American Heart Association

HF patient death leads to poor spousal outcomes

Contributor: Elise Vo

Being the spouse of a HF patient is challenging. In a recent study, Dunlay and colleagues explored the link between spousal health and HF patient outcomes. Interestingly, spousal health did not correlate with HF patient death or hospitalization. However, spouse caregivers experienced worse outcomes following the death of their HF partner.

Olmsted County residents were screened for HF between 2002-2012 using ICD-9 codes. 905 patients met study criteria, 586 (65%) males with mean age of 73.3, 96% Caucasian, and average LVEF 47.7%. The spousal characteristics were: 584 (65%) female, mean age of 71, and 96% Caucasian. HF patient charts were reviewed for marriage.

By |May 18th, 2018|caregivers, Elise Vo, outcomes research|0 Comments
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Precision medicine for cardiac resynchronization: Predicting quality of life benefits

Contributor: Nicholas Hawkes

Who benefits from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)? Studies show that among select HF patients CRT improves longevity, ventricular remodeling, and quality of life (QoL). The precision medicine approach asks the question, “Are there individual factors that predict QoL improvements?” Spertus and colleagues demonstrated that age, baseline QoL, and QRS duration predict individual QoL after CRT.

By |May 18th, 2018|cardiac resynchronization therapy, KCCQ, MLWHF, Nicholas Hawkes, quality of life|0 Comments
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Early right ventricular assist device utilization in patients undergoing continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation: Insight from INTERMACS

Contributor: Steven Stroud

Frustrated by limited, single small center risk scores for RV failure? Kiernan and colleagues analyzed the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) to identify factors associated with RV failure following continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support.

By |May 18th, 2018|ECMO, INTERMACS, LVAD, right ventricle, RVAD, Steven Stroud|0 Comments
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Not necessary to adjust NT-proBNP thresholds for HFrEF patients with atrial fibrillation

Contributor: Chris Sobowale

Heart failure patients with HFrEF and atrial fibrillation (HFrEF-AF) have higher NT-proBNP than HFrEF patients without atrial fibrillation (AF). This is thought to be a consequence of AF and not necessarily correlated with deleterious clinical outcomes.

HF clinical trials have stipulated different inclusion NT-proBNP levels for patients with HFrEF-AF. It turns out, a defined higher NT-proBNP level for patients with HFpEF-AF may not be necessary.

By |May 18th, 2018|atrial fibrillation, Chris Sobowale, HFrEF, NT-proBNP|0 Comments
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Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1): A cardiokine that alters metabolism and reverses remodelling in tachy-pacing canine HF

Contributor: Mat Bull

FSTL1 is a molecule with tremendous potential. While already considered an important clinical biomarker and cardioprotective cardiokine (a molecule secreted by cardiac muscle), Recchia et al demonstrate that FSTL1 also serves as a regulator of energy substrate metabolism. Using a canine tachy-pacing HF model, infusion of recombinant human FSTL1 exhibited efficacy in reversing pathological cardiac metabolism and remodelling.

By |April 6th, 2018|basic science, cardiokine/myokine, ketone body metabolism, Mat Bull, metabolism|0 Comments
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