Manejo de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca atendidos en la consulta de cardiología : Estudio IC-BERG

To determine the perception and management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) by clinical cardiologists and to establish a consensus with recommendations. We employed the modified Delphi method among a panel of 150 experts who answered a questionnaire that included three blocks: definition and perception of patients with «stable» HFrEF (15 statements), management of patients with «stable» HFrEF (51 statements) and recommendations for optimising the management and follow-up (9 statements). The level of agreement was assessed with a Likert 9-point scale. A consensus of agreement was reached on 49 statements, a consensus of disagreement was reached on 16, and 10 statements remained undetermined. There was consensus regarding the definition of «stable» HF (82%), that HFrEF had a silent nature that could increase the mortality risk for mildly symptomatic patients (96%) and that the drug treatment should be optimised, regardless of whether a patient with HFrEF remains stable in the same functional class (98.7%). In contrast, there was a consensus of disagreement regarding the notion that treatment with an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor is justified only when the functional class worsens (90.7%). Our current understanding of «stable» HF is insufficient, and the treatment needs to be optimised, even for apparently stable patients, to decrease the risk of disease progression

Ausencia de implicación de la cistatina C en el remodelado ventricular y la insuficiencia cardiaca

La cistatina C (CisC) es una proteasa codificada por genes de mantenimiento («housekeeping genes»). Aunque su valor pronóstico en la insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) es bien conocido, se debate si es debido a su mayor precisión en la estimación del filtrado glomerular, o a su implicación en el remodelado ventricular patológico. El propósito de este estudio fue comprobar si la expresión de CisC se modificaba en el miocardio de fetos de diferentes edades y en el de adultos con diversas enfermedades cardiovasculares, así como analizar la correlación entre sus concentraciones séricas y la estructura y morfología cardiaca en un grupo de pacientes con IC.Pacientes y métodosSe analizaron las correlaciones (test de Pearson y Spearman) entre la CisC sérica y los parámetros ecocardiográficos de 351 pacientes con IC. También se realizó una tinción inmunohistoquímica para CisC, metaloproteinasa 9 (MMP-9) y desmina en 9 muestras de tejido cardiaco procedentes de las autopsias de 4 fetos con diferente edad gestacional y 5 adultos sanos o con enfermedad cardiovascular.ResultadosEn pacientes con IC no se encontró correlación entre las concentraciones de CisC y los parámetros cardiacos medidos por ecocardiografía 2 D. La inmunohistoquímica mostró una débil tinción de fondo para CisC en todas las muestras, independientemente de la edad y la presencia o no de enfermedades cardiovasculares.ConclusionesNuestros resultados sugieren que la CisC no tiene un papel significativo en el remodelado patológico del ventrículo izquierdo en la IC. Cystatin C (CysC) is a protease encoded by housekeeping genes. Although its prognostic value in heart failure (HF) is well known, it is debatable whether this value is due to the greater accuracy of CysC in calculating the glomerular filtration rate or to its involvement in pathological ventricular remodelling. The aim of this study was to determine whether CysC expression changes in the myocardium of foetuses of different ages and in the myocardium of adults with various cardiovascular diseases, as well as to analyse the correlation between its serum concentrations and cardiac structure and morphology in a patient group with HF. Patients and methods We analysed the correlations (Pearson''s r and Spearman''s test) between the serum CysC levels and echocardiographic parameters of 351 patients with HF. We also performed immunohistochemical staining for CysC, metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and desmin in 9 cardiac tissue samples from autopsies of 4 foetuses of different gestational ages and 5 healthy adults or adults with cardiovascular disease. Results For the patients with HF, there was no correlation between the CysC concentrations and the cardiac parameters measured by 2 D echocardiography. The immunohistochemistry showed a weak background staining for CysC in all samples, regardless of age and the presence or absence of cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions Our results suggest that CysC does not have a significant role in the pathological remodelling of the left ventricle in HF

Registro Español de Trasplante Cardiaco. XXXI Informe Oficial de la Asociación de Insuficiencia Cardiaca de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología

Introducción y objetivos Se presentan las características clínicas y los resultados de los trasplantes cardiacos realizados en España con la actualización correspondiente a 2019. Métodos Se describen las características clínicas y los resultados de los trasplantes cardiacos realizados en 2019, así como las tendencias de estos en el periodo 2010-2018. Resultados En 2019 se realizaron 300 trasplantes (8.794 desde 1984; 2.745 entre 2010 y 2019). Respecto a años previos, los cambios más llamativos son el descenso hasta el 38% de los trasplantes realizados en código urgente, y la consolidación en el cambio de asistencia circulatoria pretrasplante, con la práctica desaparición del balón de contrapulsación (0, 7%), la estabilización del uso del oxigenador extracorpóreo de membrana (9, 6%) y el aumento de los dispositivos de asistencia ventricular (29%). La supervivencia en el trienio 2016-2018 es similar a la del trienio 2013-2015 (p = 0, 34), y ambas mejores que la del trienio 2010-2012 (p = 0, 002 y p = 0, 01 respectivamente). Conclusiones Se mantienen estables tanto la actividad del trasplante cardiaco en España como los resultados en supervivencia en los últimos 2 trienios. Hay una tendencia a realizar menos trasplantes urgentes, la mayoría con dispositivos de asistencia ventricular. Introduction and objectives: The present report describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants in Spain and updates the data to 2019. Methods: We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants performed in Spain in 2019, as well as trends in this procedure from 2010 to 2018. Results: In 2019, 300 transplants were performed (8794 since 1984; 2745 between 2010 and 2019). Compared with previous years, the most notable findings were the decreasing rate of urgent transplants (38%), and the consolidation of the type of circulatory support prior to transplant, with an almost complete disappearance of counterpulsation balloon (0.7%), stabilization in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (9.6%), and an increase in the use of ventricular assist devices (29.0%). Survival from 2016 to 2018 was similar to that from 2013 to 2015 (P = .34). Survival in both these periods was better than that from 2010 to 2012 (P = .002 and P = .01, respectively). Conclusions: Heart transplant activity has remained stable during the last few years, as have outcomes (in terms of survival). There has been a trend to a lower rate of urgent transplants and to a higher use of ventricular assist devices prior to transplant

Effect of low-dose colchicine in acute and chronic coronary syndromes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Sparse evidence of the prognostic benefit of the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine in chronic and acute coronary syndromes (CCS/ACS) exists. Methods: We performed a systematic search of studies on CCS or ACS comparing colchicine vs. placebo and reporting data on cardiovascular outcomes (primary end points of each study) and/or changes in hs-CRP. Results: Ten studies were selected: three on CCS (LoDoCo, LoDoCo2 and the CCS subgroup of COLCHICINE-PCI; total patient number = 6256), three on ACS (COLCOT, COPS, ACS subgroup of COLCHICINE-PCI; n = 5,654) and five (n = 532) on hs-CRP changes from 1 week to 12 months, in CCS and/or ACS. In patients with CCS, colchicine reduced by 49% risk of a composite end point (hazard ratio [HR] 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32 to 0.81, P =.005). The favourable effect of colchicine on the risk of cardiovascular events did not change when excluding COLCHICINE-PCI from analysis (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.03, P =.061). In patients with ACS, the use of colchicine tended to decrease the occurrence of the combined end point compared with placebo (HR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.05, P =.100), and colchicine became significantly protective when removing COLCHICINE-PCI from analysis (HR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.92, P =.009). Furthermore, colchicine tended to reduce the hs-CRP increase (standardized mean difference=−0.31, 95% CI −0.72 to 0.1, P =.133) compared with placebo. Conclusions: Colchicine therapy near halves the risk of cardiovascular events in CCS compared with placebo and is associated with a nonsignificant 23% risk reduction in ACS, together with a trend towards a greater reduction of hs-CRP. © 2020 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Lt

Rationale and design of the AFFIRM-AHF trial: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing the effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose on hospitalisations and mortality in iron-deficient patients admitted for acute heart failure

Aims: Iron deficiency (ID) is a common co-morbidity in heart failure (HF), associated with impaired functional capacity, poor quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment with intravenous (i.v.) ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) has shown improvements in functional capacity, symptoms and quality of life in stable HF patients with reduced ejection fraction. The effect of i.v. iron supplementation on morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalised for acute HF (AHF) and who have ID has yet to be established. The objective of the present article is to present the rationale and design of the AFFIRM-AHF trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02937454) which will investigate the effect of i.v. FCM (vs. placebo) on recurrent HF hospitalisations and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in iron-deficient patients hospitalised for AHF. Methods: AFFIRM-AHF is a multicentre, randomised (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial which recruited 1100 patients hospitalised for AHF and who had iron deficiency ID defined as serum ferritin <100 ng/mL or 100–299 ng/mL if transferrin saturation <20%. Eligible patients were randomised (1:1) to either i.v. FCM or placebo and received the first dose of study treatment just prior to discharge for the index hospitalisation. Patients will be followed for 52 weeks. The primary outcome is the composite of recurrent HF hospitalisations and CV mortality. The main secondary outcomes include the composite of recurrent CV hospitalisations and CV mortality, recurrent HF hospitalisations and safety-related outcomes. Conclusion: The AFFIRM-AHF trial will evaluate, compared to placebo, the effect of i.v. FCM on morbidity and mortality in iron-deficient patients hospitalised for AHF. © 2019 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure © 2019 European Society of Cardiolog

Genetic Etiology for Alcohol-Induced Cardiac Toxicity

10.1016/j.jacc.2018.03.462Journal of the American College of Cardiology71202293-2302JACC

Circulating suPAR associates with severity and in-hospital progression of COVID-19

Background: COVID-19 disease progression is characterized by hyperinflammation and risk stratification may aid in early aggressive treatment and advanced planning. The aim of this study was to assess whether suPAR and other markers measured at hospital admission can predict the severity of COVID-19. Methods: The primary outcome measure in this international, multi-centre, prospective, observational study with adult patients hospitalized primarily for COVID-19 was the association of WHO Clinical Progression Scale (WHO-CPS) with suPAR, ferritin, CRP, albumin, LDH, eGFR, age, procalcitonin, and interleukin-6. Admission plasma suPAR levels were determined using the suPARnostic® ELISA and suPARnostic® Turbilatex assays. Results: Seven hundred and sixty-seven patients, 440 (57.4%) males and 327 (42.6%) females, were included with a median age of 64 years. Log-suPAR levels significantly correlated with WHO-CPS score, with each doubling of suPAR increasing the score by one point (p <.001). All the other markers were also correlated with WHO-CPS score. Admission suPAR levels were significantly lower in survivors (7.10 vs. 9.63, 95% CI 1.47–3.59, p <.001). A linear model (SALGA) including suPAR, serum albumin, serum lactate dehydrogenase, eGFR, and age can best estimate the WHO-CPS score and survival. Combining all five parameters in the SALGA model can improve the accuracy of discrimination with an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.759–0.836). Conclusions: suPAR levels significantly correlated with WHO-CPS score, with each doubling of suPAR increasing the score by one point. The SALGA model may serve as a quick tool for predicting disease severity and survival at admission. © 2022 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Ferric carboxymaltose for iron deficiency at discharge after acute heart failure: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial

Background: Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose has been shown to improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure and iron deficiency. We aimed to evaluate the effect of ferric carboxymaltose, compared with placebo, on outcomes in patients who were stabilised after an episode of acute heart failure. Methods: AFFIRM-AHF was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised trial done at 121 sites in Europe, South America, and Singapore. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, were hospitalised for acute heart failure with concomitant iron deficiency (defined as ferritin <100 μg/L, or 100–299 μg/L with transferrin saturation <20%), and had a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 50%. Before hospital discharge, participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intravenous ferric carboxymaltose or placebo for up to 24 weeks, dosed according to the extent of iron deficiency. To maintain masking of patients and study personnel, treatments were administered in black syringes by personnel not involved in any study assessments. The primary outcome was a composite of total hospitalisations for heart failure and cardiovascular death up to 52 weeks after randomisation, analysed in all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment and had at least one post-randomisation data point. Secondary outcomes were the composite of total cardiovascular hospitalisations and cardiovascular death; cardiovascular death; total heart failure hospitalisations; time to first heart failure hospitalisation or cardiovascular death; and days lost due to heart failure hospitalisations or cardiovascular death, all evaluated up to 52 weeks after randomisation. Safety was assessed in all patients for whom study treatment was started. A pre-COVID-19 sensitivity analysis on the primary and secondary outcomes was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02937454, and has now been completed. Findings: Between March 21, 2017, and July 30, 2019, 1525 patients were screened, of whom 1132 patients were randomly assigned to study groups. Study treatment was started in 1110 patients, and 1108 (558 in the carboxymaltose group and 550 in the placebo group) had at least one post-randomisation value. 293 primary events (57·2 per 100 patient-years) occurred in the ferric carboxymaltose group and 372 (72·5 per 100 patient-years) occurred in the placebo group (rate ratio [RR] 0·79, 95% CI 0·62–1·01, p=0·059). 370 total cardiovascular hospitalisations and cardiovascular deaths occurred in the ferric carboxymaltose group and 451 occurred in the placebo group (RR 0·80, 95% CI 0·64–1·00, p=0·050). There was no difference in cardiovascular death between the two groups (77 [14%] of 558 in the ferric carboxymaltose group vs 78 [14%] in the placebo group; hazard ratio [HR] 0·96, 95% CI 0·70–1·32, p=0·81). 217 total heart failure hospitalisations occurred in the ferric carboxymaltose group and 294 occurred in the placebo group (RR 0·74; 95% CI 0·58–0·94, p=0·013). The composite of first heart failure hospitalisation or cardiovascular death occurred in 181 (32%) patients in the ferric carboxymaltose group and 209 (38%) in the placebo group (HR 0·80, 95% CI 0·66–0·98, p=0·030). Fewer days were lost due to heart failure hospitalisations and cardiovascular death for patients assigned to ferric carboxymaltose compared with placebo (369 days per 100 patient-years vs 548 days per 100 patient-years; RR 0·67, 95% CI 0·47–0·97, p=0·035). Serious adverse events occurred in 250 (45%) of 559 patients in the ferric carboxymaltose group and 282 (51%) of 551 patients in the placebo group. Interpretation: In patients with iron deficiency, a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 50%, and who were stabilised after an episode of acute heart failure, treatment with ferric carboxymaltose was safe and reduced the risk of heart failure hospitalisations, with no apparent effect on the risk of cardiovascular death. Funding: Vifor Pharma. © 2020 Elsevier Lt