Articles tagged with Heart Failure
A new study by Yale University aims to investigate the effectiveness of a tailored home-based exercise regimen on quality of life and functional capacity in heart failure patients. The research also seeks to assess the program's financial practicality and potential cost savings compared to traditional care.
Researchers found that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are better at predicting adverse outcomes compared to traditional methods. Elevated BNP levels identified patients at high risk of dying or developing heart failure, even in those with no detectable heart damage.
The CorCap Cardiac Support Device is a potential innovative treatment for heart failure that supports the heart and prevents further enlargement. Researchers have found that the device can slow or even halt the progression of heart failure by stopping the enlargement of the cardiac muscle.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital successfully used gene therapy to improve survival rates and energetic state of the heart in a rat model with heart failure. The study suggests a potential new treatment option for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
The new guidance aims to address the under-treatment of heart failure by providing step-by-step recommendations for prescribing ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers. It is expected to encourage more doctors to adequately treat patients, improving survival and quality of life.
Researchers found that patients with either a third heart sound or elevated jugular venous pressure were more likely to have progressive heart failure and subsequent hospital visits due to heart failure. The study highlights the importance of physical examinations in predicting outcomes for heart failure patients.
A new study at Duke University Medical Center reveals that depressed heart failure patients are twice as likely to die or be re-admitted to hospital within three months and one year. The researchers recommend testing for depression in all CHF patients to improve outcomes.
A UK population study found that an estimated 3.1% of adults aged 45 and older had definite or probable heart failure, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and targeted screening to alleviate symptoms and improve prognosis.
A recent Canadian Medical Association Journal study found that 88.5% of patients admitted to hospital with congestive heart failure underwent left ventricular testing, but only 23% received target doses of ACE inhibitors as prescribed in clinical trials. This underdosing rate is lower than previously reported rates in Europe and the US.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reveals that a protein called parvalbumin can improve heart function in laboratory rats by restoring normal relaxation rates. The researchers hope to one day use this protein as therapy for progressive heart failure, a growing medical problem affecting millions of Americans.
Researchers found that half of patients admitted to hospital with life-threatening symptoms of heart failure had diastolic heart failure, a previously under-studied disorder. The study emphasizes the need for further research into treatment options for this common form of heart failure.
A new clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and deaths in patients with chronic heart failure. The study, funded by the VA, will enroll 4,500 patients and provide insights into which medication is most effective, safe, and cost-efficient.
The Val-HeFT study showed significant effects of an AT1-receptor blocker on mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure when added to ACE inhibitor therapy. The CHARM study programme aims to provide more definitive data on the benefits of AT1-receptor blockers in treating heart failure.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that African-Americans are 30% more likely to die from diastolic heart failure than their white counterparts. The study controlled for various factors such as age, gender, and disease severity, but the disparity persisted, suggesting a combination of genetic and treatment differences.
The Kantrowitz CardioVad System is a new category of cardiac assist device that boosts the patient's own heart while preserving independence. By taking over up to 50% of the heart's function, patients can release themselves for short periods without compromising their condition.
The COPERNICUS trial demonstrates a significant survival benefit of carvedilol in patients with advanced heart failure, reducing mortality rates by 35%. The study involved over 2,200 patients and showed that carvedilol decreased mortality rates compared to placebo.
Patients with chronic heart failure who underwent exercise training showed significant improvements in left ventricular function and blood circulation, including increased stroke volume and reduced heart enlargement. Long-term exercise training was also associated with a reduction in total peripheral resistance.
A molecular-level malfunction in patients with heart failure can be repaired with existing treatments, suggesting a new approach to treating the root cause of the disease. The research reveals that a malfunctioning calcium channel is responsible for the defect, and beta blockers may prevent or reverse its development.
A study by Duke University Medical Center has shown that blocking a key enzyme pathway can prevent the onset of heart failure. The researchers found that blocking ß-adrenergic receptor kinase (ßARK) after a heart attack preserves heart function, providing a promising new avenue for treating and preventing heart failure.
A follow-up study of ENBREL (etanercept) treatment for chronic heart failure found sustained improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and no increase in adverse events. The study involved 12 patients treated with ENBREL for nine months, showing continued tolerability of the drug.
Researchers have successfully delivered additional copies of a gene called SERCA2a to muscle cells from failing human hearts, enabling them to function normally. This breakthrough could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for heart failure, which affects millions worldwide.
A study of 2,708 participants found that beta-blocker bucindolol did not reduce death from heart failure. The results contrast with other trials and raise questions about the use of beta-blockers in advanced heart failure.
New research suggests that inhibiting tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may improve signs and symptoms of chronic heart failure. Studies using ENBREL, a TNF receptor inhibitor, have shown promising results in patients with moderate heart failure.
A recent University of Maryland Medical Center study found that coenzyme Q10 has no detectable benefit in improving heart function or relieving symptoms for patients with congestive heart failure. The six-month study, involving 46 patients, showed no difference in heart function between those taking CoQ10 and a placebo.
Omapatrilat, a vasopeptidase inhibitor, has been shown to improve cardiovascular function and reduce death rates and hospitalization for worsening heart failure. The drug may offer a potential breakthrough in treating congestive heart failure, which kills over 44,000 annually.
A new study published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine found that depressed mood is significantly related to increased mortality risk among people with congestive heart failure. Patients with severe depression were four times more likely to die within two years than those without depression.
A study by OHSU researchers found improved quality of care to be the major factor behind declining hospital mortality rates for heart failure patients in Oregon. The study analyzed data from 1991-1995 and concluded that better treatment and care were key contributors to the lower death rate.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that adding spironolactone to standard treatment regimens for heart failure reduced mortality by 30 percent. The research confirms aldosterone's role in heart failure pathophysiology and opens the door to more effective treatment options.
Researchers observed a substantial reduction in mortality for heart failure patients who received the Aldactone medication regimen, reducing deaths by 30 percent. The study found that aldosterone blockade played an important role in this reduction and opens the door to developing more effective treatment options.
A Phase I study published in Circulation demonstrates that ENBREL improves quality of life scores and increases functional status in patients with advanced heart failure. The study found no significant adverse effects from ENBREL treatment, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit for chronic heart failure patients.
A Phase II/III clinical trial with ENBREL (etanercept) in chronic heart failure patients is underway, based on positive results from a Phase I study. The trial aims to evaluate cytokine inhibition as a new approach to studying chronic heart failure.
The largest health system study of its kind reveals a chronic heart failure epidemic in the US. Researchers found that annual heart failure cases more than doubled at Henry Ford Health System from 1989-1997, with prevalence rising to 20 cases per 1000 patients.
A new study by the NHLBI suggests that black patients with congestive heart failure are at a higher risk of death and disease progression compared to white patients. The study found significant racial differences in survival rates among patients treated with an ACE inhibitor.
The CIBIS-II trial found that beta-blockers significantly reduced deaths from all causes by 34 percent and sudden deaths by 44 percent among patients with mild or moderate heart failure. The results support the use of beta-blockers in treating stable patients with this condition.
A new study led by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill confirms the safety of digoxin, a commonly prescribed medicine for heart failure. The study found that taking digoxin at low doses and monitoring blood concentrations can significantly reduce toxicity risk.
A Norwegian study found that depressed men with congestive heart failure are more likely to perceive themselves as physically limited, even if their physicians rate them highly. In contrast, women with the condition tend to have a more realistic assessment of their abilities.
Patients with congestive heart failure who exercised had higher survival rates after four years compared to those who did not, with a 92% versus 64% rate of survival. The study's findings support the potential benefits of exercise for patients with this condition and underscore the need for further research.
Adding beta-blocker metoprolol to standard treatment for heart failure increases survival by about 35 percent, according to a large international study. The study, called Metoprolol CR/XL Randomized Intervention Trial in Heart Failure (Merit-HF), was conducted in the US and 13 other countries.
A new surgical procedure that repairs the mitral valve may help extend and improve lives of people with severe CHF, offering an alternative to heart transplantation. The operation has shown promising results, with one-year survival rates reaching 80% and two-year survival rates at 70%.
A recent study published in the American Heart Association meeting reveals that hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart failure among urban African Americans. The study analyzed data from cardiac catheterization patients and found a higher prevalence of heart failure among African Americans compared to Caucasians.
Researchers found that blocking beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (BARK) can prevent heart failure in mice genetically engineered to develop the disease. The study suggests a fundamental abnormality in the beta-adrenergic receptor system is at the root of causing heart failure.
Duke researchers develop a molecular decoy protein that blocks the signaling pathway leading to heart cell growth in response to high blood pressure. The study provides a potential single-drug therapy strategy for treating congestive heart failure.
A recent MGH study found that only 31% of patients with heart failure were prescribed ACE inhibitors in 1994, despite their proven effectiveness in reducing death and disability. The study suggests a lack of knowledge and unrealistic assessments may contribute to the underprescription of these medications.
Researchers found high levels of proinflammatory cytokine TNF in individuals with congestive heart failure (CHF), which can damage the heart. Inhibiting TNF through treatment improved patients' signs and symptoms of cardiac failure, including exercise tolerance and heart pumping ability.
A new study surveyed 26 men and 26 women with congestive heart failure, using standardized measurements to assess their quality of life. Women scored higher than men in physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, mental health scores, depression, and feelings of peacefulness.
A six-month aerobic exercise program improved the functional capacity, strength, and independence of heart failure patients aged 61-91. The study showed a 22% increase in physical fitness, with 43% of patients completing the trial and experiencing significant improvements.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have successfully revived flagging heart cells in laboratory vials using gene therapy. The treatment, which targets a protein kinase involved in heart muscle contraction, shows promise as a potential new drug target for treating congestive heart failure.
Researchers discovered an electrical abnormality in heart failure patients that prevents their hearts from recovering normally after each beat. This erratic and unstable ability to recover affects millions of Americans with heart disease, leading to potentially life-threatening rhythm disturbances.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center investigated the role of cytokines in treating heart disease. Amlodipine, a widely prescribed medication for patients with heart failure, was found to lower plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in heart patients over a period of 26 weeks.
A long-term trial found that treating hypertension reduces heart failure risk, even in those with severe heart disease. The study showed significant benefits for patients over 80 and those who had a heart attack before the trial.
High blood pressure can lead to enlargement of heart cells and a silent defect in the heart's pumping mechanism. The researchers found that this defect reduces contraction in each heart cell, contributing to heart failure. Developing novel treatments may be possible with improved understanding of the molecular defects.
A significant NIH study found that digitalis reduces hospitalizations for heart failure patients by 6-10%. The study, which followed over 6,800 patients with heart failure, also showed that digitalis can benefit patients whose symptoms are not controlled by other drugs.
A new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study reveals that women with non-ischemic heart failure have a significantly higher survival rate than men, even after accounting for differences in age and other factors. In contrast, men with ischemic heart failure were more likely to die prematurely.
A new system, Home Health Monitor, developed by Dr. Boaz Avitall, closely monitors congestive heart failure patients in their homes, resulting in fewer readmissions and lower healthcare costs. The system detects complications early and makes patients feel secure, reducing hospitalization rates.