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).

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Predicting 30-day readmissions for heart failure patients remains challenging

A model developed to predict 30-day readmissions for heart failure found that having patients self-report their socioeconomic, health status and psychosocial characteristics did not improve the researchers’ ability to determine the readmissions risk.

Patients taking sacubitril/valsartan to treat heart failure may experience survival benefit

An actuarial analysis found that patients who receive sacubitril/valsartan may have an increased life expectancy and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular causes or hospitalization for heart failure compared with patients who take enalapril.

ACC, Geisinger launch heart failure strategic initiative

The American College of Cardiology, Geisinger Health System and xG Health Solutions announced a new joint initiative to enhance the processes and outcomes of clinical care for patients with heart failure.

Pulmonary artery catheter use among heart failure patients increases despite guideline recommendations

Although guidelines recommend against the use of pulmonary artery catheters for routine management of heart failure, physicians have significantly increased their use of pulmonary artery catheters in recent years, according to an analysis of heart failure hospitalizations.

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A Better Strategy for Stroke

Every year, more than 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke—with 665,000 people surviving the episode. The annual cost of stroke in the U.S. tops $33.6 billion (Circulation. 2015 ;e29-322.) and one out of six Americans will have a stroke in their lifetime. Stroke is our leading cause of disability.

FDA sends warning letter to St. Jude Medical regarding issues at Atlanta facility

The FDA sent a warning letter to St. Jude Medical regarding a facility in Atlanta where the company manufactures its CardioMEMS heart failure system. St. Jude Medical revealed the information in an 8-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Oct. 1.

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High doses of beta-blockers improve outcomes in heart failure patients

Providing ambulatory heart failure patients with higher doses of beta-blockers significantly improved all-cause death or hospitalization, according to a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. The researchers found increasing the dosage of beta-blockers was more effective than reducing heart rates in this patient population.

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Cognitive behavior therapy provides mixed results for heart failure patients with depression

Patients with heart failure and major depression who underwent cognitive behavior therapy had improvements in mental health and overall quality of life after six months, according to a randomized trial. However, the intervention did not improve heart failure self-care or physical functioning.

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