Clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Lessons from epidemiological studies

SummaryRecent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that nearly half of all patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFPEF). Compared to those with reduced EF, patients with HFPEF are older, more likely to be women, less likely to have coronary artery disease, and more likely to have hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Patients with HFPEF receive different pharmacological as well as nonpharmacological treatments from those with reduced EF. Morbidity and mortality in patients with HFPEF are largely similar to those with reduced EF. Although much information has recently been obtained about the clinical characteristics, medications, and outcomes of HFPEF by large-scale clinical and epidemiological studies, effective management strategies need to be established for this type of HF

Influence of primary and secondary prevention indications on anxiety about the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

AbstractBackgroundImplantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have been established for primary and secondary prevention of fatal arrhythmias. However, little is known about the influence of ICD indications on quality of life (QOL) and psychological disturbances. This study aimed to examine whether there were differences in QOL and psychological distress in patients that have an ICD for primary or secondary prevention of fatal arrhythmias.MethodsA multicenter survey of 179 consecutive outpatients (29.1% primary prevention) with ICD implantations completed the Short Form-8 (SF-8), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Worries about ICD (WAICD).ResultsPatients with an ICD for primary prevention had a higher trait anxiety score and worries about ICD score than patients with an ICD for secondary prevention (41.7±12.4 vs. 34.7±12.3, p=0.001 and 39.6±18.0 vs. 30.0±18.9, p=0.002, respectively), even after adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. In multivariable analysis of variance, primary prevention ICD recipients reported a poorer QOL on the vitality subscale of the SF-8.ConclusionsIn our study population, which mostly consisted of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I and II subjects, primary prevention ICD recipients were more prone to experience worries about their ICD, anxiety, and a poorer QOL compared to secondary prevention ICD recipients. In clinical practice, primary prevention ICD patients should be closely monitored. If warranted, they should be offered psychological intervention, as anxiety and low QOL were predictors of mortality

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure in Japan

Background :Heart failure (HF), defined as a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to fill with or eject blood, is a leading cause of mortality and hospitalization for adults older than 65 years in the industrialized countries. The characteristics and outcome of patients with HF have been described by several epidemiological studies and large scale clinical trials, performed mainly in the United States and Europe. Very little information is available on this issue in Japan. Methods and Results: The Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD) is designed to prospectively study the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of a broad sample of patients hospitalized with HF at teaching hospitals throughout Japan between January 2004 to June 2005 and the outcomes, including death and hospital readmission, will be followed through 2006 (mean follow-up at least 1 year). Participating cardiologists identify patients admitted for worsening of HF symptoms. Demographics, medical history, severity, treatment, and outcome data are collected and entered into a database via secure web browser technology. As of June 2005, baseline data for 2,676 patients with HF have been registered from 164 participating hospitals. Conclusions: The JCARE-CARD will provide important insights into the management of patients with HF in routine clinical practice in Japan, thus providing the framework for improved management strategies for these patients. (Circ J 2006; 70: 1617 - 1623

Discharge use of angiotensin receptor blockers provides comparable effects with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on outcomes in patients hospitalized for heart failure

Large-scale, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce mortality and hospitalization in patients with heart failure (HF) caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). However, it is unknown whether ACE inhibitors and ARBs have similar effects on the long-term outcomes in HF patients encountered in routine clinical practice. The Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD) enrolled HF patients hospitalized with worsening symptoms and they were followed during an average of 2.2 years. The outcome data were compared in patients with LVSD by echocardiography (ejection fraction <40%) according to the predischarge use of ACE inhibitors (n=356) or ARBs (n=372). The clinical characteristics were similar between patients with ACE inhibitor and ARB use except for higher prevalence of hypertensive etiology and diabetes mellitus. There was no significant difference between ACE inhibitor and ARB use in all cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.958, 95% CI 0.601-1.527, P=0.858) and rehospitalization (adjusted HR 0.964, 95% CI 0.683-1.362, P=0.836). The effects of ACE inhibitor and ARB use on the outcomes were generally consistent across all clinically relevant subgroups examined, including age, sex, etiology, EF, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and β-blocker use. Discharge use of ARBs provided comparable effects with ACE inhibitors on outcomes in patients hospitalized for HF. These findings provide further support for guideline recommendations that ARBs can be used in patients with HF and LVSD as an alternative of ACE inhibitors

Chronic Kidney Disease as an Independent Risk for Long-Term Adverse Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure in Japan

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that renal dysfunction is common in patients with heart failure (HF), but it is not known whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased risks of long-term adverse outcomes in unselected HF patients encountered in current routine clinical practice in Japan. Methods and Results: The Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD) prospectively studied a broad sample of patients hospitalized with worsening HF and their outcomes with an average of 2.4 years of follow-up. The study cohort (n=2,013) were classified into 3 groups by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): ≥60 (n=579), 30-59 (n=1,025), and <30 ml · min-1 · 1.73 m-2 or patients with dialysis (n=409); 1,372 patients (70.3%) had an eGFR <60 ml · min-1 · 1.73 m-2 and 62 patients were treated with dialysis. The multivariable adjusted risk for all-cause death or rehospitalization increased with reduced eGFR; an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.520 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.186-1.949) for eGFR 30-59 ml · min-1 · 1.73 m-2 (P=0.001) and HR 2.566 (95%CI 1.885-3.492) for eGFR <30 ml · min-1 · 1.73 m-2 or patients with dialysis (P<0.001). Conclusions: CKD is common in HF and was independently associated with long-term adverse outcomes in a broad cohort of Japanese patients. (Circ J 2009; 73: 1442 - 1447

Effects of Atrial Fibrillation on Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure in Japan

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in patients with heart failure (HF), but its prognostic importance is controversial. The effect of AF on long-term outcomes, including mortality and rehospitalization, among unselected HF patients hospitalized with HF in routine clinical practice in Japan was assessed in the present study. Methods and Results: The Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD) prospectively studied the characteristics and treatment strategies of a broad sample of patients hospitalized with worsening HF and the outcomes were followed with an average of 2.4 years of follow-up. The study cohort (n=2,659) was grouped according to the presence (n=937; 35.2%) or absence (n=1,722; 64.8%) of AF at baseline. After multivariable adjustment, patients with and without AF had a comparable risk for all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.931, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.690-1.258, P=0.643), cardiac death (adjusted HR 0.949, 95%CI 0.655-1.377, P=0.784), rehospitalization because of the worsening HF (adjusted HR 1.028, 95%CI 0.816-1.295, P=0.816), and all-cause death or rehospitalization (adjusted HR 1.039, 95%CI 0.842-1.281, P=0.722). Conclusions: Among patients hospitalized for HF in Japan, AF was common, but was not an independent risk for long-term adverse outcomes, including death or rehospitalization, in routine clinical practice. (Circ J 2009; 73: 2084-2090