Treating heart failure with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers and aldosterone antagonists provided the largest gains in quality-adjusted life years compared with treatments that did not include all three agents. Treatment according to guidelines resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of less than $1,500 per quality-adjusted life year.

Younger patients have not experienced comparable declines in heart failure (HF) hospital stay, length of stay and in-hospital mortality as older patients, and black men remain a vulnerable population for HF hospital stay, according to a study published March 12 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

SAN FRANCISCO—Measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in hospitalized heart failure patients varies, with patients outside of hospitals with tertiary services at a disadvantage, according to a scientific poster presented March 10 at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session.

Spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, showed some clinical efficacy as a treatment for heart failure (HF) patients with preserved ejection fraction although it offered no improvements in symptoms after one year. But an accompanying editorial questioned whether the study population truly was experiencing HF.

The European Commission (EC) has awarded a grant of almost $16 million to the Heart Omics in Ageing consortium project, which aims to prevent heart failure through identifying more specific biomarkers for heart failure and then developing methods for earlier diagnosis and –omic profile targeted treatment of elderly patients at risk of heart failure.    

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), according to a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in the emergency department (ED) for patients presenting with chest pain found CCTA use was associated with shorter lengths of stay and decreased costs but increased invasive coronary angiography and revascularization.

HeartWare initiated a voluntary field correction advising healthcare professionals Feb. 7 to inspect the driveline connector housing of the HVAD pump during routine clinic visits due to a potential safety concern.