Heart Failure News and Research

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Heart failure (HF) is a condition in which a problem with the structure or function of the heart impairs its ability to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. It should not be confused with cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction.

Gene transfer therapy not beneficial for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction

Gene transfer therapy aimed at correcting an enzyme abnormality involved in myocardial contraction and relaxation did not improve outcomes in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, results of the CUPID 2 study show.

1 Sep 2015

BCM injection does not prevent cardiac remodeling in heart attack patients

An investigational material known Bioabsorbable Cardiac Matrix (BCM) that is injected through the coronary artery to prevent cardiac remodelling in heart attack patients had no significant effect compared to a saline placebo, according to results of the PRESERVATION I trial.

1 Sep 2015

Benznidazole has significant antiparasitic activity, but does not reduce progression of Chagas cardiomyopathy

A 40 to 80 day treatment with the antiparasitic medication benznidazole significantly reduced parasite activity in the blood, but not progression, of serious heart problems over a 5-year period among patients with established Chagas disease (CD) cardiomyopathy, results of the BENEFIT trial show.

1 Sep 2015

ASV therapy used to treat central sleep apnoea in heart failure patients increases mortality

Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy increases mortality and should not be used to treat central sleep apnoea in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, the SERVE-HF trial shows.

1 Sep 2015

Study: Inner-city neighbourhoods may affect risk of dying from cardiovascular disease

The inner-city neighbourhood in which someone lives may affect his or her risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, a new research paper suggests.

1 Sep 2015

After acute myocardial infarction, respiratory infection associated with increased risk of mortality

Respiratory infection is associated with a four-fold increased risk of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Catarina Quina-Rodrigues, a cardiologist at Hospital de Braga in Portugal. The findings highlight the importance of diagnostic alertness for respiratory infections in AMI patients so that therapeutic measures can be promptly taken.

31 Aug 2015

LCZ696 reduces aortic systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure in hypertensive patients

The combination drug valsartan/sacubitril known as LCZ696 significantly reduced aortic systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure compared to the standard angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan in patients with hypertension, according to results of the PARAMETER study.

31 Aug 2015

TECOS analysis shows sitagliptin safe and effective in patients with type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease

Patients with type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease can safely take the antihyperglycemic drug sitagliptin without an increased risk of cardiovascular complications - even if they have a history of heart failure - a new analysis of the TECOS (Trial Evaluating Cardiovascular Outcomes with Sitagliptin) study shows.

31 Aug 2015

Depression, blood pressure predict harmful vascular events in patients with heart disease, diabetes or stroke

Depressive symptoms and extremes of blood pressure predict the highest rates of harmful vascular events in patients with existing heart disease, diabetes or stroke, according to research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Bhautesh Jani, clinical academic fellow in the Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK.

31 Aug 2015

ELIXA trial results demonstrate cardiovascular safety of lixisenatide drug

In patients with type 2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome, the glucose-lowering medication lixisenatide did not increase or decrease the rate of cardiovascular (CV) events compared to placebo, according to results of the Evaluation of Lixisenatide in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ELIXA) trial.

31 Aug 2015

Stroke prevention strategies in elderly should focus on multiple risk factors

The impact of atrial fibrillation on ischaemic stroke risk in elderly patients is eliminated with multiple risk factors, according to an 11 year study in more than 425 000 patients presented at ESC Congress today.

31 Aug 2015

MRA therapy does not improve outcome in heart attack patients without heart failure

Heart attack patients without heart failure derive no benefit from the addition of mineralocortoid receptor antagonists (MRA), to standard therapy, results of the ALBATROSS study show.

31 Aug 2015

Cyclosporine drug does not improve outcomes in STEMI patients receiving PCI

The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine did not improve clinical outcomes compared to placebo in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the more severe form of heart attack known as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

31 Aug 2015

Particulate matter, NO2 air pollution associated with increased risk of heart attacks

Particulate matter and NO2 air pollution are associated with increased risk of severe heart attacks despite being within European recommended levels, according to research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Jean-Francois Argacha, a cardiologist at University Hospital Brussels (UZ Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel), in Belgium.

31 Aug 2015

Peri-infarct pacing may not be beneficial in patients with large myocardial infarction

In patients with a large myocardical infarction (MI), pacing, with the left ventricular (LV) lead placed in the area of the lesion (peri-infarct) did not prevent further enlargement of the heart (remodeling), nor did it improve functional or clinical outcomes after 18 months, according to results of the Pacing Remodeling Prevention Therapy trial (PRomPT) trial.

30 Aug 2015

ESC Guidelines recommend DNA analysis for post mortem assessment in young sudden death victims

ESC Guidelines published today recommend DNA analysis as a fundamental component of post mortem assessment in young sudden death victims. Identification of a genetic cause helps to quickly diagnose and protect relatives.

29 Aug 2015

Individually tailored treatment may help reduce mortality risk in patients undergoing routine surgeries

Cholecystectomy and treatment for inguinal, femoral, umbilical, or abdominal hernia are common surgeries and are considered routine in Germany. In an original article in the current edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 112: 535-43), Ulrike Nimptsch and Thomas Mansky show that fewer than 0.5% of patients die as a result of such surgeries.

28 Aug 2015

Individuals having high blood levels of two closely related proteins experience few adverse health events

Individuals previously diagnosed with heart disease may be less likely to experience heart failure, heart attacks, or stroke, or to die from these events, if they have higher blood levels of two very closely related proteins, according to a new study led by a UC San Francisco research team.

27 Aug 2015

Inpatient palliative care visits associated with improved quality of life for patients with heart failure

A recent randomized trial conducted by researchers at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, part of Allina Health, found that inpatient palliative care (PC) visits were associated with improved quality of life and symptom burden for patients with heart failure (HF).

26 Aug 2015

Amgen to present data on Repatha (evolocumab) and observational studies at ESC Congress 2015

Amgen today announced that it will present six abstracts at the upcoming ESC Congress 2015, organized by the European Society of Cardiology, being held Aug. 29 – Sept. 2 in London.

26 Aug 2015

Heart Failure News and Research

Further Reading

Gene transfer therapy not beneficial for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction

BCM injection does not prevent cardiac remodeling in heart attack patients

Benznidazole has significant antiparasitic activity, but does not reduce progression of Chagas cardiomyopathy

ASV therapy used to treat central sleep apnoea in heart failure patients increases mortality

Study: Inner-city neighbourhoods may affect risk of dying from cardiovascular disease

After acute myocardial infarction, respiratory infection associated with increased risk of mortality

LCZ696 reduces aortic systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure in hypertensive patients

TECOS analysis shows sitagliptin safe and effective in patients with type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease

Depression, blood pressure predict harmful vascular events in patients with heart disease, diabetes or stroke

ELIXA trial results demonstrate cardiovascular safety of lixisenatide drug

Stroke prevention strategies in elderly should focus on multiple risk factors

MRA therapy does not improve outcome in heart attack patients without heart failure

Cyclosporine drug does not improve outcomes in STEMI patients receiving PCI

Particulate matter, NO2 air pollution associated with increased risk of heart attacks

Peri-infarct pacing may not be beneficial in patients with large myocardial infarction

ESC Guidelines recommend DNA analysis for post mortem assessment in young sudden death victims

Individually tailored treatment may help reduce mortality risk in patients undergoing routine surgeries

Individuals having high blood levels of two closely related proteins experience few adverse health events

Inpatient palliative care visits associated with improved quality of life for patients with heart failure

Amgen to present data on Repatha (evolocumab) and observational studies at ESC Congress 2015

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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