Characterization of Malnutrition in Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: In this study we sought to characterize the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of malnutrition in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR).

Methods: This multicentre, observational study included 802 patients diagnosed with AFMR. The eriatric utritional isk ndex (GNRI) was used as a nutritional risk metric.

PRIME 2.0: An Update to The Proposed Requirements for Cardiovascular Imaging-Related Machine Learning Evaluation Checklist.

The PRIME 2.0 checklist is an updated, domain-specific framework designed to standardize the development, evaluation, and reporting of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in cardiovascular imaging. This update specifically responds to rapid advances from traditional machine learning to deep learning, large language models, and multimodal generative AI.

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.

Artificial intelligence in echocardiography: current applications and future perspectives.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the field of echocardiography. By leveraging machine learning, particularly deep learning, AI enhances image acquisition, interpretation, and diagnostic accuracy. It addresses long-standing limitations of echocardiography, such as operator dependency and inter-observer variability.

Determinants and Clinical Impact of Visit-to-visit Blood Pressure Variability in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Introduction: Blood pressure (BP) affects the prognosis of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the implications of its variability are poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the determinants and prognostic significance of visit-to-visit BP variability (V2V-BPV) in HFpEF.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair vs medical therapy in atrial functional mitral regurgitation: a propensity score-based comparison from the OCEAN-Mitral and REVEAL-AFMR registries.

Background And Aims: Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) commonly affects elderly and frail individuals. The prognostic impact of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for AFMR has not been investigated.

Methods: Patients with AFMR who underwent TEER were selected from the OCEANMitral registry, and medically managed controls were selected from the REVEALAFMR registry, using an identical AFMR definition.

Low Arterial Stiffness by Pulse Wave Analysis and Aortic Diseases.

Background: The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is an important marker of arterial stiffness, providing a blood pressure-independent assessment of vascular function. However, the clinical significance of low CAVI values remains unclear. Some connective tissue diseases are associated with aortic diseases due to intrinsic arterial wall abnormalities and may exhibit low CAVI values.

Prognostic Impact of Sustained Reduction of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide After Initiating Sacubitril/Valsartan - Insights From the REVIEW-HF Registry.

Background: Serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values after initiating sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) are considered a favorable prognostic factor in patients with heart failure (HF). However the relationship between the trajectory of repeated NT-proBNP measurements and cardiovascular events after Sac/Val remains uncertain.

Methods And Results: A Japanese nationwide multicenter study enrolled 995 patients who were prescribed Sac/Val from August 2020 to August 2021.

MAGGIC risk score and drug-related adverse events of sacubitril/valsartan: Insights from the REVIEW-HF registry.

Background: Although the Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) risk score is a validated mortality risk tool in heart failure (HF), its utility in assessing drug-related adverse events (DAEs) associated with sacubitril/valsartan initiation remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between the MAGGIC risk score and DAEs related to sacubitril/valsartan initiation in a Japanese multicenter cohort.

Methods: We analyzed 787 patients with HF initiated on sacubitril/valsartan 100 mg/day between August 2020 and August 2021.

Current findings and challenges on frailty, sarcopenia, and cachexia in older patients with heart failure: insights from the FRAGILE-HF study.

Frailty has increasingly been recognized as an important factor influencing the prognosis of older patients with heart failure (HF). While previous studies have primarily focused on physical frailty, the need for comprehensive frailty assessments, including assessments of cognitive and social aspects, has been emphasized for effective HF management. Although the importance of multidimensional frailty assessment has been highlighted in the past, specific indicators for defining multidimensional frailty and its relationship with prognosis have not been clearly established to date.

2025 Japanese Heart Rhythm Society / Japanese Circulation Society Consensus Statement on the Appropriate Use of Ambulatory and Wearable Electrocardiographs.

Recently, some clinicians have been diagnosing and treating arrhythmias on the basis of electrocardiogram (ECG) devices with low accuracy. In Europe and the US, several statements on the use of ECGs have already been published by related academic societies. In addition, with the relaxation of regulations on media advertising ambulatory/wearable ECG devices, the frequency of use of simple ECG devices by the general public will increase in the future.

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.

An evidence-based tool for screening for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in primary care: The BREATH score.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains underdiagnosed in primary care settings, where echocardiography is not available. This study aimed to develop and validate a scoring system that does not include echocardiographic variables for HFpEF screening among patients with shortness of breath.

Methods: A total of 622 consecutive patients referred for exercise stress echocardiography were evaluated (283 HFpEF and 339 controls).

2025 Japanese Heart Rhythm Society / Japanese Circulation Society Consensus Statement on the Appropriate Use of Ambulatory and Wearable Electrocardiographs.

Recently, some clinicians have been diagnosing and treating arrhythmias on the basis of electrocardiogram (ECG) devices with low accuracy. In Europe and the US, several statements on the use of ECGs have already been published by related academic societies. In addition, with the relaxation of regulations on media advertising ambulatory/wearable ECG devices, the frequency of use of simple ECG devices by the general public will increase in the future.

AI-echocardiography: Current status and future direction.

Echocardiography, which provides detailed evaluations of cardiac structure and pathology, is central to cardiac imaging. Traditionally, the assessment of disease severity, treatment effectiveness, and prognosis prediction relied on detailed parameters obtained by trained sonographers and the expertise of specialists, which can limit access and availability. Recent advancements in deep learning and large-scale computing have enabled the automatic acquisition of parameters in a short time using vast amounts of historical training data.