Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation and Exercise-Induced Changes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) is prevalent among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and associated with adverse outcome, yet this bidirectional association remains underexplored.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the pathophysiological and prognostic significance of AFMR in HFpEF, both at rest and during exercise.

Methods: In this multicenter cohort study, consecutive patients with HFpEF underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing with echocardiography, with a particular focus on mitral regurgitation (MR) severity assessment in rest and during exercise.

Left atrial function after atrial fibrillation ablation with pulsed field vs radiofrequency energy: A comparative study.

Background: The impact of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using pulsed field ablation (PFA) on left atrial (LA) function remains incompletely understood.

Objective: To compare the effects of PVI performed with PFA vs radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on LA mechanical function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), using serial echocardiographic strain analysis.

Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, patients undergoing a first-time PVI for PAF with either RFA or PFA were included.

Effects of exercise on cardiac structure and function in patients with type 2 diabetes: a narrative review of prospective imaging studies.

Around 30% of patients with type 2 diabetes(T2D) develop heart failure and this leads to poor prognosis. Treatment with exercise intervention can improve left cardiac function at rest in T2D, but its effects on subclinical HF markers, maximal cardiac function during exercise, and right cardiac function are unknown. This review aimed to synthesize the effects of exercise on cardiac structure and function in patients with T2D from prospective cardiac imaging trials.

Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Secondary Mitral Regurgitation: Design and Rationale of the PRAISE-MR Trial.

Background: Secondary or functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) of atrial origin is prevalent in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and portends a worse clinical course. Unlike ventricular FMR, it lacks evidence-based treatment and is often overlooked. Sacubitril-valsartan may provide benefit in this HFpEF phenotype.

Exercise Echocardiography for Risk Stratification in Unexplained Dyspnea: The Incremental Value of the Mean Pulmonary Artery Pressure/Slope.

Background: Patients with unexplained dyspnea and an elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP)/cardiac output (CO) slope on invasive hemodynamic assessment during exercise have worse clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incremental prognostic value of the noninvasive mPAP/CO slope in addition to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) probability scores and diastolic stress testing in patients with unexplained dyspnea.

Methods: In a multicenter cohort study involving six Belgian dyspnea clinics, patients with unexplained dyspnea underwent exercise echocardiography for mPAP/CO slope assessment.

Semi-Invasive Pressure-Flow Plots Obtained Using Exercise Echocardiography Relate to Clinical Status and Exercise Capacity in Patients With a Fontan Circulation.

Aims: Exercise echocardiography with peripheral venous pressure measurement (CPETecho-PVP) may provide superior insights into the pathophysiology of Fontan failure compared to standard cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Accordingly, we assessed (1) the clinical and hemodynamic correlates of pressure-flow plots obtained from CPETecho-PVP in Fontan patients and (2) the relationship between pressure-flow plots and exercise capacity.

Methods: Forty-one consecutive Fontan patients underwent CPETecho-PVP.

The impact of atrial fibrillation on oxygen uptake and haemodynamics in patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may exacerbate exercise intolerance and haemodynamic limitations in individuals with heart failure (HF). Therefore, we performed a systematic search and meta-analysis to quantify the impact of AF on exercise tolerance (peak oxygen uptake, VOpeak; primary outcome) and exercise haemodynamics (secondary outcomes) in patients with HF.

Methods And Results: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for articles from inception to June 2024.

Associations of iron deficiency with cardiac function, congestion, exercise capacity and prognosis in heart failure.

Aims: Uncertainty exists about defining true iron deficiency (ID) in heart failure (HF) patients. We assessed the relationship of different ID definitions with cardiac structure and function, congestion, exercise capacity, and prognosis in HF outpatients.

Methods And Results: Iron deficiency was defined according to guidelines (G-ID: ferritin <100 ng/ml or ferritin 100-299 ng/ml with transferrin saturation [TSAT] <20%).

Left Ventricular Volume as a Predictor of Exercise Capacity and Functional Independence in Individuals with Normal Ejection Fraction.

Aims: Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with functional disability, heart failure and mortality. Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) has been linked with CRF, but its utility as a diagnostic marker of low CRF has not been tested.

Methods: This multi-center international cohort examined the relationship between LV size on echocardiography and CRF (peak oxygen uptake [peak VO2] from cardiopulmonary exercise testing) in individuals with LV ejection fraction ≥50%.

Rationale and Design of the DECONGEST (Diuretic Treatment in Acute Heart Failure With Volume Overload Guided by Serial Spot Urine Sodium Assessment) Study.

Aims: To evaluate whether early-combination diuretic therapy guided by serial post-diuretic urine sodium concentration (UNa) assessments in acute heart failure (AHF) facilitates safe and effective decongestion.

Methods: The Diuretic Treatment in Acute Heart Failure with Volume Overload Guided by Serial Spot Urine Sodium Assessment (DECONGEST) study is a pragmatic, 2-center, randomized, parallel-arm, open-label study aiming to enroll 104 patients with AHF and clinically evident fluid overload requiring treatment with intravenous loop diuretics. Patients are randomized to receive standard of care or a bundled approach comprising: (1) systematic post-diuretic UNa assessments until successful decongestion, defined as no remaining clinical signs of fluid overload with a post-diuretic UNa ≤ 80 mmol/L; (2) thrice-daily intravenous loop diuretic bolus therapy, with dosing according to estimated glomerular filtration rate; (3) upfront use of intravenous acetazolamide (500 mg once daily [OD]); and (4) full nephron blockade with high-dose oral chlorthalidone (100 mg OD) and intravenous canreonate (200 mg OD) for diuretic resistance, defined as persisting signs of fluid overload with a post-diuretic UNa ≤ 80 mmol/L.

The Oxygen Cascade According to HFpEF Likelihood: A Focus on Sex Differences.

Background: Women are at greater risk for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare sex differences in the pathophysiology of exertional breathlessness in patients with high vs low HFpEF likelihood.

Methods: This cohort study evaluated consecutive patients (n = 1,936) with unexplained dyspnea using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and simultaneous echocardiography and quantified peak oxygen uptake (peak VO) and its determinants.

Non-invasive imaging in acute decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Non-invasive imaging plays an increasingly important role in emergency medicine, given the trend towards smaller, portable ultrasound devices, the integration of ultrasound imaging across diverse medical disciplines, and the growing evidence supporting its clinical benefits for the patient. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) provides a compelling illustration of the impactful role that imaging plays in distinguishing diverse clinical presentations of heart failure with numerous associated comorbidities, including pulmonary, renal, or hepatic diseases. While a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction might misguide the clinician away from diagnosing cardiac disease, there are several clues provided by cardiac, vascular, and lung ultrasonography, as well as other imaging modalities, to rapidly identify (decompensated) HFpEF.

Mitral regurgitation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: The interplay of valve, ventricle, and atrium.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is highly prevalent among patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Despite this combination being closely associated with unfavourable outcomes, it remains relatively understudied. This is partly due to the inherent heterogeneity of patients with HFpEF.

mPAP/CO Slope and Oxygen Uptake Add Prognostic Value in Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Recent guidelines redefined exercise pulmonary hypertension as a mean pulmonary artery pressure/cardiac output (mPAP/CO) slope >3 mm Hg·L·min. A peak systolic pulmonary artery pressure >60 mm Hg during exercise has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, heart failure rehospitalization, and aortic valve replacement in aortic valve stenosis. The prognostic value of the mPAP/CO slope in aortic valve stenosis remains unknown.

Exercise pulmonary hypertension by the mPAP/CO slope in primary mitral regurgitation.

Aims: Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by a mean pulmonary arterial pressure over cardiac output (mPAP/CO) slope >3 mmHg/L/min, has important diagnostic and prognostic implications. The aim of this study is to investigate the value of the mPAP/CO slope in patients with more than moderate primary mitral regurgitation (MR) with preserved ejection fraction and no or discordant symptoms.

Methods And Results: A total of 128 consecutive patients were evaluated with exercise echocardiography and cardiopulmonary testing.

Cardiac dysfunction rather than aortic valve stenosis severity drives exercise intolerance and adverse haemodynamics.

Aims: To study the impact of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) vs. aortic stenosis (AS) lesion severity on left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, left atrial (LA) dysfunction, haemodynamics, and exercise capacity.

Methods And Results: Patients (n = 206) with at least moderate AS (aortic valve area ≤0.

Generalized Pairwise Comparisons to Assess Treatment Effects: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

A time-to-first-event composite endpoint analysis has well-known shortcomings in evaluating a treatment effect in cardiovascular clinical trials. It does not fully describe the clinical benefit of therapy because the severity of the events, events repeated over time, and clinically relevant nonsurvival outcomes cannot be considered. The generalized pairwise comparisons (GPC) method adds flexibility in defining the primary endpoint by including any number and type of outcomes that best capture the clinical benefit of a therapy as compared with standard of care.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: relevance of a dedicated dyspnoea clinic.

Background And Aims: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a syndrome with a heterogeneous presentation. This study provides an in-;depth description of haemodynamic and metabolic alterations revealed by systematic assessment through cardiopulmonary exercise testing combined with exercise echocardiography (CPETecho) within a dedicated dyspnoea clinic.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients (n = 297), referred to a dedicated dyspnoea clinic using a standardized workup including CPETecho, with HFpEF diagnosed through a H2FPEF score ≥6 or HFA-PEFF score ≥5, were evaluated.