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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New CHAMPION data show significant improvement in survival rates for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced a new data analysis from the CHAMPION trial showing that heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction on optimal doses of guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) managed by pulmonary artery (PA) pressure monitoring with the CardioMEMS™ HF System had a 57 percent reduction in mortality and a 43 percent reduction in HF hospitalizations compared with patients on GDMT managed by the standard of care (SOC). These data show a strong improvement for patients managed by optimal GDMT and the CardioMEMS HF System in both mortality and hospitalizations over currently defined best practices.

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Caregivers of destination LVAD patients benefit from support, too

Patients aren’t the only ones impacted by destination therapy left ventricle assist device (LVAD) implants. Caregivers should be part of decision-making and they need support and tools to help them process the change, according to a study.

Sunshine Heart suspends trial after reports of deaths

Sunshine Heart put its U.S. pivotal clinical trial on hold after receiving reports of four deaths among the study’s participants.

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HeartWare recall targets clinical trial participants

HeartWare International issued a voluntary recall in the U.S. of older controllers that were distributed during clinical trials.

Donor heart acceptance rate drops as demand rises

Despite growing waiting lists and national efforts to increase the use of available donor organs, the rate of hearts accepted for transplantation has decreased significantly since 1995, a study found.

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Cardiologist-driven heart failure care may improve short-term outcomes

Patients with acute decompensated heart failure may benefit more from care by a cardiologist than a non-cardiologist, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

Review of hospital care finds high rates of IV fluids given for acute heart failure

Early care with intravenous (IV) fluid is not recommended by guidelines for patients with acute decompensated heart failure. However, 11 percent of patients in a study published Feb. 1 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure received IV fluid and diuretics in the first two days of hospitalization. 

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Pigskins & not porking out

Heart failure is one of the most expensive diseases in the U.S., with many boomerang patients and a stinging financial penalty from Medicare for hospitals with higher than expected 30-day readmissions. It doesn’t need to be that way.

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