Impairment In Chronic Heart Failure Research Articles

Cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure. How new therapeutic options for the treatment of chronic heart failure affect cognitive function?

Heart failure is a serious chronic illness and a global healthcare problem. Patients with heart failure have increased hospital readmission rates and mortality around the world. Heart failure often coexists with comorbidities of which cognitive impairment is particularly important. Сognitive impairment is present in around 30% to 80% in heart failure decreases quality of life and increases the frequency of repeated hospitalizations, increases mortality and worsens the prognosis in such patients. Despite existing research, the underlying pathophysiology of the relationship between heart failure and cognitive impairment remains poorly understood. The article discusses the best available evidence concerning different pathophysiological mechanisms behind cognitive impairment in individuals with heart failure. Heart failure and cognitive impairment have a number of common pathophysiological pathways including reduced cerebral blood flow, inflammation, neurohumoral activations, oxidative stress and changes in serum biomarkers or proteins. Understanding the pathophysiology of diseases will allow the effective evaluation of health status and development of suitable treatments. Prompt detection of cognitive impairment will bring about better clinical outcomes in heart failure patients. This review raises questions about the relationship between heart failure and cognitive dysfunction, provides evidence on the impact of new therapeutic options for treating heart failure on cognitive function, and suggests potential future research directions. For example, implantation of an artificial left ventricle may improve cognitive function; however, there are studies on immediate improvement in cognitive function followed by gradual deterioration over time after implantation of an artificial left ventricle, which requires long-term study In addition, evidence is provided for the effectiveness of using a relaxation scenario in virtual reality technology to reduce anxiety and affective complaints in somatic hospitalized patients, but the ability to improve cognitive function in patients with chronic heart failure remains to be explored.

Profiles of cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure-A cluster analytic approach.

Cognitive impairment is a major comorbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) with a wide range of phenotypes. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare different clusters of cognitive deficits. The prospective cohort study "Cognition.Matters-HF" recruited 147 chronic HF patients (aged 64.5 ± 10.8 years; 16.2% female) of any etiology. All patients underwent extensive neuropsychological testing. We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis of the cognitive domains, such as intensity of attention, visual/verbal memory, and executive function. Generated clusters were compared exploratively with respect to the results of cardiological, neurological, and neuroradiological examinations without correction for multiple testing. Dendrogram and the scree plot suggested three distinct cognitive profiles: In the first cluster, 42 patients (28.6%) performed without any deficits in all domains. Exclusively, the intensity of attention deficits was seen in the second cluster, including 55 patients (37.4%). A third cluster with 50 patients (34.0%) was characterized by deficits in all cognitive domains. Age (p = 0.163) and typical clinical markers of chronic HF, such as ejection fraction (p = 0.222), 6-min walking test distance (p = 0.138), NT-proBNP (p = 0.364), and New York Heart Association class (p = 0.868) did not differ between clusters. However, we observed that women (p = 0.012) and patients with previous cardiac valve surgery (p = 0.005) prevailed in the "global deficits" cluster and the "no deficits" group had a lower prevalence of underlying arterial hypertension (p = 0.029). Total brain volume (p = 0.017) was smaller in the global deficit cluster, and serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein were increased (p = 0.048). Apart from cognitively healthy and globally impaired HF patients, we identified a group with deficits only in the intensity of attention. Women and patients with previous cardiac valve surgery are at risk for global cognitive impairment when suffering HF and could benefit from special multimodal treatment addressing the psychosocial condition.

Assessment of left ventricular impairment by calculating left ventricular impairment index using doppler echocardiography in chronic heart failure patients

Purpose: In order to assess global left ventricular impairment in chronic heart failure (HF) patients, it is necessary to consider both functional and structural changes of the left ventricle (LV), in particular, stroke volume (SV) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). Based on SV as a marker of LV function, LVEDD as a simple indicator of structural LV changes, and height of an individual patient (H), the left ventricular impairment index (iLVI) can be calculated. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of iLVI in chronic HF patients.
 Methods: This prospective study included a total of 50 chronic HF patients and 50 healthy individuals, whounderwent standard two-dimensional echocardiography. The iLVI was calculated according to the formula: iLVI = SV x H / LVEDD2 (mL/cm). Results:The iLVI accurately separated healthy subjects from patients (AUC = 0.989), with the highest sensitivity and specificity for proper identification of HF (96.0% each),in comparison with ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume index (SVI), and SV/H. The iLVI effect was strong (Cohen’s d=3.2), exceeding that of EF, SVI, and SV/H.
 Conclusion: The study concluded that the iLVI, which can be readily calculated, represents an excellent clinical marker for global functional and/or structural LV impairment in chronic HF patients.

Prospective memory impairment in chronic heart failure: a replication study

ABSTRACT Cognitive deficits are common in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), but little attention has been given to the investigation of prospective memory (PM) – the ability to execute delayed intentions. Importantly, many aspects of PM are crucial for patient implementation of HF self-care behaviours. Here we provide a replication of our original work involving PM in patients with HF. We compared a group of 51 HF patients to 41 closely matched controls. The primary outcome measure was a laboratory test of PM, Virtual week, which closely simulates PM tasks in daily life. A series of background cognitive tests were also administered. Consistent with our previous work, the HF group had significant PM impairment compared to controls, and these difficulties were generalised across different types of PM tasks. Surprisingly, we did not find any differences in the background cognitive tasks between groups. Compared to controls, the HF group had significant and similar sized deficits on all task parameters assessed (event, time, regular, irregular) of PM function, which likely impacts engagement in HF self-care.

The course of chronic heart failure in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis on the anti-rheumatic therapy

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the “treat to target” anti-rheumatic therapy on the course of chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and methods: The study included 22 patients (17, or 77% female) with CHF with valid diagnosis of RA (ACR/EULAR criteria, 2010), median (Me) age of 60 years, and median disease duration of 7 months. Ten patients (45%) were seropositive for IgM rheumatoid factor and 22 (100%) had antibodies to cyclic citrulline peptide. Their median (1st; 3rd quartiles) DAS28 was 5.6 [4.8; 6.5]. The diagnosis of CHF was confirmed in accordance with the guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of CHF by the Russian Society of Specialists in Heart Failure (2013). NT-proBNP levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence (Elecsys proBNP II, Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). All patients were started on subcutaneous methotrexate (MT) with rapid dose titration to 30 mg weekly. If the MT was insufficiently effective, a biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) was added to the therapy after 3 months, mainly a TNF-alpha inhibitor. After 18 months, 10 (45%) patients were in remission and had low disease activity, 6 (60%) patients underwent MT therapy in combination with bDMARDs. Results: At baseline, 21 (95%) patients were diagnosed with CHF with preserved ejection fraction and one patient had CHF with reduced ejection fraction. After 18 months there was an improvement of clinical symptoms, echocardiographic parameters (reduction of the left atrium diameter and the left atrium end-systolic volume index, IVRT, E'LV), and diastolic function of the left ventricle (LV). No episodes of acute CHF deterioration were registered. LV diastolic function normalized in 7 (32%) patients who reached the target level of blood pressure, remission (n=5) and low disease activity (n=2), mainly under the treatment with MT and bDMARDs. In patients with RA and CHF, the NT-proBNP levels decreased from 192.2 [151.4; 266.4] to 114.0 [90.4; 163.4] pg/ml (p<0.001) and became normal in 16 of 22 (73%) patients (p<0.001) with remission or low RA activity. In 5 (22%) patients, clinical CHF manifestations resolved, LV diastolic function and NT-proBNP levels were normalized. Conclusion: In the patients with early RA and CHF anti-rheumatic therapy improves the clinical course of CHF, LV diastolic function and reduces NT-proBNP levels.

The analysis of left atrial function predicts the severity of functional impairment in chronic heart failure: The FLASH multicenter study

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) patients present with a variety of symptoms at different stages of the disease, but the underlying pathophysiology still is unclear. Left atrial (LA) function might be tightly related to changes in patients' symptoms, more than morphological and anatomic heart features, measurable by ultrasound imaging technique. This study sought to investigate the correlation between LA function, assessed by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) and Quality of Life (QoL), assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), in patients with chronic HF. MethodsClinically stable HF outpatients (n = 369) were enrolled from 7 different international centres and underwent echocardiographic studies. Patients >75 years old and with atrial fibrillation were excluded. LA strain during reservoir phase (LASr) by STE was measured in all subjects by averaging the 6 atrial segments. LA size was assessed using biplane volume and 4-chamber area acquisition. ResultsLASr strongly correlated with both MLHFQ total score (r = −0.87; p < 0.0001). Less significant correlations between MLHFQ and either LA volume or left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) were found (r = 0.28; p = 0.05 and r = 0.30; p = 0.01, respectively). No significant correlation was found between MLHFQ score, LVEF (r = −0.15; p = ns), E/E' ratio (r = 0.19; p = ns), and E/A ratio (r = 0.20; p = ns). Among all echocardiographic parameters analyzed, LASr presented the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.74) in predicting a poor QoL (>45), when compared with LV-GLS (AUC = 0.61), LA volume (AUC = 0.54) and E/e' ratio (AUC = 0.51). ConclusionsIn patients with HF, irrespective of etiology, LA function strongly correlates with patients' QoL.

Red cell distribution width - a new marker for exacerbation of heart failure in patients with hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy.

Cardiovascular diseases constitute a major cause of health problems and death in developed countries across the world. The increased value of the index of distribution of red blood cells volume (RDW) may be a prognostic marker in patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure (CHF). Hypothyroid patients present higher RDW values if compared to healthy controls. Taking into consideration that RDW might be both affected by thyroid status and CHF, we decided to determine the effect of concomitant hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy (RIT) and CHF on hematological parameters. Patients with toxic nodular goiter and heart failure with concomitant anemia were included. Patients underwent treatment with radioiodine before the planned heart transplant or pacemaker implantation (combined ICD/CRT-D). After RIT patients were divided into the three subgroups: with overt hypothyroidism (TSH ≥ 10µIU/mL, Group I), subclinically hypothyroid patients (TSH 4.3-9.0 µIU/mL, Group II) and with high-normal level of TSH (2.6-4.2 µIU/mL, Group III). Significant correlation between TSH and RDW was observed (r=0.46; P < 0.0001) after RIT, whereas no correlation between serum TSH levels and TIBC and Fe was observed. In Group I significant correlation between TSH and RDW (r= 0.48; P = 0.002) after RIT was observed, whereas in two other subgroups there were no significant correlation. Subclinical hypothyroidism or high-normal levels of TSH did not affect RDW in a significant manner in the studied population. Our results demonstrates that overt hypothyroidism may contribute to deterioration of CHF reflected in changes of RDW value. < p > < /p >.

Comparative efficacy of Chinese herbal injections for treating chronic heart failure: a network meta-analysis

BackgroundOn account of deterioration of chronic heart failure (CHF) and extensive exploration of Chinese herbal injections (CHIs), we performed a network meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of CHIs (Huangqi injection, Shenfu injection, Shengmai injection, Shenmai injection, Shenqi Fuzheng injection, Yiqifumai injection) on the basis of western medicine (WM) treatment in CHF.MethodsLiterature search was conducted in Embase, the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Chinese Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database from inception to June 12nd 2017, and study selection was abided by a prior eligible criteria.ResultsUltimately, a total of 113 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were enrolled. The clinical data of the effective clinical rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac output and others outcomes was estimated by Stata software and Winbugs software. Risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane Collaboration’s tools. Integrating the each outcome’s results, a combination of Shengmai injection/Shenmai injection and WM obtain a first rank in most outcomes, particularly primary outcomes.ConclusionsIn conclusion, on the basis of WM, Shengmai injection or Shenmai injection may be a perforable treatment in CHF. In terms of insufficient of this study, more high quality RCTs needed to implement to support our conclusions.

Rationale and design of TRANSITION: a randomized trial of pre-discharge vs. post-discharge initiation of sacubitril/valsartan.

AimsThe prognosis after hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains poor, especially <30 days post‐discharge. Evidence‐based medications with prognostic impact administered at discharge improve survival and hospital readmission, but robust studies comparing pre‐discharge with post‐discharge initiation are rare. The PARADIGM‐HF trial established sacubitril/valsartan as a new evidence‐based therapy in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (<40%) (rEF). In common with other landmark studies, it enrolled patients who were ambulatory at the time of inclusion. In addition, there is also still limited knowledge of initiation and up‐titration of sacubitril/valsartan in ACEi/ARB‐ naïve patients and in de novo HF with rEF patients.Methods and results TRANSITION is a multicentre, open‐label study in which ~1000 adults hospitalized for ADHF with rEF are randomized to start sacubitril/valsartan in a pre‐discharge arm (initiated ≥24 h after haemodynamic stabilization) or a post‐discharge arm (initiated within Days 1–14 after discharge). The protocol allows investigators to select the appropriate starting dose and dose adjustments according to clinical circumstances. Over a 10 week treatment period, the primary and secondary objectives assess the feasibility and safety of starting sacubitril/valsartan in‐hospital, early after haemodynamic stabilization. Exploratory objectives also include assessment of HF signs and symptoms, readmissions, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide and high‐sensitivity troponin T levels, and health resource utilization parameters.Conclusions TRANSITION will provide new evidence about initiating sacubitril/valsartan following hospitalization for ADHF, occurring either as de novo ADHF or as deterioration of chronic HF, and in patients with or without prior ACEI/ARB therapy. The results of TRANSITION will thus be highly relevant to the management of patients hospitalized for ADHF with rEF.

Long-term low dose dietary resveratrol supplement reduces cardiovascular structural and functional deterioration in chronic heart failure in rats.

A short-term exposure to resveratrol at high dosages exerts a remarkable cardioprotective effect. Whether a long-term exposure to resveratrol at low dosages that can be obtained through consumption of a resveratrol-rich diet is beneficial to heart diseases is unknown. We tested the effects of a resveratrol-enriched diet on cardiovascular remodeling of chronic heart failure (CHF) in rats resulting from permanent ligation of left coronary artery. Two weeks after surgery, rats were started on either a resveratrol-enriched (R; 5 mg/kg per day; n = 23) or normal (Control; n = 23) diet for next 10 months. Serial echocardiography in Control showed a significant decline in LV ejection fraction, increases in LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, and expansion in myocardial infarct from pre-treatment values. In R, compared with Control, there were substantial improvements in those parameters. End-point LV pressure-volume loop analysis showed a significantly improved LV systolic function and AV-coupling, an index of energy transfer efficacy between the heart and aortic tree, in R compared with Control (p < 0.05). Aortic pulse wave velocity, a measure of arterial stiffness, was significantly lower in R (389 ± 15 cm/s; p < 0.05) compared with Control (489 ± 38 cm/s). These results demonstrated that long-term dietary resveratrol supplement reduces cardiovascular structural and functional deterioration in CHF.

Experiences of long-term life-limiting conditions among patients and carers: what can we learn from a meta-review of systematic reviews of qualitative studies of chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease?

ObjectivesTo summarise and synthesise published qualitative studies to characterise factors that shape patient and caregiver experiences of chronic heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease...

An autopsy case of invasive sino‐orbital aspergillosis presenting the “tram‐track” sign and “donut configuration” in the orbital magnetic resonance imaging

AbstractAn 84‐year‐old man with diabetes mellitus presented with a right orbital apex syndrome. In the orbital magnetic resonance imaging, the fat‐suppressed T2‐weighted image showed a hyperintense parallel linear lesion on the right optic nerve and a ring lesion around it, producing the “tram‐track” sign on the axial view and the “donut configuration” on the coronal view. A trans‐sphenoid endoscopic orbital biopsy showed an infection of Aspergillus fumigatus. Despite treatment with oral voriconazole, the patient died from deterioration of chronic heart failure. An autopsy found normal tissue around the orbital portion of bilateral optic nerves, while Aspergillus was found around the optic chiasm. The “tram‐track” sign and the “donut configuration” in the orbital magnetic resonance imaging were beneficial for the diagnosis of invasive sino‐orbital aspergillosis.

Prospective memory impairment in chronic heart failure.

Although cognitive deficits are common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), no study to date has investigated whether these deficits extend to the capacity to execute delayed intentions (prospective memory, PM). This is a surprising omission given the critical role PM plays in correctly implementing many important CHF self-care behaviors. The present study aimed to provide the first empirical assessment of PM function in people with CHF. The key dependent measure was a laboratory measure of PM that closely simulates PM tasks in daily life - Virtual Week. A group comparison design was used, with 30 CHF patients compared to 30 demographically matched controls. Background measures assessing executive functions, working memory, and verbal memory were also administered. The CHF group exhibited significant PM impairment, with difficulties generalizing across different types of PM tasks (event, time, regular, irregular). The CHF group also had moderate deficits on several of the background cognitive measures. Given the level of impairment remained consistent even on tasks that imposed minimal demands on memory for task content, CHF-related difficulties most likely reflects problems with the prospective component. However, exploratory analyses suggest that difficulties with retrospective memory and global cognition (but not executive control), also contribute to the PM difficulties seen in this group. The implications of these data are discussed, and in particular, it is argued that problems with PM may help explain why patient engagement in CHF self-care behaviors is often poor.

Когнитивные нарушения при хроничесКой сердечной недостаточности

Когнитивные нарушения при хроничесКой сердечной недостаточности

Effects of loop diureticswith differenthalf-elimination times on natriuresis changes in hypertensive patients with different blood pressure profile

The aim is to study the interaction of natriuresis curves with 24-h blood pressure (BP) profile, as well as to study the effect of diuretic therapy on natriuresis changes and on the BP profile.Materials and methods. From the group of patients who participated in the study on the types of natriuretic curves we selected patients (n=56) with signs of deterioration of chronic heart failure (CHF) and who should be prescribed diuretic therapy. Patients received torasemide SR or IR. Results. It was demonstrated that type of natriuresis curves and blood pressure (BP) profile could be changed. Deterioration of natriuresis more oftener and earlier were observed in torasemide IR group compared with torasemide SR group of patients (p

Hormonal alterations in heart failure: anabolic impairment in chronic heart failure - diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic issues.

Chronic heart failure represents a leading cause of mortality and health care expenditure in developed countries. In the last 20 years, medical therapy of heart failure has dramatically changed thanks to the introduction of agents able to significantly reduce the neurohormonal hyperactivation that underpins the syndrome, and to the growing opportunities of electrical therapies. Although major advances in terms of improved survival and quality of life have been achieved, the reduction in the burden of heart failure is still the primary goal of cardiovascular societies. In the last decades, other research lines have also grown to complement the neurohormonal paradigm. It is increasingly evident that several hormonal systems are down-regulated or impaired in patients with heart failure, including growth and thyroid hormones, androgens and insulin. These abnormalities could be considered interrelated and linked, in turn, to the neurohormonal and cytokine hyperactivation. Since most of these alterations provide prognostic information, these new lines of evidence support the extension of the classical neurohormonal scheme to a more comprehensive pathophysiological model that includes multiple hormonal and metabolic deficiencies. This chapter examines the evidence in support of this concept. Preliminary experience concerning targeted hormonal supplementation or metabolic modulation is also briefly reviewed in this article.

Влияние петлевых диуретиков с различным периодом полувыведения на динамику изменения натрийуреза у гипертоников с разным профилем артериального давления

The aim is to study the interaction of natriuresis curves with 24-h blood pressure (BP) profile, as well as to study the effect of diuretic therapy on natriuresis changes and on the BP profile.Materials and methods. From the group of patients who participated in the study on the types of natriuretic curves we selected patients (n=56) with signs of deterioration of chronic heart failure (CHF) and who should be prescribed diuretic therapy. Patients received torasemide SR or IR. Results. It was demonstrated that type of natriuresis curves and blood pressure (BP) profile could be changed. Deterioration of natriuresis more oftener and earlier were observed in torasemide IR group compared with torasemide SR group of patients (p<0,05).The type of natriuresis curve is associated with increasing of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) level, switching from one to another type of curveand duration of GB. It was shown that long-lasting hypertension (GB) was associated with high level of angiotensin II (AII). The likelihood of changes in 3ed curve to 2ed one is 83,93% (ОR 11,667); the likelihood ofchanges in 2ed curve to 1st one - 92,86% (ОR 120,00). The main predictors of BP profile could cause side effects were over use of salt (ОR 1,4), long-lasting GB (ОR 3,5), the type of natriuresis curves (OR 3,4). The likelihood of daily BP non-dipper or night-peaker profile to be changed is 83,3% (OR 21,00).Conclusion. The significant impairment of sodium excretion and increasing THP excretion are the markers of progressive renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the patients with modified natriuresis. The activity of AII is increasing and BP profile is changing and all these changes prove the necessity for monitoring natriuresis.

Abstract 178: Metabolomic Approach by 1 H NMR Spectroscopy of Plasma for the Assessment of heart-function in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a progressive clinical syndrome characterized by inability of the heart to adequately pump blood to meet metabolic demands of the body, and assessment of heart function in chronic heart failure patients is needed to make therapeutic decisions. New York Heart Association( NYHA) classification is usually performed to evaluate heart-function of CHF patients. Nevertheless, this does not take into account metabolic perturbations produced by heart-function impairment. In contrast, metabolomics can investigate many metabolic perturbations within biological systems.The purpose of this study was to assess whether metabolomic profiles of plasma, obtained by proton NMR spectroscopy from CHF patients, are affected by the severity of heart-function impairment. An orthogonal projection to latent-structure analysis was performed to compare NMR spectra of 49 chronic heart failure patients according to NYHA classification.The statistical model obtained showed a good explained variance (R 2 X = 0.13 and R 2 Y = 0.92) and a good predictability (Q 2 Y = 0.68). Metabolomic profiles showed significant differences regarding various metabolites depending of severity of heart-function impairment: levels of high-density lipoprotein, glycol-protein, glutamine, glutamate, were significantly higher in patients with mild CHF compared to severe CHF. Other metabolites such as lactate and amino acids were significantly higher in patients with severe CHF than mild CHF. Our conclusion is that metabolomic NMR analysis provides new insights into metabolic processes related to the severity of heart function impairment in chronic heart failure.

Four-year paracorporeal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support for heart failure after Rastelli operation

It is well known that heart failure can occur after a conventional Rastelli operation (using an anatomical right ventricle as a systemic ventricle) in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA). At present, heart transplantation (HTx) is the only definitive therapy known to save such patients. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has been employed for patients presenting with acute deterioration of chronic heart failure as a bridge to transplantation when early HTx is not feasible. LVAD implantation in postoperative cases and/or in patients with dextrocardia is often difficult because of the complex anatomy. We report the case of a 26-year-old male patient with CCTGA who presented with heart failure after a conventional Rastelli operation and in whom paracorporeal LVAD implantation was undertaken for the management of right (systemic) ventricular failure. The patient recovered from the heart failure and remained on the HTx list for approximately 4years with LVAD support.

Six-minute Walk Distance is an Independent Predictor for Readmission in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are well known to enter the hospital repeatedly because of the deterioration of CHF. The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) is reported as one of the prognostic factors, less than 300 meters of which indicate a high mortality and morbidity in them.