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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JACC study: Some heart transplant centers likely to ‘game the waitlist’

Candidates for heart transplantation in the U.S. are prioritized by the intensity of treatment they’ve received, leading some centers to overtreat patients to improve their odds of getting a treasured donor heart, suggests a study published April 13 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Extreme cold increases mortality, morbidity for those with cardiovascular diseases

Extreme temperatures can put undo pressure on the human body—which can lead to deadly complications for those with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Recent research discovered cold temperatures, meaning the first to third percentile of local exposure history, have an especially significant impact on mortality and morbidity for those with cardiovascular diseases.

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Timing of follow-up visits after heart failure doesn’t improve medication adherence

Speedy follow-up with patients after heart failure hospitalizations doesn’t boost medication adherence long-term, researchers reported April 1 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Abiomed adds optical sensor, SmartAssist technology to FDA approval for Impella CP

Abiomed announced April 2 its Impella CP heart pump has received expanded FDA premarket approval for its SmartAssist technology. SmartAssist utilizes an optical sensor to inform exact positioning for the device and provide data on left ventricular pressure, end-diastolic pressure and cardiac power output.

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New study finds no link between heart failure, cancer

Heart failure was not associated with an increased risk of cancer in a study of almost 30,000 men despite previous reports linking the two conditions.

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Door-to-diuretic time has little impact on mortality for acute heart failure patients

The speed with which IV diuretics were administered to people with acute heart failure (AHF) didn’t appear to make a difference in short- or intermediate-term mortality rates, according to a study of 2,761 Korean patients.

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Abiomed appoints Todd A. Trapp as new CFO

Todd A. Trapp will take over as CFO of Abiomed on April 9, the company announced March 30.

Abbott Initiates Trial to Evaluate Improved Survival And Outcomes with the CardioMEMS Monitor

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., March 29, 2018 — Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today the company has initiated the landmark GUIDE-HF clinical trial using the CardioMEMS™ HF System. The GUIDE-HF trial will study whether the CardioMEMS device can improve survival and quality of life for people living with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II – IV heart failure.

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Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

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