All-cause Rehospitalization Research Articles

Pulmonary Hemodynamic Correlates and Prognostic Value of the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Score in Patients With Left Heart Failure

Abstract Objective: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart failure is associated with an abnormal response to exercise and poor prognosis. The objective of this study is to develop an algorithm by using data from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to assess the severity of pulmonary hemodynamics and predict clinical worsening and mortality in patients with heart failure. Methods: From April 2017 to December 2018, a total of 102 patients with heart failure who underwent CPET and invasive right heart catheterization participated in this prospective study. All enrolled patients had their clinical characteristics, hemodynamic parameters, and CPET results. Based on the CPET data namely peak oxygen uptake, the minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope, resting end-tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen uptake/work rate flattening, exercise oscillatory ventilation, and oxygen uptake efficiency slope, a Heart Failure Cardiopulmonary Exercise (HFCE) score was developed. The total score was then calculated to categorize patients into 3 groups: low score (0–3) (n = 31), intermediate score (4–7) (n = 45), and high score (8–14) (n = 26). Clinical events were defined as all-cause death and rehospitalization for heart failure, which were recorded and tracked for at least 12 months. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between the HFCE score and hemodynamic parameters, 6-minute walk distance, and N-terminal-pro hormone brain natriuretic peptide. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of clinical events. Survival curves for clinical events were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared among the 3 groups with different HFCE scores with a log-rank test. Results: The high HFCE score group had a higher prevalence of New York Heart Association class Ⅲ–Ⅳ (high score vs. intermediate score vs. low score: 85% (22/26) vs. 56% (25/45) vs. 45% (14/31), P = 0.008), higher N-terminal-pro hormone brain natriuretic peptide levels (high score vs. intermediate score vs. low score: (3,039 ± 2,171) ng/L vs. (2,039 ± 2,353) ng/L vs. (1,438 ± 947) ng/L, P = 0.035), lower 6-minute walk distance (high score vs. intermediate score vs. low score: (312 ± 79) m vs. (362 ± 84) m vs. (363 ± 76) m, P = 0.042) compared to intermediate score or low score. The high HFCE score correlated well with high levels of pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.539, P < 0.01), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (r = 0.292, P < 0.01), and mean pulmonary artery pressure (r = 0.474, P < 0.01), as well as low levels of cardiac output (r = –0.357, P < 0.01). Moreover, 46 patients developed composed clinical events at 12 months. In the multivariate model, the HFCE score was an independent predictor of composed clinical events (hazard ratio = 1.142, 95% confidence interval: 1.041–1.253, P = 0.005). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly higher probability of composed clinical events in patients with a higher HFCE score (P log-rank = 0.004). Conclusion: The HFCE score—obtained through CPET—provides valuable prognostic information by indicating the severity of hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart failure. It can likely serve as a reliable predictor for clinical worsening and mortality.

Clinical Importance of Protein Intake in Hospitalized Elderly Patients With Heart Failure.

The relationship between protein intake and the long-term prognosis of elderly patients with heart failure remains poorly understood. We investigated the association between predischarge protein intake and long-term prognosis in hospitalized elderly patients with heart failure. A single-center, retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction was conducted. Protein intake was evaluated by nutritionists based on visual measurements of the percentage of dietary intake obtained for 7 days before discharge by a nurse. A cutoff of 1.2 g/kg/day protein intake was used to compare the incidence of a composite endpoint, including all-cause mortality and heart failure rehospitalization within 1 year. Among the 100 patients (median age 79 years; 47% male), 56% had low protein intake (<1.2 g/kg/day). Patients with low protein intake had a significantly higher rate of composite endpoints than those with high protein intake (50% vs. 20%; log-rank test P=0.03). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model revealed that low protein intake was independently associated with long-term prognosis with a hazard ratio of 2.73 and a 95% confidence interval of 1.10-6.80 (P=0.03). Low protein intake in the predischarge phase was associated with long-term prognosis in hospitalized elderly patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

Benzodiazepine and z-drug prescribing in critical care survivors and the risk of rehospitalisation or death due to falls/trauma and due to any cause: a retrospective matched cohort study using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Benzodiazepines and z-drugs are often prescribed to critical care survivors due to high prevalence of mental health problems and insomnia. However, their safety has not been studied in this population. Retrospective cohort study of 28,678 adult critical care survivors hospitalised in 2010 and 2018: 4844 prescribed benzodiazepines or z-drugs, matched to 23,834 unexposed survivors using UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink linked datasets. Multivariable stratified Cox regression was used to estimate the adjusted hazards ratio (adjHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of community benzodiazepine/z-drug prescribing and falls/trauma-related events, as well as all-cause 30-day rehospitalisation or death. We performed subgroup analyses on patients without pre-critical care admission prescription of benzodiazepines/z-drugs ('treatment-naïve'), and sensitivity analyses excluding patients receiving palliative care after discharge. Prescription of benzodiazepines or z-drugs showed no conclusive evidence of increased risk of falls/trauma-related events in the whole cohort (adjHR 1.27; 95%CI 0.76-2.14) or in treatment-naïve individuals (adjHR 1.79; 95%CI 0.61-5.26), because estimates lacked precision due to low event rates. For all-cause rehospitalisation or death, benzodiazepines/z-drugs were associated with increased risk (whole cohort adjHR 1.24, 95%CI 1.14-1.36; treatment-naïve adjHR 1.66, 95%CI 1.49-1.86). However, after excluding patients treated for palliative care, the association persisted only in treatment-naïve individuals (whole cohort adjHR 1.08, 95%CI 0.98-1.19; treatment-naïve adjHR 1.42, 95%CI1.25-1.62). Community benzodiazepine and z-drug prescribing was associated with increased risk of all-cause, but not falls/trauma-related, rehospitalisations and deaths in critical care survivors who had not been prescribed these before hospitalisation. Clinicians should balance the possible benefits with the likely harms of prescribing these drugs in this potentially vulnerable patient group.

Risk and Protective Factors of Poor Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure with Improved Ejection Fraction Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Heart failure with improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) patients could still develop adverse outcomes despite EF improvement. This study evaluates the risk and protective factors of poor clinical outcomes in HFimpEF patients. Systematic searching was done to include studies that evaluate the risks of developing poor outcomes in HFimpEF patients. HFimpEF is defined as improvement of 5-10% EF within 6-12 months or normalization of EF > 40%. Poor clinical outcome is defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, HF rehospitalization, and requirement of LVAD/ transplant. Odds ratios of outcome are pooled with random effects model. A subgroup analysis of multivariate analysis-only studies was also conducted. 32 studies comprising 10,740 HFimpEF patients are included. Poor clinical outcomes followed up for approximately 3 years, are seen in 18.9% of HFimpEF patients. Twelve statistically significant factors that increase the risk of outcome are found. Among them, anemia (OR 7.69, CI 3.48-16.99, I2 0%) and baseline NT pro-BNP (OR 3.25) are the two most important predictors. Other significant risk factors are increasing age, ischemic heart disease, NYHA III/IV, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, use of diuretics, and baseline LVEDD. Alternately, protective factors of poor clinical outcome are regression of left atrial diameter (LAD) (OR 0.33, CI: 0.18-0.61, p 0.0003, I2 0%), use beta-blockers, SGLT- 2 inhibitors, and baseline LVEF level (OR 0.60, 0.78, 0.90, respectively). HFimpEF patients are not fully recovered and patient stratification based on risk and protective factors is recommended.

Orthostatic Heart Rate Changes and Prognostic Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure.

Heart rate typically increases during postural changes from a supine to a standing position due to autonomic and hemodynamic factors. Changes in heart rate during orthostasis may reflect the extent of autonomic dysfunction in patients with heart failure (HF). Thus, orthostatic heart rate changes may be useful for evaluating autonomic function and may predict prognosis. This study examined the association between orthostatic heart rate changes and prognosis in patients with HF. We included 320 patients with HF in sinus rhythm (median age 70 years, 70.9% men) who were admitted to Kitasato University Hospital for HF treatment and whose heart rate was evaluated in the supine and upright positions during the stable period before discharge. We calculated heart rate changes based on supine and upright heart rate. We examined the association of orthostatic heart rate changes with patient prognosis (i.e., a composite of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for HF). During the follow-up period (median 3.8 years; interquartile range 0.8-7.0 years), 129 events occurred. Orthostatic heart rate changes were associated with low composite event rates (log-rank P=0.015). After adjusting for potential confounders, increasing orthostatic heart rate changes were associated with decreased composite event rates (adjusted hazard ratio 0.954; 95% confidence interval 0.925-0.985; P=0.004). In patients with HF, poor orthostatic heart rate changes were associated with a worse prognosis.

Diagnostic and prognostic utility of bone morphogenetic protein 10 in acute dyspnea: a cohort study.

The possible clinical utility of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 10 (BMP10), a novel atrial-specific biomarker, is incompletely understood. We aimed to test the hypothesis that BMP10 has high diagnostic and prognostic accuracy in patients presenting with acute dyspnea. In a multicenter diagnostic study, BMP10, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations were determined in patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department. The final diagnosis was centrally adjudicated by two independent cardiologists blinded to BMP10. Diagnostic accuracy for acute heart failure (AHF) was quantified using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). 720-day all-cause mortality and the composite of all-cause mortality or AHF rehospitalization were prognostic endpoints. Among 933 consecutive patients, 54% were adjudicated to have AHF. Patients with AHF had higher BMP10 concentrations (median 3.34 [IQR 2.55-4.35] ng/mL) compared to patients with other causes of acute dyspnea (2.04 [1.74-2.45] ng/mL, p < 0.001). The AUC of BMP10 was 0.85 (95%CI, 0.82-0.87), versus 0.79 (95%CI, 0.76-0.82, p < 0.001) for hs-cTnT and 0.91 (95%CI, 0.90-0.93, p < 0.001) for NT-proBNP. The combination of BMP10 with NT-proBNP (AUC 0.92, 95%CI, 0.90-0.94) did not significantly increase the AUC versus NT-proBNP alone. BMP10 was a powerful predictor of death and AHF rehospitalization, but did not provide incremental value to models including NT-proBNP. BMP10 had a high diagnostic accuracy for AHF and high prognostic accuracy for death and AHF rehospitalization. However, it did not provide relevant incremental value to the current gold standard NT-proBNP.

Association Between Amount of Physical Activity and Clinical Outcomes After Treatment for Cardiovascular Disease in Cancer Survivors.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity before the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and clinical outcomes in cancer survivors. We analyzed 904 cancer survivors (median age [interquartile range] 75 [68-80] years; 297 [32.9%] patients were female) who required hospitalization for treatment of CVD. The amount of physical activity 1 month before the admission was assessed using the 3-question (3Q) assessment tool, and categorized as minimal, low, adequate, and high according to physical activity level. The primary outcome was the composite events of all-cause death and/or rehospitalization for CVD up to 1 year after discharge. The total amount of physical activity was identified in 544 (60.2%) patients in the minimal group, 95 (10.5%) in the low group, 253 (28.0%) in the adequate group, and 12 (1.3%) in the high group. A total of 686 (75.9%) patients completed follow up, with 252 (27.9%) composite events occurring. Even after adjustment for various confounders, higher physical activity was significantly associated with a lower composite event rate (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.859 [0.833-0.900]). High physical activity in cancer survivors was associated with a lower composite event rate after treatment for CVD. Assessment of prehospital physical activity using the 3Q score may be useful in their risk stratification.

The Prognostic Role of RDW in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients with and Without Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) are interrelated conditions that exacerbate each other through mechanisms like fluid retention, neurohormonal activation, and inflammation. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of red blood cell size variability, has emerged as a potential prognostic marker in HF. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of RDW in HF patients, both with and without CKD, focusing on all-cause mortality and HF rehospitalizations. Methods: This observational retrospective study included 171 patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF in a tertiary university hospital in Greece. Patients were divided into two groups based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as Group 1 (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and Group 2 (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). RDW was measured upon admission, and outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and HF rehospitalizations over a median follow-up period of 6.1 months. Statistical analyses included Kaplan-Meier survival curves, whereas the discrimination traits of RDW were evaluated by constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and by calculating the area under the ROC curve (AUC). A p-value <0.05 was indicative of a statistically important result. Results: Patients in Group 1 (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) were older (80 (73-86) vs. 75 (62-83)) and manifested higher median RDW values (16.6 (15.0-18.8) vs. 15.6 (14.1-17.8)) and received less frequent (57.9% vs. 75%) mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) as compared to those in Group 2 (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). RDW demonstrated better prognostic value in predicting combined mortality and rehospitalization outcomes in Group 2 patients (area under the curve: 0.70; 95% CI (0.62-0.80)) compared to those in Group 1 (area under the curve: 0.53; 95% CI (0.35-0.72)). No statistically significant differences (p = 0.579) were observed in survival between patients with high (≥15%) and low (<15%) RDW values in the overall population, though trends favored worse outcomes with elevated RDW. Similarly, no significant differences (p = 0.374) were observed in survival between patients with high (Group 2) and low (Group 1) eGFR values. Conclusions: RDW appears to be a meaningful prognostic biomarker for HF patients, particularly in those without CKD. Further multicenter studies are needed to validate its clinical utility and potential for guiding treatment in this high-risk population.

Pulmonary hypertension as a prognostic marker in low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis: Insights from invasive hemodynamics and post-TAVR outcomes.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common and significant comorbidity in patients with low-flow low-gradient (LF-LG) aortic stenosis, impacting prognosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Non-invasive tools often fail to capture PH's full clinical impact due to inherent limitations. This study evaluates the prognostic significance of PH measured invasively and explores its implications on post-TAVR outcomes. This retrospective study analyzed 90 patients with symptomatic LF-LG aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was categorized as mild (<35mmHg), moderate (35-50mmHg), or severe (>50mmHg) using invasive right heart catheterization. Key endpoints included 12-month all-cause mortality and heart failure rehospitalization, assessed via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards modeling. PH was present in 50% of patients, with moderate-to-severe cases showing higher mortality (25% vs. 8%, p<0.001) and rehospitalization rates (20% vs. 6%, p=0.02). Baseline PASP emerged as an independent predictor of mortality (HR 1.07 per mmHg, p<0.001) and rehospitalization (HR 1.04 per mmHg, p=0.01). Subgroup analyses revealed that patients with concomitant COPD or advanced diastolic dysfunction exhibited worse outcomes, underscoring the role of systemic disease burden. Invasive hemodynamic assessment provides superior prognostic insight for PH in LF-LG aortic stenosis patients. The findings advocate for targeted PH management strategies to improve post-TAVR outcomes and challenge the sole reliance on non-invasive methods in high-risk cohorts.

Qiliqiangxin Alleviates Imbalance of Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Qiliqiangxin (QLQX) capsule- a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating heart failure (HF), can modulate inflammatory cytokines in rats with myocardial infarction. However, its immune-regulating effect on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether QLQX has a unique regulatory role in the imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with DCM. The QLQX-DCM is a randomized- double-blind trial conducted at 24 tertiary hospitals in China. A total of 345 patients with newly diagnosed virus-induced DCM were randomly assigned to receive QLQX capsules or placebo while receiving optimal medical therapy for HF. The primary endpoints were changes in plasma inflammatory cytokines and improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) over the 12-month treatment. At the 12-month follow-up, the levels of IFN-γ, IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-4 decreased significantly, while the level of IL-10 increased in both groups compared with baselines (all P<0.0001). Furthermore-these changes, coupled with improvements in LVEF, NT-proBNP and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, excluding the LVEDd in the QLQX group, were greater than those in the placebo group (all P<0.001). Additionally, compared with placebo, QLQX treatment also reduced all-cause mortality and rehospitalization rates by 2.17% and 2.28%, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant. QLQX has the potential to alleviate the imbalance of inflammatory cytokines in patients with DCM, potentially leading to further improvements in cardiac function when combined with anti-HF standard medications.

Optimal duration of medical therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Optimal medical therapy, including Beta-blockers (BB), inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), and statins, is recommended for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the absence of contraindications. However, the optimal duration of these medications has not been clearly established in clinical studies. This observational study aimed to investigate the period during which these medications are associated with improved clinical outcomes. Among patients enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health (KAMIR-NIH), in-hospital survivors were selected. In a Cox-proportional hazard analysis of 12,200 patients, BB (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57-0.95; P = .019), RAS inhibitors (HR 0.70; 95% CI = 0.55-0.89; P = .004), and statins at discharge (HR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.48-0.87; P = .004) were all associated with lower 1-year cardiac mortality. At 1-year, 10,613 patients without all-cause death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, or re-hospitalization due to heart failure were selected for further analysis. RAS inhibitors (HR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.37-0.76; P = .001) and statins (HR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.14-0.61; P = .001) prescribed at 1-year were associated with lower 2-year cardiac mortality, whereas BB were not (HR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.51-1.23; P = .23). However, none of these medications prescribed at 2-years were associated with reduced 3-year cardiac mortality among the 9232 patients who remained event-free until then. RAS inhibitors and statins were associated with reduced cardiac mortality for up to 2-years, and BB for up to 1-year after the initial attack. The effectiveness of these medications beyond these periods remains questionable.

Incidence, progression, and outcomes of heart failure with improved ejection fraction: The added value of longitudinally assessed ejection fraction

BackgroundThe revised universal definition of heart failure (HF) established a standardized definition for HF with improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) and emphasized the importance of longitudinally assessing left ventricular EF (LVEF). We aim to investigate the incidence, disease progression, and clinical outcomes of HFimpEF in a longitudinal cohort of hospitalized HF patients. MethodsWe retrospectively included HF patients with baseline LVEF ≤40 % and satisfactory echocardiographic follow-ups. HFimpEF was defined as a ≥ 10-point increase in LVEF to >40 %. Transient HFimpEF was defined as a recurrent LVEF ≤40 % after achieving HFimpEF. Clinical outcomes were all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and HF rehospitalization. ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 47.9 months, 517 of 923 patients met HFimpEF criteria; 65.0 % HFimpEF cases occurred within 12 months. HFimpEF patients had lower risks of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.16, P < 0.001), cardiovascular death (HR = 0.19, P < 0.001), and HF rehospitalization (HR = 0.39, P < 0.001). However, 160 HFimpEF patients experienced LVEF worsening during follow-up; their risks for adverse events were higher (HR = 1.89 for all-cause death, HR = 2.13 for cardiovascular death, HR = 2.13 for HF rehospitalization, P < 0.05 for all) compared to persistent HFimpEF patients, and their capability of LVEF re-improvement was diminished. An inverted U-shaped LVEF profile for HFimpEF—characterized by a slow, modest increase followed by a decline—portended a higher mortality risk. ConclusionsHFimpEF was observed in 56.0 % of HF patients. Longitudinally assessing LVEF helps identify HFimpEF patients and facilitates disease progression monitoring and risk stratification.

Abstract 4138545: Mitral Valve Replacement is associated with favourable Functional and Clinical Outcome as compared with Restrictive Mitral Annuloplasty in Patients with Severe Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation. A prospective longitudinal analysis

Background: Restrictive mitral annuloplasty (RMA) and chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement (MVR) are common options for treatment of chronic severe ischemic mitral regurgitation. Research question: in patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation the most effective surgical approach remains controversial Aim: to test whether MVR provides superior clinical and functional outcomes compared with RMA. Methods: a prospective longitudinal analysis on 187 patients (age: 66 ± 9 year; EF:35 ± 8 %) undergoing MVR or RMA and CABG for severe ischemic mitral regurgitation. Six-minute walking test and echocardiography were performed at preoperative baseline, at 1 year and at a median FU of 5 year (interquartile range: 2.9). Brain natriuretic peptide levels were also obtained. Mitral regurgitation was defined through a comprehensive and integrative approach. Recurrent mitral regurgitation was defined as a vena contracta ≥ 3 mm at follow-up, in patients with no persistent regurgitation at discharge. The primary outcome was a 5-year composite of all-cause mortality and rehospitalization for heart failure. Survival analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was used to verify any independent predictor of composite end-point Results: Baseline preoperative data were similar between the two group. Mitral valve replacement was performed in 49% of patients (n=92) and RMA in 51 % (n=95). At 5 year patients referred to prostheses showed significant improvement in six-minute walking test as compared to RMA (MVR: 290 ± 70 meters vs MRA: 165± 56 meters) (p &gt; 0.01) ( Figure 1 ). The brain natriuretic peptide values did not differ between the two group at 1 year whereas were significantly lower in the MVR group at 5 years (MVR: 135 pg/ml; interquartile range:100 vs RMA: 486 pg/ml; interquartile range: 68 (p&lt;0.01) ( Figure 2 ). At 5 years freedom from all-cause death and rehospitalization for heart failure was higher in the MVR group as compared to RMA (84 ±8.9% vs 61 ±12%, p&lt;0.01) ( Figure 3 ). According to the Cox analysis recurrent mitral regurgitation was found to be a predictor of clinical outcome (HR:5.4, 95% CI:1.3-23.2, p= 0.023). Conclusions: In patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation referred for surgery, chordal- sparing MVR and CABG may improve functional capacity, clinical outcome and brain natriuretic peptide levels, compared with RMA and CABG. The impact of these findings remains to be defined by larger studies on longer term

Abstract 4131460: Restrictive or Liberal Blood Transfusion in Patients with Myocardial Infarction and Renal Insufficiency

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and anemia. Among patients with CKD and anemia who experience MI, it remains uncertain if a liberal transfusion threshold (LTT) strategy (hemoglobin cutoff [Hgb] &lt; 10 g/dL) is superior to a restrictive transfusion threshold (RTT, Hgb 7-8 g/dL) strategy. Objectives: To evaluate outcomes of those with CKD randomized to RTT vs. LTT in the Myocardial Ischemia and Transfusion (MINT) trial (NCT02981407). Methods: Among 3,495 MINT participants with non-missing creatinine (99.7%), we compared the baseline characteristics and outcomes at 30 days post-randomization of those individuals without CKD (N = 1279), CKD with eGFR 30-60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (N = 999), CKD with eGFR &lt; 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (N = 802), and CKD requiring dialysis (N = 415), both overall and by randomized transfusion strategy. Interaction terms for eGFR category by treatment assignment on each outcome were assessed. Results: Individuals with CKD compared to those without CKD more frequently presented with NSTEMI (all p &lt; 0.001) and had a greater risk of all-cause death, recurrent MI, rehospitalization, and heart failure (all p &lt; 0.05). Compared to a liberal transfusion strategy, a restrictive strategy among non-dialysis dependent individuals with an eGFR &lt; 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 was associated with an increased risk of death/recurrent MI ( Figure 1 ) and unplanned rehospitalization ( Figure 2 ). Among individuals with an eGFR 30-60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , a restrictive strategy was associated with an increased risk of cardiac death ( Figure 1 ). No eGFR category by treatment assignment interaction terms were significant. Conclusions: In this prespecified analysis, individuals with CKD were at greater risk of death, recurrent MI, heart failure, and unplanned rehospitalization at 30 days post-randomization than those without CKD. In individuals with CKD, a restrictive transfusion strategy was associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes.

Persistently low tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and its prognosis in Japanese hospitalized patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

In patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), low tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) on echocardiography is associated with poor prognosis. The significance of TAPSE changes post-HF treatment among HFrEF patients remains unclear. We evaluated the factors associated with persistently low TAPSE and its prognostic impact in Japanese hospitalized patients with HFrEF. We prospectively examined 260 HFrEF patients from the prospective observational HIJ-HF III study of HF patients hospitalized at Tokyo Women's Medical University between 2015 and 2019. Persistently low TAPSE was defined as TAPSE < 17mm on both pre- and 1-year post-discharge echocardiography. The primary endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality or re-hospitalization due to HF. Prognosis and characteristics were compared between patients with and without persistently low TAPSE. Using characteristics and echocardiography data, factors associated with persistently low TAPSE were assessed using logistic regression analysis. We identified the prognostic impact of persistently low TAPSE in HFrEF patients using Cox proportional hazards models. Seventy-eight (30%) of the 260 patients had persistently low TAPSE. They had higher New York Heart Association functional class; lower baseline TAPSE and left ventricular ejection fraction; and fewer angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. Significant factors associated with persistently low TAPSE included higher brain natriuretic peptide level at 1year after discharge, lower baseline levels of TAPSE and septal s'. Over a follow-up period of 32months (range 12-69months) after the 1-year echocardiography, the rate of the primary endpoint was significantly higher among patients with persistently low TAPSE than that among others (n = 31 (40%) vs. n = 39 (21%), respectively, log-rank p < 0.001). Cox multivariate analysis revealed that persistently low TAPSE was independently associated with adverse events (Hazard ratio, 1.975; 95% confidence interval 1.183-3.295; p = 0.009). Exactly 30% of hospitalized patients with HFrEF had low TAPSE both pre- and 1-year post-discharge. Persistently low TAPSE had independent predictive value of prognosis in these patients.

Serum calcium-magnesium ratio at admission predicts adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Evidence from observational studies suggests that increased calcium exposure may elevate the risk of adverse events in patients with coronary artery disease, while magnesium may exert a protective effect on disease risk. However, there have been limited investigations into the relationship between these minerals and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between the Serum calcium-magnesium ratio (Ca/Mg ratio) in patients with acute coronary syndrome and their clinical outcomes. This retrospective analysis reviewed the clinical data of 1,775 patients with ACS who underwent coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the Fujian Heart Center between May 2017 and December 2022. The patients were categorized into four groups based on their Ca/Mg ratio at admission (Group 1, ≤2.373, n = 443; Group 2, 2.374-2.517, n = 442; Group 3, 2.518-2.675, n = 446; Group 4, ≥2.676, n = 444). Single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression were employed to analyze the clinical characteristics and postoperative clinical outcomes of patients in different groups. The primary outcome included major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), while the secondary outcomes included contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN)、all-cause rehospitalization raten and hematorrhea. Univariate analysis showed that the patients had a mean age of 64.50±10.79 years, with 370 female patients (20.8%). Additionally, 1,158 patients had hypertension (65.2%), and 710 patients had diabetes (40.5%). Univariate analysis showed an inverse relationship between the serum calcium-to-magnesium ratio and all-cause in-hospital mortality, with patients in the lowest quartile having the highest mortality rate. Multivariate analysis showed that the Ca/Mg ratio at admission was independently associated with MACCEs. Among them, this ratio was inversely associated with all-cause mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.07; 95% CI 0.01-0.63; P<0.05] and positively associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (aOR 1.86; 95% CI 1.08-3.21; P<0.05). Additionally, the Ca/Mg ratio was positively correlated with an increased risk of postoperative major bleeding (aOR 6.58; 95% CI 1.43-30.29; P<0.05). In this large retrospective study, serum calcium and magnesium levels at admission were significantly associated with adverse outcomes in patients with ACS. The Ca/Mg ratio was identified as a reliable predictor of poor prognosis in ACS patients.

COVID-19 vaccination modified the effect of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir on post-acute mortality and rehospitalization: a retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT While previous research examined coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) antiviral-vaccine interactions through exploratory subgroup analysis, none specifically designed for examining this interaction or its impact on post-acute outcomes. This study examined the interaction between nirmatrelvir–ritonavir and complete COVID-19 vaccination on reducing the risk of post-acute outcomes among COVID-19 patients. We followed COVID-19 patients hospitalized between 11 March 2022 and 10 October 2023, until 31 October 2023 in Hong Kong. Exposure groups were based on nirmatrelvir–ritonavir usage and vaccination status (fully or not fully vaccinated). Post-acute death and all-cause rehospitalization were the study outcomes. Propensity score weighting was applied to balance covariates among exposure groups, including age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and concomitant treatments. Multiplicative and additive interactions between nirmatrelvir–ritonavir and vaccination status were assessed. A total of 50,438 COVID-19 patients were included in this study and arranged into four exposure groups. Significant additive interaction on post-acute rehospitalization was observed (relative excess risk, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.02–0.19; p-value, 0.018; attributable proportion, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01–0.12; p-value, 0.017; synergy index, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.02–1.55; p-value, 0.032). The interaction on post-acute mortality was marginally significant. In the subgroup analysis, the interaction effect is more pronounced in older adults, female, and CoronaVac recipients. In conclusion, our study demonstrated an additive interaction between nirmatrelvir–ritonavir and complete vaccination on post-acute outcomes, suggesting greater long-term benefits of the antiviral for fully vaccinated individuals compared to not fully vaccinated patients.

Contemporary epidemiology of hospitalised heart failure with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction in England: a retrospective, cohort study of whole-population electronic health records.

Heart failure is common, complex, and often associated with coexisting chronic medical conditions and a high mortality. We aimed to assess the epidemiology of people admitted to hospital with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), including the period covering the COVID-19 pandemic, which was previously not well characterised. In this retrospective, cohort study, we used whole-population electronic health records with 57 million individuals in England to identify patients hospitalised with heart failure as the primary diagnosis in any consultant episode of an in-patient admission to a National Health Service (NHS) hospital. We excluded individuals with less than 1 year of medical history records in primary or secondary care; admissions to NHS hospitals for which less than 10% of heart failure cases were linkable to the National Heart Failure Audit (NHFA); individuals younger than 18 years at the time of the heart failure hospitalisation; and patients who died in hospital during the index heart failure admission. For patients with new onset heart failure, we assessed incidence rates of 30-day and 1-year all-cause and cause-specific (cardiovascular, non-cardiovascular, and heart failure-related) emergency rehospitalisation and mortality after discharge, and dispensed guideline-recommended medical therapy (GRMT). Follow-up occurred from the index admission to the earliest occurrence of the event of interest, death, or end of data coverage. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) to compare HFrEF with HFpEF. We computed population-attributable fractions to quantify the percentage of outcomes attributable to coexisting chronic medical conditions. Among 233 320 patients identified who survived the index heart failure admission across 335 NHS hospitals between Jan 1, 2019, and Dec 31, 2022, 101 320 (43·4%) had HFrEF, 71 910 (30·8%) had HFpEF, and 60 090 (25·8%) had an unknown classification. In patients with new onset heart failure, there were reductions in all-cause 30-day (-5·2% [95% CI -7·7 to -2·6] in 2019-22) and 1-year rehospitalisation rates (-3·9% [-6·6 to -1·2]). Declining 30-day rehospitalisation rates affected patients with HFpEF (-4·8% [-9·2 to -0·2]) and HFrEF (-6·2% [-10·5 to -1·6]), although 1-year rates were not statistically significant for patients with HFpEF (-2·2% [-6·6 to 2·3] vs -5·7% [-10·6 to -0·5] for HFrEF). There were no temporal trends in incidence rates of 30-day or 1-year mortality after discharge. The rates of all-cause (HR 1·20 [1·18-1·22]) and cause-specific rehospitalisation were uniformly higher in those with HFpEF than those with HFrEF. Patients with HFpEF also had higher rates of 1-year all-cause mortality after discharge (HR 1·07 [1·05-1·09]), driven by excess risk of non-cardiovascular death (HR 1·25 [1·21-1·29]). Rates of rehospitalisation and mortality were highest in patients with coexisting chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, and liver disease. Chronic kidney disease contributed to 6·5% (5·6-7·4) of rehospitalisations within 1 year for HFrEF and 5·0% (4·1-5·9) of rehospitalisations for HFpEF, double that of any other coexisting condition. There was swift implementation of newer GRMT, but markedly lower dispensing of these medications in patients with coexisting chronic kidney disease. Rates of rehospitalisation in patients with heart failure in England have decreased during 2019-22. Further population health improvements could be reached through enhanced implementation of GRMT, particularly in patients with coexisting chronic kidney disease, who, despite being at high risk, remain undertreated. Wellcome Trust, Health Data Research UK, British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre.

1-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter AorticValve Replacement Using a Self-Expanding vs Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve.

Mid-term comparative data for the self-expanding ACURATE neo2 transcatheter heart valve and the balloon-expandable SAPIEN 3 Ultra are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare 1-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement of these 2 valves. A total of 2,106 patients from 3 centers (neo2, n=1,166; Ultra, n=940) undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement were analyzed retrospectively. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, and rehospitalization at 1 year. Secondary endpoints were the individual components of the primary endpoint at 1 year. To adjust for baseline differences, nearest neighbor propensity score matching was used. After matching (702 pairs), baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Device success was more common in the neo2 group (87.5% vs 82.3%; P=0.007), irrespective of matching. DP mean after the procedure was higher for Ultra (13mmHg [Q1-Q3: 10-15mmHg] vs 8mmHg [Q1-Q3: 6-11] mmHg; P< 0.001). Rates of paravalvular leakage, device embolization, and multiple valve implantations were more common in the neo2 arm, whereas major cardiac structural complications and major vascular complications occurred more frequently in the Ultra group. All other in-hospital complication rates were similar between the 2 groups. At 1 year, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint (14.1% for neo2 vs 14.5% for Ultra; P=0.819) was similar between the groups. Likewise, the individual components showed no difference between the groups. Despite differing immediate results, the outcomes at 1 year, including the composite of all-causemortality, stroke, or hospitalization, were similar for neo2 and Ultra transcatheter heart valves.

Classification of primary mitral regurgitation using extramitral cardiac involvement in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

An enhanced classification of primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) based on extramitral cardiac involvement may refine patient selection and optimize the timing of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of a recently established classification system that characterizes the extent of extramitral cardiac damage in patients undergoing TEER for PMR. Consecutive PMR patients who received MitraClip implantation were categorized according to the presence of extramitral cardiac damage, determined through preprocedural echocardiography. The classifications included no damage or only left ventricular dilatation (group 0), left atrial involvement (group 1), right ventricular volume/pressure overload (group 2), right ventricular failure (group 3), or left ventricular failure (group 4). Cox-proportional hazard models were used to ascertain the impact of PMR groups on the primary composite outcome of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure (HHF) over 2 years. In a cohort of 322 eligible PMR patients undergoing TEER (median age: 83 years; 41% female) between 2013 and 2020, the following distribution emerged: group 0 (10 patients, 3%), group 1 (96 patients, 30%), group 2 (117 patients, 36%), group 3 (56 patients, 18%), and group 4 (43 patients, 13%). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significant decline in freedom from the primary outcome as group severity increased (log-rank p = 0.030). On multivariate analysis, the degree of extramitral cardiac involvement was significantly associated with the primary outcome (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.02-1.67; p = 0.043), primarily driven by HHF. This innovative classification system for PMR, based on extramitral cardiac involvement, carries significant prognostic implications for clinical outcomes following TEER. Integrating this classification system into clinical decision-making could enhance risk stratification and optimize the timing of TEER in these patients.