Common carotid intima media thickness and ankle-brachial pressure index correlate with local but not global atheroma burden:a cross sectional study using whole body magnetic resonance angiography

Common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) are used as surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, and have been shown to correlate with arterial stiffness, however their correlation with global atherosclerotic burden has not been previously assessed. We compare CIMT and ABPI with atheroma burden as measured by whole body magnetic resonance angiography (WB-MRA).50 patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease were recruited. CIMT was measured using ultrasound while rest and exercise ABPI were performed. WB-MRA was performed in a 1.5T MRI scanner using 4 volume acquisitions with a divided dose of intravenous gadolinium gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem, Guerbet, FR). The WB-MRA data was divided into 31 anatomical arterial segments with each scored according to degree of luminal narrowing: 0 = normal, 1 = <50%, 2 = 50-70%, 3 = 70-99%, 4 = vessel occlusion. The segment scores were summed and from this a standardized atheroma score was calculated.The atherosclerotic burden was high with a standardised atheroma score of 39.5±11. Common CIMT showed a positive correlation with the whole body atheroma score (β 0.32, p = 0.045), however this was due to its strong correlation with the neck and thoracic segments (β 0.42 p = 0.01) with no correlation with the rest of the body. ABPI correlated with the whole body atheroma score (β -0.39, p = 0.012), which was due to a strong correlation with the ilio-femoral vessels with no correlation with the thoracic or neck vessels. On multiple linear regression, no correlation between CIMT and global atheroma burden was present (β 0.13 p = 0.45), while the correlation between ABPI and atheroma burden persisted (β -0.45 p = 0.005).ABPI but not CIMT correlates with global atheroma burden as measured by whole body contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in a population with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. However this is primarily due to a strong correlation with ilio-femoral atheroma burden

Prevalent and incident anemia in PARADIGM-HF and the effect of sacubitril/valsartan

Background: Anemia is common in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Renin-angiotensin system blockers lower hemoglobin and may induce anemia. Objectives: The authors investigated whether concomitant neprilysin inhibition might ameliorate this effect of renin-angiotensin system blockers in PARADIGM-HF (Prospective comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and morbidity in Heart Failure). Methods: Anemia was defined as hemoglobin &lt;120 g/L in women and &lt;130 g/L in men at screening. The authors investigated the effect of randomized treatment on clinical outcomes according to anemia status, change in hemoglobin from baseline, and the incidence of anemia. Results: Of 8,239 participants with a baseline hemoglobin measurement, 1,677 (20.4%) were anemic. Patients with anemia had a more severe heart failure profile, worse kidney function, greater neurohormonal derangement, and worse clinical outcomes. Sacubitril/valsartan, compared with enalapril, decreased the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization similarly in patients with (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.71-1.00) and without anemia (HR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.71-0.87]; P value for interaction = 0.478). Between baseline and 12 months, hemoglobin decreased by 1.5 g/L (95% CI: 1.2-1.7 g/L) with sacubitril/valsartan compared with 2.3 g/L (95% CI: 2.0-2.6 g/L) with enalapril: mean difference 0.8 g/L (95% CI: 0.5-1.2 g/L; P &lt; 0.001). Patients assigned to sacubitril/valsartan were less likely to develop anemia at 12 months (321 of 2,806 [11.4%]) compared with patients randomized to enalapril (440 of 2,824 [15.6%]) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.70 [95% CI: 0.60-0.81]; P &lt; 0.001). These findings were similar in PARAGON-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ARB Global Outcomes in HF with Preserved Ejection Fraction) (sacubitril/valsartan vs valsartan). There was biomarker evidence of increased iron utilization with sacubitril/valsartan. Conclusions: Irrespective of anemia status, sacubitril/valsartan compared with enalapril, decreased mortality and hospitalization. Hemoglobin decreased less with sacubitril/valsartan and the incidence of new anemia was lower with sacubitril/valsartan. (This study will evaluate the Prospective comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and morbidity in Heart Failure [PARADIGM-HF] trial; NCT01035255)

Impact of comorbidities on health status measured using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire in patients with HFrEF and HFpEF

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) often suffer from a range of comorbidities, which may affect their health status. Objectives: To assess the impact of different comorbidities on health status in patients with HF and reduced and preserved ejection fraction (HFrEF and HFpEF). Methods: Using individual patient data from HFrEF (ATMOSPHERE, PARADIGM-HF, DAPA-HF) and HFpEF (TOPCAT, PARAGON-HF) trials, we examined the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) domain scores and Overall Summary Score (KCCQ-OSS) across a range of cardio-respiratory (angina, AF, stroke, COPD) and other comorbidities (obesity, DM, CKD, anaemia). Results: Of patients with HFrEF(n=20,159), 36.2% had AF, 33.9% CKD, 33.9% diabetes, 31.4% obesity, 25.5% angina, 12.2% COPD, 8.4% stroke, and 4.4% anaemia; the corresponding proportions in HFpEF(n=6,563) were: 54.0% AF, 48.7% CKD, 43.4% diabetes, 53.3% obesity, 28.6% angina, 14.7% COPD, 10.2% stroke, and 6.5% anaemia. HFpEF patients had lower KCCQ domain scores and KCCQ-OSS (67.8 vs. 71.3) than HFrEF patients. Physical limitations, social limitations and quality of life domains were reduced more than symptom frequency and symptom burden domains. In both HFrEF and HFpEF, COPD, angina, anaemia, and obesity were associated with the lowest scores. An increasing number of comorbidities was associated with decreasing scores e.g., KCCQ-OSS 0 vs. ≥4 comorbidities: HFrEF 76.8 vs. 66.4; HFpEF 73.7 vs. 65.2. Conclusions: Cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities are common in both HFrEF and HFpEF patients and most are associated with reductions in health status although the impact varied among comorbidities, by the number of comorbidities, and by HF phenotype. Treating/correcting comorbidity is a therapeutic approach that may improve the health status of patients with HF

Knowledge about self-efficacy and outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction

Background: Although education in self-management is thought to be an important aspect of the care of patients with heart failure, little is known about whether self-rated knowledge of self-management is associated with outcomes. Objectives: To assess the relationship between patient-reported knowledge of self-management and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: Using individual patient data from 3 recent clinical trials enrolling participants with HFrEF, we examined patient characteristics and clinical outcomes according to responses to the “self-efficacy” questions of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). One question quantifies patients' understanding of how to prevent heart failure exacerbations (“prevention” question) and the other how to manage complications when they arise (“response” question). Self-reported answers from patients were pragmatically divided into: poor (do not understand at all, do not understand very well, somewhat understand), fair (mostly understand), and good (completely understand). Cox-proportional hazard models were used to evaluate time-to-first occurrence of each endpoint, and negative binomial regression analysis was performed to compare the composite of total (first and repeat) heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death across the above-defined groups. Results: Of patients (n = 17 629) completing the “prevention” question, 4197 (23.8%), 6897 (39.1%), and 6535 (37.1%) had poor, fair, and good self-rated knowledge, respectively. Of those completing the “response” question (n = 17 637), 4033 (22.9%), 5463 (31.0%), and 8141 (46.2%) patients, respectively, had poor, fair, and good self-rated knowledge. For both questions, patients with “poor” knowledge were older, more often female, and had a worse HF profile but similar treatment. The rates (95%CI) per 100 person-years for the primary composite outcome for “poor”, “moderate” and “good” self-rated knowledge in answer to the “prevention” question were 12.83 (12.11–13.60), 12.08 (11.53–12.65) and 11.55 (11.00–12.12), respectively, and for the “response” question were 12.88 (12.13–13.67), 12.22 (11.60–12.86) and 11.56 (11.07–12.07), respectively. The lower event rates in patients with “good” self-rate knowledge were accounted for by lower rates of cardiovascular (and all-cause) death and not hospitalization for worsening HF. Conclusions: Poor patient-reported “self-efficacy” may be associated with higher rates of mortality. Evaluation of knowledge of “self-efficacy” may provide prognostic information and a guide to which patients may benefit from further education about self-management

Investigator-reported ventricular arrhythmias and mortality in heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction

Aims: Few reports have examined the incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) or their relationship with mortality in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods and results: Data from the PARAGON-HF, TOPCAT, I-Preserve, and CHARM-Preserved trials were merged. VT/VF, reported as adverse events, were identified. Patients who experienced VT/VF were compared with patients who did not. The relationship between VT/VF and mortality was examined in time-updated Cox proportional hazard regression models. Variables associated with VT/VF were examined in Cox proportional hazard regression models. The rate of VT/VF in patients with HFmrEF compared with patients with HFpEF was examined in a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Of 13 609 patients, over a median follow-up of 1170 days (interquartile range: 966–1451), 146 (1.1%) experienced an investigator-reported VT/VF (incidence rate 0.3 per 100 person-years). Patients who experienced VT/VF were more likely to be male, have had a myocardial infarction, poorer renal function, more adverse left ventricular remodelling, and higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) than patients who did not. Occurrence of VT/VF was associated with NT-proBNP, history of atrial fibrillation/flutter, male sex, lower ejection fraction, and history of hypertension. VT/VF was associated with all-cause death [adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 3.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.80–5.57; P &lt; 0.001] and cardiovascular death, driven by death from heart failure and not sudden death. Patients with HFmrEF had a higher rate of VT/VF than patients with HFpEF (adjusted HR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.77–2.71). Conclusion: VT/VF was uncommon in patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF. However, such events were strongly associated with mortality and appear to be a marker of disease severity rather than risk of sudden death. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov unique identifier: NCT01920711(PARAGON-HF); NCT00094302 (TOPCAT); NCT00095238 (I-Preserve); NCT00634712 (CHARM-Preserved)

The different sequence parameters used for the 4 stations of WB-MRA.

<p>The different sequence parameters used for the 4 stations of WB-MRA.</p

Comparison of whole body standardised atheroma score (WB-SAS) and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) by Fontaine Score.

<p>WB-SAS and ABPI rest is given as mean ± SD. ABPI exercise is given as median (IQR).</p

Demographic data of the study population.

<p>Demographic data of the study population.</p

Diagram of the whole body magnetic resonance angiography stations and arterial segments.

<p>Maximum intensity projection image derived from the whole body angiogram from a typical patient in the study lies on the far left. To the right of this are the 4 overlapping 3D volume acquisitions acquired with a breakdown of the 31 arterial segments according to which station they are acquired in.</p

Univariate linear regression analysis of variables against whole body atheroma score.

<p>Univariate linear regression analysis of variables against whole body atheroma score.</p