Research on heart failure and its treatment. Covers light exposure, heart-in-a-dish models, microRNA therapy, and surgical interventions.
A large European survey of 11,000 patients admitted with heart failure found that only two thirds had received a heart tracing, while four out of ten patients lacked an ACE inhibitor prescription. Multidisciplinary treatment can cut hospital admissions and deaths from heart failure.
Loyola researchers found higher levels of BNP in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy than constrictive pericarditis, enabling quicker diagnosis and treatment. This discovery may improve patient outcomes for the millions of Americans affected by congestive heart failure.
Researchers found that people with secondary CHF (diagnosed while hospitalized for another reason) were more likely to die, incur higher medical costs, and spend more time in the hospital than those diagnosed with primary CHF. The study analyzed data from over 2.5 million patients admitted to 350 US hospitals in 2003.
A study examined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in heart attack patients and found that 46% met the criteria. Patients with metabolic syndrome were older, more likely to be women, and had worse in-hospital outcomes, including increased risk of heart failure.
The ESC has released new chronic heart failure guidelines featuring practical recommendations for diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of CHF. The guidelines highlight significant developments in CCF management, including the use of natriuretic peptides and device-based therapies.
A new study demonstrates that moderate thyroid hormone therapy normalizes cardiac cell shape and reduces stress on the heart's wall by nearly 40%. This change may lead to a novel therapeutic approach for heart failure. Further animal studies are needed before human testing.
A new general medical services contract in the UK may not adequately address the needs of patients with chronic heart failure. Despite efforts to improve management and diagnosis, concerns remain about the level of support provided by secondary care, particularly access to specialist advice and diagnostic resources.
A large European study found that only 60% of patients with heart failure were treated according to the ESC guidelines for the five most commonly used cardiac drugs. Adherence to treatment guidelines was independently correlated with patient outcomes, including hospitalization rates and time to readmission.
A study by University of Florida researchers found that genetic variations can determine how well heart failure patients tolerate beta-blockers. The findings suggest that personalized therapy based on genetic makeup could lead to safer and more effective treatments.
A new meta-analysis shows patients treated with nesiritide had an 80% increased risk of death compared to traditional drugs, highlighting the need for a randomized clinical trial. The study's authors argue that nesiritide is likely associated with important risks and suggest diuretics and vasodilators as safer alternatives.
A new study shows that the GeoForm mitral valve repair ring can reverse damage caused by congestive heart failure and improve symptoms in patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation. The ring has been approved for tightening leaky mitral valves, but also changes the shape of the left ventricle to help it contract better.
Researchers found that more than half of patients with heart failure have normal ejection fractions but still experience symptoms. The study suggests that conditions like anemia, obesity, and hypertension may play a role in causing heart failure.
A new blood test using NT-proBNP assay can accurately diagnose heart failure in emergency patients with shortness of breath. Combining the test results with clinical judgement provides the most accurate diagnosis.
A University of Maryland study found that more than 86% of dialysis patients with severe heart failure experienced improved cardiac function after a kidney transplant. The study, which followed 103 patients between 1998 and 2002, suggests that a timely transplant can significantly improve heart health for these patients.
Researchers are investigating early changes in the heart's function that may lead to congestive heart failure. Studying 15-18-year-olds on video games and measuring blood pressure, they hope to identify factors triggering diastolic dysfunction.
Regular cardiovascular follow-up visits with a specialist significantly improve outcomes for heart failure patients, reducing emergency room visits and mortality rates. Access to specialty care is particularly important for elderly and rural patients, who often face barriers to timely treatment.
Researchers discovered two distinct phases of electrical disturbances in the heart before mechanical abnormalities occur. These findings could lead to new medications that halt or reverse heart failure. The study was conducted by a student researcher and his mentor, with support from the Johns Hopkins University.
Researchers found that beta-blockers significantly reduced risk of death for patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation and normal ejection fraction. The study also showed improved survival in patients with diastolic heart failure, a condition affecting nearly 50% of all CHF patients.
A recent study presented at ACC Scientific Sessions found that even minor decreases in serum sodium levels significantly impact mortality rates among heart failure patients. Improving sodium levels during hospitalization was associated with improved outcomes and reduced mortality rates.
Orqis Medical's Cancion CRS therapy has shown promising results in improving cardiac index and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in patients with severe heart failure. The therapy provides continuous aortic flow augmentation, enabling progressive hemodynamic improvement without taking over the heart's function.
A study led by Dr. Wei Jiang found that even mildly depressed heart failure patients are at higher risk of death, with a 44% greater risk when BDI scores exceed 10. The researchers believe this highlights the importance of monitoring patients' psycho-social status in their care.
A new study using CRT-D devices found a strong correlation between changes in heart rate variability and mortality one year later. Patients with limited heart rate variability are at higher risk of suffering a heart attack, making the device's data an important tool for identifying high-risk patients.
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.
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...
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 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.