally invasive procedure involving stem cells has shown improvement in heart function for patients with severe heart failure and no coronary blockages. All 15 patients who received stem cell injections experienced some degree of improvement, while the control group saw little change.
Researchers found significant differences in mitral valve tissue between healthy and congestive heart failure patients, affecting the valve's strength and hydration levels. These changes may contribute to recurring surgical outcomes for patients with mitral regurgitation.
A study confirms that implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are more effective in preventing sudden cardiac death than medical therapies for heart failure patients without coronary artery disease. The ICDs have shown a relative 35 percent decrease in overall mortality among these patients.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found a significant link between heart failure and weight loss. The researchers discovered that angiotensin II inhibits IGF-1 signaling in skeletal muscle, leading to muscle loss, which is reversed by IGF-1 expression.
Researchers pinpoint MuRF1's role in regulating cardiac cellular molecules involved in abnormal heart enlargement. The protein degrades troponin-1, a critical component of the cardiac contractile machinery, suggesting new therapeutic avenues for treating cardiac hypertrophy.
A new study has identified a high mortality rate among advanced heart failure patients who use insulin to manage diabetes. Researchers found one-year survival rates of 62.1% for insulin-treated diabetic patients, compared to 89.7% for non-diabetic patients and 85.8% for non-insulin-treated diabetic patients.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University used gene therapy to restore heart function in rats with failing hearts, reversing cardiac dysfunction. The study found that delivering the human S100A1 gene improved heart muscle efficiency and reversed cardiac dysfunction.
A new study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology suggests that rapid ventricular pacing is a key factor in developing heart failure. The research found that goats subjected to high atrial and ventricular rates developed end-stage CHF, while those with low ventricular rates remained healthy.
Researchers found increased levels of uncoupling proteins (UCP2 and UCP3) in the hearts of patients with coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This suggests a possible mechanism linking heart failure to energetic abnormalities. The study's findings may lead to new treatment approaches to correct these energy defects.
The CorCap Cardiac Support Device has been found to significantly improve heart function and reduce the likelihood of needing a heart transplant in patients with moderate to severe heart failure. The device is an investigational mesh-like 'heart jacket' that prevents further enlargement during chest surgery.
A randomized clinical trial of 433 patients with advanced heart failure found that pulmonary artery catheterization is not associated with increased death and hospitalization. The study suggests that PAC should not be used routinely to guide therapy due to its potential complications.
A genetic variant in PPAR-alpha has been linked to reduced heart pumping strength, with patients inheriting the polymorphism experiencing lower ejection fractions. The study's findings suggest that PPAR signaling may play a key role in the development of heart failure, and future research aims to develop therapies targeting this pathway.
A large clinical trial of 7,599 heart failure patients found that good adherence to medication was associated with lower mortality rates and hospitalization rates for both placebo and active drug. The researchers suggest that improving adherence could help patients avoid frequent hospitalization and improve survival.
Researchers found that women with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy had a significant reduction in arrhythmic death after ICD placement, but no overall survival benefit. ICDs prevented death from life-threatening heart rhythms in women, suggesting they may be beneficial for this population.
African-American Heart Failure Trial (A-HeFT) reveals a 43% decrease in one-year mortality rates among patients taking the combined treatment, and significant improvements in overall survival and quality of life. The study suggests that BiDil can slow heart failure progression and reduce death rates in this population.
Researchers found that ICDs reduced heart-related deaths by 60% and overall mortality by 48%. However, patients with diabetes, kidney failure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure were more likely to die within a year of ICD implantation.
Researchers found microwave energy successfully ablates AF in most patients, while anxiety and low social support are associated with higher risk of relapse in heart failure patients. Additionally, women with non-ST elevation heart disease undergoing angioplasty face a higher risk of adverse events compared to men.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ACE inhibitors do not provide added cardiovascular protection for patients with coronary heart disease who have normal or only mildly reduced heart function. These findings suggest that many patients with this condition may not need to take ACE inhibitors, potentia...
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a genetic test that accurately distinguishes between ischemic and nonischemic heart failure. The test uses gene expression profiling to identify 90 genes that differentiate the two forms of the disease, improving accuracy and potentially leading to better treatment outcomes.
Researchers have found that fat buildup in the heart muscle, called lipotoxicity, is associated with metabolic irregularities and insulin resistance in obese and diabetic patients. Gene expression and protein findings provide potential long-term targets for treating heart failure, which affects 5 million US patients annually.
A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that telephone follow-up care did not measurably improve the health of clinically low-risk heart failure patients. In fact, half of the participants were rehospitalized, regardless of whether they received nurse care management or not.
Heart failure patients face significant risks after major non-cardiac surgery, including high mortality rates and readmissions. The study, analyzing Medicare data, reveals a stark contrast in outcomes between heart failure patients and those with coronary artery disease or no heart disease.
Researchers found that prolonged, sustained exercise preserves ventricular compliance and may reduce the incidence of diastolic heart failure in the elderly. Lifelong exercise training completely prevented stiffening of the heart muscle thought to be an inevitable consequence of aging.
Researchers are studying how damaged hearts heal differently in men and women, with a focus on estrogen's role. The study aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of cardiac remodeling and its impact on heart failure.
A new analysis of the CHARM* study program shows that Atacand reduces all-cause mortality by 12% and cardiovascular mortality by 16%. The medication is recommended for all patients with heart failure and low LVEF, regardless of background treatment.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new class of nitroxyl-releasing compounds that seem to strengthen cardiac contractions and relaxation in dogs with heart failure. These compounds, which produce nitric oxide (HNO), have shown promising results in early studies.
According to a study published in JAMA, aging populations have led to improved five-year survival rates for heart failure patients. Notably, women outlive men with heart failure by about 4 years, while treatment approaches can be refined to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospitalizations.
A study of 4,537 Olmsted County residents found that heart failure incidence remained stable between 1979 and 2000, but survival rates improved for women. In contrast, men experienced poorer outcomes, with higher incidence rates and lower survival rates.
Researchers found a 27% relative reduction in mortality among heart failure patients taking beta-blockers compared to those receiving placebo. The study also revealed that adverse effects of beta-blockers were low compared to control.
A meta-analysis of randomized trials found that beta-blockers significantly reduce all-cause mortality in heart failure patients by 27% and absolute annual increases in risks of hypotension, dizziness, and bradycardia. Fewer patients were withdrawn from beta-blocker therapy than from placebo due to adverse effects.
A recent study has found that COX-2 inhibitors may have a lower risk of congestive heart failure compared to non-selective NSAIDs. COX-2 inhibitors rofecoxib and celecoxib showed significantly different risks of hospital admission for heart failure, with users of celecoxib having the same rate as those who had never used NSAIDs.
A landmark study by Penn Medicine reveals significant improvements in quality of life and survival rates for heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and optimized pharmacologic therapy. The study shows a 36% reduction in all-cause mortality for patients implanted with CRT defibrillators.
A study published in Cell found that genetic defects in Nkx2-5 lead to progressive heart failure by degrading the electrical wiring of the heart, particularly the atrioventricular node. The researchers also identified a growth-factor gene called BMP-10 as a key contributor to this process.
A recent study found that tolvaptan, a medication for heart failure, can increase net fluid loss and improve serum sodium levels in patients with hyponatremia. This effect was achieved without negatively impacting blood pressure or kidney function. The treatment may also reduce mortality rates in high-risk patients.
A randomized trial of adult stem cell injections in heart failure patients showed significant improvement in cardiac function. The study found that patients who received stem cells had improved ejection fractions and increased Connexin 43 protein levels, indicating better communication between cells.
A new experimental drug has shown to completely prevent arrhythmia-related deaths in mice with the same molecular defect as people with heart failure. The drug works by patching a leak in the heart's calcium channel, which can trigger fatal arrhythmias, and has great potential for slowing the progression of heart failure.
AstraZeneca has submitted a regulatory application to the European Union for the use of Atacand in treating heart failure. The CHARM study programme showed that Atacand reduces both cardiovascular deaths and hospital admissions across a broad spectrum of patients with chronic heart failure.
Mayo Clinic researchers found gene mutations that disrupt stress signaling in the heart, making it vulnerable to damage. The study, published in Nature Genetics, may lead to new treatments for heart failure.
Increasing SERCA2a expression could correct heart failure without causing arrhythmias, a well-known side effect of current treatments. The study found that rats with overexpressed SERCA2a had lower incidence of arrhythmia and smaller injured area of heart muscle.
Researchers have found that urocortin II administered intravenously significantly enhances heart muscle cell contractions in mice with congestive heart failure. The hormone targets the CRF2 receptor, leading to improved cardiovascular function and a potential new treatment for heart disease.
A recent study found that over half of patients with heart failure could benefit from implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), but Medicare's current guidelines exclude them. ICDs can prevent sudden cardiac death by monitoring heart rhythm and shocking the heart back into a normal pace.
A new analysis found that Atacand(R) improved NYHA functional class in a broad spectrum of CHF patients, with 35.4% showing improvement and 9% worsening. The medication also reduced the development of atrial fibrillation and Type II diabetes mellitus in these patients.
A multi-center trial comparing three medications in patients with heart failure showed no significant differences between warfarin and antiplatelet therapies in terms of death, non-fatal heart attacks and strokes. However, hospitalizations for worsening heart failure were significantly less frequent in patients treated with warfarin.
The SCD-HeFT trial showed that implantable cardiac defibrillators can reduce total mortality in patients with moderate to severe congestive heart failure. Patients who received an ICD had a three-year mortality rate of 17.1%, compared to 22.3% for those receiving placebo and 24% for those receiving amiodarone.
Researchers studied 35 men with CHF who did not use nitrates. Sildenafil improved erectile dysfunction and reduced depression in the group that took it for six weeks, without causing dangerous drops in blood pressure.
A recent study published by the NIH found that implantable defibrillators significantly reduce deaths in patients with moderate to severe heart failure. The study, which included over 2,500 participants, showed that implanted defibrillator therapy reduced deaths by 22%, while amiodarone therapy did not have a significant impact.
Researchers developed gene therapy targeting phospholamban, a protein contributing to heart failure. Studies in rats showed improved heart function and reduced scar tissue formation after treatment.
Researchers are studying how the heart changes its energy source from fat to glucose in end-stage heart failure, which may improve pumping function and treatment outcomes. The new program aims to bridge the gap between basic genetic data and clinical trials for heart failure patients.
A study by Duke University researchers found that beta blocker therapy for heart failure reduces societal costs by $3,959 per patient over five years. The treatment also improves survival rates and reduces hospitalizations. However, the authors suggest that Medicare coverage of medication costs could increase benefits.
The study found that 40% of miscarriages can be attributed to embryonic congestive heart failure, which can be identified using Doppler technology. The condition is characterized by increased free amniotic fluid and depressed myocardial contractility.
A study developed a risk index to predict mortality in heart failure patients based on demographic and vital sign features, identifying low- and high-risk individuals. The model revealed that older age, lower blood pressure, higher respiratory rate, and hyponatremia are associated with increased mortality.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have discovered two genetic regions linked to heart function and survival in patients with heart failure. The study found that genetic variations on chromosomes 13, 18, 2, and 4 affect cardiac function and survival, providing potential targets for new therapies.
Researchers successfully restored heart cell function by inhibiting the ßARK1 enzyme in laboratory-dish experiments using a gene therapy approach. The study's findings suggest that blocking this enzyme could increase signaling and improve heart function in individuals with end-stage heart failure.
Elderly Americans with heart failure consume significantly more healthcare resources than those without the condition, with average four-year costs of $27,822. Diastolic heart failure is estimated to be more prevalent in the elderly population and may require further study due to limited clinical trials.
A new implantable device called OPTIMIZER II has shown promise in treating heart failure by strengthening the heart's contraction using an electrical signal. The study enrolled 25 patients with moderately severe heart failure and found a statistically significant improvement in ejection fraction and quality of life.
Researchers tested mononuclear bone marrow cell transplant injections in patients with severe ischemic heart failure and found improved blood flow, reduced chest pain, and increased exercise capacity. Treated patients showed significant reductions in reversible defects and improvements in oxygen consumption and metabolic equivalents.
A new study found that systolic heart failure patients who received a one-hour education session with a nurse educator had a 35% lower risk of re-hospitalization or death within 180 days of discharge. The patients scored better on measures of following self-care regimens, such as salt and fluid intake restrictions.