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Ejection fraction (EF) is still widely used to categorize heart failure (HF) patients but has limitations. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) has emerged as a new prognosticator in HF, independent of EF.We investigated the incremental predictive benefit of GLS over different risk profiles as identified by automated cluster analysis of simple echocardiographic parameters.In 797 HFrEF patients (age 66 ± 12y; mean EF 30 ± 7%), unsupervised cluster analysis of 10 routine echocardiographic variables (without GLS) was performed. Median follow-up was 37 months. End-point was all-cause mortality. Association between risk profiles, GLS, and mortality was assessed by Cox proportional-hazard modeling with interaction term. Cluster analysis allocated patients to 3 different risk phenogroups (PG): PG-1 (mild diastolic dysfunction [DD], moderate systolic dysfunction, no pulmonary hypertension, normal right ventricular [RV] function); PG-2 (moderate DD, mild pulmonary hypertension, normal RV function); PG-3 (severe DD, advanced systolic dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, RV dysfunction). Compared to PG-1, PG-2 and PG-3 showed increased adjusted-hazard ratio (1.71; 95% CI:1.05-2.77, P = 0.30; and 2.58; 95% CI:1.50-4.44, P 0.001, respectively). GLS was independently associated with outcome in the whole population (adjusted-HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05-1.17, P = 0.001); however, profile membership modified the relationship between GLS and outcome which was no longer significant in PG-3 (P for interaction = 0.003).Within HFrEF populations, clustering of routine echocardiography parameters can automatically identify patients with different risk profiles; further assessment by GLS may be useful for patients with not advanced disease.

BACKGROUND: In a prior trial of late sodium channel inhibition (ranolazine) among symptomatic subjects without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and limited myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI), we observed no improvement in angina or MPRI, overall. Here we describe the clinical characteristics and myocardial perfusion responses of a pre-defined subgroup who had coronary flow reserve (CFR) assessed invasively. METHODS: Symptomatic patients without obstructive CAD and limited MPRI in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial of ranolazine vs. placebo were subjects of this prespecified substudy. Because we had previously observed that adverse outcomes and beneficial treatment responses occurred in those with lower CFR, patients were subgrouped by CFR

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between gait speed and the risk for death and/or hospital admission in older patients with heart failure (HF). Background Gait speed is a reliable single marker of frailty in older people and can predict falls, disability, hospital admissions, and mortality. Methods In total, 331 community-living patients ≥70 years of age (mean age 78 ± 6 years, 43% women, mean ejection fraction 35 ± 11%, mean New York Heart Association functional class 2.7 ± 0.6) in stable condition and receiving optimized therapy for chronic HF were prospectively enrolled and followed for 1 year. Gait speed was measured at the usual pace over 4 m, and cutoffs were defined by tertiles: ≤0.65, 0.66 to 0.99, and ≥1.0 m/s. Results There was a significant association between gait speed tertiles and 1-year mortality: 38.3%, 21.9%, and 9.1% (p Conclusions Gait speed is independently associated with death, hospitalization for HF, and all-cause hospitalization and improves risk stratification in older patients with HF evaluated using the Cardiac and Comorbid Conditions Heart Failure score. Assessment of frailty using gait speed is simple and should be part of the clinical evaluation process.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death among women in Western countries, and it is associated with higher morbidity and mortality than in men. Nevertheless, IHD in women remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, and the misperception that females are "protected" against cardiovascular disease leads to underestimation of their cardiovascular risk; instead, women with chest pain have a high risk of cardiovascular events. Women suffering from angina pectoris tend to have different characteristics compared to men, with a high prevalence of non-significant coronary artery disease. Angina in women is more commonly microvascular in origin than in men, and therefore standard diagnostic algorithms may be suboptimal for women. This different pathophysiology impacts clinical management of IHD in women. While response to medical therapy may differ in women, they are scarcely represented in clinical trials. Therefore, solid data in terms of gender efficacy of antianginal drugs are lacking, and particularly when angina is microvascular in origin women often continue to be symptomatic despite maximal therapy with classical antianginal drugs. Recently, new molecules have shown promising results in women. In conclusion, women with angina are a group of patients in whom it seems appropriate to concentrate efforts aimed at reducing morbidity and improving quality of life.