theHeart.org - Heart failure

Negative thinking predicts depression in heart-failure patients

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:00:49 EST

Negative thinking may play a major role in the development of depression in patients with heart failure, new research suggests. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

Depression, not SSRIs, linked to increased mortality in heart-failure patients

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:00:09 EST

Contrary to recent research suggesting antidepressant use increases mortality in heart-disease patients, a new study suggests that, at least when it comes to selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, this is not the case. (O'Connor CM et al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2232-2237.)

HF-ACTION: Early and sustained quality-of-life improvements with structured exercise program

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:30:52 EST

Heart-failure patients participating in an exercise-training program improved their quality of life, with the improvement occurring early and sustained for three years, new HF-ACTION data show. Investigators say the results are consistent with the overall clinical findings and support the use of exercise training in this patient population. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

I-PRESERVE: Strike three for RAAS inhibition in preserved-LVEF heart failure

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:45:42 EST

Four years of treatment with irbesartan, usually on top of other drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, didn't improve outcomes in patients with the common but poorly understood form of heart failure. The trial follows previous negative studies of an ACE inhibitor and a different angiotensin-receptor blocker, respectively, in similar populations. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

MR-proADM better prognostic tool than BNP, but not everybody convinced of biomarker's merit

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:15:29 EST

A novel biomarker of vascular status is a better predictor of mortality at three months than brain natriuretic peptide among acute heart-failure patients presenting at the emergency department with shortness of breath. One expert, however, said it doesn't matter if the high-risk patients are separated from very high-risk patients—they should all be receiving optimal medical therapy. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

Interferon hope for chronic viral cardiomyopathy

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:15:21 EST

A phase 2 trial has shown that interferon beta-1b—a drug currently used to treat multiple sclerosis—may be effective in chronic viral cardiomyopathy. But a phase 3 trial is needed for definitive proof of concept, say the study investigators and discussant. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

HF-ACTION misses, but experts say results support intensive exercise in HF patients

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:30:39 EST

Investigators failed to show a difference in the primary end point of all-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalizations, but a secondary analysis that took into account prognostic factors did show significant reductions in hard clinical events. One expert believes it should strengthen exercise guidelines. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

T-wave alternans sudden-death risk stratification strikes out twiceor does it?

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

The microvolt TWA test's battered imaged as a risk stratifier for ICD candidates suffered several more blows in the past few weeks with publication of two major studies that conclude against it as a predictor of sudden cardiac death in low-LVEF patients. But the noninvasive test has its proponents who see the data a bit differently. (Chow T et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 52:1607-1615. Gold MR et al. Circulation; published online before print October 27, 2008.)

PTSD symptoms more than double mortality risk in patients with ICDs

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST

Individuals who receive implantable cardiac defibrillators after a sudden cardiac event are more than twice as likely to die within five years if they experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, regardless of disease severity. (Ladwig et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008; 65:1324-1330.)

Registry: Cardiogenic shock rates plunge over decade thanks to PCI, statins

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:45:15 EST

The 75% drop in how often ACS patients develop shock during hospitalization accounted for almost all the difference in a Swiss registry study; the ranks of those presenting already in shock didn't change. (Jeger RV et al. Ann Intern Med 2008; 149:618-626.)

New statement on appropriate use of echo contrast agents should reassure physicians after year of controversy

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:00:24 EST

The statement outlines situations in which benefits of contrast outweigh risks and could ultimately improve patient outcomes, experts say. (Mulvagh SL et al. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2008; 21:1179-1201.)

Medtronic updates failure rates for Sprint Fidelis ICD leads

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:30:43 EST

Sudden cardiac death after MI has declined over the decades, but first 30 days and heart failure up risks

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Physicians and patients need to be aware that sudden death is more common during the first few weeks post-MI and that the development of heart failure, at any time, increases the risk of sudden death in MI survivors. (Adabag AS et al. JAMA 2008; 300:2022-2029.)

HF up in recent decades as MI deaths fall

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:45:04 EST

A decline in deaths from MI in recent decades appears to have been accompanied by an increase in the incidence of heart failure, according to a new analysis from the Framingham Heart Study. The likely explanation is that sicker patients, who would have died from MI in earlier years, are now surviving but going on to develop HF, say the researchers. (Velagaleti RS et al. Circulation; published online before print October 27, 2008.)

Endothelial dysfunction seen in "minimally symptomatic" obstructive sleep apnea

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:15:00 EDT

OSA not accompanied by daytime symptoms might still suggest increased cardiovascular risk, according to researchers. (Kohler M et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008; 178:984-988.)

Alain Carpentier spearheads new total artificial heart endeavor

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:30:00 EDT

A French start-up company has announced it has received millions of dollars in funding, some from the defense industry, even as other replacement hearts in development globally seem stymied by disappointing long-term results or lack of funds.

MESA ties diabetes, HTN to new heart-failure risk in African Americans

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:00:24 EDT

Race per se shouldn't be a barrier to lowering the risk of new heart failure in African Americans, because the main causes are treatable, according to investigators for the longitudinal cohort study. (Bahrami H et al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2138-2145.)

HF disease-management program cost-effective in minority-prevalent population

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:15:55 EDT

A previously observed cut in hospitalization risk has been shown in a follow-up analysis to have come at a cost within the typically accepted range. (Hebert PL et al. Ann Intern Med 2008; 149:540-548.)

LV assist device manufacturer issues warning about damaged connector leads; new pumps may be needed

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:30:01 EDT

Beleaguered NitroMed plans exit from BiDil business

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EDT

The company has closed a deal to sell its only product to JHB Pharmaceuticals.

Genetic testing to guide heart-failure therapy: Accolades and questions

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:00:58 EDT

Is cardiovascular care poised to enter the brave new world of pharmacogenomics? A test for a pair of genetic markers seems to distinguish heart-failure patients who are likely or unlikely to respond to a beta blocker now under FDA review. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

Heart failure preliminarily linked to bone fractures

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The finding may be new, retrospective, and in need of further exploration, researchers note, but it at least suggests care should be taken to make sure patients with heart failure are screened for osteoporosis. (van Diepen S et al. Circulation 2008; published online before print October 20, 2008.)

Is prophylaxis for endocarditis essential, or just a habit that's hard to break?

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:30:18 EDT

The issue of when, or even if, antibiotics should be given for the prevention of infective endocarditis has been hotly debated of late. heartwire interviewed one expert on the subject, Dr Bernard Prendergast, to gauge his views.

Senate committees seek specifics on industry payments to CRF physicians

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:30:16 EDT

The request came during the Cardiology Research Foundation's flagship event in the nation's capital, held mere blocks from the Senate offices.

Treatment-safety advocate and HF specialist Sackner-Bernstein moves to the FDA

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:45:01 EDT

Stem cells for AMI: New review finds same old story

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EDT

A familiar message has emerged from a new review of stem-cell therapy for acute MI—a moderate improvement was seen, but much more research is needed. (Martin-Rendon E et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008; 4: CD006536. Eur Heart J 2008; 29:1807-1818.)

Outcomes, quality of care largely unaffected by weekend admission for heart failure

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:15:32 EDT

The finding is contrary to what has been found for hospitalizations due to some other CV disorders. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

Pfizer to drop development of drugs for hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and heart failure

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:00:34 EDT

UPDATED // Forbes reported the news online after obtaining an internal Pfizer memo.

Subspecialty certification on the way for specialists in advanced heart failure

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:30:22 EDT

The certification is expected to encompass the management of patients with implantable defibrillators and biventricular pacemakers, although not device insertions.

Routinely screen for clinical depression in CHD, AHA formally recommends

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:45:21 EDT

Providers should take the opportunity in any setting in which they see CHD patients, according to a "science advisory" from the organization, which acknowledges a lack of direct evidence that such efforts will improve the patients' clinical outcomes. (Lichtman JH et al. Circulation 2008; published online before print September 29, 2008.)

Myosin-activating agent boosts systolic function, but please don't call it an "inotrope"

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:45:12 EDT

It's still in early-phase studies, but researchers hope the drug, which seems to prolong systole and enhance cardiac output without raising myocardial oxygen demand, will offer the benefits of conventional inotropic agents without their dark side. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

Improved renal function and modest hemodynamic changes with adenosine-receptor antagonist

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:45:22 EDT

The agent modestly reduced pulmonary capillary wedge pressures at the highest doses, had a weak diuretic effect, and improved renal-function measures. More research into the effects of A1-receptor antagonists on morbidity and mortality are still needed, say investigators. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

Senate asks NIH for details on Dr Marvin Konstam's one-year contract with NHLBI

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:30:49 EDT

Konstam, hired as a senior advisor to the NHLBI director, also retains ties to Tufts and is the medical director for medical device company Orqis, prompting Sen Charles Grassley to question whether the NIH is avoiding strict conflict-of-interest policies by hiring experts as contractors, rather than full-time employees.

Once-a-day carvedilol "noninferior" to twice-daily version in heart failure; need for it questioned

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:45:03 EDT

Some believe once-daily carvedilol for heart failure will improve compliance and therefore outcomes, compared with the twice-daily version; others wonder whether noninferiority is worth the extra cost. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

Intrathoracic impedance predicts heart-failure events in PARTNERS-HF

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:45:39 EDT

Fluid indices crossing a predefined threshold significantly increased the risk of subsequent heart-failure decompensation, shortness of breath, peripheral edema, and fatigue, suggesting impedance data can help stratify patients at risk for worsening heart failure, report investigators. (Heart Failure Society of American 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

Thyroid hormone analog fails in the treatment of heart failure

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:00:42 EDT

The phase 2 study was stopped early because the compound worsened heart-failure symptoms, although it did have a positive effect on weight and lipid profiles. (Heart Failure Society of American 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

SADHART-CHF: Nurse intervention impresses for depression in heart failure, SSRI doesn't

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:30:00 EDT

The trial, underpowered for clinical outcomes, failed even to demonstrate that sertraline alleviated depression; observers attribute the finding to the unique nonpharmacologic therapy actively treated patients and controls both received. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

ICD effectiveness: Do patients appreciate their limits? The debate continues

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A review casts a critical eye on how ICDs are used in the US and argues that their benefits have been overstated; a commentary from a key figure behind the latest device-therapy guidelines takes exception. (Tung R et al. J Am Coll Cardiol; published online before print September 22, 2008.)

Severe subclinical hypothyroidism ups risk of HF

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A new study has found that older adults with severe subclinical hypothyroidism had almost double the risk of developing heart failure compared with those with normal thyroid function. The findings are important to inform the debate on whether to screen and treat subclinical hypothyroidism, say the researchers. (Rodondi N et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 52:1152-1159.)

Some MOMENTUM for continuous aortic flow therapy in heart failure

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Chronic heart-failure patients with nonischemic etiology and without kidney dysfunction or severe N-terminal pro-brain-natriuretic peptide expression appear to benefit from the device. The data are hypothesis generating at this point, say investigators, and decisions will need to be made about where to go next with the aortic flow therapy. (Heart Failure Society of America 2008 Scientific Meeting.)

theHeart.org - Heart failure

Negative thinking predicts depression in heart-failure patients

Depression, not SSRIs, linked to increased mortality in heart-failure patients

HF-ACTION: Early and sustained quality-of-life improvements with structured exercise program

I-PRESERVE: Strike three for RAAS inhibition in preserved-LVEF heart failure

MR-proADM better prognostic tool than BNP, but not everybody convinced of biomarker's merit

Interferon hope for chronic viral cardiomyopathy

HF-ACTION misses, but experts say results support intensive exercise in HF patients

T-wave alternans sudden-death risk stratification strikes out twiceor does it?

PTSD symptoms more than double mortality risk in patients with ICDs

Registry: Cardiogenic shock rates plunge over decade thanks to PCI, statins

New statement on appropriate use of echo contrast agents should reassure physicians after year of controversy

Medtronic updates failure rates for Sprint Fidelis ICD leads

Sudden cardiac death after MI has declined over the decades, but first 30 days and heart failure up risks

HF up in recent decades as MI deaths fall

Endothelial dysfunction seen in "minimally symptomatic" obstructive sleep apnea

Alain Carpentier spearheads new total artificial heart endeavor

MESA ties diabetes, HTN to new heart-failure risk in African Americans

HF disease-management program cost-effective in minority-prevalent population

LV assist device manufacturer issues warning about damaged connector leads; new pumps may be needed

Beleaguered NitroMed plans exit from BiDil business

Genetic testing to guide heart-failure therapy: Accolades and questions

Heart failure preliminarily linked to bone fractures

Is prophylaxis for endocarditis essential, or just a habit that's hard to break?

Senate committees seek specifics on industry payments to CRF physicians

Treatment-safety advocate and HF specialist Sackner-Bernstein moves to the FDA

Stem cells for AMI: New review finds same old story

Outcomes, quality of care largely unaffected by weekend admission for heart failure

Pfizer to drop development of drugs for hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and heart failure

Subspecialty certification on the way for specialists in advanced heart failure

Routinely screen for clinical depression in CHD, AHA formally recommends

Myosin-activating agent boosts systolic function, but please don't call it an "inotrope"

Improved renal function and modest hemodynamic changes with adenosine-receptor antagonist

Senate asks NIH for details on Dr Marvin Konstam's one-year contract with NHLBI

Once-a-day carvedilol "noninferior" to twice-daily version in heart failure; need for it questioned

Intrathoracic impedance predicts heart-failure events in PARTNERS-HF

Thyroid hormone analog fails in the treatment of heart failure

SADHART-CHF: Nurse intervention impresses for depression in heart failure, SSRI doesn't

ICD effectiveness: Do patients appreciate their limits? The debate continues

Severe subclinical hypothyroidism ups risk of HF

Some MOMENTUM for continuous aortic flow therapy in heart failure

T-wave alternans sudden-death risk stratification strikes out twiceor does it?