Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Heart Failure Patients: Does Sex Matter?

Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) predicts poor survival in chronic heart failure (HF). Sex differences in RVD have been suggested but are still unraveled. We studied the influence of sex in the prognostic impact of RVD in chronic HF.

Total cholesterol level decrease predicts higher mortality in chronic heart failure.

Background: In heart failure (HF), lower total cholesterol (TC) levels associate with poor outcomes. Whether TC variations portend prognostic implication is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the impact of TC variation in HF.

Systolic blood pressure increase in chronic heart failure associates with survival advantage.

Background: The impact of systolic blood pressure (SBP) variation on chronic heart failure (HF) is largely unknown. We assessed the impact of SBP variation in patients with chronic HF.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of adult ambulatory patients with HF with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD).

A new simple chronic heart failure prognostic index based on five general parameters.

Background: Prognostic prediction in heart failure (HF) is challenging and no single marker has proven effective. We propose an index based on B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and four widely available parameters.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adult outpatients with chronic HF with systolic dysfunction followed from January 2012 to December 2020.

Hyperuricemia Is Associated With Higher Mortality in Non-diabetic Heart Failure Patients.

Introduction: Hyperuricemia (HU) is associated with an increased risk of incident heart failure (HF) and adverse HF outcomes. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a greater prevalence of HU.

Aims: We evaluated the prognostic impact of HU in patients with HF according to the coexistence of DM.

Platelet distribution width-a prognosis marker in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Increased levels of platelet distribution width (PDW) can predict cardiac death and infarction recurrence in acute myocardial infarction. PDW appears to be a prognosis marker in acute heart failure (HF); however, its impact on chronic HF is still unknown. We investigated the impact of PDW on chronic HF.

Admission and discharge sodium: Chloride ratio in acute heart failure - The importance of electrolytes.

Background: Chloride has prognostic implications in heart failure (HF). The sodium:chloride (Na:Cl) ratio gathers information of both ions.

Objectives: To study the prognostic impact of Na:Cl ratio in acute HF.

Elevated Cystatin C Predicts Higher Mortality in Chronic Heart Failure Independently of Renal Function.

Introduction: Cystatin C (CysC) is a known prognostic marker in cardiovascular diseases and its role in acute heart failure (HF) has been documented.

Methods: We prospectively recruited HF patients followed in a HF clinic. Inclusion criteria: HF diagnosed ≥6 months, optimized evidence-based therapy, and ejection fraction <40% (Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction).

Prognostic association of circulating relaxin-2 in acute heart failure.

Background: Despite the increasing interest in the study of the endogenous relaxin system in heart failure (HF), its role as a prognostic marker in acute HF remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association of relaxin-2 circulating levels with 6 months' mortality in acute HF.

Methods: We evaluated relaxin-2 serum levels at admission in a cohort of patients with acute HF (n = 202) using an enzyme immunoassay.

Quality of nutritional uptake of community-dwelling, care-dependent older adults in Zurich.

Objective: This study evaluated the quality of nutritional uptake of the care-dependent, community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Community-dwelling care-dependent elders were recruited in this study. The food items along with their nutritional content were extracted from the participants' refrigerators and categorized according to the NOVA classification (G1: unprocessed/minimally processed; G2: processed culinary ingredients; G3: processed; G4: ultra-processed).

Even a Low Comorbidity Burden Predicts Poor Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: Patients with heart failure often have multiple cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and comorbidities (CMBs). We evaluated the impact of additive CMB and CVRF on heart failure prognosis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed ambulatory patients with systolic dysfunction between January 2012 and May 2018.

Prognostic impact of red blood cell distribution width in chronic heart failure patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Aims: Red blood cell (RBC) distribution width (RDW) measures RBC variations in size. Higher RDW values have been associated with poor outcome in acute heart failure (HF). We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of the RDW in chronic HF.

Predictors of cancer in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) can occur as a manifestation of an underlying cancer and be of paraneoplastic aetiology. A previously unknown cancer is sometimes diagnosed after the acute PE diagnosis. The identification of a group of patients with elevated probability of having an occult cancer underlying PE was never performed.

Influence of weight variation on long-term mortality of patients with heart failure.

Background: In heart failure, weight loss predicts dismal prognosis. Weight variations have not been addressed in obese patients with heart failure.

Aim: To study the impact of weight variation on heart failure mortality according to body mass index strata.

Benzodiazepine use and mortality in chronic heart failure.

Introduction: The prognostic implications of using benzodiazepines (BZD) in heart failure (HF) patients are still unknown.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association of BZD use with all‑cause death in ambulatory, chronic HF patients.

Patients And Methods: We investigated a retrospective cohort of ambulatory HF patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD).

Cushing's Syndrome Behind Hypokalemia and Severe Infection: A Case Report.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Complications derive from hypercortisolism and are mainly cardiovascular, infectious and thrombotic. Most manifestations are unspecific, and the diagnosis is frequently delayed and made only in the setting of complications.

Low stress hyperglycemia ratio predicts worse prognosis in diabetic acute heart failure patients.

Introduction: Acute blood glucose but not glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) predicts poor outcome in acute heart failure (HF). The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) has been proposed as a prognostic predictor in various clinical settings.

Objectives: We assessed the prognostic implications of the SHR in acute HF patients with and without diabetes.

Prognostic impact of neurohormonal modulation in very old patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: A gap in evidence exists concerning the survival-benefit of neurohormonal blockade in older patients with chronic heart failure (HF). The purpose of our study was to investigate the neurohormonal modulation therapy in older HF patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data on chronic HF patients with systolic dysfunction from January 2012 to May 2018 at a central tertiary academic hospital in Porto, Portugal.

Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis in McArdle Disease: A Case Report of a Rarely Seen Presentation.

McArdle disease is a genetic disorder that leads to impaired glycogenolysis in the muscle, resulting in exercise intolerance, fatigue, myalgias, and basal elevation of creatine kinase (CK). We report a case of a young woman with McArdle disease who had an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring temporary hemodialysis (HD), with subsequent complete recovery of renal function. We aim to report a rare clinical presentation of an already rare disease and discuss the possible causes involved; therefore, contributing to a better knowledge of the disease.

Bradycardia, Renal Failure, Atrioventricular Nodal Blockade, Shock, and Hyperkalemia Syndrome due to Amlodipine: A Case Report of an Underdiagnosed Medical Condition.

We report the case of an 89-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department with BRASH syndrome, an acronym that stands for bradycardia, renal failure, atrioventricular nodal blockade, shock, and hyperkalemia, which is an underdiagnosed and recently described clinical entity. Contrary to either hyperkalemia or atrioventricular nodal blockade alone, this syndrome represents the synergistic combination of both together, creating a vicious cycle. Conservative treatment of each component, avoiding invasive measures like dialysis or pacing, usually leads to complete resolution.

CA-125 variation in acute heart failure: a single-centre analysis.

Aims: A decrease in carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) predicts survival advantage in chronic heart failure (HF); the impact of its variation in acute HF is unknown. We studied the association of CA-125 decrease with prognosis in acute HF.

Methods And Results: We studied acute hospitalized HF patients.

The ratio of furosemide dosage to urinary sodium concentration predicts mortality in patients with chronic stable heart failure.

Introduction: The urinary sodium (UNa) concentration is associated with outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (HF). Its impact in individuals with chronic HF is unknown.

Objectives: This study examined the combined effect of diuretic dosage and UNa concentration in chronic HF.

The prognostic impact of uric acid in acute heart failure according to coexistence of diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aims: Increased uric acid levels predict higher mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) appear to have increased xanthine oxidase activity. We aimed to study if the association between uric acid and mortality in acute HF was different according to the coexistence of DM.