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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Early menopause could increase heart failure risk in women

New research shows that postmenopausal women who reached menopause at an earlier age or who never gave birth at all are at a higher risk for developing heart failure.

Pennsylvania hospital tops in US in heart failure readmission

Lancaster General Hospital has lowest Medicare heart failure readmission rate in the U.S., according to government statistics. How this facility managed to become a leader in the field has to do with patient engagement.

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Unemployed heart failure patients could face 50% higher risk of death

Being unemployed could have deadly consequences for patients suffering from heart failure, a new study finds.

AHA releases statement on how biomarker testing could help diagnose, treat heart failure

A new scientific statement published by the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that innovative biomarker tests for heart failure could help physicians better diagnose and treat the condition.

First patient enrolls in phase 3 heart failure study

American Regent announced on April 24 that the first patients had enrolled in a phase 3 trial evaluating an investigational heart failure medication.

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FDA designates Medtronic’s recall of HVAD system controllers, DC adapters as class I recall

The FDA determined that Medtronic’s voluntary recall of its HVAD system controllers and DC adapters was a class I recall, according to a Medtronic news release on April 18.

Boston Scientific Initiates Global Study To Assess Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Therapy In Patients With Diabetes Who Have Previously Experienced A Heart Attack

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific (NYSE:  BSX) has initiated a worldwide study that will evaluate the survival benefit of patients treated with the EMBLEM™ MRI Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator (S-ICD) System who are aged 65 and older with a history of prior heart attack, diabetes and moderately reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

When a city hosts a marathon, it sees an increase in heart attacks among residents

New research has found that being in a city where a major marathon is being hosted can increase the risk of heart attack and cardiac arrest, reports Reuters.

Around the web

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

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