Heart Failure in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinical Implications.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on the association between RA and heart failure, highlighting the role of inflammation and the prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in this population. RECENT FINDINGS: The incidence of heart failure in RA patients is two to three times higher than in the general population, with inflammation playing a significant role independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. HFpEF accounts for about half of heart failure cases and is increasingly recognized in RA patients, although it remains underdiagnosed. Atypical presentations and non-specific symptoms further complicate diagnosis. Early control of inflammation has been shown to reduce the risk of heart failure development and progression, improving both morbidity and mortality outcomes. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting approximately 1% of the population, with cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of premature death in these patients.

Abnormal neurovascular control during central and peripheral chemoreceptors stimulation in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction.

PURPOSE: Central and peripheral chemoreceptors are hypersensitized in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Whether this autonomic alteration occurs in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains little known. We test the hypothesis that the central and peripheral chemoreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is altered in HFpEF. METHODS: Patients aged 55-80 years with symptoms of heart failure, body mass index ≤ 35 kg/m2, left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%, left atrial volume index > 34 mL/m2, left ventricular early diastolic filling velocity and early diastolic tissue velocity of mitral annulus ratio (E/e' index) ≥ 13, and BNP levels > 35 pg/mL were included in the study (HFpEF, n = 9). Patients without heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (non-HFpEF, n = 9), aged-paired, were also included in the study. Peripheral chemoreceptors stimulation (10% O2 and 90% N2, with CO2 titrated) and central chemoreceptors stimulation (7% CO2 and 93% O2) were conducted for 3 min. MSNA was evaluated by microneurography technique, and forearm blood flow (FBF) by venous occlusion plethysmography. RESULTS: During hypoxia, MSNA responses were greater (p < 0.001) and FBF responses were lower in patients with HFpEF (p = 0.006). Likewise, MSNA responses during hypercapnia were higher (p < 0.001) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) levels were lower (p = 0.030) in patients with HFpEF. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral and central chemoreflex controls of MSNA are hypersensitized in patients with HFpEF, which seems to contribute to the increase in MSNA in these patients. In addition, peripheral and central chemoreceptors stimulation in patients with HFpEF causes muscle vasoconstriction.

Catheter ablation versus medical therapy for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare catheter ablation and medical therapy (antiarrhythmics for rhythm or rate control) in patients with AF and HFpEF. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Outcomes were the composite end points of death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization, all-cause death, cardiovascular death, all-cause rehospitalization, and HF hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software, version 4.3.2 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. RESULTS: We included 20,257 patients from 8 studies. Of those, 3 were derived from RCTs, either through post hoc analysis or subgroup analysis, and 5 were observational studies. The median follow-up ranged from 24.6 to 61.2 months. Compared with medical therapy, catheter ablation was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of death or HF hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.83; P = .001; I2 = 66%), all-cause death (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.46-0.99; P = .047; I2 = 61%), cardiovascular death (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.21-0.84; P = .014; I2 = 22%), and HF hospitalization (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.23-0.82; P = .011; I2 = 87%). CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis, catheter ablation was associated with a lower risk of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization, and all-cause rehospitalization in comparison to medical therapy in patients with AF and HFpEF.

Mechanical dispersion is a superior echocardiographic feature to predict exercise capacity in preclinical and overt heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) is a syndrome characterized by different degrees of exercise intolerance, which leads to poor quality of life and prognosis. Recently, the European score (HFA-PEFF) was proposed to standardize the diagnosis of HFpEF. Even though Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) is a component of HFA-PEFF, the role of other strain parameters, such as Mechanical Dispersion (MD), has yet to be studied. In this study, we aimed to compare MD and other features from the HFA-PEFF according to their association with exercise capacity in an outpatient population of subjects at risk or suspected HFpEF. METHODS: This is a single-center cross-sectional study performed in an outpatient population of 144 subjects with a median age of 57 years, 58% females, referred to the Echocardiography and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test to investigate HFpEF. RESULTS: MD had a higher correlation to Peak VO2 (r=-0.43) when compared to GLS (r=-0.26), MD presented a significant correlation to Ventilatory Anaerobic Threshold (VAT) (r=-0.20; p = 0.04), while GLS showed no correlation (r=-0.14; p = 0.15). Neither MD nor GLS showed a correlation with the time to recover VO2 after exercise (T1/2). In Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis, MD presented superior performance to GLS to predict Peak VO2 (AUC: 0.77 vs. 0.62), VAT (AUC: 0.61 vs. 0.57), and T1/2 (AUC: 0.64 vs. 0.57). Adding MD to HFA-PEFF improved the model performance (AUC from 0.77 to 0.81). CONCLUSION: MD presented a higher association with Peak VO2 when compared to GLS and most features from the HFA-PEFF. Adding MD to the HFA-PEFF improved the model performance.

A potential role of autophagy-mediated vascular senescence in the pathophysiology of HFpEF.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is one of the most complex and most prevalent cardiometabolic diseases in aging population. Age, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are the main comorbidities of HFpEF. Microvascular dysfunction and vascular remodeling play a major role in its development. Among the many mechanisms involved in this process, vascular stiffening has been described as one the most prevalent during HFpEF, leading to ventricular-vascular uncoupling and mismatches in aged HFpEF patients. Aged blood vessels display an increased number of senescent endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This is consistent with the fact that EC and cardiomyocyte cell senescence has been reported during HFpEF. Autophagy plays a major role in VSMCs physiology, regulating phenotypic switch between contractile and synthetic phenotypes. It has also been described that autophagy can regulate arterial stiffening and EC and VSMC senescence. Many studies now support the notion that targeting autophagy would help with the treatment of many cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms involved in autophagy-mediated vascular senescence and whether this could be a driver in the development and progression of HFpEF.

La tercera cara de la moneda en el manejo de la falla cardíaca / The third side of the coin in the management of heart failure

Resumen En las últimas décadas, el manejo de la insuficiencia cardíaca ha tenido avances significativos nunca antes vistos en la historia de la cardiología, lo cual ha elevado el pronóstico de vida de los pacientes con falla cardíaca, a niveles cercanos a los de un individuo sano. Para ello se han empleado múltiples alternativas farmacológicas, como los inhibidores de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina (IECA), los antagonistas de los receptores de angiotensina (ARA II), los bloqueadores de los receptores mineralocorticoides, los bloqueadores de los receptores IF I, los inhibidores de la neprilisina y los betabloqueadores, asociadas al desarrollo de la cardiología intervencionista y la cirugía cardiovascular a nivel coronario, valvular, remodelado cardíaco y dispositivos de estimulación, asistencia, resincronización y cardioversión miocárdica. Sin embargo, hay un importante escenario en el manejo de la falla cardíaca que, en ocasiones, por diversas circunstancias, se deja de lado o se pospone como terapia de primera línea concomitante a las ya expuestas. Este artículo intenta describir la importancia que tienen dichas terapias -a las que hemos llamado la tercera cara de la moneda en el manejo de la falla cardíaca- a la luz de la evidencia actual.

Abstract In the last decades the management of heart failure has seen significant advance as never before in the history of cardiology, raising the life expectancy of patients with heart failure to levels close to those of healthy individuals. For such a task, multiple pharmacological alternatives have been employed: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARB), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, I-F channel antagonists, neprilysin inhibitors, beta blockers, associated to the development of interventionist cardiology and cardiac surgery at coronary level, valvular level, cardiac remodeling, and devices for stimulation, assistance, resynchronization and myocardial cardioversion. However, there is an important stage in the management of heart failure that occasionally, due to varied circumstances, is set aside or put off as a front-line therapy accompanying the ones already mentioned. This article attempts to describe the importance that said therapies have in light of current evidence, which we have called: the third side of the coin in the management of heart failure.

Dilemas de la insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de eyección preservada / Dilemmas of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction / Dilemas da insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada

La insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de eyección preservada (ICFEp) y reducida presentan marcadas diferencias. Mientras que la última tiene un algoritmo diagnóstico y terapéutico desde hace años, con guías y fármacos que mejoran su pronóstico, la ICFEp no solo presenta dificultades para llegar al diagnóstico, sino que tampoco hay fármacos que hayan demostrado disminuir la mortalidad. En esta revisión se hace un abordaje amplio de la ICFEp, comenzando por definirla y distinguirla de la disfunción diastólica. Se describe el gold standard para su diagnóstico invasivo y se analizan los scores no invasivos recientemente desarrollados que estiman la probabilidad de tener la enfermedad. A través del análisis de las comorbilidades frecuentemente asociadas, se describen los mecanismos fisiopatológicos implicados. Asimismo, se detallan los fenotipos propuestos para agrupar pacientes y diseñar ensayos clínicos con fármacos que prueben disminuir la mortalidad. Por último, se reseñan las medidas terapéuticas no farmacológicas y farmacológicas recomendadas.

Heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction have significant differences. While the latter has had a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for years, with guidelines and drugs that improve its prognosis, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) not only presents difficulties in reaching a diagnosis, but also there are no drugs that have been proven to be effective in reducing mortality. In this review, a broad approach to HFpEF is made, beginning by defining it and distinguishing it from diastolic dysfunction. The gold standard for its invasive diagnosis is described and recently developed non-invasive scores that estimate the probability of having the disease are analyzed. Through the analysis of the frequently associated comorbidities, the pathophysiological mechanisms involved are described. Likewise, the phenotypes proposed to group patients and design clinical trials with drugs that try to reduce mortality are detailed. Finally, the recommended non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapeutic measures are outlined.

A insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada (ICFEp) e reduzida apresentam diferenças marcantes. Enquanto esta última conta com um algoritmo diagnóstico e terapêutico há anos, com diretrizes e medicamentos que melhoram seu prognóstico, a ICFEp não só apresenta dificuldades no diagnóstico, mas nenhum há medicamentos que tenham demonstrado reduzir a mortalidade. Nesta revisão, é feita uma abordagem ampla da ICFEp, começando por defini-la e distinguindo-a da disfunção diastólica. O padrão ouro para seu diagnóstico invasivo é descrito e são analisados os escores não invasivos recentemente desenvolvidos que estimam a probabilidade de ter a doença. Através da análise de comorbidades frequentemente associadas, são descritos os mecanismos fisiopatológicos envolvidos. Da mesma forma, são detalhados os fenótipos propostos para agrupar pacientes e desenhar ensaios clínicos com medicamentos que podem ser mostradas para reduzir a mortalidade. Por fim, são delineadas as medidas terapêuticas não farmacológicas e farmacológicas recomendadas.

New Opportunities in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: From Bench to Bedside and Back.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a growing public health problem in nearly 50% of patients with heart failure. Therefore, research on new strategies for its diagnosis and management has become imperative in recent years. Few drugs have successfully improved clinical outcomes in this population. Therefore, numerous attempts are being made to find new pharmacological interventions that target the main mechanisms responsible for this disease. In recent years, pathological mechanisms such as cardiac fibrosis and inflammation, alterations in calcium handling, NO pathway disturbance, and neurohumoral or mechanic impairment have been evaluated as new pharmacological targets showing promising results in preliminary studies. This review aims to analyze the new strategies and mechanical devices, along with their initial results in pre-clinical and different phases of ongoing clinical trials for HFpEF patients. Understanding new mechanisms to generate interventions will allow us to create methods to prevent the adverse outcomes of this silent pandemic.

Vascular dysfunction in HFpEF: Potential role in the development, maintenance, and progression of the disease.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex, heterogeneous disease characterized by autonomic imbalance, cardiac remodeling, and diastolic dysfunction. One feature that has recently been linked to the pathology is the presence of macrovascular and microvascular dysfunction. Indeed, vascular dysfunction directly affects the functionality of cardiomyocytes, leading to decreased dilatation capacity and increased cell rigidity, which are the outcomes of the progressive decline in myocardial function. The presence of an inflammatory condition in HFpEF produced by an increase in proinflammatory molecules and activation of immune cells (i.e., chronic low-grade inflammation) has been proposed to play a pivotal role in vascular remodeling and endothelial cell death, which may ultimately lead to increased arterial elastance, decreased myocardium perfusion, and decreased oxygen supply to the tissue. Despite this, the precise mechanism linking low-grade inflammation to vascular alterations in the setting of HFpEF is not completely known. However, the enhanced sympathetic vasomotor tone in HFpEF, which may result from inflammatory activation of the sympathetic nervous system, could contribute to orchestrate vascular dysfunction in the setting of HFpEF due to the exquisite sympathetic innervation of both the macro and microvasculature. Accordingly, the present brief review aims to discuss the main mechanisms that may be involved in the macro- and microvascular function impairment in HFpEF and the potential role of the sympathetic nervous system in vascular dysfunction.

Mitochondrial function, dynamics and quality control in the pathophysiology of HFpEF.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization for the adult population and a major cause of mortality worldwide. The HF syndrome is characterized by the heart's inability to supply the cardiac output required to meet the body's metabolic requirements or only at the expense of elevated filling pressures. HF without overt impairment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was initially labeled as "diastolic HF" until recognizing the coexistence of both systolic and diastolic abnormalities in most cases. Acknowledging these findings, the preferred nomenclature is HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). This syndrome primarily affects the elderly population and is associated with a heterogeneous overlapping of comorbidities that makes its diagnosis challenging. Despite extensive research, there is still no evidence-based therapy for HFpEF, reinforcing the need for a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology underlying its onset and progression. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in developing the pathophysiological changes that accompany HFpEF onset and progression (low-grade systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and myocardial remodeling) has just begun to be acknowledged. This review summarizes our current understanding of the participation of the mitochondrial network in the pathogenesis of HFpEF, with particular emphasis on the signaling pathways involved, which may provide future therapeutic targets.

Multiple Coronary Fistulas After Several Penetrating Chest Wounds: A Rare Case of Refractory Heart Failure.

Coronary artery fistulas are rare coronary abnormalities. Most of these fistulas have a congenital origin, and only a few are acquired. We report the case of a patient with late-acquired multiple coronary fistulas secondary to a stab wound, diagnosed in the setting of ischemic heart failure secondary to coronary steal syndrome. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Heart Failure and Diabetes: Perspective of a Dangerous Association.

The relationship between diabetes and risk of heart failure has been described in previous trials, releasing the importance of the hyperglycemic state that, added to other risk factors, favors the development of coronary heart disease. The mechanism by which, in the absence of hypertension, obesity and/or dyslipidemia, diabetic patients develop cardiomyopathy has been less studied. Recently, the Sodium Glucose Co-transporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) used for the treatment of heart failure patients with or without diabetes has been a breakthrough in the field of medicine. This review describes the established pathophysiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy and SGLT2 inhibitors, their mechanisms of action, and benefits in this group of patients.

Falla cardiaca con fracción de eyección preservada: generalidades y aproximación en el perioperatorio / Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: overview and perioperative management / Falência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada: generalidades e abordagens no perioperatório

Resumen: La falla cardiaca con fracción de eyección preservada es frecuente y de difícil abordaje perioperatorio en población adulta. Es un síndrome clínico complejo con alteraciones estructurales y funcionales cardiacas con fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo preservada (FEVI) ≥ 50 %. Los biomarcadores, la ecocardiografía, el cateterismo cardiaco y otros métodos no invasivos confirman el diagnóstico. Actualmente no existe manejo específico efectivo comparado al de la falla con FEVI reducida. Objetivo: Elaborar una revisión de la literatura sobre la falla cardiaca con fracción de eyección preservada y sus implicaciones anestésicas. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión no sistemática de la literatura en las siguientes bases de datos: Pubmed/Medline, LILACS, ScienceDirect. Resultados: La falla cardiaca con fracción de eyección preservada es una entidad común con una prevalencia entre 36,9 % y más del 50 % del total de pacientes. La fisiopatología incluye alteraciones diastólicas del ciclo cardiaco incluyendo las fases de relajación y de compliance ventricular. Desde el punto de vista anestésico se debe mantener el ritmo sinusal en arritmias, controlar la respuesta cronotrópica, evitar congestión pulmonar, manejar específicamente las etiologías-comorbilidades, conservar presiones de llenado ventricular y lograr estabilidad hemodinámica. Conclusión: Los pacientes con este síndrome representan un reto anestésico. El manejo incluye tratamiento específico de las etiologías, comorbilidades y fenotipos. A diferencia de la falla cardiaca con fracción de eyección reducida, no existen terapias que disminuyan la mortalidad, por lo que se requieren nuevos fármacos y estudios clínicos que mejoren las perspectivas anestésicas y el abordaje terapéutico.

Abstract: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is frequent and challenging to manage in the adult population during the perioperative period. It is a complex clinical syndrome with structural and functional cardiac abnormalities with left ventricular preserved ejection fraction (LVPEF) ≥ 50%. Biomarkers, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and other noninvasive methods confirm the diagnosis. Currently, there is no specific effective management compared to failure with reduced LVPEF. Aim: To prepare a literature review of HFpEF and its anesthetic implications. Methods: A non-systematic literature review was carried out in the following databases: Pubmed/Medline, LILACS, ScienceDirect. Results: HFpEF is a common entity with a prevalence between 36.9 % and more than 50 % of all patients. The pathophysiology includes diastolic alterations of the cardiac cycle, including relaxation and ventricular compliance phases. From the anesthetic point of view, sinus rhythm should be maintained in arrhythmias, chronotropic response controlled, pulmonary congestion avoided, etiologies/comorbidities specifically managed, ventricular filling pressures preserved, and hemodynamic stability achieved. Conclusion: Patients with HFPEF represent an anesthetic challenge. Management includes specific treatment of etiologies, comorbidities, and phenotypes. Unlike heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, there are no therapies that reduce mortality, so new drugs and clinical studies are required to improve anesthetic prospects and therapeutic management.

Resumo: Introdução: A falência cardíaca de ejecção preservada é frequente e de difícil abordagem perio-peratória na população adulta. É uma síndrome clínica complexa com alterações estruturais e funcionais cardíacas de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo preservada (FEVI) ≥ 50 %. Os biomarcadores, a ecocardiografia, o cateterismo cardíaco e outros métodos não invasivos confirmam o diagnóstico. Atualmente, não há manejo específico efetivo comparado à da falência com FEVI reduzida. Objetivo: Elaborar uma revisão da literatura sobre falência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada e suas implicações anestésicas. Métodos: Foi realizada uma revisão não sistemática da literatura nas bases de dados: PubMed/Medline, LILACS, ScienceDirect. Resultados: A falência cardíaca com fração de ejeção preservada é uma entidade comum com uma prevalência entre 36,9 % e mais de 50 % do total de pacientes. A fisiopatologia inclui alterações diastólicas do ciclo cardíaco incluindo as fases de relaxamento e de complacência ventricular. Do ponto de vista anestésico, deve-se manter o ritmo sinusal em arritmias, controlar a resposta cro-notrópica, evitar congestão pulmonar, lidar em específico com as etiologias-comorbidades, conservar pressões de fibrilação ventricular e atingir estabilidade hemodinâmica. Conclusão: Os pacientes com essa síndrome representam um desafio anestésico. O manejo inclui tratamento específico das etiologias, comorbidades e fenótipos. À diferença da falência cardíaca com fração de ejeção reduzida, não existem terapias que diminuam a mortalidade; portanto, são exigidos novos fármacos e estudos clínicos que melhorem as perspectivas anestésicas e a abordagem terapêutica.

What Is the Role of the Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Heart Failure?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In heart failure, whether it is associated with reduced or preserved ejection fraction, the immune system is activated and contributes to heart remodeling and impaired function. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies indicate that cells of the immune system not only play a role in the pathology but are also critical regulators of heart function. Knowledge about the role of the immune system driving heart failure will lead to the development of new targets to this system, particularly in those patients that, despite the apparent wellness, relapse and worsen. In this review, we will address the diverse mechanisms that trigger inflammation and their impact on heart failure progression.

Recently Approved and Under Investigation Drugs for Treating Patients with Heart Failure.

Heart Failure (HF) represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the recent advances in the treatment of this condition, patients´ prognosis remains unfavorable in most cases. Sacubitril/valsartan and ivabradine have been recently approved to improve clinical outcomes in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Drugs under investigation for treating patients with HF encompass many novel mechanisms including vasoactive peptides, blocking inflammatory- mediators, natriuretic peptides, selective non-steroidal mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists, myocardial ß3 adrenoreceptor agonists, inhibiting the cytochrome C/cardiolipin peroxidase complex, neuregulin-1/ErbB signaling and inhibiting late inward sodium current. The aim of this manuscript is to review the main drugs under investigation for the treatment of patients with HF and give perspectives for their implementation into clinical practice.

Prognostic value of NT-proBNP, and echocardiographic indices of diastolic function, in hospitalized patients with acute heart failure and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Several parameters have proven useful in assessing prognosis in outpatients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In contrast, prognostic determinants in HFpEF hospitalized for an acute event are poorly investìgated. AIM: To determine the predictive value of NT-proBNP, and diastolic function (assessed by E/e'), in patients with HFpEF hospitalized for acute heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 205 consecutive HFpEF patients admitted for acute heart failure (median age: 76[53,81], 36% male, median EF: 61 [54,77]). We assessed clinical, echocardiographic, and NT-proBNP values, on admission and at discharge. Primary end-point was the composite of all-cause death and/or HF rehospitalization. After a mean follow up of 28±10 months, 82 patients met the primary end-point; there were 30 deaths (14.6%), and 72 patients (35%) were rehospitalized for HF. By multivariable analysis, predictors of the composite end-point were: discharge E/e´ ≥14 (HR: 4.63 CI 95%: 2.71-18.2, p<0.0001), discharge NT-proBNP ≥1500 pg/ml (HR: 5.23, CI 95%: 2.87-17.8, p < 0.0001), ≥50% NT-proBNP decrease between admission and discharge (HR: 0.62, CI 95%: 0.25-0.79, p = 0.019). Combining E/e´ and NT-proBNP values at discharge further and significantly improved discrimination power compared to each variable analyzed separately (AUC, NT-proBNP at discharge: 0.80; E/e´ at discharge: 0.77; E/e´ + NT-proBNP: 0.88; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In HFpEF patients hospitalized with acute heart failure, assessment of E/e´ ratio and NT-proBNP at discharge provides prognostic information on top of other variables, and allows to easily identify a population at higher risk of subsequent death or rehospitalization for heart failure, during a medium-term follow up.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: an update on pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome in which patients have symptoms and signs of HF with normal or near-normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%). Roughly half of all patients with HF worldwide have an LVEF ≥50% and nearly half have an LVEF <50%. Thanks to the increased scientific attention about the condition and improved characterization and diagnostic tools, the incidence of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) dropped while that of HFpEF has increased by 45%. HFpEF has no single guideline for diagnosis or treatment, the patient population is heterogeneously and inconsistently described, and longitudinal studies are lacking. To better understand and overcome the disease, in this review, we updated the latest knowledge of HFpEF pathophysiology, introduced the existing promising diagnostic methods and treatments, and summarized its prognosis by reviewing the most recent cohort studies.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the dark side of an old disease.

Heart failure is a global public health problem, with more than 37 million patients living with heart failure around the world. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is an increasingly common category (approximately 60% of the cases) and shows remarkable differences in diagnosis and treatment when compared with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The current review covers epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiologic mechanisms, clinical and paraclinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and concludes with a plea for original research in our country.

La insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) es un problema de salud pública global con más de 37 millones de individuos afectados en el mundo. La insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de expulsión preservada (ICFEp) representa una categoría cada vez más frecuente en la práctica clínica, constituye hasta el 60% de los casos y presenta diferencias importantes en el diagnóstico y tratamiento en comparación con la insuficiencia cardíaca y la fracción de expulsión reducida. Esta revisión de ICFEp expone la epidemiología, delimita los principales factores de riesgo y mecanismos fisiopatológicos, identifica las características clínicas/paraclínicas y los criterios diagnósticos, y finaliza con un llamado para realizar investigación en este país.

Insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de expulsión preservada: el lado oscuro de una vieja enfermedad / Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the dark side of an old disease

Resumen La insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) es un problema de salud pública global con más de 37 millones de individuos afectados en el mundo. La insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de expulsión preservada (ICFEp) representa una categoría cada vez más frecuente en la práctica clínica, constituye hasta el 60% de los casos y presenta diferencias importantes en el diagnóstico y tratamiento en comparación con la insuficiencia cardíaca y la fracción de expulsión reducida. Esta revisión de ICFEp expone la epidemiología, delimita los principales factores de riesgo y mecanismos fisiopatológicos, identifica las características clínicas/paraclínicas y los criterios diagnósticos, y finaliza con un llamado para realizar investigación en este país.

Abstract Heart failure is a global public health problem, with more than 37 million patients living with heart failure around the world. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is an increasingly common category (approximately 60% of the cases) and shows remarkable differences in diagnosis and treatment when compared with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The current review covers epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiologic mechanisms, clinical and paraclinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and concludes with a plea for original research in our country.