HF-related Mortality Research Articles

Temporal Trends in the Initiation of Dialysis Among Patients With Heart Failure With or Without Diabetes: A Nationwide Study From 2002 to 2016.

The incidence and distribution of acute and chronic dialysis among patients with heart failure (HF), stratified by diabetes, remain uncertain. We hypothesized that with improved survival and rising comorbidities, the demand for dialysis would increase over time. Patients with incident HF, aged 18 to 100 years, between 2002 and 2016, were identified using Danish nationwide registers. Primary outcomes included acute and chronic dialysis initiation, HF-related hospitalization, and all-cause mortality. These outcomes were assessed in 2002 to 2006, 2007 to 2011, and 2012 to 2016, stratified by diabetes. We calculated incidence rates (IRs) per 1000 person-years and hazard ratios (HR) using multivariable Cox regression. Of 115 533 patients with HF, 2734 patients received acute dialysis and 1193 patients received chronic dialysis. The IR was 8.0 per 1000 and 3.5 per 1000 person-years for acute and chronic dialysis, respectively. Acute dialysis rates increased significantly among patients with diabetes over time, while no significant changes occurred in those without diabetes, chronic dialysis, HF-related hospitalization, or overall mortality. Diabetes was associated with significantly higher HRs of acute and chronic dialysis, respectively, compared with patients without diabetes (HR, 2.07 [95% CI, 1.80-2.39] and 2.93 [95% CI, 2.40-3.58] in 2002 to 2006; HR, 2.45 [95% CI, 2.14-2.80] and 2.86 [95% CI, 2.32-3.52] in 2007 to 2011; and 2.69 [95% CI, 2.33-3.10] and 3.30 [95% CI, 2.69-4.06] in 2012 to 2016). The IR of acute and chronic dialysis remained low compared with HF-related hospitalizations and mortality. Acute dialysis rates increased significantly over time, contrasting no significant trends in other outcomes. Diabetes exhibited over 2-fold increased rates of the outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of continued monitoring and renal care in patients with HF, especially with diabetes, to optimize outcomes and prevent adverse events.

Analysis of the survival time of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a Bayesian approach via a competing risk parametric model

PurposeHeart failure (HF) is a widespread ailment and is a primary contributor to hospital admissions. The focus of this study was to identify factors affecting the extended-term survival of patients with HF, anticipate patient outcomes through cause-of-death analysis, and identify risk elements for preventive measures.MethodsA total of 435 HF patients were enrolled from the medical records of the Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, covering data collected between March and August 2018. After a five-year follow-up (July 2023), patient outcomes were assessed based on the cause of death. The survival analysis was performed with the AFT method with the Bayesian approach in the presence of competing risks.ResultsBased on the results of the best model for HF-related mortality, age [time ratio = 0.98, confidence interval 95%: 0.96–0.99] and ADHF [TR = 0.11, 95% (CI): 0.01–0.44] were associated with a lower survival time. Chest pain in HF-related mortality [TR = 0.41, 95% (CI): 0.10–0.96] and in non-HF-related mortality [TR = 0.38, 95% (CI): 0.12–0.86] was associated with a lower survival time. The next significant variable in HF-related mortality was hyperlipidemia (yes): [TR = 0.34, 95% (CI): 0.13–0.64], and in non-HF-related mortality hyperlipidemia (yes): [TR = 0.60, 95% (CI): 0.37–0.90]. CAD [TR = 0.65, 95% (CI): 0.38–0.98], CKD [TR = 0.52, 95% (CI): 0.28–0.87], and AF [TR = 0.53, 95% (CI): 0.32–0.81] were other variables that were directly related to the reduction in survival time of patients with non-HF-related mortality.ConclusionThe study identified distinct predictive factors for overall survival among patients with HF-related mortality or non-HF-related mortality. This differentiated approach based on the cause of death contributes to the estimation of patient survival time and provides valuable insights for clinical decision-making.

Immunizing hearts: exploring the vaccination frontier in heart failure management.

Heart failure (HF) is a widespread clinical condition that affects numerous individuals globally and is a leading cause of hospitalization, particularly in the elderly population. Despite efforts to manage HF using various pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions, mortality and hospitalization rates remain alarmingly high. Preventive vaccination has emerged as a key measure endorsed by cardiology societies for reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with HF. This study undertakes an extensive review of existing literature to explore the role of vaccination in managing HF, focusing specifically on the immunological pathways involved and potential benefits offered by immunization in this context. This article highlights the role of various vaccines, including influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines, in reducing HF-related hospitalization, mortality, and overall disease burden. Additionally, this article will delve into specific vaccines that have shown promise in HF management, such as influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines, along with the rationale for their use, clinical trials, meta-analyses, and real-world data supporting their effectiveness in patients with HF. This article also considers potential challenges and obstacles to widespread vaccination in individuals with HF, which include vaccine hesitancy, accessibility, and adverse events related to vaccines.

An electronic consultation programme impacts on heart failure patients prognosis: implications for heart failure care

Abstract Background Multidisciplinary care plans that comprise professionals from different levels of care optimize the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). Purpose Our objective was to analyse the clinical characteristics, 1 year prognosis and the prognostic determinants of patients with a previous diagnosis of HF, categorized by their previous HF-related hospitalization status (<1year or >1 year before or never hospitalized), referred by general practitioners (GPs) to a cardiology department (CD) by an e-consultation. Methods Data were obtained from 4851 HF patients referred by GPs to the cardiology department for an e-consultation from 2013 to 2020. We analysed the clinical characteristics of HF patient. We studied the whole cohort, and then subdivided it into three groups of diagnosis: patients who had never been hospitalized due to HF, patients with a recent HF-related hospitalization (<1 year), and patients with a remote HF-related hospitalization (≥1 year). To assess 1 year prognosis after e-consultation, we analysed the following health outcomes: HF-related hospitalizations, cardiovascular hospitalizations, HF-related mortality, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality (Fig. 1). Qualitative variables are expressed as percentages (%), and quantitative continuous variables as means (standard deviation), or medians (interquartile range) if the distribution was asymmetric. To verify differences between groups, χ2 was used for quantitative variables, and ANOVA for qualitative variables. Results The delay of time to e-consults were solved was 8.6 + 8.6 days with 84.3% solved in <14 days. For the 1 year prognosis evaluation after the e-consult were assessed the cardiovascular hospitalizations, HF-related hospitalizations, HF-related mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Compared with the group without a previous hospitalization, patients with recent and remote HF hospitalization were at higher risk of a new HF-related hospitalization (OR: 19.41 [95% CI: 12.95–29.11]; OR: 8.44 [95% CI: 5.14–13.87], respectively) (Fig 2), HF-related mortality (OR: 2.47 [95% CI: 1.43–4.27]; OR: 1.25 [95% CI: 0.51–3.06], respectively), as well as cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality and all-cause mortality. Reduction in the time elapsed because e-consultation was solved was associated with lower risk of HF-related mortality (OR: 0.94 [95% CI: 0.89–0.99]), cardiovascular mortality (OR: 0.96 [95% CI: 0.93–0.98]), and all-cause mortality (OR: 0.98 [95% CI: 0.97–1.00]). Conclusions A clinician-to-clinician e-consultation programme between GPs and cardiologists in patients with HF allows to solve the demand of care in around 25% e-consults without an in-person consultation; the patients with a previous history of HF-related hospitalization showed a worse 1 year outcome. A reduction in the time elapsed because e-consultation was solved was associated with a mortality reduction.

Association between immune checkpoint inhibitors and heart failure hospitalizations: a population-based self-controlled case series

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a common treatment for many cancers. Though with proven anti-oncogenic effects, they are associated with cardiotoxicity. Specifically, some suggested that ICIs were associated with the diagnosis of heart failure (HF). However, the effects of ICIs on HF hospitalizations (HFH) have remained unexplored. Purpose To explore possible associations between of ICI use and HFH. Methods This self-controlled case series (SCCS) included patients with cancer who received any ICI within 1/1/2014-31/12/2020 in a prospectively recorded, population-based database from a developed Asian city. Those without HFH between one year before the first-ever ICI prescription (baseline period) to 31/12/2021 were excluded as SCCS only requires cases and evaluates effects in paired, pre-post comparisons. Exposure periods included contiguous ICI prescriptions and the following 180 days. Post-exposure periods were periods not described above, until death, end of follow-up (31/12/2021), or having reached three years after ICI initiation, whichever earlier; follow-up was restricted to three years to limit the potential for time-varying confounders. The study design is summarized by Figure 1A. Fixed-effects conditional Poisson regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of HFH during and after ICI exposure, compared to baseline. Multivariable adjustments were not applicable as the paired, pre-post comparisons in SCCS inherently adjust for time-invariant confounders. Results Of the 3684 identified ICI users, 19 had HF during the study period (median age 75 [interquartile range 68-84] years; 16 (84.2%) males; median follow-up 525 [274.5-967] days). HFH occurred to nine during baseline, eight during exposure, and four during post-exposure. Cohort-level HFH rates were low (4.1, 2.9, and 2.3 hospitalizations per 1000-person-years during baseline, exposure, and post-exposure, respectively). Compared to baseline, HFH rates were not different in days 1-180 (IRR 0.75 [95% confidence interval 0.27, 2.07], p = 0.574), days 181-366 (IRR 1.22 [0.31, 4.69], p = 0.777), or days ≥367 (IRR 0.37 [0.04, 3.66], p = 0.399) of exposure, nor post-exposure (IRR 1.28 [0.33, 4.98], p = 0.722). One patient had HF-related mortality; excluding her produced consistent results (IRR for exposure days 1-180: 0.75 [0.27, 2.07], p = 0.574; days 181-366: 1.30 [0.33, 5.09], p = 0.704; days ≥367: 0.43 [0.04, 4.45], p = 0.480; post-exposure: 0.91 [0.22, 3.82], p = 0.902). Meanwhile, six had follow-up <1 year; excluding them produced consistent results (IRR for exposure days 1-180: 1.22 [0.29, 5.10], p = 0.785; days 181-366: 1.66 [0.38, 7.18], p = 0.496; days ≥367: 1.23 [0.30, 5.01], p = 0.775; post-exposure: 1.60 [0.38, 6.84], p = 0.524). Conclusions ICIs are probably not associated with significantly different HFH rates in Asian patients with cancer. HFH may be rare in these ICI users.Figure 1

Trends in heart failure mortality in the USA 1999 to 2020

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome which is a public health challenge in the US. Despite advancements in HF treatment strategies the mortality reduction has been far from ideal. We aimed to study the trends of HF mortality stratified by race and gender from 1999 to 2020. Methods The CDC WONDER multiple cause of death dataset was used to analyze trends in mean age at death (MAD) and age adjusted mortality rate (AAMR, expressed per 100,000 persons) for patients dying from HF (underlying cause of death) and dying with HF (co-morbid HF) in the USA. Results From 1999 to 2020, the AAMR and MAD for patients dying from HF were 19.3 (Men, Women; 21.3, 17.7) and 83.2 (Men, Women; 85.3, 80.4; p <0.01). The AAMR and MAD for patients dying with HF were 72.4 (Men, Women; 85.8, 63.0) and 81.1 years (Men, Women; 83.2, 78.6; p <0.01). The AAMR and MAD remained stable in both genders between the years 1999 and 2020. The AAMR and MAD among White, Black and other race patients dying with HF were (73.3, 75.1, and 37.7; p<0.01) and (81.4, 74.0 and 79.8; p<0.01). The AAMR and MAD among White, Black and other race patients dying from HF were (20.2, 22.5, and 8; p<0.01) and (84, 76.1 and 85.1; p<0.01). While there was no statistically significant change in AAMR and MAD among persons dying from HF, there was a significant decline in AAMR among persons dying with HF with an AAPC of -0.5(-0.8 to -0.1). Black patients witnessed a statistically significant decline in MAD from 77.8 in 1999 to 74.3 in 2020, MAD remained stable in Whites and Other Races. Conclusion Despite advances in guideline directed medical therapy with proven mortality benefit for management of heart failure, the nationwide HF mortality trend has plateaued. Racial disparities with higher HF related mortality in Black patients continue to exist. Therefore, systemic efforts are needed to optimize the HF outcomes by optimizing the preventive and treatment strategies of HF.

Abstract 14398: Predictors of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Individuals With Left Bundle Branch Block and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Analysis From the Derivate Registry

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) plays an important role in managing patients with advanced heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction and interventricular conduction block, as it reestablishes synchrony and cardiac function while reducing the risks of HF-related hospitalizations and mortality. Despite the well-described advantages of CRT, approximately 30% to 40% of patients fail to respond to therapy. Therefore, our study aimed to define patient characteristics associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in individuals with left bundle branch block (LBBB) who received CRT. Methods: The study cohort included patients enrolled in the CarDiac MagnEtic Resonance for Primary Prevention Implantable CardioVerter DefibrillAtor ThErapy (DERIVATE) registry who had LBBB and had previously undergone CRT. We defined MACE as a composite outcome including cardiac death, hospitalization for heart failure, or major adverse arhythmic events. Cox regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between MACE and CRT therapy. Kaplan-Meier curves were utilized to explore the association between CRT and cardiac death. Results: Out of 300 individuals, 144 (48%) experienced MACE. The cohort had a mean age of 63.9 ± 10.9, with 29% being male. The median follow-up period was 1285 days. Ischemic cardiomyopathy was identified as an independent predictor of MACE (HR = 3.54; 95% CI [2.31-5.41]; P<0.01) and cardiac death (HR = 24.10; 95% CI [10.71-54.21]; P<0.01) in patients with LBBB and CRT. Amiodarone therapy was associated with a 1.91-fold (95% CI [1.20-3.05]; P=0.01) increased risk of MACE. Notably, multivariate analysis did not reveal a significant association between gender, hypertension, renal function, diabetes mellitus, or NYHA class III/IV and the occurrence of MACE. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ischemic cardiomyopathy and the use of amiodarone therapy are independent predictors of MACE in patients with LBBB who previously underwent CRT. These findings suggest that patient-level characteristics are important predictors of MACE; however, further research is needed to better understand the interplay between ejection fraction, conduction disease, and patient characteristics post-CRT therapy.

Exploring Heart Failure Mortality Trends and Disparities in Women: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Heart failure (HF) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Population-level analyses shed light on existing disparities and promote targeted interventions. We evaluated HF-related mortality data in women in the United States to identify disparities based on race/ethnicity, urbanization level, and geographic region. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database to identify HF-related mortality in the death files from 1999 to 2020. Age-adjusted HF mortality rates were standardized to the 2000 US population. We fit log-linear regression models to analyze mortality trends. Age-adjusted HF mortality rates in women have decreased significantly over time, from 97.95 in 1999 to 89.19 in 2020. Mortality mainly downtrended from 1999 to 2012, followed by a significant increase from 2012 to 2020. Our findings revealed disparities in mortality rates based on race and ethnicity, with the most affected population being non-Hispanic Black (age-adjusted mortality rates [AAMR] 90.36), followed by non-Hispanic White (AAMR 83.25), American Indian/Alaska Native (AAMR 64.27), and Asian/Pacific Islander populations (AAMR 37.46). We also observed that nonmetropolitan (AAMR 103.36) and Midwestern (AAMR 90.45) regions had higher age-adjusted mortality rates compared with metropolitan (AAMR 78.43) regions and other US census regions. In conclusion, significant differences in HF mortality rates were observed based on race/ethnicity, urbanization level, and geographic region. Disparities in HF outcomes persist and efforts to reduce HF-related mortality rates should focus on targeted interventions that address social determinants of health, including access to care and socioeconomic status.

Heart failure risk in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with catheter ablation vs antiarrhythmic drugs

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases heart failure (HF) risk. Whereas the risk of HF-related hospitalization and mortality are known in the setting of AF, the impact of AF treatment on HF development is understudied. The purpose of this study was to compare HF incidence among AF patients treated with antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) vs catheter ablation (CA). AF patients with 1 prior AAD usage were identified in 2014-2022 Optum Clinformatics database. Patients were classified into 2 cohorts: those receiving CA vs those receiving a different AAD prescription. The 2 cohorts were matched on sociodemographic and clinical covariates using propensity score matching technique. Cox regression model was used to compare incident HF risk in the 2 cohorts. Subgroup analyses were performed by race/ethnicity, sex, AF subtype, and CHA2DS2-VASc score. After matching, 9246 patients were identified in each cohort (AAD and CA). Patients receiving CA had a 57% lower risk of incident HF than those treated with AADs (hazard ratio [HR] 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-0.46). Subgroup analysis by race/ethnicity depicted similar results, with non-Hispanic White (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.40-0.46), non-Hispanic Black (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.35-0.60), Hispanic (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.40-0.70), and Asian (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.24-0.92) patients treated with CA (vs AAD) having significantly lower risk of HF, respectively. The effect size of CA remained significant in subgroups defined by sex, AF subtypes, and CHA2DS2-VASc score. AF patients receiving CA had ∼57% lower risk of developing HF than those receiving AAD. The lower risk of HF associated with CA vs AAD persisted across different race/ethnicity, sex, AF subtypes, and CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Preventing Heart Failure Readmission in Patients with Low Socioeconomic Position.

This review aims to summarize the current burden of heart failure (HF) in the United States, specifically in patients with low socioeconomic position (SEP), and synthesize recommendations to prevent HF-related hospital readmissions in this vulnerable population. As treatments have improved, HF-related mortality has declined over time, resulting in more patients living with HF. This has led to an increase in hospitalizations, however, putting excess strain on our healthcare system. HF patients with low SEP are a particularly vulnerable group, as they experience higher rates of hospitalization and readmission compared to their high SEP counterparts. The Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) was created to motivate interventions that reduce hospital readmissions across diseases, with HF being a primary target. Numerous readmission prevention efforts have been suggested to target the pre-hospitalization, hospitalization, and post-hospitalization phases, including addressing social determinants of health (SDoH), improving coordination of care, optimizing discharge plans, and improving adherence to follow-up care and medication regimens. Many of these proposed interventions show promise in reducing HF-related readmissions and issues surrounding adequate caregiver support may be particularly important to reduce readmissions among persons in low SEP. Reducing HF-related hospital readmissions is possible, even in vulnerable populations like those with low SEP, but this will require coordinated efforts across the healthcare system and throughout the life course of these patients. Caregiver support is a necessary part of optimized care for low SEP HF patients and future efforts should consider interventions that support these caregivers.

Prognostic significance of delirium in patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Delirium is a common symptom of heart failure (HF) and is associated with increased mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and heightened medical costs. The impact of delirium on the prognosis of HF patients is currently controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic significance of delirium in HF. Relevant articles were systematically searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase based on the PRISMA guidelines. Studies that reported mortality and hospitalization-related outcomes in HF patients with or without delirium using raw or adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OD) were included. Meta-analysis was then performed to evaluate the effect of delirium in HF patients. Outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and events of the hospitalization. Of the 1,501 studies identified, 7 eligible studies involving 12,830,390 HF patients (6,322,846 males and 6,507,544 females) were included in the meta-analysis. There were 91,640 patients with delirium (0.71%) and 12,738,750 patients without delirium (99.28%). HF patients with delirium had higher OR for in-hospital mortality (1.95, 95% CI = 1.30-2.91, P = 0.135), higher pooled HR for 90-day mortality (2.64, 95% CI = 1.06-1.56, P = 0.215), higher pooled HR for 1-year mortality (2.08, 95% CI = 1.34-3.22, P = 0.004), and higher pooled HR for 30-day readmission rate (4.15, 95% CI = 2.85-6.04, P = 0.831) than those without delirium. Current evidence suggests that combined delirium increases the risk of HF-related mortality and hospitalization-related outcomes in patients with HF. However, more research is needed to assess the impact of delirium on the prognosis of HF patients.

Impact of nurse-led education on the prognosis of heart failure patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to investigate the effect of nurse-led education on death, readmission, and quality of life in patients with heart failure. The evidence of the effectiveness of nurse-led education in heart failure patients from randomized controlled trials is limited, and the results are inconsistent. Therefore, the impact of nurse-led education remains poorly understood, and more rigorous studies are needed. Heart failure is a syndrome associated with high morbidity, mortality, and hospital readmission. Authorities advocate nurse-led education to raise awareness of disease progression and treatment planning, as this could improve patients' prognosis. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to May 2022 to retrieve relevant studies. The primary outcomes were readmission rate (all-cause or HF-related) and all-cause mortality. The secondary outcome was quality of life, evaluated by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), and visual analog scale for quality of life. Although there was no significant association between the nursing intervention and all-cause readmissions [RR (95% CI) = 0.91 (0.79, 1.06), P = 0.231], the nursing intervention decreased HF-related readmission by 25% [RR (95% CI) = 0.75 (0.58, 0.99), P = 0.039]. The e nursing intervention reduced all-cause readmission or mortality as a composite endpoint by 13% [RR (95% CI) = 0.87 (0.76, 0.99), P = 0.029]. In the subgroup analysis, we found that home nursing visits reduced HF-related readmissions [RR (95% CI) = 0.56 (0.37, 0.84), P = 0.005]. In addition, the nursing intervention improved the quality of life in MLHFQ and EQ-5D [standardized mean differences (SMD) (95% CI)=3.38 (1.10, 5.66), 7.12 (2.54, 11.71), respectively]. The outcome variation between studies may be due to reporting methods, comorbidities, and medication management education. Patient outcomes and quality of life may also vary between different educational approaches. Limitations of this meta-analysis stem from the incomplete reporting of information from the original studies, the small sample size, and the inclusion of English language literature only. Nurse-led education programs significantly impact HF-related readmission rates, all-cause readmission, and mortality rates in patients with HF. The results suggest stakeholders should allocate resources to develop nurse-led education programs for HF patients.

The association between changes in echocardiography and risk of heart failure hospitalizations and death in adults with chronic kidney disease

Adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk for developing heart failure (HF). However, longitudinal cardiac remodeling in CKD has not been well-characterized and its association with HF outcomes remains unknown. We evaluated the association between change in echocardiographic parameters between baseline and year 4 with the subsequent risk of HF hospitalization and death using Cox proportional hazard models in a landmark analysis of a prospective multicenter CKD cohort. Among 2673 participants, mean ± SD age was 61 ± 11 years, with 45% women, and 56% non-white. A total of 472 hospitalizations for HF and 776 deaths occurred during a median (interquartile range) follow-up duration of 8.0 (6.3–9.1) years. Patients hospitalized for HF experienced larger preceding absolute increases in left ventricular (LV) volumes and decreases in LV ejection fraction. Adverse changes in LV ejection fraction, LV cavity volume, LV mass index, and LV geometry were independently associated with an increased risk of HF hospitalization and death. Among adults with CKD, deleterious cardiac remodeling occurs over a relatively short timeframe and adverse remodeling is associated with increased risk of HF-related morbidity and mortality.

Association Between Participation in a Heart Failure Telemonitoring Program and Health Care Utilization and Death Within an Integrated Health Care Delivery System

BackgroundThe clinical usefulness of remote telemonitoring to reduce postdischarge health care use and death in adults with heart failure (HF) remains controversial. Methods and ResultsWithin a large integrated health care delivery system, we matched patients enrolled in a postdischarge telemonitoring intervention from 2015 to 2019 to patients not receiving telemonitoring at up to a 1:4 ratio on age, sex, and calipers of a propensity score. Primary outcomes were readmissions for worsening HF and all-cause death within 30, 90, and 365 days of the index discharge; secondary outcomes were all-cause readmissions and any outpatient diuretic dose adjustments. We matched 726 patients receiving telemonitoring to 1985 controls not receiving telemonitoring, with a mean age of 75 ± 11 years and 45% female. Patients receiving telemonitoring did not have a significant reduction in worsening HF hospitalizations (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68–1.33), all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.33–1.08), or all-cause hospitalization (aRR 0.82, 95% CI 0.65–1.05) at 30 days, but did have an increase in outpatient diuretic dose adjustments (aRR 1.84, 95% CI 1.44–2.36). All associations were similar at 90 and 365 days postdischarge. ConclusionsA postdischarge HF telemonitoring intervention was associated with more diuretic dose adjustments but was not significantly associated with HF-related morbidity and mortality.

903 NOVEL MALIGNANT MUTATION IN HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Abstract Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited disease almost invariably caused by mutations in sarcomeric genes. The HCM phenotype is clinically heterogeneous with myocyte hypertrophy, disarray, and myocardial fibrosis as histological hallmarks. This condition is recognized as an important cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the youth and of heart failure (HF) in the elderly. Current guidelines mandate genetic analysis as a class I indication in HCM. Indeed, the advent of the next generation sequencing in the medical practice has led to decipher the molecular etiology of HCM and to assess the disease risk in family members with relevant insights into the clinical course. Clinical case A 62-year-old man followed-up at another Hospital with a non-obstructive HCM diagnosis, was referred to our Hospital for therapy optimization and clinical follow-up. Past medical history included third degree atrioventricular block at age 40 treated with dual chamber pacemaker (PM) and, at age of 60, atrial flutter with high ventricular response complicated with cardiogenic shock and stroke. Due to worsening systolic function and ventricular sustained tachycardia he was upgraded to implantable cardioverter defibrillator which delivered appropriate shocks. Echocardiography performed during current hospitalization showed a moderate concentric hypertrophy (intraventricular septum 17 mm, cardiac mass index 258 g/m2), dilated ventricle with reduced ejection fraction (33%) and akinesis of the mid inferior and infero-septal walls of the left ventricle and of the apex, with a stratified thrombotic apposition. Magnetic resonance was contraindicated because of non-compatible PM. Due to alteration in serum proteins and free light chain, to rule out systemic disease, extensive imaging diagnosis was performed including bone scintigraphy and abdominal ultrasonography which resulted negative. While waiting for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy the patient rapidly deteriorated with worsening renal failure, ensuing proteinuria until exitus. After an appropriate pre-test counseling the family consented to genetic test in the proband. Clinical exome sequencing revealed the presence of a missense mutation in MYH7 gene. This new mutation is characterized by the substitution of cysteine residue by a serine in 905 codon of MYH7 gene. Cys905Ser results in a semi-conservative amino acid substitution which may impact disulfide bond formation in the MYH7 protein. To date no study has described this mutation as a cause of HCM. A mutation affecting this same codon, Cys905Phe was reported in only one patient with HCM. From a biological point of view, this variant lies in the head region of the protein where the majority of the missense variants are grouped and statistically associated to HCM phenotype. Several studies reported that the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) tends to be more prevalent in patients carrying the MYH7 mutation. Furthermore, AF is associated with substantial risk for HF-related mortality, stroke, and severe functional disability. Awareness regarding the spectrum of MYH7 mutations probably related to SCD or HF combined with a thorough patient characterization for molecular and clinical features, may help to improve the genotype and phenotype correlation. This important challenge could elucidate better the mechanism of HCM enabling cardiologists to a better clinical decision-making and patients’ care.

Blood volume and chronic kidney disease in heart failure - Can volume expansion help balance the Cardio-Renal Axis for better clinical outcomes?

Intravascular volume is largely regulated by the kidneys but how differences in intravascular volume profiles interact with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to influence outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF) has not been explored. Our hypothesis was that a greater degree of volume expansion (VE) would moderate the impact of CKD on HF-related clinical outcomes. Quantitative blood volume (BV) data were available in 137 patients at the time of hospital discharge using a nuclear medicine radiolabeled albumin indicator-dilution technique. The study patients were stratified by the cohort median glomerular filtration rate (GFR, 44 ml/min/1.73 m2 ). An a priori cut-point of ≥+25% above normal BV was then used to further stratify the two GFR subgroups and prospectively analyzed for 1-year HF-related mortality or 1st re-hospitalization. Persistent BV expansions ≥+25% were present in 51% of the cohort. In the subgroup with GFR above the median (N=68) greater or lesser BV expansion from +25% did not differentiate outcomes. However, in the subgroup with GFR below the median (N=69), BV expansion-stratified risk (log-rank p=0.022) with <+25% VE associated with poorer outcomes, while VE ≥ + 25% was associated with lower risk and comparable to GFR above the median. In patients with chronic HF, significant intravascular VE and CKD are common co-existing conditions. The presence of larger VE, however, appears to be a factor mitigating the impact of declining renal function on clinical outcomes, and as an element of volume pathophysiology warrants further study.

Excess of heart failure-related deaths during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Unites States

BackgroundHF can be encountered at different stages in the course of COVID-19 disease. However, data regarding the HF-related mortality during COVID-19 pandemic are scant ObjectiveWe investigate the heart failure (HF)-related mortality rate in the US among patient with or without COVID-19 infection during the first two pandemic waves in 2020 and to compare them to those of previous years (2014–2019). MethodsAge-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100.000 person-years, with relative 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined using the free-available dataset for Multiple cause-of-death, provided by the Center for Disease Control. ResultsThroughout the 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, 522.848 HF-related deaths were registered (461.594 and 61.254 in subjects without and with COVID-19 infection, respectively). The overall HF-related AAMR was 124.6 (65% CI 123.4–125.6), reflecting an increased HF-related mortality of 13.2% and 25.9% compared to 2019 and 2018 (p < 0.0001). HF-related AAMR was 111.0 (95% CI: 110.7–111.4) and 14.8 (95% CI: 14.6–14.9) per 100.000 population for decedents without and with COVID-19 disease, respectively. The proportionate mortality of HF in COVID-19 patients was 11.7%. HF-related AAMR in COVID-19 patients was higher in men (18.0 per 100.000, 95% CI: 17.8–18.2), in patients aged more 65 years (104.0 per 100.000, 95% CI: 103.1–104.9), in African Americans (22.5 per 100.000, 95% CI: 22.0–22.3) and in those living in rural counties (18.4 per 100.000, 95% CI: 18.0–18.7). ConclusionsA significant increase in the HF-related mortality during the 2020 was observed synchronously with the COVID-19 pandemic

Baseline mitochondrial DNA copy number and heart failure incidence and its role in overall and heart failure mortality in middle-aged women.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of death in both men and women. However, risk factors seem to differ for men and women and significant gaps in sex-specific knowledge exist. Mitochondria are critical for cardiomyocytes and in this study, we investigated the role of baseline mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) in HF incidence in middle-aged women and its possible role in the association between myocardial infarction (MI) and HF. Finally, we also investigated whether baseline mtDNA-CN was associated with overall and HF mortality. Baseline levels of mtDNA-CN were quantified by droplet digital PCR in a population-based follow-up study of middle-aged (50-59 years) Swedish women (n = 2,508). The median follow-up period was 17 years. Levels of mtDNA-CN were associated with age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, education, physical activity and lipid biomarkers. Multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders showed that each standard deviation decrease of baseline mtDNA-CN was associated with higher incidence of HF (HR = 1.34; 95% CI=1.11-1.63). Similar results were obtained when mtDNA-CN levels were categorized into quartiles with lowest vs. highest quartile showing the highest risk of HF incidence (HR = 2.04 95% CI=1.14; 3.63). We could not detect any role of mtDNA-CN in the association between MI and HF incidence. Lower baseline mtDNA-CN levels were associated with both overall (HR = 1.27; 95% CI=1.10-1.46) and HF mortality (HR = 1.93; 95% CI=1.04-3.60); however, in multivariable analysis adjusted for potential confounders, the higher risks of HF mortality were no longer significant (HR=1.57; 95% CI=0.85-2.90). In conclusion, low baseline mtDNA-CN is an easily quantifiable molecular risk factor for HF incidence and may be a risk factor for overall and HF-related mortality.

Abstract 13403: Substance Use is Associated With an Increased Risk for Hospital Readmission and Mortality in Patients With Heart Failure

Introduction: Both heart failure (HF) and substance use disorders are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Many illicit substances exert adverse cardiovascular effects and socioeconomic impact. Hypothesis: Substance use will be independently associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with HF. Methods: Retrospective, cohort study of adult patients with a primary diagnosis of HF enrolled in the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart (2010 – 2020). Demographics and clinical outcomes were obtained via ICD-9/10 codes. Patients were stratified by history of substance use [anytime; prior or current use; type of substance (i.e., cannabis, opiates, stimulants – cocaine and methamphetamine, and hallucinogens – phencyclidine and sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytics)] and compared to patients with no history of substance use. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted in a propensity-score 1:1 matched cohort. Outcomes were 30 and 180-day, and 1-year hospital readmission and mortality. Results: There were 184,508 patients included; 11,611 (6.3%) with documented substance use at any time. Prior to matching, patients with substance use were younger, more often male, and with fewer comorbidities compared to those with no history of substance use. Substance use was associated with greater 30 and 180-day, and 1-year hospital readmissions and mortality (table). The associated risk of substance use was confirmed in the propensity matched analysis. The risk was retained when substance use was restricted to use prior to or at time of index hospitalization and use after index hospitalization. Stimulant use was associated with a 2-fold increase in risk of hospital readmission. Conclusions: Despite younger age and fewer comorbidities, substance use in patients with HF was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and HF-related hospital readmissions and mortality.

An electronic consultation program impacts on heart failure patients' prognosis: implications for heart failure care.

e-consults are asynchronous, clinician-to-clinician exchanges that answer focused, non-urgent, patient-specific questions using the electronic medical record. We instituted an e-consultation programme (2013-2019) for all general practitioners (GPs) referrals to cardiologists that preceded patients' in-person consultations when considered. In our study, we aimed to analyse the clinical characteristics, 1year prognosis and the prognostic determinants of patients with a previous diagnosis of HF referred for an e-consult, categorized by their previous HF-related hospitalization status (recent hospitalization, <1year before; remote hospitalization, >1year before or never been hospitalized because of HF), and to analyse the impact of reducing the time elapsed between e-consultation and response by the cardiologist in terms of prognosis. Epidemiological and clinical data were obtained from 4851 HF patients referred by GPs to the cardiology department for an e-consultation 2013 and 2020. The delay of time to e-consults were solved was 8.6+8.6days with 84.3% solved in <14days. For the 1year prognosis evaluation after the e-consult were assessed the cardiovascular hospitalizations, HF-related hospitalizations, HF-related mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Compared with the group without a previous hospitalization, patients with recent and remote HF hospitalization were at higher risk of a new HF-related hospitalization (OR: 19.41 [95% CI: 12.95-29.11]; OR: 8.44 [95% CI: 5.14-13.87], respectively), HF-related mortality (OR: 2.47 [95% CI: 1.43-4.27]; OR: 1.25 [95% CI: 0.51-3.06], respectively), as well as cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality and all-cause mortality. Reduction in the time elapsed because e-consultation was solved was associated with lower risk of HF-related mortality (OR: 0.94 [95% CI: 0.89-0.99]), cardiovascular mortality (OR: 0.96 [95% CI: 0.93-0.98]), and all-cause mortality (OR: 0.98 [95% CI: 0.97-1.00]). A clinician-to-clinician e-consultation programme between GPs and cardiologists in patients with HF allows to solve the demand of care in around 25% e-consults without an in-person consultation; the patients with a previous history of HF-related hospitalization showed a worse 1year outcome. A reduction in the time elapsed because e-consultation was solved was associated with a mortality reduction.