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.

FDA grants dapagliflozin priority review for treatment of HFrEF

Drugmaker AstraZeneca announced Jan. 6 that its SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin, sold commercially as Farxiga, had been granted Priority Review by the FDA for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

January 7, 2020

Cases of chronic HF expected to reach 32M by 2028

Diagnosed cases of chronic heart failure are expected to number 32 million by 2028, according to a report from analytics company GlobalData.

December 10, 2019

Beta-blockers could raise risk of hospitalization for those with ‘stiff heart’ HF

Beta-blocker use was linked to an increased risk of heart failure hospitalizations in a recent study of patients with “stiff heart” HF—a concerning finding considering the majority of such patients take the drugs as part of their care regimen.

December 5, 2019

Novoheart, AstraZeneca partner to develop HFpEF ‘heart-in-a-jar’

Novoheart, a Vancouver-based stem cell biotech company, is pairing with biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to develop the world’s first human-specific in vitro functional model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

December 4, 2019

Brushing teeth frequently may lower risk of AFib, heart failure

Brushing teeth three or more times a day could dramatically lower a person’s risk for CVDs like heart failure and atrial fibrillation, according to preliminary research out of Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea.

December 4, 2019

Physicians weigh the efficacy, risk of the Impella pump

Use of the Impella heart pump during PCI rose rapidly between the 2000s and 2010s, according to a Circulation analysis—but so did its variability across hospitals and associated adverse outcomes.

November 20, 2019

Transcatheter HF device receives breakthrough designation from FDA

The FDA has granted Breakthrough Device status to BioVentrix, Inc.’s Revivent TC Transcatheter Ventricular Enhancement System, a proactive approach to treating MI-induced heart failure.

November 19, 2019

Bionic pacemaker could reverse-remodel hearts affected by HF

A novel pacemaker designed to mimic a patient’s organic breath increased blood flow to the heart in a study of individuals with heart failure, according to research published in the journal Thorax.

November 18, 2019

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