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).

RSS icon
Thumbnail

Abbott prepared for influx of new patients in wake of Medtronic’s announcement, FDA’s recommendation

In a recent advisory, the FDA specifically mentioned Abbott's HeartMate 3 LVAD as an effective alternative to Medtronic's HVAD system. 

Thumbnail

Medtronic stops sales and distribution of HVAD system due to multiple issues, including 14 patient deaths

The device's internal pump was associated with a heightened risk of adverse outcomes, including stroke and death. 

Thumbnail

19% of heart attack survivors develop heart failure within 5 years

Patients with chronic kidney disease face an especially high risk of developing new-onset heart failure after discharge. 

Landmark discovery provides clinicians with a ‘valuable clinical tool’ for diagnosing myocarditis

Researchers believe they have found the first blood biomarker for diagnosing myocarditis, sharing their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Thumbnail

Dapagliflozin a cost-effective treatment for HFrEF at its current price point

Researchers found that the SGLT2 inhibitor had similar value among patients with and without diabetes, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.

The greatest benefit: Omecamtiv mecarbil improves outcomes the most for patients with severe heart failure

Researchers explored data from the GALACTIC-HF trial to evaluate how the severity of a patient's reduced ejection fraction impacts the benefits of omecamtiv mecarbil.

High blood pressure linked to greater risk of heart failure, AFib, heart attack, stroke

The authors evaluated data from more than 2.1 million patients, sharing their findings in Circulation.

Thumbnail

FDA announces new recall of instructions for Medtronic’s HVAD system after 1 death, 64 injuries

This Class I recall covers more than 130,000 different devices, according to the FDA. 

Displaying 369 - 376 of 1270

Around the web

Health Imaging
Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Health Imaging
New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.