Ejection Fraction Research Articles

Impact of single chamber and dual chamber permanent pacemaker implantation on left ventricular function: An observational study

BACKGROUND Permanent pacemaker implantation has the potential to impact left ventricular (LV) function and hence quality of life (QoL) in the long term. AIM To assess the effect of single- and dual-chamber pacing on LV function and QoL. METHODS This study included 56 patients who underwent permanent pacing: Dual pacing, dual sensing, dual responsive and rate responsive (DDDR) for the initial 3 months, ventricular sensing, inhibited response and rate responsive (VVIR) for the next 3 months, and DDDR mode for the last 3 months. Throughout the study period, various echocardiographic parameters, functional status, and QoL were measured to assess the impact of pacing on LV function compared with baseline and at every 3 months interval. RESULTS A significant change appeared in cardiac function after VVIR pacing which was in diastolic properties of LV as shown by increase in isovolumic relaxation time from (85.28 ± 9.54 ms) to (89.53 ± 9.65 ms). At the 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up, reduction in LV ejection fraction was observed to be 62.71 ± 4.66%, 61.07 ± 4.41%, and 58.48 ± 3.89%, respectively. An increase in the QoL scores was noted at every follow-up visit. CONCLUSION An apparent depressant effect on LV function due to right ventricular pacing, with a higher incidence of adverse outcomes in the VVIR mode. In addition, an upsurge in QoL scores for the study population was noted, which indicates improvement in the QoL of patients post-pacing, irrespective of the mode. Generally, the DDDR mode is a highly preferable pacing mode.

Kill two birds with one stone: Hapatologist’s approach to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a major global public health concern, and one of the less commonly known risk factors for HF development is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), as they share a similar pathophysiological background. In this article, we evaluated a recently published review article by Arriola-Montenegro et al . This article briefly summarizes the common pathophysiology of HF and MASLD development and evaluates the available therapeutic options to treat both conditions. Clinical practice guidelines highlight the importance of initiating and titrating guideline-directed medication therapy (GDMT) for patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. GDMT is comprised of the four pillars currently proposed in most clinical practice guidelines, namely angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i). Given the similarity of pathophysiology and risk factors, recent studies for GDMT regarding ACEIs, ARBs, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and SGLT-2i have shown beneficial effects on MASLD. Nonetheless, other medications for both conditions and novel therapies require more robust data and well-designed clinical studies to demonstrate their efficacies in both conditions.

Early Adoption of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction

ImportanceSodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are the first therapy shown to improve clinical outcomes for patients with heart failure (HF) and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 40%. Nationwide adoption of SGLT2is in the US since publication of the Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved) in August 2021 is unknown.ObjectiveTo examine trends and hospital-level variation in SGLT2i adoption.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study included patients with LVEF greater than 40% who were hospitalized for decompensated HF at 1 of 557 sites in the US between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2023, from the Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure registry.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPatient-level trends and site-level variation in prescription rates of SGLT2i at hospital discharge. Site-level variation was quantified using the median odds ratio, which describes the average odds that a patient being treated at one vs another randomly selected hospital would receive SGLT2i therapy at discharge.ResultsOf 158 849 patients (median [IQR] age, 76 [66-85] years; 89 816 females [56.5%]), 22 126 eligible patients (13.9%) with HF and an LVEF greater than 40% were prescribed an SGLT2i at hospital discharge. Quarterly prescription rates increased from 4.2% in July to September 2021 to 23.5% in July to September 2023 (P for trend < .001). SGLT2i prescription was more likely among patients with HF with mildly reduced LVEF (41%-49%) than in those with preserved LVEF (≥50%; 5127 of 27 712 patients [18.5%] vs 16 999 of 131 137 patients [13.0%]; absolute standardized difference, 16.7%). After adjustment for patient characteristics, there was a high variance between hospitals in the rate of SGLT2i prescription (median odds ratio, 2.12; 95% CI, 2.02-2.25). Among 518 hospitals with 10 or more eligible discharges, 11 hospitals (2.1%) discharged 50% or more of their patients with an SGLT2i prescription, while 232 (44.8%) discharged fewer than 10% of eligible patients with an SGLT2i prescription.Conclusion and RelevanceFor patients with HF and an LVEF greater than 40%, discharge prescription of SGLT2is increased from 4.2% to 23.5% during the first 2 years after the EMPEROR-Preserved trial demonstrating treatment benefits; however, these rates varied across US hospitals.

Prognostic value of heart rate and oxygen pulse response in heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction over 40%

Prognostic value of heart rate and oxygen pulse response in heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction over 40%

Finerenone in Women and Men With Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Secondary Analysis of the FINEARTS-HF Randomized Clinical Trial.

Sex is associated with the clinical presentation, outcomes, and response to treatment in patients with heart failure (HF). However, little is known about the safety and efficacy of treatment with finerenone according to sex. To estimate the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared with placebo in both women and men. Prespecified analyses were conducted in the phase 3 randomized clinical trial Finerenone Trial to Investigate Efficacy and Safety Superior to Placebo in Patients with Heart Failure (FINEARTS-HF). The trial was conducted across 653 sites in 37 countries. Participants were adults aged 40 years and older with symptomatic HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 40% or greater randomized between September 2020 and January 2023. Finerenone (titrated to 20 mg or 40 mg) or placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death and total (first and recurrent) HF events (unplanned HF hospitalizations or urgent HF visits). A total of 6001 patients were randomized in FINEARTS-HF, of whom 2732 were women (45.5%), with a mean (SD) age of 73.6 (9.1) years. Women had higher rates of any obesity, higher LVEF (54.6 [7.6%] vs 50.9 [7.6] for men), lower mean (SD) estimated glomerular filtration rate than men (59.7 [19.1] vs 64.1 [20.0] for men; P<.001) , worse New York Heart Association functional class, and lower Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Total Symptom Scores (KCCQ-TSS) (mean [SD] 62.3 [24.0] vs 71.0 [23.1]). The incident rate of the primary outcome was slightly lower in women (15.7; 95% CI, 14.3-17.3) than in men (16.8; 95% CI, 15.4-18.3) per 100 person-years. Compared with placebo, finerenone reduced the risk of the primary end point similarly in women and men: rate ratio 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65-0.95) in women and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.74-1.04) in men (P = .41 for interaction). Consistent effects were observed for the components of the primary outcome and all-cause mortality. The mean increase (improvement) in KCCQ-TSS from baseline to 12 months was greater with finerenone, regardless of sex (P = .73 for interaction). Finerenone had similar tolerability in women and men. In FINEARTS-HF, finerenone reduced the risk of the primary end point similarly in women and men with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Finerenone had similar tolerability in women and men. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04435626.

Finerenone, Serum Potassium, and Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Treatment with finerenone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), improved outcomes in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction in FINEARTS-HF, but was associated with increased levels of serum potassium in follow-up. To investigate the frequency and predictors of serum potassium level greater than 5.5 mmol/L and less than 3.5 mmol/L and examine the treatment effect associated with finerenone, relative to placebo, on clinical outcomes based on postrandomization potassium levels. Secondary analysis of the FINEARTS-HF multicenter, randomized clinical trial, performed between September 14, 2020, and January 10, 2023, with a median follow-up of 32 months (final date of follow-up: June 14, 2024). Patients with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction greater than or equal to 40%, New York Heart Association class II to IV symptoms, and elevated natriuretic peptides were included. Participants received finerenone or placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of total worsening heart failure events or cardiovascular death. A total of 6001 participants were included (3003 randomized to receive finerenone and 2998 randomized to receive placebo). The increase in serum potassium was greater in the finerenone group than the placebo group at 1 month (median [IQR] difference, 0.19 [0.17-0.21] mmol/L) and 3 months (median [IQR] difference, 0.23 [0.21-0.25] mmol/L), which persisted for the remainder of trial follow-up. Finerenone increased the risks of potassium level increasing to greater than 5.5 mmol/L (hazard ratio [HR], 2.16 [95% CI, 1.83-2.56]; P < .001) and decreased the risks for potassium level decreasing to less than 3.5 mmol/L (HR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.38-0.56]; P < .001). Both low (< 3.5 mmol/L; HR, 2.49 [95% CI, 1.8-3.43]) and high (>5.5 mmol/L; HR, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.04-2.58]) potassium levels were associated with higher subsequent risks of the primary outcome in both treatment groups. Nevertheless, the risk of the primary outcome was generally lower in patients treated with finerenone compared with placebo, even in those whose potassium level increased to greater than 5.5 mmol/L. In patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, finerenone resulted in more frequent hyperkalemia and less frequent hypokalemia. However, with protocol-directed surveillance and dose adjustment, clinical benefit associated with finerenone relative to placebo was maintained even in those whose potassium level increased to greater than 5.5 mmol/L. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04435626.

Effects of tirzepatide on circulatory overload and end-organ damage in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity: a secondary analysis of the SUMMIT trial

AbstractPatients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) display circulatory volume expansion and pressure overload contributing to cardiovascular–kidney end-organ damage. In the SUMMIT trial, patients with HFpEF and obesity were randomized to the long-acting glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide (n = 364, 200 women) or placebo (n = 367, 193 women). As reported separately, tirzepatide decreased cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure. Here, in this mechanistic secondary analysis of the SUMMIT trial, tirzepatide treatment at 52 weeks, as compared with placebo, reduced systolic blood pressure (estimated treatment difference (ETD) −5 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) −7 to −3; P &lt; 0.001), decreased estimated blood volume (ETD −0.58 l, 95% CI −0.63 to −0.52; P &lt; 0.001) and reduced C-reactive protein levels (ETD −37.2%, 95% CI −45.7 to −27.3; P &lt; 0.001). These changes were coupled with an increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate (ETD 2.90 ml min−1 1.73 m−2 yr−1, 95% CI 0.94 to 4.86; P = 0.004), a decrease in urine albumin–creatinine ratio (ETD 24 weeks, −25.0%, 95% CI −36 to −13%; P &lt; 0.001; 52 weeks, −15%, 95% CI −28 to 0.1; P = 0.051), a reduction in N-terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide levels (ETD 52 weeks −10.5%, 95% CI −20.7 to 1.0%; P = 0.07) and a reduction in troponin T levels (ETD 52 weeks −10.4%, 95% CI −16.7 to −3.6; P = 0.003). In post hoc exploratory analyses, decreased estimated blood volume with tirzepatide treatment was significantly correlated with decreased blood pressure, reduced microalbuminuria, improved Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score and increased 6-min walk distance. Moreover, decreased C-reactive protein levels were correlated with reduced troponin T levels and improved 6-min walk distance. In conclusion, tirzepatide reduced circulatory volume–pressure overload and systemic inflammation and mitigated cardiovascular–kidney end-organ injury in patients with HFpEF and obesity, providing new insights into the mechanisms of benefit from tirzepatide. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04847557.

Heart Failure in Zero Gravity-External Constraint and Cardiac Hemodynamics.

In this case series study, pulmonary artery systolic, diastolic, and mean pressures of 2 participants with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction were measured at zero gravity during parabolic flight to assess the effect of external constraint on left ventricular filling pressures.

NEJM at AHA — Tirzepatide for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Obesity

NEJM at AHA — Tirzepatide for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Obesity

The Possible Role of Rosuvastatin Therapy in HFpEF Patients—A Preliminary Report

Background: An increasing number of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) syndromes has been reported in tandem with increasing age and burdens of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. Identifying possible risk and modulatory HFpEF factors has significant epidemiological and clinical value. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of echocardiographic diagnostic criteria of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic coronary syndrome depending on rosuvastatin therapy. Method: There were 81 (33 (41%) male) consecutive patients with a median age of 70 (62–75) years, presenting with stable heart failure symptoms according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification I to III. They presented with chronic coronary syndrome and were hospitalized between March and August 2024. Patients were divided according to the type of long-term lipid-lowering therapy into patients with rosuvastatin and with other statin therapy. The echocardiographic analysis based on diastolic dysfunction evaluation was performed on admission and compared with demographical, clinical, and laboratory results. Results: In the multivariable model for diastolic dysfunction prediction in the analyzed group based on three echocardiographic parameters, septal E’ below 7 cm/s, lateral E’ below 10 cm/s, and LAVI above 34 mL/m2, the following factors were found to be significant: sex (male) (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.04–0.83, p = 0.027), obesity (defined as BMI &gt; 30) (OR: 12.78, 95% CI: 2.19–74.50, p = 0.005), and rosuvastatin therapy (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02–0.51, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Rosuvastatin therapy can be regarded as a possible protective therapy against left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in chronic coronary syndrome.

Tirzepatide for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Obesity

Tirzepatide for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Obesity

Natural Language Processing to Adjudicate Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Global Clinical Trials.

Background: Medical record review by a physician clinical events committee is the gold standard for identifying cardiovascular outcomes in clinical trials, but is labor-intensive and poorly reproducible. Automated outcome adjudication by artificial intelligence (AI) could enable larger and less expensive clinical trials, but has not been validated in global studies. Methods: We developed a novel model for automated AI-based heart failure adjudication ("HF-NLP") using hospitalizations from three international clinical outcomes trials. This model was tested on potential heart failure hospitalizations from the DELIVER trial, a cardiovascular outcomes trial comparing dapagliflozin with placebo in 6063 patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. AI-based adjudications were compared with adjudications from a clinical events committee that followed FDA-based criteria. Results: AI-based adjudication agreed with the clinical events committee in 83% of events. A strategy of human review for events that the AI model deemed uncertain (16%) would have achieved 91% agreement with the clinical events committee while reducing adjudication workload by 84%. The estimated effect of dapagliflozin on heart failure hospitalization was nearly identical with AI-based adjudication (hazard ratio 0.76 [95% CI 0.66-0.88]) compared to clinical events committee adjudication (hazard ratio 0.77 [95% CI 0.67-0.89]). The AI model extracted symptoms, signs, and treatments of heart failure from each medical record in tabular format and quoted sentences documenting them. Conclusions: AI-based adjudication of clinical outcomes has the potential to improve the efficiency of global clinical trials while preserving accuracy and interpretability.

Correlation between indole-3-acetic acid and left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients.

Among hemodialysis patients, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a prevalent cardiac abnormality. The uremic toxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is elevated in uremia patients, but the connection between IAA and LVH in individuals undergoing hemodialysis remains uncertain. Hence, the objective of this research was to examine the correlation between blood IAA levels and LVH in individuals undergoing hemodialysis. In total, 205 individuals undergoing hemodialysis were chosen and categorized into two groups, with (143 patients) and without LVH (62 patients). Patient clinical data were collected, and serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, hemoglobin, and IAA levels were measured. Compared to the non-LVH group, the LVH group had higher IAA and serum phosphorus but lower hemoglobin. The serum IAA concentration was positively correlated with both left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) but negatively correlated with both left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the ratio of left ventricular transmitral early peak flow velocity to left ventricular transmitral late peak flow velocity (E/A). Logistic regression analysis indicated that increased IAA levels are a risk factor for LVH and are not influenced by other factors. In addition, we exposed primary neonatal cultured mouse cardiomyocytes to varying concentrations of IAA in a controlled environment. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was induced by IAA in a concentration-dependent manner. Serum IAA is correlated with alterations in both the function and structure of the left ventricle. The serum IAA concentration is an independent risk factor for LVH. IAA may be a novel biomarker of LVH in hemodialysis patients.

Analysis and Prediction of Risk Factors for Heart Failure

Abstract. Heart failure is a grave and progressive illness. It is associated with multiple risk factors such as age and other possible factors. Accurately identifying and quantifying these risk factors is critical to developing personalized prevention and treatment strategies. However, it is difficult for common patients to predict heart failure without the professional diagnosis of doctors, and relying on human resources to predict heart failure is more subjective. This study proposes a method to evaluate and predict the factors related to heart failure based on multiple body indicators by using random forest algorithm. The random forest prediction model was applied to assess the correlation between multiple medical indicators such as creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), serum creatinine (SCR), ejection fraction (EF), age and heart failure. CPK was found to be the most associated with heart failure. In addition, increasing follow-up period can also effectively monitor heart failure progression in patients. In this high dimension prediction problem, the prediction effect of random forest is better, and the overall accuracy is higher. The approach used in this research is important for forecasting the risk of heart failure, enhancing the survival rates of patients, and alleviating the burden on healthcare systems.

Association of low muscle strength with incident pneumonia in older patients with heart failure.

Patients with heart failure (HF) are at an increased risk of developing pneumonia, leading to a high mortality. A decrease in muscle strength due to aging or concomitant disease may contribute to the development of pneumonia in older adults. We sought to investigate the relationship between low muscle strength and pneumonia incidence in older patients hospitalized for worsening HF. We carried out a sub-analysis of the FRAGILE-HF, a prospective multicenter observational study, including 1266 consecutive older (≥65 years) patients hospitalized with HF (mean age 80.2±7.8 years; 57.4% male; left ventricular ejection fraction 46±17%) and information of incident pneumonia observed after discharge. Patients were followed up for two years post-discharge. A total of 88 patients (7.0%) developed pneumonia after discharge, with an incidence of 42.7 per 1,000 person-years. A total of 893 patients with low muscle strength, defined as handgrip strength <28kg for men and <18kg for women according to international criteria, were more likely to develop pneumonia than those with normal muscle strength (p <0.001; log-rank test). Low muscle strength was a significant predictor of incident pneumonia (adjusted hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval: 2.65 [1.31-5.35], p=0.007). Furthermore, the mortality rates were 43.2% in patients who developed pneumonia and 19.3% in those who did not, indicating a heightened risk of death following the onset of pneumonia (adjusted hazard ratio: 4.25 [2.91-6.19], p<0.001). In older patients hospitalized for HF, low muscle strength was associated with incident pneumonia after discharge.

Protective Potential of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Internal Medicine (Part 1)

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as a revolutionary class of drugs with far-reaching protective effects in multiple organs. The protective potential of SGLT2i is much broader than that of the classical concept of glucose control and consists of an entire conglomerate of associated pleiotropic effects. This study aims to provide a descriptive review of the pleiotropic therapeutic potential of SGLT2i. The first part of the literature review examined the use of SGLT2i in cardiology and nephrology. The use of SGLT2i represents an innovative approach to improving patients’ quality of life and course of heart failure and chronic kidney disease, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction and type 2 diabetes.

Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity Paradox in Heart Failure: A Critical Evaluation.

Since the turn of the millennium, obesity has been on the rise worldwide, and particularly so throughout the United States. Even more concerning is the rate at which persons with severe obesity continue to trend upwards. Given the detrimental effects of obesity on cardiac structure and function, it is not surprising that obesity stands as one of the leading risk factors for developing heart failure (HF). This state-of-the-art article aims to review the updated literature on the obesity paradox to help further understand its relationship to body composition, weight loss, fitness, and exercise. An intriguing phenomenon appears to exist in which obesity is associated with a better prognosis in those with HF, compared to patients with lesser body mass. Recent studies suggest, however, that weight loss induced by pharmacologic strategies might be beneficial in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. Despite the presence of an obesity paradox, recent data suggest that obesity could be targeted in HF, however, long-term data are currently lacking. Consequently, definitive guidelines for managing obesity, and specifically the body composition of these patients, remain amiss.

Updated evidence on cardiovascular and renal effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and combination therapy with SGLT2 inhibitors and finerenone: a narrative review and perspectives.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have a reliable hypoglycaemic and weight-loss effect that can intervene in obesity, which is the basis of type 2 diabetes pathology. GLP-1RA therapy has shown potential benefits in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and improving kidney outcomes in patients with diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular disease. More recent evidence is expanding their benefits to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and clinically important renal outcomes in patients with and without diabetes. Some sub-analyses of large clinical trials suggest that GLP-1RA and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor combination therapy may provide more significant reductions in heart failure hospitalization and renal composite events than each alone. Moreover, the addition of finerenone to this combination therapy could potentially provide stronger cardiorenal protective benefits. Further studies are needed to assess the potential cardiovascular and renal benefits of combination therapy and to determine suitable patient population for the therapy.

Characterization of a novel ovine model of hypertensive heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

The lack of animal models which accurately represent heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been a major barrier to the mechanistic understanding and development of effective therapies for this prevalent and debilitating syndrome characterized by multisystem impairments. Herein, we describe the development and characterization of a novel large animal model of HFpEF in older, female sheep with chronic 2-kidney, 1-clip hypertension. At six weeks post-unilateral renal artery clipping, hypertensive HFpEF sheep had higher mean arterial pressure compared to similarly aged ewes without unilateral renal artery clipping (mean arterial pressure = 112.7±15.9 vs 76.0±10.1 mmHg, P < 0.0001). The hypertensive HFpEF sheep were characterized by (i) echocardiographic evidence of diastolic dysfunction (lateral e' = 0.11±0.02 vs 0.14±0.04 m/s, P = 0.011; lateral E/e' = 4.25±0.77 vs 3.63±0.54, P = 0.028) and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy without overt systolic impairment, (ii) elevated directly measured left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (13±5 vs 0.5±1 mmHg, P = 2.1x10-6), and (iii) normal directly measured cardiac output. Crucially, these hypertensive HFpEF sheep had impaired exercise capacity as demonstrated by their (i) attenuated cardiac output (P = 0.001), (ii) augmented pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P = 0.026), and (iii) attenuated hindlimb blood flow (P = 3.4x10-4) responses, during graded treadmill exercise testing. In addition, exercise renal blood flow responses were also altered. Collectively, our data indicates that this novel ovine model of HFpEF may be a useful translational research tool since it exhibits similar and clinically relevant impairments as that of HFpEF patients.

Unipolar Voltage Mapping to Predict Recovery of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients With Recent-Onset Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

The ability to predict recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in response to guideline-directed therapy among patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy is desired. We sought to determine whether left ventricular endocardial unipolar voltage measured during invasive electroanatomic mapping could be used to predict LVEF recovery among those with recent-onset nonischemic cardiomyopathy. We analyzed the left ventricular voltage maps of patients included in the eMAP trial (Electrogram-Guided Myocardial Advanced Phenotyping; NCT03293381), a prospective, nonrandomized, interventional trial conducted at 2 institutions between 2017 and 2020. Patients had recent-onset nonischemic cardiomyopathy defined by LVEF ≤45% and development of symptoms or signs of heart failure within the past 6 months. Detailed voltage maps of the left ventricular endocardium were generated using the CARTO electroanatomic mapping system. Abnormal unipolar amplitude was defined as <8.27 mV. The primary end point was recovery of LVEF (Recovery) defined by a 1-year LVEF ≥50% or ≥45% with ≥10% increase from baseline. Of the 29 enrolled patients (median age, 49 years [25th percentile, 39; 75th percentile, 59], 8 females [27.6%]), LVEF recovered in 13 (44.8%) by 1-year follow-up. The percentage of total endocardial surface area with unipolar voltage abnormality (AUA) was significantly lower among Recovery patients than No Recovery patients (18.2% [6.4, 22.4] versus 80.0% [29.5, 90.9]; P=0.004). Percent AUA was associated with lower likelihood of Recovery (odds ratio, 0.64 per 10% increase in AUA; 95% CI, 0.47-0.88; P=0.006). A 28% cutoff value for percent AUA was 92% sensitive and 75% specific with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.63-0.99; P=0.001) for predicting recovery versus no recovery. The majority of patients (12 of 13; 92.3%) with a percent AUA >28% did not recover. Left ventricular unipolar voltage abnormality is a potent predictor of LVEF recovery among patients recently diagnosed with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Detailed left ventricular unipolar voltage mapping could therefore be used as a valuable prognostic tool in guiding treatment decisions.