Use Of Heart Failure Medications Research Articles

Initiation and continuation of pharmacological therapies in patients hospitalized for heart failure in Japan.

Currently, the utilization patterns of medications for heart failure (HF) after worsening HF events remain unelucidated in Japan. Here, we conducted a retrospective cohort study evaluating the changes in HF drug utilization patterns in 6 months before and after hospitalizations for HF. The adherence to newly initiated HF medications was evaluated based on the proportion of days covered (PDC) and persistence as continuous treatment episodes among new users. The study included 9091 patients hospitalized for HF between January 2016 and September 2019, including 2735 (30.1%) patients who were newly prescribed at least one HF medication after hospitalization. Despite increases in the use of foundational HF therapy (beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists), 35.6% and 7.6% of patients were treated with the HF foundational monotherapy or diuretics alone after hospitalization, respectively. The mean PDC of newly initiated HF medications ranged from 0.57 for thiazide diuretics to 0.77 for sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Continuous use of HF medications during the first year after initiation was observed in 30-60% of patients. The mean PDC and one-year continuous HF medication use were consistently lower in patients aged ≥ 75years and in patients with a history of HF hospitalization for all HF medication classes except for tolvaptan and digoxin. Despite the guideline recommendations of HF pharmacotherapy, both treatment and adherence were suboptimal after HF hospitalization, especially in vulnerable populations such as older patients and those with prior HF hospitalizations.

Characteristics, management, and outcomes in women and men with congestive heart failure in 40 countries at different economic levels: an analysis from the Global Congestive Heart Failure (G-CHF) registry

There is a paucity of data on the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of women compared with men with heart failure in low-income and middle-income countries compared with high-income countries. We examined sex differences in risk factors, clinical characteristics, and treatments, and prospectively assessed the risk of heart failure hospitalisation and mortality in patients with heart failure in 40 high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries. Participants aged 18 years or older with heart failure were enrolled from Dec 20, 2016, to Sept 9, 2020 in the prospective Global Congestive Heart Failure (G-CHF) study from 257 centres in 40 high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries. Participants were followed up until May 25, 2023. We recorded the demographic characteristics, medical history, and treatments of participants. We prospectively recorded data on heart failure hospitalisation and mortality by sex in the overall study, according to country economic status, and according to level of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). 23 341 participants (9119 [39·1%] women and 14 222 [60·1%] men) were recruited and followed up for a mean of 2·6 years (SD 1·4). The mean age of women in the study was 62 years (SD 17) compared with 64 years (14) in men. Fewer women than men had an LVEF of 40% or lower (51·7% women vs 66·2% men). By contrast, more women than men had an LVEF of 50% or higher (33·2% women vs 18·6% men). Hypertensive heart failure was the most common aetiology in women (25·5% women vs 16·8% men), whereas ischaemic heart failure was the most common aetiology in men (45·6% men vs 26·6% women). Signs and symptoms of congestion were more common in women than men: 42·6% of women had a New York Heart Association functional class of III or IV compared with 37·9% of men. The use of heart failure medications and cardiac tests did not differ systematically between the sexes, although implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation was lower among women than men (8·7% women vs 17·2% men). The adjusted risk of heart failure hospitalisation was similar in women and men (women-to-men adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·99 [95% CI 0·92-1·05]). This pattern was consistent within groups of countries categorised by economic status, geographical region, and by LVEF level. However, women had a lower adjusted risk of mortality (women-to-men adjusted HR 0·79 [95% CI 0·75-0·84]) despite adjustments for prognostic factors-a pattern which was consistently observed across groups of countries irrespective of economic status, geography, and LVEF levels of patients. The underlying cause of heart failure and ejection fraction phenotype differ between women and men, as do the severity of symptoms. Heart failure treatments (except ICD use) were not consistently in favour of one sex. Paradoxically, while the rates of hospitalisations were similar among women and men, the risk of death was lower among women. These patterns were consistent regardless of the economic status of the countries. The higher mortality among men is unexplained and warrants further study. Bayer.

Contemporary review on pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: insights into detection and management.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common genetic cardiac disorder and is defined by the presence of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in the absence of a condition capable of producing such a magnitude of hypertrophy. Over the past decade, guidelines on the screening, diagnostic, and management protocols of pediatric primary (i.e., sarcomeric) HCM have undergone significant revisions. Important revisions include changes to the appropriate screening age, the role of cardiac MRI (CMR) in HCM diagnosis, and the introduction of individualized pediatric SCD risk assessment models like HCM Risk-kids and PRIMaCY. This review explores open uncertainties in pediatric HCM that merit further attention, such as the divergent American and European recommendations on CMR use in HCM screening and diagnosis, the need for incorporating key genetic and imaging parameters into HCM-Risk Kids and PRIMaCY, the best method of quantifying myocardial fibrosis and its prognostic utility in SCD prediction for pediatric HCM, devising appropriate genotype- and phenotype-based exercise recommendations, and use of heart failure medications that can reverse cardiac remodeling in pediatric HCM.

Outcomes of Children With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Heart Failure on Medical Therapy

BackgroundSystemic right ventricle (RV) dysfunction is associated with lower transplant-free survival (TFS) in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), but the likelihood of functional improvement and utility of heart failure (HF) medications is not understood. ObjectivesThe authors aimed to describe TFS, HF medication use, and surgical interventions in HLHS patients with RV dysfunction with and without subsequent improvement in function. MethodsThe SickKids HF Database is a retrospective cohort that includes all pediatric HLHS patients with RV dysfunction lasting >30 days. We compared TFS, HF medications, and surgical interventions in HLHS patients with and without functional normalization. ResultsOf 99 patients with HLHS and RV dysfunction, 52% had normalized function for ≥30 days. TFS at 2 years after dysfunction onset was lower in those without normalization (14% vs 78%, P < 0.001). Patients without normalization were less likely to reach target dosing (TD) of HF medications (27% vs 47% on 1 medication at TD, P < 0.001) and undergo Fontan completion (7% vs 53%, P < 0.001). Clinical factors associated with improved TFS were normalization of function for ≥30 days, onset of dysfunction after bidirectional Glenn, and exposure to ACE inhibition. ConclusionsOur cohort of HLHS patients with systemic RV dysfunction demonstrated a novel finding of improved TFS in those with functional normalization for ≥30 days. Achieving TD of HF medications was associated with improved outcomes. This may reflect patient stability and tolerance for HF medication more than its therapeutic effect, but it can help inform decisions to proceed with surgical palliation or list for transplant.

Use of heart failure medications in older individuals and associations with cognitive impairment

BackgroundTo achieve the best treatment of heart failure, it is important to use all recommended drugs at their target doses. Given that underuse of medications can occur in individuals with cognitive impairment, we investigated the filled prescriptions and target doses of heart failure medication for older individuals with and without cognitive impairment as well as associated factors.MethodsThe study was based on two separate datasets. The first dataset, which was based on data from questionnaires sent to nursing homes in Sweden, included 405 individuals with heart failure. The data were linked with the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and the National Patient Register to obtain information regarding filled prescriptions of heart failure medications and heart failure diagnoses among the population. In the second dataset, medical records of individuals aged 75 years or older admitted to a hospital in northern Sweden were reviewed and individuals with heart failure were identified. Target doses of heart failure medications were evaluated in 66 individuals who lived at home.ResultsFilled prescriptions of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and loop diuretics were significantly more common in individuals without cognitive impairment (OR 1.087; 95% CI 1.026–1.152, p < 0.05) and (OR 1.057; 95% CI 1.017–1.098, p < 0.05), respectively. There were no significant differences between individuals with and without cognitive impairment in terms of achieving target doses for any of the drug classes. A higher age was associated with fewer filled prescriptions and less ability to reach the target doses of beta blockers (OR 0.950; 95% CI 0.918–0.984, p < 0.05) and (OR 0.781; 95% CI 0.645–0.946, p < 0.05), respectively.ConclusionsOur results suggest that individuals with cognitive impairment are partly undertreated for heart failure in that they had fewer filled prescriptions of important heart medications. Separately, the relatively low proportion of older individuals reaching target doses is an important observation and indicates that treatment of heart failure could be further optimised among older individuals.

Frailty and outcomes in heart failure patients from high-, middle- and low-Income countries.

There is little information on the incremental prognostic importance of frailty beyond conventional prognostic variables in heart failure (HF) populations from different country income levels. 3429 adults with HF (age 61±14 years, 33% women) from 27 high-, middle- and low-income countries were prospectively studied. Baseline frailty was evaluated by the Fried index, incorporating handgrip strength, gait speed, physical activity, unintended weight loss and self-reported exhaustion. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 39±14% and 26% had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV symptoms. Participants were followed for a median (25th-75th percentile) 3.1 (2.0-4.3) years. Cox proportional hazards models for death and HF hospitalization adjusted for country income level; age; sex; education; HF etiology; left ventricular ejection fraction; diabetes; tobacco and alcohol use; NYHA functional class; HF medication use; blood pressure; hemoglobin, sodium and creatinine concentrations were performed. The incremental discriminatory value of frailty over and above the MAGGIC risk score was evaluated by the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve. At baseline, 18% of participants were robust, 61% pre-frail and 21% frail. During follow-up, 565 (16%) participants died and 471 (14%) were hospitalized for HF. Respective adjusted hazard ratios [HRs (95% CI)] for death among the prefrail and frail were 1.59 (1.12-2.26) and 2.92 (1.99-4.27). Respective adjusted HRs (95% CI) for HF hospitalization were 1.32 (0.93-1.87) and 1.97 (1.33-2.91). Findings were consistent among different country income levels and by most subgroups. Adding frailty to the MAGGIC risk score improved the discrimination of future death and HF hospitalization. Frailty confers substantial incremental prognostic information to prognostic variables for predicting death and HF hospitalization. The relationship between frailty and these outcomes is consistent across countries at all income levels.

EFFECT OF LOW BLOOD PRESSURE ON ACUTE HEART FAILURE PROGNOSIS ACCORDING TO HEART FAILURE CLASSIFICATION

Objective: Blood pressure (BP) management is complex in patients with heart failure (HF), but is important with respect to HF progression and clinical prognosis. We evaluated the actual prescribing patterns of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and beta-blockers (BB) in patients with HF at discharge and clinical prognosis according to initial BP level in patients with acute HF. Design and method: Study data were obtained from a multicenter cohort that included patients hospitalized for acute HF. Patients who had available data regarding initial BP and left ventricular ejection fraction were included in this analysis. The patients were classified into two groups: heart failure reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) group versus. HF mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and HF preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) group. Initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) was classified into &lt;100, 100-119, 120-139, 140-159, and &gt; = 160mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) into &lt;50, 50-69, 70-89, 90-109, &gt; = 110mmHg. Results: Among 2,778 patients, HFrEF patients used ACEi, ARB, or BB at discharge even if their SBP was as low as less than 100mmHg, and there was no significant difference in frequency of medication use by BP level. However, HFmrEF and HFpEF patients showed a tendency to significantly decrease the frequency of medication use as BP decreased. In HFrEF, the lower the initial BP, the higher the incidence of all-cause death and composite clinical events including HF readmission or all-cause death (Table). However, in HFpEF and HFmrEF, there was no significant difference in clinical outcome according to BP. In addition, initial SBP (&lt;120mmHg) was independently associated with 1.81-fold increased risk of long-term mortality [Odds ratio (OR) 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.349-2.417, p &lt; 0.001], and initial DBP (&lt;80mmHg) was also 2.24-fold increased risk [OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.645-3.053, p &lt; 0.001]. Conclusions: Poor clinical prognosis is expected if the initial BP low in patients with HFrEF, and low BP (&lt;120/80mmHg) affects increased mortality independently of HF medication use. Clinicians should be aware of the effect of low BP in patients with acute HF and provide delicate BP control.

Global Variations in Heart Failure Etiology, Management, and Outcomes

Most epidemiological studies of heart failure (HF) have been conducted in high-income countries with limited comparable data from middle- or low-income countries. To examine differences in HF etiology, treatment, and outcomes between groups of countries at different levels of economic development. Multinational HF registry of 23 341 participants in 40 high-income, upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income, and low-income countries, followed up for a median period of 2.0 years. HF cause, HF medication use, hospitalization, and death. Mean (SD) age of participants was 63.1 (14.9) years, and 9119 (39.1%) were female. The most common cause of HF was ischemic heart disease (38.1%) followed by hypertension (20.2%). The proportion of participants with HF with reduced ejection fraction taking the combination of a β-blocker, renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist was highest in upper-middle-income (61.9%) and high-income countries (51.1%), and it was lowest in low-income (45.7%) and lower-middle-income countries (39.5%) (P < .001). The age- and sex- standardized mortality rate per 100 person-years was lowest in high-income countries (7.8 [95% CI, 7.5-8.2]), 9.3 (95% CI, 8.8-9.9) in upper-middle-income countries, 15.7 (95% CI, 15.0-16.4) in lower-middle-income countries, and it was highest in low-income countries (19.1 [95% CI, 17.6-20.7]). Hospitalization rates were more frequent than death rates in high-income countries (ratio = 3.8) and in upper-middle-income countries (ratio = 2.4), similar in lower-middle-income countries (ratio = 1.1), and less frequent in low-income countries (ratio = 0.6). The 30-day case-fatality rate after first hospital admission was lowest in high-income countries (6.7%), followed by upper-middle-income countries (9.7%), then lower-middle-income countries (21.1%), and highest in low-income countries (31.6%). The proportional risk of death within 30 days of a first hospital admission was 3- to 5-fold higher in lower-middle-income countries and low-income countries compared with high-income countries after adjusting for patient characteristics and use of long-term HF therapies. This study of HF patients from 40 different countries and derived from 4 different economic levels demonstrated differences in HF etiologies, management, and outcomes. These data may be useful in planning approaches to improve HF prevention and treatment globally.

Differential impact of systolic and diastolic heart failure on in-hospital treatment, outcomes, and cost of patients admitted for pneumonia

BackgroundPatients admitted with pneumonia and heart failure (HF) have increased mortality and cost compared to those without HF, but it is not known whether outcomes differ between systolic and diastolic HF. Management of concomitant pneumonia and HF is complicated because HF treatments can worsen complications of pneumonia. MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study from the Premier Database among patients admitted with pneumonia between 2010 and 2015. Patients were categorized based on systolic, diastolic, and combined HF using ICD-9 codes. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included use of HF medications, length of stay, cost, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, as well as use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), vasopressors and inotropes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe associations of these outcomes with type of HF. ResultsOf 123,211 patients with pneumonia and HF, 41,196 (33.4%) had systolic HF, 69,982 (56.8%) diastolic HF, and 12,033 (9.8%) had combined HF. Compared to patients with diastolic HF, after multivariable adjustment systolic HF was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (OR 1.15; 95% CI:1.11–1.20), ICU admission, and use of IMV and vasoactive agents, but not with increased length of stay or cost. Among patients with systolic HF, 80% received a loop diuretic, 72% a beta blocker, 48% angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, and 12.5% a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist. ConclusionSystolic HF is associated with added risk in pneumonia compared to diastolic HF. There may also be an opportunity to optimize medications in systolic HF prior to discharge.

Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Clinical Outcomes After Heart Failure Hospitalizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March to October 2020

ObjectiveTo compare clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and 30-day all-cause readmission and mortality between patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients and MethodsThe study was conducted at 16 hospitals across 3 geographically dispersed US states. The study included 6769 adults (mean age, 74 years; 56% [5033 of 8989] men) with cumulative 8989 HF hospitalizations: 2341 hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1 through October 30, 2020) and 6648 in the pre–COVID-19 (October 1, 2018, through February 28, 2020) comparator group. We used Poisson regression, Kaplan-Meier estimates, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression analysis to determine whether prespecified study outcomes varied by time frames. ResultsThe adjusted 30-day readmission rate decreased from 13.1% (872 of 6648) in the pre–COVID-19 period to 10.0% (234 of 2341) in the COVID-19 pandemic period (relative risk reduction, 23%; hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.89). Conversely, all-cause mortality increased from 9.7% (645 of 6648) in the pre–COVID-19 period to 11.3% (264 of 2341) in the COVID-19 pandemic period (relative risk increase, 16%; number of admissions needed for one additional death, 62.5; hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.39). Despite significant differences in rates of index hospitalization, readmission, and mortality across the study time frames, the disease severity, HF subtypes, and treatment patterns remained unchanged (P>0.05). ConclusionThe findings of this large tristate multicenter cohort study of HF hospitalizations suggest lower rates of index hospitalizations and 30-day readmissions but higher incidence of 30-day mortality with broadly similar use of HF medication, surgical interventions, and devices during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre–COVID-19 time frame.

Epidemiology of Worsening Heart Failure in a Population-based Cohort from Alberta, Canada: Evaluating Eligibility for Treatment With Vericiguat

BackgroundPatients with heart failure (HF) and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who experience worsening HF (WHF) events are at increased risk of adverse outcomes and experience significant morbidity and mortality. We herein describe the epidemiology of these patients and identify those potentially eligible for vericiguat therapy in this population-based study. Methods and ResultsThis retrospective cohort study included hospitalized or emergency department patients with a primary diagnosis of HF and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 45% diagnosed between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2019 in Alberta, Canada, with follow-up to March 31, 2020. Inclusion criteria from the VerICiguaT Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection (VICTORIA) trial were applied to explore eligibility for vericiguat. Among 25,629 patients with HF and LVEF data, 9948 (38.8%) had HFrEF, of which 5259 (52.8%) experienced WHF at some point during a median 5.8 years of follow-up, and 38.3% of those met the vericiguat trial eligibility criteria. Compared with patients with HFrEF without WHF, those with WHF were older, with more comorbidities, worse renal function, and similar LVEF status, but greater use of HF medications at baseline. At the time of WHF, 27% of those with HFrEF and WHF were on triple therapy, 50.6% were on dual therapy, and 15.4% were on monotherapy. All-cause mortality and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality or cardiovascular hospitalization at 1-year of follow-up were higher in the HFrEF with WHF cohort compared with HFrEF without WHF (adjusted hazard ratios of 1.92 and 1.51, respectively, both P < .0001). ConclusionsApproximately one-half of patients with HFrEF experienced WHF over the long-term follow-up. Most were not on triple therapy, highlighting the underuse of the existing standard-of-care treatments and opportunities for application of newer therapies; more than one-third of patients with HFrEF may be eligible for vericiguat. Lay SummaryAmong patients with heart failure (HF), those who experience worsening HF (WHF) are at increased risk of adverse outcomes. A few new therapies, including vericiguat, have emerged recently for patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction. However, the epidemiology, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with WHF in large representative populations is unclear. In the current study, approximately one-half of the patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction experienced WHF and 38.3% were potentially eligible for vericiguat therapy. The guideline-recommended therapies were under-utilized among patients with WHF, which highlights the need for initiatives to address this care gap.

High visit-to-visit cholesterol variability predicts new-onset heart failure and adverse cardiovascular events: a retrospective population-based cohort study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Hyperlipidaemia is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the long-term prognostic value of visit-to-visit cholesterol variability is less certain, particularly regarding the risks of new-onset heart failure (HF). We investigated the associations between visit-to-visit cholesterol variability and adverse cardiovascular events. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients attending family medicine clinics in a Chinese city during 2000-2003 with follow-up until 2019. Patients with at least three sets of blood cholesterol (low-density (LDL-C) and high-density (HDL-C) lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol) levels available at different visits were included. Patients with prior HF, myocardial infarction (MI), use of HF medications, and pregnancy were excluded. Visit-to-visit variability was calculated using standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV). The primary outcome was new-onset HF. The secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality, and myocardial infarction. Multivariable Cox regression with adjustments for significant baseline predictors of outcomes were used to evaluate the association between cholesterol variability and the outcomes. Results A total of 5662 patients were included (2152 males; mean age 63.3 ± 12.4 years). The mean follow-up period was 15.3 ± 4.6 years. Lower mean HDL-C and total cholesterol predicted new-onset HF and MI, while higher mean LDL-C and total cholesterol and lower HDL-C predicted cardiovascular mortality (Table 1). Cholesterol variability was a significant predictor of the outcomes (Table 1). Higher variability of HDL-C (hazard ratio (HR) for CV: 14.202 [6.524, 30.916], p &amp;lt; 0.0001; Figure 1A) and total cholesterol (HR for CV: 10.340 [4.582, 23.336], p &amp;lt; 0.0001; Figure 1B) predicted new-onset HF. These also predicted MI (HR for CV: 40.738 [14.412, 115.150], p &amp;lt; 0.0001, and 34.285 [11.450, 102.660], p &amp;lt; 0.0001, respectively), as did higher variability of LDL-C (HR for CV: 3.798 [1.903, 7.578], p = 0.0002). Lower variability of LDL-C (HR for CV: 0.234 [0.104, 0.526], p &amp;lt; 0.0001) predicted cardiovascular mortality. This was probably driven by the association between cardiovascular mortality and higher mean LDL-C. Variability of HDL-C and total cholesterol did not predict cardiovascular mortality Conclusion Higher visit-to-visit cholesterol variability was associated with significantly increased long-term risks of new-onset HF and adverse cardiovascular events. Variability of different types of cholesterol had varying prognostic values, with HDL-C showing particular importance for new-onset HF. Visit-to-visit cholesterol variability may be a clinically relevant and important tool for HF and general cardiovascular risk stratification. Abstract Figure 1 Abstract Table 1

Trends of ARNI and Other Heart Failure Medication Use in Older Adults

In 2015-2017, we identified 276,679 to 315,788 Medicare beneficiaries with HFrEF (mean age 76.6-76.7 years, 75.0-76.2% male, 82.0-83.4% Whites, and 44.8-50.9% frail). Since its approval in July 2015, ARNI use increased from 0.3% to 5.7%. ARNI uptake was lower in patients with older age (6.6% for 65-74 years vs 3.4% for ≥85 years), non-Hispanic race (7.3% for Hispanic vs 5.6-6.6% for other race), no dual eligibility (6.4% for dual eligibility vs 5.5% for no dual eligibility), frailty (5.1% for frailty vs 6.1% for non-frailty) and dementia (3.8% for dementia vs 6.1% for no dementia). Frail patients were less likely than non-frail patients to receive disease-modifying treatments, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (32.4% vs 38.9%), angiotensin receptor blockers (14.5% vs 17.5%), aldosterone antagonists (20.8% vs 23.4%), and beta-blockers (65.1% vs 68.3%), but more likely to receive symptomatic treatment with loop diuretics (56.4% vs 48.0%).

Left Ventricular Ballooning Patterns in Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Reported Cases.

Recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) and the clinical profiles and outcomes of patients have not been fully evaluated, nor has the effect of left ventricular ballooning pattern. After searching the medical literature for reports of patients with recurrent TTC, we identified 84 articles with 101 case descriptions. We divided the cases into those with only apical left ventricular ballooning patterns at recurrence (typical, n=60), and those with at least one midventricular or basal ballooning pattern (atypical, n=41). We then compared their clinical profiles and outcomes. The groups were similar in terms of baseline demographic characteristics, presence and types of triggers, use of heart failure medications at TTC recurrence, electrocardiographic changes at presentation, initial left ventricular ejection fractions, timespans between recurrent TTC episodes, and recovery times after each event. However, patients in the atypical group had significantly fewer severe adverse events (cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest) than did those in the typical group, with an estimated 63% lower odds (adjusted odds ratio=0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.97; P=0.039). Survival to hospital discharge was statistically similar but lower in the typical group (n=53; 88.3%) than in the atypical group (n=24; 96%). Our results suggest that left ventricular ballooning patterns influence clinical outcomes, and that outcomes are more favorable in patients with recurrent TTC who have atypical left ventricular ballooning patterns.

Safety of Contemporary Heart Failure Therapy in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Limited data are available concerning the safety, optimal administration and benefits of contemporary heart failure therapy in patients after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Between 2015 and 2019, 257 patients underwent LVAD implantation and were included in this observational study. Oral heart failure therapy was initiated and uptitrated during the further course. After propensity matching and excluding patients with immediate postoperative treatment in an affiliated center with different medical standards, hospitalization rates and mortality within 12 months after LVAD implantation were compared between 83 patients who received medical therapy including an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) and 83 patients who did not receive an ARNI. The overall use of heart-failure medications after 12 months was high: prescriptions: beta-blockers, 85%; angiotensin inhibiting drugs, 90% (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors 30%, angiotensin receptor blockers 23%, ARNI 37%); mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, 80%. No serious drug-related adverse events occurred. The conditional 1-year survival in the group with ARNIs was 97% (95% CI: 94%-100%) compared to 88% in the group without an ARNI (95% CI: 80%-96%); P = 0.06. Contemporary heart failure therapy is safe in patients with LVADs. No increase in serious adverse events was seen in patients receiving ARNIs. No significant difference in the conditional 1-year survival was seen between the ARNI group and the nonARNI group.

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among patients

Data regarding patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) following a worsening HF event (WHFE) are largely driven by findings from elderly patients. Younger patients are not well studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in commercially insured chronic HFrEF patients <65 years old during 1-year periods before and after a WHFE. A retrospective claims analysis was performed using the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database on HFrEF patients aged <65 years during the year before and after a WHFE, defined as HF hospitalization or outpatient intravenous diuretic use. Treatment patterns, rehospitalizations, health care resource utilization, and costs were assessed. A total of 4460 HFrEF patients with WHFE were included. Guideline-recommended HF therapy was initially underutilized, increased pre-WHFE, and peaked 0-3months post-WHFE. The proportions of patients using dual and triple therapy were 31.5% and 9.8% pre-WHFE, 41.5% and 17.4% 0-3months post-WHFE, and 34.6% and 13.9% 10-12 months post-WHFE, respectively. Within 30 and 90 days after a WHFE, 12% and 23% of patients had HF-related and 16% and 30% had all-cause rehospitalizations, respectively. HF-related and all-cause hospitalizations and outpatient visits peaked 0-3months post-WHFE, whereas emergency department visits peaked 0-3months pre-WHFE. Use of HF medications increased pre-WHFE but decreased post-WHFE, despite recurrent hospitalizations. These findings suggest that age and insurance status may not totally explain the suboptimal treatment of HFrEF patients before and after a WHFE. Reasons for these trends need further study.

Establishing Baseline Metrics of Heart Failure Medication Use in Children: A Collaborative Effort from the ACTION Network.

Heart failure metrics specific to the pediatric population are required to successfully implement quality improvement initiatives in children with heart failure. Medication use at the time of discharge following admission for decompensated heart failure has been identified as a potential quality metric in this population. This study aimed to report medication use at discharge in the current era for children admitted with acute decompensated heart failure. All patients < 21years of age with an index admission (1/1/2011-12/31/2019) for acute heart failure and a coexisting diagnosis of cardiomyopathy were identified from the Pediatric Health Information System. Medication use patterns were described and compared across age groups and centers. A total of 2288 patients were identified for inclusion. An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEi/ARB) was prescribed in 1479 (64.6%), beta blocker in 1132 (49.5%), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in 864 (37.8%) patients at discharge. The use of ACEi/ARB at discharge has decreased over time (64.6% vs. 69.6%, p = 0.001) and the use of beta blockers has increased (49.5% vs. 36.8%, p < 0.001) compared to a historical cohort (2001-2010). There is considerable variability in medication use across centers with an overall increase in beta blocker and decrease in ACEi/ARB use over time. Collaborative efforts are needed to standardize care and define quality metrics to identify best practices in the management of pediatric heart failure.

Medication in adults after atrial switch for transposition of the great arteries: clinical practice and recommendations.

AimsHeart failure is the main threat to long-term health in adults with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) corrected by an atrial switch operation (AtrSO). Current guidelines refrain from recommending heart failure medication in TGA-AtrSO, as there is insufficient data to support the hypothesis that it is beneficial. Medication is therefore prescribed based on personal judgements. We aimed to evaluate medication use in TGA-AtrSO patients and examine the association of use of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and β-blockers with long-term survival.Methods and resultsWe identified 150 TGA-AtrSO patients [median age 30 years (interquartile range 25–35), 63% male] included in the CONCOR registry from five tertiary medical centres with subsequent linkage to the Dutch Dispensed Drug Register for the years 2006–2014. Use of RAAS inhibitors, β-blockers, and diuretics increased with age, from, respectively, 21% [95% confidence interval (CI) 14–40], 12% (95% CI 7–21), and 3% (95% CI 2–7) at age 25, to 49% (95% CI 38–60), 51% (95% CI 38–63), and 41% (95% CI 29–54) at age 45. Time-varying Cox marginal structural models that adjusted for confounding medication showed a lower mortality risk with use of RAAS inhibitors and β-blockers in symptomatic patients [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.13 (95% CI 0.03–0.73); P = 0.020 and HR = 0.12 (95% CI 0.02–0.17); P = 0.019, respectively]. However, in the overall cohort, no benefit of RAAS inhibitors and β-blockers was seen [HR = 0.93 (95% CI 0.24–3.63); P = 0.92 and HR = 0.98 (0.23–4.17); P = 0.98, respectively].ConclusionThe use of heart failure medication is high in TGA-AtrSO patients, although evidence of its benefit is limited. This study showed lower risk of mortality with use of RAAS inhibitors and β-blockers in symptomatic patients only. These findings can direct future guidelines, supporting use of RAAS inhibitors and β-blockers in symptomatic, but not asymptomatic patients.

Abstract 398: Use Of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy For Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure In The Veterans Health Care System, 2013-2017

Background: Guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recommend the use of key heart failure (HF) medications. Contemporary use of HF medications in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals is unknown. Methods: Using national administrative data maintained by the Corporate Data Warehouse, we identified all patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of HF who were discharged from a VA hospital between January 1, 2013, and December 29, 2017, and had a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40% by echocardiography. Left ventricular ejection fraction was extracted from the medical record using natural language processing with high precision and sensitivity. Rates of guideline-directed medical therapy use at hospital discharge were assessed overall and over time. Defect-free care was defined as use of any beta-blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), or angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI). Use of an evidence-based beta-blocker (bisoprolol, carvedilol, or metoprolol succinate) and an aldosterone antagonist were also evaluated. Results: A total of 13,767 patients from 126 sites with HF with reduced ejection fraction underwent 18,769 hospitalizations (1.4 hospitalizations/patient). Their mean age was 70.7 (standard deviation 11.4) years, the predominant sex was male (98.3%), and the principle race/ethnicity was white (67.2%). Defect-free HF care was achieved during 13,941 (74.2%) hospitalizations. A beta-blocker was prescribed during 17,196 (91.6%), and an ACEI, ARB, or ARNI was prescribed during 14,626 (77.9%). An evidence-based blocker was prescribed during 17,057 (90.9%) hospitalizations, and an aldosterone antagonist during 6,934 (36.9%). Defect-free care decreased over time from 76.4% in 2013 to 71.9% in 2017 owing to a reduction in ACEI/ARB/ARNI use from 80.2% in 2013 to 76.0% in 2017. Rates of use of other HF medications were stable over time ( Figure 1 ). Conclusions: The majority of patients hospitalized with heart failure in VA hospitals receive defect-free HF care. However, rates of defect-free HF care have decreased over time. Opportunities to improve the use of HF medical therapy use exist.

P1773 Cohort of HER2 positive breast cancer and subclinical cardiotoxicity by speckle tracking echocardiography. Does chemotherapy sequence matter?

Abstract A cohort of patients with breast cancer HER2 positive are exposed to chemotherapy with cardiotoxic drugs like anthracyclines (A) and trastuzumab (T). The decrease in longitudinal strain is a helpful tool to predict clinical cardiotoxicity. The purpose of this paper is to determine if echocardiographic parameters like longitudinal strain with speckle tracking predict subclinical cardiotoxicity compared to conventional echocardiographic parameters. This was a retrospective, observational cohort study that involved 20 patients with breast cancer HER2+ who were treated with a chemotherapy reverse sequence (TH-A). We made a basal echocardiogram, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after chemotherapy with a cumulative dose of 240mg/m2 of doxorrubicin. Cardiotoxicity was defined as a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction of 10% below 53%, and subclinical cardiotoxicity as a decline of &amp;gt;15% of longitudinal strain. 5 patients (25%) developed decline in longitudinal strain (subclinical cardiotoxicity) 3 months after initiation of chemotherapy, despite 2 of them had normal LVEF (p = 0.01), with the use of heart failure medication they showed partial reversibility. Lineal regression analysis showed that patients with GLS &amp;gt;-19% at baseline did not present cardiotoxicity during the follow up (p = 0.03). Changes in GLS were independent of left ventricular mass, E/A and peak s’ wave velocity (p = 0.01). The diagnosis of subclinical cardiotoxicity by the decrease of GLS is a useful tool with possible therapeutic implications and possible reversibility of cardiotoxicity in patients with reverse chemotherapy sequence. Significant results Binary analysis of echocardiographic variables Value LVEF p GLS p Basal 62.4 ± 6.7 -19.8 ± 1.8 3 months 59.4 ± 11.1 0.615 -18.1 ± 3.9 0.01 6 months 60.2 ± 8.7 0.354 -18.9 ± 3.3 0.185 9 months 61.6 ± 6.0 0.862 -19.65± 1.9 0.408 12 months 61.1 ± 5.7 0.379 -19.8 ± 1.9 0.859 Binary analysis of echocardiographic variables Abstract P1773 Figure. Sequence of chemotherapy