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).

Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF
Researchers explored data from nearly 2,500 AFib ablation patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.
Statin therapy may help HFpEF patients lower their risk of death, heart attack or stroke
All participants were free of ASCVD and had no history of statin use at the start of the study.
Diabetic cardiomyopathy treatment shows promise in ARISE-HF
James Januzzi Jr., MD, said the treatment's overall impact was neutral, but he and his team saw "a very clear and encouraging signal."
Keto diet ‘does not fulfill the criteria of a healthy diet,’ could be harmful for heart patients
The popular high-fat, low-carb diet is associated with multiple short-term benefits, but they appear to diminish over time.
Bayer subsidiary granted FDA’s fast track designation for new congestive heart failure treatment
AskBio, acquired by Bayer for more than $2 billion in 2020, is enrolling patients for a new clinical trial focused on the therapy's effectiveness in adult patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

Abiomed’s Impella RP Flex with SmartAssist heart pump has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute right heart failure for up to 14 days.

Surgeons make history, become first in world to implant Abiomed’s new heart pump for right heart failure

Two specialists with Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey performed the procedure. The patient, a 71-year-old woman, is doing well.

November 22, 2022

Flu Shots can help lower risk factors to prevent cardiac events in a new study. Flu shots are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular complications or pneumonia in patients with heart failure, according to new findings published in The Lancet Global Health.

Tracking the health benefits of influenza vaccines: ‘If you have heart failure, you should get your flu shot’

The new analysis focused on data from more than 5,000 heart failure patients throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

November 17, 2022

Image from the American Heart Association (AHA) annual scientific sessions where a large amount of late-breaking cardiology science is presented. #AHA #AHA22 #AHA2022

Links to the American Heart Association 2022 late-breaking studies

The American Heart Association 2022 Scientific Sessions included 35 late-breaking studies and 39 featured science sessions presented at the meeting in Chicago, Nov. 5-7. Here is the list of all these studies with links to more information on the data.

November 11, 2022

The new study, published in Current Problems in Cardiology, included data from nearly 18,000 adult patients.

November 10, 2022

An updated look at the risk of heart damage associated with 2 popular COVID-19 vaccines

The risk of developing vaccine-related myocarditis, pericarditis or myopericarditis remains very low, researchers wrote.

November 8, 2022

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can help patients with severe COVID-19 make a successful recovery. Venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO) has the potential to minimize lung damage compared to conventional mechanical ventilation. ECMO unit in service with the COVID care unit at Banner Medical Center in Phoenix.

Early use of ECMO fails to improve cardiogenic shock outcomes, surprising cardiologists

"We expected to see a significant improvement in outcomes for patients with severe or rapidly progressing cardiogenic shock who underwent early ECMO treatment," one specialist said.

November 7, 2022

Tablet projecting metaphorical medical hologram

AI-powered ECG screening boosts patient outcomes—when clinicians give it a chance

New research out of Mayo Clinic found that clinicians who listened to AI-based treatment recommendations were more successful at identifying patients with low ejection fraction.

November 3, 2022

David Bennett with two of his physical therapists at the University of Maryland Medical Center. #pigheart #pighearttransplant #heartfailure

ECG data from historic pig heart transplant surprise electrophysiologists

“This was a true milestone for research on xenotransplantation," one specialist said. The full analysis is scheduled to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2022 in Chicago.

November 1, 2022

Heart Failure

Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF

Statin therapy may help HFpEF patients lower their risk of death, heart attack or stroke

Diabetic cardiomyopathy treatment shows promise in ARISE-HF

Keto diet ‘does not fulfill the criteria of a healthy diet,’ could be harmful for heart patients

Bayer subsidiary granted FDA’s fast track designation for new congestive heart failure treatment