Can Semaglutide Offer Hope for Patients with Obesity-Related Heart Failure?

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a growing clinical challenge with limited treatment options. This review explores the potential of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, for HFpEF treatment. Studies suggest promising benefits, including symptom improvement, weight management, and the potential for enhanced exercise capacity. However, the evidence for semaglutide's impact on exercise capacity and heart function remains inconclusive, and its anti-inflammatory effects require further investigation. The safety profile appears favorable, with gastrointestinal side effects being the most common adverse events. It is crucial to emphasize that additional research with longer follow-up, head-to-head comparisons, and exploration of optimal dosage and mechanisms of action are necessary to solidify semaglutide's role in HFpEF treatment. Semaglutide is promising to improve symptoms, promote weight loss, and potentially influence underlying HFpEF mechanisms. Future research can refine treatment strategies and unlock the full potential of semaglutide for this patient population.

Rising Cardiovascular Mortality Despite Increased Resource Utilization: Insights From the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database.

Introduction The global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has risen over the past decade, potentially escalating resource utilization, morbidity, and mortality. We analyzed trends in hospitalization for CVDs, outcomes of hospitalizations, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CVD hospitalizations between 2016 and 2020. Methods Adult CVD hospitalizations recorded in the 2016-2020 nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) were identified using major diagnostic categories (MDC- class 5). The NIS is the largest all-payer repository of all hospitalizations in the USA within a calendar year. We compared sociodemographic factors and outcomes (mortality, length of stay, and hospital charges) of CVD hospitalization before and during the pandemic using Pearson's χ2 tests. We used Stata ranking commands and ICD-10 (10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) codes to identify the most recurring diagnoses associated with CVD mortality during the study period. Trends in mortality and resource use were assessed using the Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test. Hospital charges were adjusted for inflation using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey index. We used stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses (P ≤ 0.05 for entry; P > 0.10 for removal) to identify covariates associated with cardiovascular mortality during the study period. Results Hospitalizations for CVDs rose from 4,283,502 in 2016 to 4,635,246 in 2019 (Ptrend < 0.001) and declined to 3,865,399 in 2020. 452,930 mortalities were recorded during the study period. In-hospital mortality rose from 111,090 (2.6%) in 2016 to 118,825 (2.8%) in 2020 (Ptrend < 0.001). Compared with the prepandemic years, mortality rates were higher during the pandemic (108,231 [2.8%] vs. 445,373 [2.5%]; P<0.001), and increased in hospitalizations for hypertensive heart disease with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (15,585 [14.4%] vs. 45,873 [10.3%]; P<0.001), hypertensive heart disease with heart failure (7,468 [6.9%] vs. 21,378 [4.8%]), ventricular tachycardia (2,056 [1.9%] vs. 7,571 [1.7%]; P=0.022), and peripheral angiopathy with gangrene (1,191 [1.1%] vs. 3,118 [0.7%]; P<0.001). CVD hospitalizations totaled 80.3 million hospital days and 39.7 million hospital procedures during the period. The mean number of procedures (3 vs. 2) and mean length of hospital stay (5.6 vs. 4.5 days) increased during the pandemic (P<0.001). The mean hospital cost for CVD increased from US$ 69,394 in 2016 to US$ 89,728 in 2020 (Ptrend < 0.001). Conclusion CVD mortality increased despite increased resource use over the study period. Hospitalizations during the pandemic had poorer mortality and resource use outcomes than those in the preceding years.

Association between testosterone replacement therapy and cardiovascular outcomes: A meta-analysis of 30 randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The Cardiovascular safety of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) among men with hypogonadism is not well established to date. Hence, we sought to evaluate the cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes among patients receiving testosterone therapy by using all recently published randomized controlled trials. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, and Clinicaltrial.gov for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception until September 30th, 2023. RESULTS: A total of 30 randomized trials with 11,502 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age was ranging from 61.61 to 61.82 years. Pooled analysis of primary and secondary outcomes showed that the incidence of any CVD events (OR, 1.12 (95%CI: 0.77-1.62), P = 0.55), stroke (OR, 1.01 (95%CI: 0.68-1.51), P = 0.94), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.05 (95%CI: 0.76-1.45), P = 0.77), all-cause mortality (OR, 0.94 (95%CI: 0.76-1.17), P = 0.57), and CVD mortality (OR, 0.87 (95%CI: 0.65-1.15), P = 0.31) was comparable between TRT and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: Our analysis indicates that for patients with hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy does not increase the CVD risk and all-cause mortality.

Emerging trends in nationwide mortality, limb loss, and resource utilization for critical limb ischemia in young adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent trends indicate a rise in the incidence of critical limb ischemia (CLI) among younger adults. This study examines trends in CLI hospitalization and outcomes among young adults with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the United States. METHODS: Adult hospitalizations (18-40 years) for PAD/CLI were analyzed from the 2016-2020 nationwide inpatient sample database using ICD-10 codes. Rates were reported per 1000 PAD or 100,000 cardiovascular disease admissions. Outcomes included trends in mortality, major amputations, revascularization, length of hospital stay (LOS), and hospital costs (THC). We used the Jonckheere-Terpstra tests for trend analysis and adjusted costs to the 2020 dollar using the consumer price index. RESULTS: Approximately 63,045 PAD and 20,455 CLI admissions were analyzed. The mean age of the CLI cohort was 32.7 ± 3 years. The majority (12,907; 63.1 %) were female and white (11,843; 57.9 %). Annual CLI rates showed an uptrend with 3265 hospitalizations (227 per 1000 PAD hospitalizations, 22.7 %) in 2016 to 4474 (252 per 1000 PAD hospitalizations, 25.2 %) in 2020 (Ptrend<0.001), along with an increase in PAD admissions from 14,405 (188 per 100,000, 0.19 %) in 2016 to 17,745 (232 per 100,000, 0.23 %%) in 2020 (Ptrend<0.0001). Annual in-hospital mortality increased from 570 (2.8 %) in 2016 to 803 (3.9 %) in 2020 (Ptrend = 0.001) while amputations increased from 1084 (33.2 %) in 2016 to 1995 (44.6 %) in 2020 (Ptrend<0.001). Mean LOS increased from 5.1 (SD 2.7) days in 2016 to 6.5 (SD 0.9) days in 2020 (Ptrend = 0.002). The mean THC for CLI increased from $50,873 to $69,262 in 2020 (Ptrend<0.001). The endovascular revascularization rates decreased from 11.5 % (525 cases) in 2016 to 10.7 % (635 cases) in 2020 (Ptrend = 0.025). Surgical revascularization rates also increased from 4.9 % (225 cases) in 2016 to 10.4 % (600 cases) in 2020 (Ptrend = 0.041). CONCLUSION: Hospitalization and outcomes for CLI worsened among young adults during the study period. There is an urgent need to enhance surveillance for risk factors of PAD in this age group.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators for primary prevention in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) are one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Evidence supporting Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) for the prevention of SCD and mortality has shown conflicting results to date. OBJECTIVE: We aim to evaluate the impact of ICD therapy with conventional care for the primary prevention of death of various causes in adults with ICM and NICM. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search on the electronic database for relevant articles from inception until 30th May 2023. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a random effect model, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 13 randomized controlled trials involving 7857 patients were included in the study. Pooled analysis showed that ICD therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of all-cause mortality (OR, 0.69 (95%CI:0.55-0.87), P = 0.001), with a similar trend among ICM and NICM compared with the control group. ICD therapy also reduces the incidence of SCD (OR, 0.32(95%CI: 0.24-0.43), P<0.00001) with a similar trend in ICM and NICM, as well as death due to arrhythmia (OR, 0.35(95%CI: 0.19-0.64), P<0.001). However, the incidence of cardiovascular mortality in the ICD group (OR, 0.77(95%CI: 0.58-1.02), P=0.07) was comparable to the control group. CONCLUSION: ICD therapy was associated with a reduction in the incidence of all-cause mortality, sudden cardiac death, and death due to arrhythmia among ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy patients.

Cardiovascular Event Predictors in Hospitalized Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Patients: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study seeks to confirm the risk factors linked to cardiovascular (CV) events in chronic kidney disease (CKD), which have been identified as CKD-related. We aim to achieve this using a larger, more diverse, and nationally representative dataset, contrasting with previous research conducted on smaller patient cohorts. METHODS:  The study utilized the nationwide inpatient sample database to identify adult hospitalizations for CKD from 2016 to 2020, employing validated ICD-10-CM/PCS codes. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify both traditional and CKD-specific risk factors associated with CV events. Risk factors and CV events were defined using a combination of ICD-10-CM/PCS codes and statistical commands. Only risk factors with specific ICD-10 codes and hospitalizations with complete data were included in the study. CV events of interest included cardiac arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, acute heart failure, and acute coronary syndromes. Univariate and multivariate regression models were employed to evaluate the association between CKD-specific risk factors and CV events while adjusting for the impact of traditional CV risk factors such as old age, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, inactivity, and smoking. RESULTS:  A total of 690,375 hospitalizations for CKD were included in the analysis. The study population was predominantly male (375,564, 54.4%) and mostly hospitalized at urban teaching hospitals (512,258, 74.2%). The mean age of the study population was 61 years (SD 0.1), and 86.7% (598,555) had a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) of 3 or more. At least one traditional risk factor for CV events was present in 84.1% of all CKD hospitalizations (580,605), while 65.4% (451,505) included at least one CKD-specific risk factor for CV events. The incidence of CV events in the study was as follows: acute coronary syndromes (41,422; 6%), sudden cardiac death (13,807; 2%), heart failure (404,560; 58.6%), and cardiac arrhythmias (124,267; 18%). A total of 91.7% (113,912) of all cardiac arrhythmias were atrial fibrillations. Significant odds of CV events on multivariate analyses included: malnutrition (aOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.06-1.13; p<0.001), post-dialytic hypotension (aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.26-1.42; p<0.001), thrombophilia (aOR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.29-1.65; p<0.001), sleep disorder (aOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09-1.25; p<0.001), and post-renal transplant immunosuppressive therapy (aOR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.26-1.53; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed the predictive reliability of malnutrition, post-dialytic hypotension, thrombophilia, sleep disorders, and post-renal transplant immunosuppressive therapy, highlighting their association with increased risk for CV events in CKD patients. No significant association was observed between uremic syndrome, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperuricemia, hypertriglyceridemia, leptin levels, carnitine deficiency, anemia, and the odds of experiencing CV events.