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.

Eidos Therapeutics Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial for AG10 Targeting Transthyretin Amyloidosis Cardiomyopathy

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Eidos Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel oral therapy to treat transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR), today announced dosing of the first patient in the Phase 2 clinical trial of AG10 in patients with ATTR cardiomyopathy.

May 3, 2018

Black heart failure patients 42% less likely to receive ICU care from cardiologists

Black Americans admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with heart failure are 42 percent less likely to receive primary care from a cardiologist, which is associated with better survival odds for all patients.

May 1, 2018

Global longitudinal strain: A new gold standard for assessing heart failure?

A measure of global longitudinal strain (GLS) was far more predictive of mortality than left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in a study of 4,172 patients with acute heart failure, demonstrating its potential as a new standard technique.

April 30, 2018

The eyes have it? Retinal images in children may show later risk of cardiovascular disease

Poor health in adolescence can be an indicator of an individual’s future risk of cardiovascular disease. What seems like common sense, lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children can lead to structural changes in retinal blood vessels.

April 19, 2018

JACC study: Some heart transplant centers likely to ‘game the waitlist’

Candidates for heart transplantation in the U.S. are prioritized by the intensity of treatment they’ve received, leading some centers to overtreat patients to improve their odds of getting a treasured donor heart, suggests a study published April 13 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

April 17, 2018

Extreme cold increases mortality, morbidity for those with cardiovascular diseases

Extreme temperatures can put undo pressure on the human body—which can lead to deadly complications for those with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Recent research discovered cold temperatures, meaning the first to third percentile of local exposure history, have an especially significant impact on mortality and morbidity for those with cardiovascular diseases.

April 13, 2018

durbin-ama-opioid. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have published new guidelines focused on the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with chronic coronary disease (CCD).

Timing of follow-up visits after heart failure doesn’t improve medication adherence

Speedy follow-up with patients after heart failure hospitalizations doesn’t boost medication adherence long-term, researchers reported April 1 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

April 9, 2018

Abiomed adds optical sensor, SmartAssist technology to FDA approval for Impella CP

Abiomed announced April 2 its Impella CP heart pump has received expanded FDA premarket approval for its SmartAssist technology. SmartAssist utilizes an optical sensor to inform exact positioning for the device and provide data on left ventricular pressure, end-diastolic pressure and cardiac power output.

April 3, 2018

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