Ainhoa Robles-Mezcua, Nelsa González Aguado, Antonia Pilar Martin de la Rosa, Concepción Cruzado-Álvarez, Clara Jiménez Rubio, Alejandro IPérez Cabeza, Juan José Gómez-Doblas, Manuel F Jiménez-Navarro, Mora Murri Pierri, José M García-Pinilla
{"title":"Sex-based Differences in Heart Failure Biomarkers.","authors":"Ainhoa Robles-Mezcua, Nelsa González Aguado, Antonia Pilar Martin de la Rosa, Concepción Cruzado-Álvarez, Clara Jiménez Rubio, Alejandro IPérez Cabeza, Juan José Gómez-Doblas, Manuel F Jiménez-Navarro, Mora Murri Pierri, José M García-Pinilla","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00665-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00665-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Differences in HF biomarker levels by sex may be due to hormonal, genetic, and fat distribution differences. Knowledge of these differences is scarce, and it is not well established whether they may affect their usefulness in the management of HF.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>The different biomarker profiles in women and men have been confirmed in recent studies: in women, markers of cardiac stretch and fibrosis (NP and galectin-3) are higher, whereas in men, higher levels of markers of cardiac injury and inflammation (cTn and sST2) are found. The use of new biomarkers, together with growing evidence that a multimarker approach can provide better risk stratification, raises the question of building models that incorporate sex-specific diagnostic criteria. More and more research are being devoted to understanding sex-related differences in HF. The aim of this review is to review the dynamics of HF biomarkers according to sex and in different situations, to learn whether these sex differences may affect their use in the diagnosis and follow-up of HF patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"379-388"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141065285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arsalan Hamid, Stephen J Greene, Ankit Mehta, Javed Butler, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan
{"title":"Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Slope as an Endpoint in Cardiovascular Trials.","authors":"Arsalan Hamid, Stephen J Greene, Ankit Mehta, Javed Butler, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00668-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00668-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>End stage kidney disease can be a slow process and it may be challenging to achieve required follow-up for sufficient events. Therefore, a surrogate kidney endpoint, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope maybe attractive to assess the kidney in cardiovascular trials, especially heart failure (HF).</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>eGFR slope can generate informative results in a shorter follow-up period, has decreased risk of type-2 error, and is less sensitive to eGFR shifts compared with other surrogate kidney endpoints (eGFR decline≥40% or doubling creatinine). However, eGFR slope has its limitations with acute effects, heterogeneity in slope calculation/reporting, and deviations from linearity. eGFR slope is a kidney endpoint which may be well-suited for HF trials. Cross-collaborated guideline recommendations are needed to optimize the use of eGFR slope as a kidney endpoint in patients with HF.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"407-416"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141097115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patrik Rytterström, Anna Strömberg, Tiny Jaarsma, Leonie Klompstra
{"title":"Exergaming to Increase Physical Activity in Older Adults: Feasibility and Practical Implications.","authors":"Patrik Rytterström, Anna Strömberg, Tiny Jaarsma, Leonie Klompstra","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00675-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00675-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>To evaluate the feasibility of exergaming among older adults, focusing on acceptability, demand, implementation, and practicality. Additionally, to offer practical implications based on the review's findings.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Exergaming is a safe for older adults, potentially increasing physical activity, balance, cognition, and mood. Despite these possible benefits, barriers such as unfamiliarity with equipment, complex controls, and unclear instructions may challenge older adults in exergaming. Based on the experience of older adults, they found exergaming enjoyable, particularly the social interactions. Exergaming was perceived as physically and cognitively demanding, with technical and safety challenges. Introducing exergaming requires thorough familiarization, including written and video instructions, follow-up support, and home accessibility. To be able to follow improvements during exergaming as well as age-appropriate challenges are important for successful integration into daily life. Based on these findings, an ExerGameFlow model for older adults was developed which provides practical implications for future design of exergames and interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"439-459"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11333506/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141632925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cellular Alterations in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction.","authors":"Lars Michel, Peter Ferdinandy, Tienush Rassaf","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00652-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00652-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has emerged as a pivotal advancement in cancer treatment, but the widespread adoption has given rise to a growing number of reports detailing significant cardiovascular toxicity. This review concentrates on elucidating the mechanisms behind ICI-related cardiovascular complications, emphasizing preclinical and mechanistic data.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Accumulating evidence indicates a more significant role of immune checkpoints in maintaining cardiac integrity than previously understood, and new key scientific data are available to improve our understanding of ICI-related cardiovascular toxicity, including hidden cardiotoxicity. New avenues for innovative concepts are hypothesized, and opportunities to leverage the knowledge from ICI-therapy for pioneering approaches in related scientific domains can be derived from the latest scientific projects. Cardiotoxicity from ICI therapy is a paramount challenge for cardio-oncology. Understanding the underlying effects builds the foundation for tailored cardioprotective approaches in the growing collective at risk for severe cardiovascular complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"214-223"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11090976/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140012412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guillermo Moreno, Manuel Martínez-Sellés, María Jesús Vicente-Galán, Lourdes Vicent
{"title":"Pregnancy, Reproductive Factors, and Female Heart Failure Risk and Outcomes.","authors":"Guillermo Moreno, Manuel Martínez-Sellés, María Jesús Vicente-Galán, Lourdes Vicent","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00657-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00657-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of recent evidence on female-specific risk factors related to reproductive status or pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Pregnancy-related factors, including hypertensive disorders and gestational diabetes, increase the risk of heart failure in women, while breastfeeding and hormone therapy may offer protection. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, placental abruption, younger maternal age at first live birth, younger maternal age at last live birth, number of stillbirths, number of pregnancies, onset of menstruation before 12 years of age, shorter reproductive age, ovariectomy, and prolonged absence of ovarian hormones may increase the risk of heart failure in women. Conversely, breastfeeding status and hormone therapy (for menopause or contraception) may serve as protective factors, while fertility treatments have no discernible effect on the risk of heart failure.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"203-213"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140173991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sergio Henrique Rodolpho Ramalho, André Luiz Pereira de Albuquerque
{"title":"Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Heart Failure: Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment for HFpEF and HFrEF.","authors":"Sergio Henrique Rodolpho Ramalho, André Luiz Pereira de Albuquerque","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00660-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00660-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common in heart failure (HF), and it has a significant impact on the prognosis and quality of life of patients. Additionally, COPD is independently associated with lower adherence to first-line HF therapies. In this review, we outline the challenges of identifying and managing HF with preserved (HFpEF) and reduced (HFrEF) ejection fraction with coexisting COPD.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Spirometry is necessary for COPD diagnosis and prognosis but is underused in HF. Therefore, misdiagnosis is a concern. Also, disease-modifying drugs for HF and COPD are usually safe but underprescribed when HF and COPD coexist. Patients with HF-COPD are poorly enrolled in clinical trials. Guidelines recommend that HF treatment should be offered regardless of COPD presence, but modern registries show that undertreatment persists. Treatment gaps could be attenuated by ensuring an accurate and earlier COPD diagnosis in patients with HF, clarifying the concerns related to pharmacotherapy safety, and increasing the use of non-pharmacologic treatments. Acknowledging the uncertainties, this review aims to provide key clinical resources to support better physician-patient co-decision-making and improve collaboration between health professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"163-173"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140317952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation and Management of Hyponatremia in Heart Failure.","authors":"Giulio M Mondellini, Frederik H Verbrugge","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00651-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00651-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>To provide a contemporary overview of the pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment of hyponatremia in heart failure (HF).</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Potassium and magnesium losses due to poor nutritional intake and treatment with diuretics cause an intracellular sodium shift in HF that may contribute to hyponatremia. Impaired renal blood flow leading to a lower glomerular filtration rate and increased proximal tubular reabsorption lead to an impaired tubular flux through diluting distal segments of the nephron, compromising electrolyte-free water excretion. Hyponatremia in HF is typically a condition of impaired water excretion by the kidneys on a background of potassium and magnesium depletion. While those cations can and should be easily repleted, further treatment should mainly focus on improving the underlying HF and hemodynamics, while addressing congestion. For decongestive treatment, proximally acting diuretics such as sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, acetazolamide, and loop diuretics are the preferred options.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"252-261"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139971281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Non-Coding Ribonucleic Acids as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Cardiac Fibrosis.","authors":"Samuel R Olson, W H Wilson Tang, Chia-Feng Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00653-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00653-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Cardiac fibrosis is a crucial juncture following cardiac injury and a precursor for many clinical heart disease manifestations. Epigenetic modulators, particularly non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are gaining prominence as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>miRNAs are short linear RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional regulation; lncRNAs and circRNAs are RNA sequences greater than 200 nucleotides that also play roles in regulating gene expression through a variety of mechanisms including miRNA sponging, direct interaction with mRNA, providing protein scaffolding, and encoding their own products. NcRNAs have the capacity to regulate one another and form sophisticated regulatory networks. The individual roles and disease relevance of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs to cardiac fibrosis have been increasingly well described, though the complexity of their interrelationships, regulatory dynamics, and context-specific roles needs further elucidation. This review provides an overview of select ncRNAs relevant in cardiac fibrosis as a surrogate for many cardiac disease states with a focus on crosstalk and regulatory networks, variable actions among different disease states, and the clinical implications thereof. Further, the clinical feasibility of diagnostic and therapeutic applications as well as the strategies underway to advance ncRNA theranostics is explored.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"262-275"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11090942/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140130958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Relevance of Cardiovascular Exercise in Cancer and Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction.","authors":"Simon Wernhart, Tienush Rassaf","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00662-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00662-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of the review: </strong>Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) has been identified as a threat to overall and cancer-related survival. Although aerobic exercise training (AET) has been shown to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), the relationship between specific exercise regimens and cancer survival, heart failure development, and reduction of CTRCD is unclear. In this review, we discuss the impact of AET on molecular pathways and the current literature of sports in the field of cardio-oncology.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Cardio-oncological exercise trials have focused on variations of AET intensity by using moderate continuous and high intensity interval training, which are applicable, safe, and effective approaches to improve CRF. AET increases CRF, reduces cardiovascular morbidity and heart failure hospitalization and should thus be implemented as an adjunct to standard cancer therapy, although its long-term effect on CTRCD remains unknown. Despite modulating diverse molecular pathways, it remains unknown which exercise regimen, including variations of AET duration and frequency, is most suited to facilitate peripheral and central adaptations to exercise and improve survival in cancer patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"238-251"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11090948/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140854984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pasquale Valerio Falzone, Sara Vazquez-Calvo, Ivo Roca-Luque
{"title":"Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Ischemic Heart Disease: What Is Known and New Perspectives.","authors":"Pasquale Valerio Falzone, Sara Vazquez-Calvo, Ivo Roca-Luque","doi":"10.1007/s11897-024-00656-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11897-024-00656-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of the review: </strong>This review aims to evaluate current evidence regarding ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients with ischemic heart disease and explore novel approaches currently developing to improve procedural and long-term outcomes.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recently published trials (PARTITA, PAUSE-SCD, and SURVIVE-VT) have demonstrated the prognostic benefit of prophylactic ventricular tachycardia ablation compared to current clinical practice. Advanced cardiac imaging provides a valuable pre-procedural evaluation of the arrhythmogenic substrate, identifying ablation targets non-invasively. Advanced cardiac mapping techniques allow to better characterize arrhythmogenic substrate during ablation procedure. Emerging technologies like pulsed field ablation and ultra-low temperature cryoablation show promise in ventricular tachycardia ablation. Advancements in mapping techniques, ablation technologies, and pre-procedural cardiac imaging offer promise for improving ventricular tachycardia ablation outcomes in ischemic heart disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":10830,"journal":{"name":"Current Heart Failure Reports","volume":" ","pages":"174-185"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140305149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}