The role of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in functional mitral regurgitation: key takeaways from the MATTERHORN and RESHAPE-HF2 trials.

Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common complication in heart failure (HF) and remains a major contributor to adverse outcomes despite advances in pharmacologic therapy. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) can lead to reverse remodeling and reduce MR severity in some patients, but many continue to experience symptomatic, moderate-to-severe MR. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with the MitraClip® device has emerged as an important therapeutic option, particularly in patients who remain symptomatic despite optimized GDMT.

Celebrating a decade of the HFA young community: Achievements and future directions by the HFA Young Committee.

The Heart Failure Association (HFA) Young initiative, established in 2014, welcomes all HFA members under 40 years of age, including physicians, scientists, nurses and allied health professionals. Its primary aim is to foster the growth of the next generation of heart failure (HF) specialists through a variety of educational and career-building programmes such as the monthly HFA Cardiotalk Podcast, the quarterly HFA Journal Club and the Career Café. The members also have the possibility to participate in the construction of the annual HFA congress programme and benefit from travel grants for the HFA Congress, and networking events at scientific meetings.

Effect of pulmonary artery pressure-guided management on outcomes of patients with heart failure outside clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world evidence with the CardioMEMS Heart Failure System.

Aims: Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP)-guided heart failure (HF) management using the CardioMEMS HF System improves patient outcomes in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Our aim was to systematically assess its impact on outcomes of HF patients receiving the device in a non-RCT setting.

Methods And Results: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.

Heart failure burden and care among cardiology inpatients: insights from the Hellenic Cardiorenal Morbidity Snapshot (HECMOS) study.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) burden and care varies significantly across different countries. We aimed to illustrate the clinical characteristics and HF-related care among cardiology inpatients in Greece.

Methods: We collected information about all cardiology inpatients on the 3rd of March 2022.

Heart and brain interactions in heart failure: pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical perspectives.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex and debilitating syndrome that affects millions of people worldwide. In addition to the syndrome-related functional limitations, such as exercise intolerance and dyspnea, patients frequently suffer from various comorbidities. Neuropsychiatric conditions, including autonomic dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and depression, are important albeit underrecognized comorbidities in HF.

Advanced Markers for Hemodynamic Monitoring in Cardiogenic Shock and End-Stage Heart Failure: A Mini Review.

Right heart catheterization (RHC) provides critical hemodynamic insights by measuring atrial, ventricular, and pulmonary artery pressures, as well as cardiac output (CO). Although the use of RHC has decreased, its application has been linked to improved outcomes. Advanced hemodynamic markers such as cardiac power output (CPO), aortic pulsatility index (API), pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi), right atrial pressure to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio (RAP/PCWP) and right ventricular stroke work index (RVSWI) have been introduced to enhance risk stratification in cardiogenic shock (CS) and end-stage heart failure (HF) patients.

Hospitalized Advanced Heart Failure With Preserved vs Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Global Perspective.

Background: Outcomes of hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) and characteristics of advanced HF stage may vary across left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and world regions.

Objectives: This study sought to analyze characteristics of hospitalized advanced HF patients across LVEF spectrum, world regions, and country income.

Methods: Among 18,553 hospitalized patients with acute HF (7,902 new-onset HF and 10,651 decompensated chronic HF) enrolled in the global registry REPORT-HF (International Registry to Assess Medical Practice With Longitudinal Observation for Treatment of Heart Failure), the authors analyzed characteristics and outcomes of patients with advanced HF, defined as previously diagnosed HF; severe symptoms before current admission (NYHA functional class III/IV); and ≥1 HF-related hospitalization in the preceding 12 months, excluding the current.

Rapid Uptitration of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapies in Acute Heart Failure With and Without Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Rapid uptitration of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) before and after discharge in hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients is feasible, is safe, and improves outcomes; whether this is also true in patients with coexistent atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) is not known.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate whether rapid GDMT uptitration before and after discharge for HF is feasible, safe and beneficial in patients with and without AF/AFL.

Methods: In this secondary analysis of the STRONG-HF (Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Rapid Optimization, Helped by NT-proBNP Testing, of Heart Failure Therapies) trial, GDMT uptitration and patient outcomes were analyzed by AF/AFL status and type (permanent, persistent, paroxysmal).

Use of apixaban in adults with congenital heart disease and atrial arrhythmias: The PROTECT-AR study.

Background: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) and atrial arrhythmias (AA) face an increased risk of thromboembolic events. Limited data exist on the use of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants for thromboprophylaxis in ACHD. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of apixaban in ACHD patients with AA.

Cardiorenal multimorbidity in hospitalized cardiology patients: The Hellenic Cardiorenal Morbidity Snapshot (HECMOS) study.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease is commonly accompanied by renal dysfunction. Multimorbidity in hospitalized patients impacts unfavorably on prognosis and hospital stay. We aimed to illustrate the contemporary burden of cardiorenal morbidity across inpatient cardiology care in Greece.

Churg-Strauss syndrome-associated heart failure and left ventricular thrombosis.

We present a case of a 47-year-old woman with a history of asthma and mononeuritis who presented with shortness of breath and fatigue. Heart failure was diagnosed and echocardiography revealed large floating thrombi attached to the left ventricular walls. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of myocarditis and angiitis.

Association of Health Status Metrics with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Atrial Arrhythmias.

The prognostic value of health status metrics in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) and atrial arrhythmias is unclear. In this retrospective cohort study of an ongoing national, multicenter registry (PROTECT-AR, NCT03854149), ACHD patients with atrial arrhythmias on apixaban are included. At baseline, health metrics were assessed using the physical component summary (PCS), the mental component summary (MCS) of the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey, and the modified European Heart Rhythm Association (mEHRA) score.

The Adult Congenital Heart Disease Anatomic and Physiological Classification: Associations with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Atrial Arrhythmias.

The implications of the adult congenital heart disease anatomic and physiological classification (AP-ACHD) for risk assessment have not been adequately studied. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from an ongoing national, multicentre registry of patients with ACHD and atrial arrhythmias (AA) receiving apixaban (PROTECT-AR study, NCT03854149). At enrollment, patients were stratified according to Anatomic class (AnatC, range I to III) and physiological stage (PhyS, range B to D).

ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a 39-year-old patient with "normal" coronary arteries as a thrombotic complication of COVID-19.

We report the case of a 39-year-old male without traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), i.e. smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, familial history of premature CAD, admitted with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and concurrent coronavirus disease-2019 infection.

Cognitive impairment in heart failure: clinical implications, tools of assessment, and therapeutic considerations.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is an important comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). Its prevalence parallels the severity of heart failure, while it is an independent prognostic marker of adverse events. Various factors contribute to cognitive decline in HF, influencing self-care.

Rationale and design of a prospective, observational, multicentre study on the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in adults with congenital heart disease and atrial arrhythmias: the PROTECT-AR study.

Introduction: The risk for stroke in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is increased, especially in the setting of commonly ensuing atrial arrhythmias (AA), namely atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia. Data are limited regarding treatment with non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants in long-term studies involving patients with ACHD and AA.

Methods And Analysis: PReventiOn of ThromboEmbolism in Adults with Congenital HearΤ disease and Atrial aRrhythmias is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, non-interventional cohort study designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in ACHD with AA in a 'real-world' setting.

Pregnancy in a Patient With Tetralogy of Fallot and Borderline Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Management of pregnancy in patients with complex congenital heart disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension has always been a challenge. We are presenting a patient with complex congenital heart disease and borderline pulmonary arterial hypertension who complicated with pulmonary embolism during pregnancy. ().