Prognostic value of ultrasound-assessed upper limb muscle thickness on mortality in older patients with heart failure: A post-hoc analysis of the SONIC-HF cohort study.

Background And Aims: Upper limb muscle thickness assessed by ultrasound could be useful to estimate whole body muscle mass. We investigated the association between low upper limb muscle thickness and prognosis in older patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: This study was a post-hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter cohort, namely, the SONIC-HF study.

Design, Rational, and Baseline Characteristics of the SONIC-HF Multicenter Registry.

Introduction: Skeletal muscle mass and function are crucial for assessing physical frailty, sarcopenia, and cachexia, which significantly impact the prognosis of geriatric patients with heart failure (HF). Ultrasound-based assessment of skeletal muscles offers a non-invasive, real-time alternative to traditional methods. The study (SONIC-HF) aimed to evaluate the feasibility and prognostic impact of ultrasound-based muscle assessment in geriatric patients with HF.

Sarcopenia in heart failure: Comparison of prognostic value between the Asian working Group for Sarcopenia 2014 and 2019 criteria.

Aim: Sarcopenia is a prevalent comorbidity among older patients with heart failure. This study aimed to evaluate the differences between sarcopenia diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2014 and 2019 criteria in older patients with heart failure.

Methods: This study is a post hoc sub-analysis of data from the FRAGILE-HF study, a prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Association of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Overlap with Physical Function and Prognosis in Older Patients with Heart Failure: A Post-hoc Analysis of the FRAGILE-HF and SONIC-HF.

Aims: The prevalence and impact of cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic (CKM) overlap on physical function and prognosis in older patients with heart failure (HF) remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of overlapping CKM conditions on physical function and prognosis in older patients with HF.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis of the FRAGILE-HF (main cohort) and SONIC-HF (validation cohort), both prospective multicentre studies, included patients aged ≥65 years who were hospitalised for HF.

Improved appendicular muscle strength predicts lower mortality in patients with heart failure.

Background: A decrease in general muscle strength is associated with a poor prognosis and lower physical function in patients with heart failure (HF). We examined whether improved appendicular muscle weakness (dynapenia) conditions would predict a better prognosis and improved physical functions in patients with HF.

Methods: Handgrip and leg strength were assessed before discharge (baseline) and after outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) (follow-up), based on which patients were divided into four dynapenia conditions: non-dynapenia at baseline/follow-up, dynapenia at baseline/non-dynapenia at follow-up, non-dynapenia at baseline/dynapenia at follow-up, and dynapenia at baseline/follow-up.

Associations of Small-Airway Disease with Exercise Intolerance and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Introduction: Small airway is reportedly more susceptible than central airways in heart failure (HF), which may cause poor outcomes. We investigated clinical significance of small-airway disease (SAD) on exercise intolerance and clinical events in patients with HF and reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: We studied consecutive patients with HF admitted for medical treatment and measured maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) on spirometry and 6-min walking distance (6MWD) at hospital discharge.

Association of pre-admission exercise habit with post-discharge outcomes for older patients with heart failure.

Aims: The benefits of exercise in patients with heart failure are well documented. However, to date, the association between exercise habits and prognosis is yet to be evaluated. In this study, we investigated the association between pre-hospital exercise habits and post-discharge prognosis in older adult patients with heart failure.

Effects of Acute Phase Intensive Exercise Training in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) leads to hospitalizations and functional decline in older adults. Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is effective for stable heart failure, its impact on ADHF patients, particularly those without frailty, is unclear.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early in-hospital CR for patients hospitalized with ADHF who are not frail.

Sensory regulation of meal sorting in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Meal sorting in mosquitoes is a phenomenon whereby ingested blood and sugar meals are directed to different destinations in the alimentary canal. We undertake a systematic analysis and show that entry of blood in the midgut is influenced by blood components, temperature, and feeding mode, while sugar solutions are directed to the crop in a dose-dependent manner. Sweet and nutritive sugars, like sucrose and maltose, enter the crop more efficiently compared to non-sweet or non-nutritive sugars.

Associations of cognitive decline with outcomes of cardiovascular rehabilitation in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are often contending with various comorbidities including cognitive decline. Cognitive decline is a risk marker for adverse outcomes in these patients. On the other hand, cardiovascular rehabilitation (CVR) improves clinical outcomes.

Orthostatic Heart Rate Changes and Prognostic Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: Heart rate typically increases during postural changes from a supine to a standing position due to autonomic and hemodynamic factors. Changes in heart rate during orthostasis may reflect the extent of autonomic dysfunction in patients with heart failure (HF). Thus, orthostatic heart rate changes may be useful for evaluating autonomic function and may predict prognosis.

Association Between Amount of Physical Activity and Clinical Outcomes After Treatment for Cardiovascular Disease in Cancer Survivors.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity before the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and clinical outcomes in cancer survivors.

Methods And Results: We analyzed 904 cancer survivors (median age [interquartile range] 75 [68-80] years; 297 [32.9%] patients were female) who required hospitalization for treatment of CVD.

Prognostic Value of Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium Criteria in Older Patients with Heart Failure.

Objectives: The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019 (AWGS 2019) emphasized muscle mass measurements. In contrast, the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) prioritizes functional strength and mobility. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the prognostic utility of the SDOC and AWGS 2019 criteria for all-cause mortality in older patients with heart failure.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Driven Frailty Prediction Using Electronic Health Records in Hospitalized Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: This study aimed to create a deep learning model for predicting phenotypic physical frailty from electronic medical record information in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Methods And Results: This single-center retrospective study enrolled patients who could be assessed for physical frailty according to cardiovascular health study criteria (25.5% [691/2,705] of the patients were frail).

Prognostic value of Borg scale following 6-min walk test in hospitalized older patients with heart failure.

Aims: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a widely accepted tool for evaluating exercise tolerance and physical capacity, and the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) is an established prognostic factor in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the prognostic implications of post-6MWT dyspnoea remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of Borg scores after the 6MWT in patients with HF.

Prognostic value of weight loss in hospitalized patients with heart failure.

Background: Weight loss is a poor prognostic factor in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). However, whether the same is true for hospitalized patients with HF is unknown, even though hospitalization is the first opportunity for many patients to be diagnosed with HF. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of weight loss in patients hospitalized for HF.

Lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio and score in patients with heart failure: Nutritional status, physical function, and prognosis.

Aims: In heart failure (HF), inflammation is linked to malnutrition and impaired physical function. In this study, we aimed to assess how novel nutritional-inflammatory markers and lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) and score (LCS) are associated with the nutritional status, physical function, and prognosis of patients with HF.

Methods And Results: This study was a secondary analysis of the FRAGILE-HF study, a prospective observational study conducted across 15 hospitals in Japan.