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.

A reduction in BMI among adults is associated with lower health care spending, study suggests

A study reveals that weight loss can lead to significant healthcare savings, with 7% savings for a 5% BMI reduction and 30% for a 25% reduction in adults.

6 Dec 2024

AI tool for heart failure screening demonstrates long-term cost savings

Earlier research showed that primary care clinicians using AI-ECG tools identified more unknown cases of a weak heart pump, also called low ejection fraction, than without AI. New study findings published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health suggest that this type of screening is also cost-effective in the long term, especially in outpatient settings.

5 Dec 2024

Brief bursts of activity linked to heart health benefits for women

Research shows 3.4 minutes of daily VILPA is associated with a 45% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events, highlighting sex differences in benefits.

5 Dec 2024

American Heart Association launches initiative to improve hypertrophic cardiomyopathy care

An estimated 1 in 500 people in the U.S. are living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - the most common inherited heart disease - and many are unaware.

4 Dec 2024

Short bursts of vigorous activity may lower cardiovascular risk in women

Short bursts of incidental vigorous physical exertion, lasting less than a minute each, may almost halve the risk of a major cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or heart failure among women who don't exercise regularly, finds research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

3 Dec 2024

Upcoding practices by hospitals lead to billions in extra payments

In five states over nearly a decade, hospitals have increased how frequently they document patients as needing the highest intensity care, which has led to hospitals receiving billions in extra payments from health plans and government programs, according to a new RAND study.

3 Dec 2024

Overcoming challenges in developing cell therapies for heart disease

Pathways to new treatments for heart failure take time - as long as four decades for two now accepted therapies. So, new attempts to repair scar tissue in infarcted hearts using cells or cell products need more time to develop clinical therapies that can reduce risk of death from heart failure after a heart attack.

3 Dec 2024

Study reveals pathways behind organ damage in severe COVID-19

New research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on the pathways that drive organ damage and death in severe COVID-19 and helps explain why survivors of the disease can experience long-term complications.

2 Dec 2024

Homebound seniors living alone often slip through health system’s cracks

Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern.

2 Dec 2024

Heart health benefits soar with regular sleep schedules, research finds

Irregular sleep patterns significantly increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with higher sleep regularity associated with reduced cardiovascular risks. This large UK Biobank study underscores the need to prioritize sleep regularity in public health and clinical guidelines.

1 Dec 2024

GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce kidney failure risk and cardiovascular events

Researchers evaluate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on kidney and cardiovascular outcomes.

27 Nov 2024

Insulin resistance linked to increased risk of aortic stenosis

A large new population study of men over 45 indicates insulin resistance may be an important risk factor for the development of the world's most common heart valve disease – aortic stenosis (AS).

27 Nov 2024

Irregular sleep may elevate risk of major cardiovascular events

An irregular sleep-wake cycle is associated with a heightened risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, even for those who clock up the recommended nightly hours of shut-eye, finds research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

26 Nov 2024

Emory University Hospital performs first U.S. implant of novel ventricular assist device

On Nov. 18, the heart failure and transplantation team at Emory University Hospital (EUH) made history, performing the first-ever surgical implantation in the United States of a brand-new type of ventricular assist device (VAD), which provides crucial care to patients with failing hearts.

26 Nov 2024

Study suggests a key to kick-start the heart's own repair mechanism

After severe heart failure, the ability of the heart to heal by forming new cells is very low. However, after receiving treatment with a supportive heart pump, the capacity of a damaged heart to repair itself with new muscle cells becomes significantly higher, even higher than in a healthy heart.

21 Nov 2024

Natural fat molecule shows promise for treating diabetic heart disease

Monash University drug discovery researchers have found that a natural fat molecule called ‘lipoxin A4’ (LXA4) could significantly reduce inflammation and improve function for diabetic hearts.

21 Nov 2024

Titrzepatide reduces risk of death or worsening heart failure for patients with obesity-related heart failure

Weight-loss and diabetes drug tirzepatide can reduce the risk of death or worsening heart failure for patients with heart failure, preserved heart pump function and obesity, new research from UVA Health reveals.

21 Nov 2024

CRISPR-based therapy shown to be safe, effective for people with transthyretin amyloidosis

A new type of therapy that 'edits' a gene in patients with a rare heart condition has been shown to be safe and effective, according to research from UCL and the Royal Free Hospital.

20 Nov 2024

Study links GERD to increased cardiovascular risk factors

A recent study published in the Journal of Translational Internal Medicine (https://doi.org/10.1515/jtim-2024-0017) reveals significant insights into the broader impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on cardiovascular health.

20 Nov 2024

Study: 40% of newly diagnosed heart failure patients also have atrial fibrillation

A new study by researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City finds that 40 percent of newly diagnosed heart failure patients also have atrial fibrillation – a combination of cardiac disorders that researchers found results in significantly poorer outcomes for patients.

19 Nov 2024