Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

HeartMate 3 LVAD abbott

FDA announces new recall of Abbott’s HeartMate LVADs after 14 deaths

The issue at the center of this recall, which includes both the HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 LVAD, is the gradual buildup of biological materials. This can impact the device's performance, creating a heightened risk of injury or death. 

Video of Gregg Stone, MD, explaining the late-breaking RELIEVE-HF trial he presented at ACC.24 this week. #ACC24 #ACC2024

Inter-atrial shunt in RELIEVE-HF improves symptoms in HFrEF, but not HFpEF

Gregg Stone, MD, explains the details of the late-breaking RELIEVE-HF trial at ACC.24, where an inter-atrial shunt improved symptoms in HFrEF, but not in HFpEF patients.

Medicare money payment physician

Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments

CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open. 

semaglutide wegovy Novo Nordisk major adverse cardiovascular events

Weight loss drug semaglutide benefits obese patients presenting with HFpEF, type 2 diabetes

The new research, based on data from more than 600 patients, was presented at ACC.24 in Atlanta and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Semaglutide is sold by Novo Nordisk under the brand name Wegovy.

ACC.24, the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), kicked off on Saturday, April 6, with a series of late-breaking clinical trials focused on testing the safety and effectiveness of new treatment strategies.

Day 1 at ACC.24: Late-breakers examine potential new heart attack, heart failure treatments

ACC.24 in Atlanta began Saturday, April 6, with a series of late-breaking clinical trials exploring brand new treatment strategies. 

Eko Health, the California-based healthcare technology company known for its advanced stethoscopes, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a new artificial intelligence (AI) offering designed to detect low ejection fraction (EF).

FDA approves new AI model for detecting signs of heart failure with a stethoscope

Eko Health worked closely with Mayo Clinic to develop and evaluate its latest AI offering. “Importantly, since a stethoscope is small and portable, this technology can be used in urban and remote locations," one clinician said. 

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Moderate prosthesis-patient mismatch after SAVR linked to worse long-term outcomes

The long-term impact of moderate PPM remains unclear. To learn more, researchers explored dozens of different studies from over the years, sharing their work in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

doctor examines patient data on their tablet

Donor hearts more likely to be accepted when the transplant candidate is female or white

"This finding suggests racial and gender bias as a potential contributor to the organ acceptance decision-making process," researchers wrote in JAMA.