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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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. 

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.

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.

COVID-related myocarditis linked to significantly worse outcomes than non-COVID cases

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

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. 

ECMO unit in service 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. 

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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. 

David Bennett with two of his physical therapists at the University of Maryland Medical Center

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.

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