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).

LBBAP limits hospital readmissions after TAVR
Left bundle branch area pacing is associated with better long-term outcomes than traditional right ventricular pacing when patients require PPMI after TAVR, according to new research in Heart Rhythm.
FDA approves Boston Scientific leads for left bundle branch area pacing
Boston Scientific's INGEVITY+ pacing leads were originally approved by the FDA back in 2019. They can now be used for LBBAP, a new alternative to biventricular pacing.
JACC editor excited by progress during a 'very important moment' for cardiology
Harlan Krumholz, MD, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, explains some of the key technology and treatment trends he has his eyes on.
FDA approves Biotronik lead, catheter for left bundle branch area pacing
LBBAP is a relatively new alternative to biventricular pacing. The FDA's decision was based largely on data from the BIO-CONDUCT clinical trial.
Surgeons make history, perform world’s first fully robotic heart transplant
The procedure, which lasted roughly two and half hours, was performed on a 16-year-old patient with end-stage heart failure.

HF patients with type 2 diabetes can safely be treated with liraglutide

Liraglutide, a common medication used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D), is safe to use for heart failure (HF) patients, according to new findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

March 18, 2020

Heart-failure patients lose years of life when air pollution is a neighbor

Long-term daily exposure to air pollution carrying fine particulate matter poses a significant risk of all-cause mortality for people with heart failure (HF).

March 16, 2020

LVAD recipients see heightened risk of suicide

Heart patients with implanted left ventricular assist devices are more likely to both attempt and succeed in committing suicide than other chronically ill patients, according to a study out of France.

March 13, 2020

Pop Goes the Pillbox: Will Polypharmacy Problems Limit the Adoption of SGLT2 Inhibitors?

Following data supporting their use for heart failure and type 2 diabetes, will sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors find a spot in the heart failure armamentarium?

March 13, 2020

Ablation continues to benefit patients with concomitant HF, AFib

A new analysis of the CASTLE-AF trial has found that catheter ablation for AFib remains effective in a much larger group of heart failure patients, cementing evidence first presented in early 2018.

March 4, 2020

Researchers ID new protein as contributor to sudden cardiac death

A small-scale study published in Circulation March 3 has revealed a potential new culprit behind sudden cardiac death in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: integrin β1D.

March 3, 2020

Opioid use disorder meds boost odds of recovery in endocarditis patients

Drugs used to treat opioid use disorder may also be successful in improving the health outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital for injection drug use-associated endocarditis, according to research out of Boston.

March 2, 2020

AI-powered wearable predicts HF rehospitalizations 10 days ahead of time

A wearable sensor developed by researchers at University of Utah Health and VA Salt Lake City Health Care System has the potential to predict heart failure complications more than a week before they occur.

February 26, 2020

Heart Failure

LBBAP limits hospital readmissions after TAVR

FDA approves Boston Scientific leads for left bundle branch area pacing

JACC editor excited by progress during a 'very important moment' for cardiology

FDA approves Biotronik lead, catheter for left bundle branch area pacing

Surgeons make history, perform world’s first fully robotic heart transplant