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Background: Iron deficiency, with or without anemia, is an adverse prognostic factor in heart failure (HF). In AFFIRM-AHF (a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial comparing the effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose on hospitalizations and mortality in iron-deficient subjects admitted for acute heart failure), intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), although having no significant effect on the primary end point, reduced the risk of HF hospitalization (hHF) and improved quality of life versus placebo in iron-deficient patients stabilized after an acute HF (AHF) episode. These prespecified AFFIRM-AHF subanalyses explored the association between hemoglobin levels and FCM treatment effects. Methods: AFFIRM-AHF was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of FCM in hospitalized AHF patients with iron deficiency. Patients were stratified by baseline hemoglobin level (<12 versus ≥12 g/dL). In each subgroup, the primary composite (total hHF and cardiovascular death) and secondary (total hHF; total cardiovascular hospitalizations and cardiovascular death; time to cardiovascular death, and time to first/days lost due to hHF or cardiovascular death) outcomes were assessed with FCM versus placebo at week 52. Sensitivity analyses using the World Health Organization anemia definition (hemoglobin level <12 g/dL [women] or <13 g/dL [men]) were performed, among others. Results: Of 1108 AFFIRM-AHF patients, 1107 were included in these subanalyses: 464 (FCM group, 228; placebo group, 236) had a hemoglobin level <12 g/dL, and 643 (FCM, 329; placebo, 314) had a hemoglobin level ≥12 g/dL. Patients with a hemoglobin level <12 g/dL were older (mean, 73.7 versus 69.1 years), with more frequent previous HF (75.0% versus 68.7%), serum ferritin <100 μg/L (75.4% versus 68.1%), and transferrin saturation <20% (87.9% versus 81.4%). For the primary outcome, annualized event rates per 100 patient-years with FCM versus placebo were 71.1 and 73.6 (rate ratio, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.66–1.41]), respectively, and 48.5 versus 72.9 (RR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.48–0.93]) in the hemoglobin levels <12 and ≥12 g/dL subgroups, respectively. No significant interactions between hemoglobin subgroup and treatment effect were observed for primary (P interaction=0.15) or secondary outcomes. Changes from baseline in hemoglobin, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were significantly greater with FCM versus placebo in both subgroups between weeks 6 and 52. Findings were similar using the World Health Organization definition for anemia. Conclusions: The effects of intravenous FCM on outcomes in iron-deficient patients stabilized after an AHF episode, including improvements in iron parameters over time, did not differ between patients with hemoglobin levels <12 and ≥12 g/dL. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02937454. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women and men with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction may differ in their clinical characteristics and their response to therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with HF and preserved ejection fraction enrolled in the EMPEROR-Preserved trial (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction).Methods: The effects of empagliflozin on the primary outcome of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for HF and on secondary outcomes (including total HF hospitalization, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores) were compared in women and men in the overall cohort and in subgroups defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (41%-49%, 50%-59%, and ≥60%). The effects of empagliflozin on physiological measures, including changes in systolic blood pressure, uric acid, hemoglobin, body weight, and natriuretic peptide levels, were also assessed.Results: Of the 5988 patients randomized, 2676 (44.7%) were women. In the placebo arm, women tended to have lower risk for adverse outcomes, including a lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.56, 0.84]). Compared with placebo, empagliflozin reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for HF to a similar degree in both sexes (hazard ratio, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.69, 0.96] for men; and hazard ratio, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.61, 0.92] for women; Pinteraction=0.54). Sex did not modify the relationship between empagliflozin and outcomes across ejection fraction groups. Similar results were seen for secondary outcomes and physiological measures. Compared with placebo, empagliflozin improved the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score to a similar extent in both sexes (1.38 for men versus 1.63 for women at 52 weeks; Pinteraction=0.77); the results were similar for Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary score and total summary score.Conclusions: Empagliflozin produced similar benefits on outcomes and health status in women and men with HF and preserved ejection fraction.Registration: URL: https://www.Clinicaltrials: gov; Unique identifier: NCT03057951. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Empagliflozin improves outcomes in patients with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction, but whether the effects are consistent in patients with and without diabetes remains to be elucidated.Methods: Patients with class II through IV heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction >40% were randomized to receive empagliflozin 10 mg or placebo in addition to usual therapy. We undertook a prespecified analysis comparing the effects of empagliflozin versus placebo in patients with and without diabetes.Results: Of the 5988 patients enrolled, 2938 (49%) had diabetes. The risk of the primary outcome (first hospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death), total hospitalizations for heart failure, and estimated glomerular filtration rate decline was higher in patients with diabetes. Empagliflozin reduced the rate of the primary outcome irrespective of diabetes status (hazard ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.67, 0.94] for patients with diabetes versus hazard ratio, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.64, 0.95] in patients without diabetes; Pinteraction=0.92). The effect of empagliflozin to reduce total hospitalizations for heart failure was also consistent in patients with and without diabetes. The effect of empagliflozin to attenuate estimated glomerular filtration rate decline during double-blind treatment was also present in patients with and without diabetes, although more pronounced in patients with diabetes (1.77 in diabetes versus 0.98 mL/min/1.73m2 in patients without diabetes; Pinteraction=0.01). Across these 3 end points, the effect of empagliflozin did not differ in patients with prediabetes or normoglycemia (33% and 18% of the patient population, respectively). When investigated as a continuous variable, baseline hemoglobin A1c did not modify the effects on the primary outcome (Pinteraction=0.26). There was no increased risk of hypoglycemic events in either subgroup as compared with placebo.Conclusions: In patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction enrolled in the EMPEROR-Preserved (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction), empagliflozin significantly reduced the risk of heart failure outcomes irrespective of diabetes status at baseline.Registration: URL: https://www.Clinicaltrials: gov; Unique identifier: NCT03057951. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes are independently associated with heart failure (HF), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In the FIDELIO-DKD (Finerenone in Reducing Kidney Failure and Disease Progression in Diabetic Kidney Disease) and FIGARO-DKD (Finerenone in Reducing Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease) trials, finerenone (a selective, nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with albuminuric chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. These prespecified analyses from FIGARO-DKD assessed the effect of finerenone on clinically important HF outcomes.Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 to <300 mg/g and estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥25 to ≤90 mL per min per 1.73 m2, or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥300 to ≤5000 mg/g and estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL per min per 1.73 m2), without symptomatic HF with reduced ejection fraction, were randomized to finerenone or placebo. Time-to-first-event outcomes included new-onset HF (first hospitalization for HF [HHF] in patients without a history of HF at baseline); cardiovascular death or first HHF; HF-related death or first HHF; first HHF; cardiovascular death or total (first or recurrent) HHF; HF-related death or total HHF; and total HHF. Outcomes were evaluated in the overall population and in prespecified subgroups categorized by baseline HF history (as reported by the investigators).Results: Overall, 7352 patients were included in these analyses; 571 (7.8%) had a history of HF at baseline. New-onset HF was significantly reduced with finerenone versus placebo (1.9% versus 2.8%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.68 [95% CI, 0.50-0.93]; P=0.0162). In the overall population, the incidences of all HF outcomes analyzed were significantly lower with finerenone than placebo, including an 18% lower risk of cardiovascular death or first HHF (HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.70-0.95]; P=0.011), a 29% lower risk of first HHF (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.56-0.90]; P=0.0043) and a 30% lower rate of total HHF (rate ratio, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.52-0.94]). The effects of finerenone on improving HF outcomes were not modified by a history of HF. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was balanced between treatment groups.Conclusions: The results from these FIGARO-DKD analyses demonstrate that finerenone reduces new-onset HF and improves other HF outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, irrespective of a history of HF. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02545049. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction have significant impairment in health-related quality of life. In the EMPEROR-Preserved trial (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction), we evaluated the efficacy of empagliflozin on health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and whether the clinical benefit observed with empagliflozin varies according to baseline health status.Methods: Health-related quality of life was measured with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) at baseline and 12, 32, and 52 weeks. Patients were divided by baseline KCCQ Clinical Summary Score (CSS) tertiles, and the effect of empagliflozin on outcomes was examined. The effect of empagliflozin on KCCQ-CSS, Total Symptom Score, and Overall Summary Score was evaluated. Responder analyses were performed to compare the odds of improvement and deterioration in KCCQ related to treatment with empagliflozin.Results: The effect of empagliflozin on reducing the risk of time to cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization was consistent across baseline KCCQ-CSS tertiles (hazard ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.69-1.00], 0.70 [95% CI, 0.55-0.88], and 0.82 [95% CI, 0.62-1.08] for scores <62.5, 62.5-83.3, and ≥83.3, respectively; P trend=0.77). Similar results were seen for total heart failure hospitalizations. Patients treated with empagliflozin had significant improvement in KCCQ-CSS versus placebo (+1.03, +1.24, and +1.50 at 12, 32, and 52 weeks, respectively; P<0.01); similar results were seen for Total Symptom Score and Overall Summary Score. At 12 weeks, patients on empagliflozin had higher odds of improvement ≥5 points (odds ratio, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.10-1.37]), ≥10 points (odds ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.03-1.27]), and ≥15 points (odds ratio, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.02-1.26]) and lower odds of deterioration ≥5 points in KCCQ-CSS (odds ratio, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.97]). A similar pattern was seen at 32 and 52 weeks, and results were consistent for Total Symptom Score and Overall Summary Score.Conclusions: In patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, empagliflozin reduced the risk for major heart failure outcomes across the range of baseline KCCQ scores. Empagliflozin improved health-related quality of life, an effect that appeared early and was sustained for at least 1 year. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03057951. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The FIDELIO-DKD trial (Finerenone in Reducing Kidney Failure and Disease Progression in Diabetic Kidney Disease) evaluated the effect of the nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone on kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes with optimized renin-angiotensin system blockade. Compared with placebo, finerenone reduced the composite kidney and cardiovascular outcomes. We report the effect of finerenone on individual cardiovascular outcomes and in patients with and without history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included patients with type 2 diabetes and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio 30 to 5000 mg/g and an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥25 to <75 mL per min per 1.73 m2, treated with optimized renin-angiotensin system blockade. Patients with a history of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were excluded. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive finerenone or placebo. The composite cardiovascular outcome included time to cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Prespecified cardiovascular analyses included analyses of the components of this composite and outcomes according to CVD history at baseline.Results: Between September 2015 and June 2018, 13 911 patients were screened and 5674 were randomized; 45.9% of patients had CVD at baseline. Over a median follow-up of 2.6 years (interquartile range, 2.0-3.4 years), finerenone reduced the risk of the composite cardiovascular outcome compared with placebo (hazard ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.75-0.99]; P=0.034), with no significant interaction between patients with and without CVD (hazard ratio, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.71-1.01] in patients with a history of CVD; hazard ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.68-1.08] in patients without a history of CVD; P value for interaction, 0.85). The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar between treatment arms, with a low incidence of hyperkalemia-related permanent treatment discontinuation (2.3% with finerenone versus 0.8% with placebo in patients with CVD and 2.2% with finerenone versus 1.0% with placebo in patients without CVD).Conclusions: Among patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, finerenone reduced incidence of the composite cardiovascular outcome, with no evidence of differences in treatment effect based on preexisting CVD status. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02540993. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors improve outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but additional information is needed about whether glycemic status influences the magnitude of their benefits on heart failure and renal events.Methods: Patients with Class II-IV heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% were randomized to receive empagliflozin (10 mg daily) or placebo in addition to recommended therapy. We prespecified a comparison of the effect of empagliflozin in patients with and without diabetes.Results: Of the 3730 patients enrolled, 1856 (50%) had diabetes, 1268 (34%) had prediabetes (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] 5.7-6.4%), and 606 (16%) had normoglycemia (HbA1c <5.7%). The risks of the primary outcome (cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure), total hospitalizations for heart failure, and adverse renal outcomes were higher in patients with diabetes, but were similar between patients with prediabetes and normoglycemia. Empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary outcome in patients with and without diabetes (hazard ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.60-0.87] and 0.78 [95% CI, 0.64-0.97], respectively, P-interaction=0.57). Patients with and without diabetes also did not differ with respect to the effect of empagliflozin on total hospitalizations for heart failure, on the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate over time, and on the risk of serious adverse renal outcomes. Among these end points, the effects of the drug did not differ in patients with prediabetes or normoglycemia. When analyzed as a continuous variable, baseline HbA1c did not significantly modify the benefits of empagliflozin on the primary outcome (P-interaction=0.40). Empagliflozin did not lower HbA1c in patients with prediabetes or normoglycemia and was not associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia.Conclusions: In EMPEROR-Reduced (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction), empagliflozin significantly improved cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction, independent of baseline diabetes status and across the continuum of HbA1c. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03057977. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure persist after years of therapy. METHODS: In the EMPEROR-Reduced (Empagliflozin Outcome Trials in Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) and EMPEROR-Preserved (Empagliflozin Outcome Trials in Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trials, patients with heart failure were randomly assigned (double-blind) to placebo or empagliflozin 10 mg/day for a median of 16 and 26 months, respectively. At the end of the trials, 6799 patients (placebo 3381, empagliflozin 3418) were prospectively withdrawn from treatment in a blinded manner, and, of these, 3981 patients (placebo 2020, empagliflozin 1961) underwent prespecified in-person assessments after ≈30 days off treatment. RESULTS: From 90 days from the start of closeout to the end of double-blind treatment, the annualized risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure was lower in empagliflozin-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients (10.7 [95% CI, 9.0-12.6] versus 13.5 [95% CI, 11.5-15.6] events per 100 patient-years, respectively; hazard ratio 0.76 [95% CI, 0.60-0.96]). When the study drugs were withdrawn for ≈30 days, the annualized risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure increased in patients withdrawn from empagliflozin but not in those withdrawn from placebo (17.0 [95% CI, 12.6-22.1] versus 14.1 [95% CI, 10.1-18.8] events per 100 patient-years for empagliflozin and placebo, respectively). The hazard ratio for the change in risk in the patients withdrawn from empagliflozin was 1.75 (95% CI, 1.20-2.54), P=0.0034, whereas the change in the risk in patients withdrawn from placebo was not significant (hazard ratio 1.12 [95% CI, 0.76-1.66]); time period-by-treatment interaction, P=0.068. After withdrawal, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score declined by 1.6±0.4 in patients withdrawn from empagliflozin versus placebo (P<0.0001). Furthermore, withdrawal of empagliflozin was accompanied by increases in fasting glucose, body weight, systolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide, uric acid, and serum bicarbonate and decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit (all P<0.01). These physiological and laboratory changes were the inverse of the effects of the drug seen at the start of the trials during the initiation of treatment (≈1-3 years earlier) in the same cohort of patients. CONCLUSIONS: These observations demonstrate a persistent effect of empagliflozin in patients with heart failure even after years of treatment, which dissipated rapidly after withdrawal of the drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acetazolamide inhibits proximal tubular sodium reabsorption and improved decongestion in the Acetazolamide in Decompensated heart failure with Volume OveRload (ADVOR) trial. It remains unclear whether the decongestive effects of acetazolamide differ across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods: This is a pre-specified analysis of the randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled ADVOR trial that enrolled 519 patients with acute heart failure, clinical signs of volume overload (edema, pleural effusion or ascites), NTproBNP >1,000 ng/L or BNP >250 ng/ml, to receive intravenous acetazolamide (500 mg once daily) or placebo on top of standardized intravenous loop diuretics (twice oral home maintenance dose). Randomization was stratified according to LVEF (≤40% or >40%). The primary endpoint was successful decongestion, defined as the absence of signs of volume overload within three days from randomization without the need for mandatory escalation of decongestive therapy because of poor urine output.Results: Median LVEF was 45% (25-75th percentile: 30-55%) and 43% had a LVEF ≤40%. Patients with lower LVEF were younger, more likely to be male, with a higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease, a higher NTproBNP, less atrial fibrillation, and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate. No interaction on the overall beneficial treatment effect of acetazolamide on the primary endpoint of Successful decongestion (OR=1.77, 95% CI=[1.18-2.63], p=0.005, all p-values for interaction >0.401) was found when LVEF was assessed per randomization stratum (≤/ >40%), or as HFrEF, HFmrEF and HFpEF, or on a continuous scale. Acetazolamide resulted in improved diuretic response measured by higher cumulative diuresis and natriuresis and shortened length of stay without treatment effect modification by baseline LVEF (all p-values for interaction >0.160).Conclusions: Acetazolamide when added to treatment with loop diuretics in patients with AHF improves the incidence of successful decongestion, improves diuretic response and shortens length of stay, without treatment effect modification by baseline LVEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse events and serious adverse events were comparable for empagliflozin versus placebo in Black patients and White patients (adverse events: Black patients: placebo 88.3%, empagliflozin 85.4%; White patients: placebo 83.6%, empagliflozin 82.9%; serious adverse events: Black patients: placebo 61.5%, empagliflozin 53.1%; White patients: placebo 51.2%, empagliflozin 48.2%); however, the placebo incidence of adverse events was higher in Black patients. Keywords: heart failure; racial groups; therapeutics EN heart failure racial groups therapeutics 101 104 4 12/29/22 20230103 NES 230103 There are disparities in both rates and outcomes of heart failure (HF) between Black patients and White patients, and important questions remain about the generalizability of conventional HF therapies, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and -blockers, to Black patients. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Empagliflozin reduces the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, but additional data are needed about its effect on inpatient and outpatient heart failure events.Methods: We randomly assigned 5988 patients with class II through IV heart failure with an ejection fraction of >40% to double-blind treatment with placebo or empagliflozin (10 mg once daily), in addition to usual therapy, for a median of 26 months. We prospectively collected information on inpatient and outpatient events reflecting worsening heart failure and prespecified their analysis in individual and composite end points.Results: Empagliflozin reduced the combined risk of cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, or an emergency or urgent heart failure visit requiring intravenous treatment (432 versus 546 patients [empagliflozin versus placebo, respectively]; hazard ratio, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.67-0.87]; P<0.0001). This benefit reached statistical significance at 18 days after randomization. Empagliflozin reduced the total number of heart failure hospitalizations that required intensive care (hazard ratio, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.52-0.96]; P=0.028) and the total number of all hospitalizations that required a vasopressor or positive inotropic drug (hazard ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.55-0.97]; P=0.033). Compared with patients in the placebo group, fewer patients in the empagliflozin group reported outpatient intensification of diuretics (482 versus 610; hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.67-0.86]; P<0.0001), and patients assigned to empagliflozin were 20% to 50% more likely to have a better New York Heart Association functional class, with significant effects at 12 weeks that were maintained for at least 2 years. The benefit on total heart failure hospitalizations was similar in patients with an ejection fraction of >40% to <50% and 50% to <60%, but was attenuated at higher ejection fractions.Conclusions: In patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, empagliflozin produced a meaningful, early, and sustained reduction in the risk and severity of a broad range of inpatient and outpatient worsening heart failure events. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03057977. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In EMPEROR-Reduced (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction), empagliflozin reduced cardiovascular death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization and total HF hospitalizations, and slowed the progressive decline in kidney function in patients with HF and a reduced ejection fraction, with and without diabetes. We aim to study the effect of empagliflozin on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes across the spectrum of kidney function.Methods: In this prespecified analysis, patients were categorized by the presence or absence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or albumin-to-creatine ratio >300 mg/g). The primary and key secondary outcomes were: (1) a composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization (primary outcome); (2) total HF hospitalizations; and (3) eGFR slope. The direct impact on kidney events was investigated by a prespecified composite kidney outcome (defined as a sustained profound decline in eGFR, chronic dialysis, or transplant). The median follow-up was 16 months.Results: Of 3730 patients who were randomized to empagliflozin or placebo, 1978 (53%) had CKD. Empagliflozin reduced the primary outcome and total HF hospitalizations in patients with and without CKD: hazard ratio (HR)=0.78 (95% CI, 0.65-0.93) and HR=0.72 (95% CI, 0.58-0.90), respectively (interaction P=0.63). Empagliflozin slowed the slope of eGFR decline by 1.11 (0.23-1.98) ml/min/1.73 m2/yr in patients with CKD and by 2.41 (1.49-3.32) ml/min/1.73 m2/yr in patients without CKD. The risk of the composite kidney outcome was reduced similarly in patients with and without CKD: HR=0.53 (95% CI, 0.31-0.91) and HR=0.46 (95% CI, 0.22-0.99), respectively. The effect of empagliflozin on the primary composite outcome and key secondary outcomes was consistent across a broad range of baseline kidney function, measured by clinically relevant eGFR subgroups or by albuminuria, including patients with eGFR as low as 20 ml/min/1.73 m2. Empagliflozin was well tolerated in CKD patients.Conclusions: In EMPEROR-Reduced, empagliflozin had a beneficial effect on the key efficacy outcomes and slowed the rate of kidney function decline in patients with and without CKD, and regardless of the severity of kidney impairment at baseline. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03057977. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Empagliflozin reduces the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure in patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction, with or without diabetes, but additional data are needed about the effect of the drug on inpatient and outpatient events that reflect worsening heart failure.Methods: We randomly assigned 3730 patients with class II to IV heart failure with an ejection fraction of ≤40% to double-blind treatment with placebo or empagliflozin (10 mg once daily), in addition to recommended treatments for heart failure, for a median of 16 months. We prospectively collected information on inpatient and outpatient events reflecting worsening heart failure and prespecified their analysis in individual and composite end points.Results: Empagliflozin reduced the combined risk of death, hospitalization for heart failure or an emergent/urgent heart failure visit requiring intravenous treatment (415 versus 519 patients; empagliflozin versus placebo, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67-0.87; P<0.0001). This benefit reached statistical significance at 12 days after randomization. Empagliflozin reduced the total number of heart failure hospitalizations that required intensive care (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50-0.90; P=0.008) and that required a vasopressor or positive inotropic drug or mechanical or surgical intervention (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.47-0.87; P=0.005). As compared with placebo, fewer patients in the empagliflozin group reported intensification of diuretics (297 versus 414 [HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.56-0.78; P<0.0001]). Additionally, patients assigned to empagliflozin were 20% to 40% more likely to experience an improvement in New York Heart Association functional class and were 20% to 40% less likely to experience worsening of New York Heart Association functional class, with statistically significant effects that were apparent 28 days after randomization and maintained during long-term follow-up. The risk of any inpatient or outpatient worsening heart failure event in the placebo group was high (48.1 per 100 patient-years of follow-up), and it was reduced by empagliflozin (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.63-0.78; P<0.0001).Conclusions: In patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction, empagliflozin reduced the risk and total number of inpatient and outpatient worsening heart failure events, with benefits seen early after initiation of treatment and sustained for the duration of double-blind therapy. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03057977. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers updates on the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for the management of heart failure and lists the members of the writing group including Clyde W. Yancy, Mariell Jessup, and Javed Butler.

The article focuses on report issued by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) related to practice guidelines on managing patients with cardiovascular disease in U.S. Topics discussed include recommendation for using medication Ivabradine on patients, recommending inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system with Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for patients with chronic HFr EF to reduce mortality and presenting quality of evidence for interventions and clinical strategy.

Background: Inflammatory processes have been identified as key mediators of the deleterious effects of ischemia/reperfusion in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Colchicine is a substance with potent anti-inflammatory properties, suitable for safe use in patients with cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a short course of colchicine treatment could lead to reduced infarct size. Methods and Results: Patients presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction ≤12 hours from pain onset (treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention) were randomly assigned to colchicine or placebo for 5 days. The primary outcome parameter was the area under the curve of creatine kinase-myocardial brain fraction concentration. A subset of patients underwent cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement 6 to 9 days after the index ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. One hundred fifty-one patients were included (60 in the MRI substudy). The area under the creatine kinase-myocardial brain fraction curve was 3144 (interquartile range [IQR], 1754-6940) ng·h(-1)·mL(-1) in the colchicine group in comparison with 6184 (IQR, 4456-6980) ng·h(-1)·mL(-1) in controls (P<0.001). Indexed MRI-late gadolinium enhancement-defined infarct size was 18.3 (IQR, 7.6-29.9) mL/1.73 m(2) in the colchicine group versus 23.2 (18.5-33.4) mL/1.73 m(2) in controls (P=0.019). The relative infarct size (as a proportion to left ventricular myocardial volume) was 13.0 (IQR, 8.0-25.3) % and 19.8 (IQR, 13.7-29.8) %, respectively (P=0.034). Conclusions: These results suggest a potential benefit of colchicine in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, but further clinical trials are necessary to draw secure conclusions, especially considering the fact that the present study was not powered to assess clinical end points. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01936285. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the impact of β-blocker therapy on patients with severe acute heart failure. The study subjects included critically ill patients in need of inotropic therapy. The link between β-blocker use at entry and/or at discharge on the all-cause mortality at 31 and 180 days and β-blocker use groups was assessed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. The construction of cumulative survival curves was done using the Kaplan-Meier method.

The article provides a summary of practical recommendations for the prehospital and early management of patients with acute heart failure syndromes. These recommendations were developed from a meeting of experts in cardiology, emergency medicine, and intensive care medicine from Europe and the U.S. These are based on a clinical classification system considering the initial systolic blood pressure and other symptoms.

The article focuses on publication of clinical practice guidelines related to management of heart failure patients by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Topics include the use of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), ivabradine and valsartan/sacubitril in management of the patients, aim of the associations to improve quality of life of the patients and recommendations to improve patient care.

Introduction: The ESC/EHRA CRT Survey II collected data on current implantation practice of CRT devices in 42 European countries. This analysis focuses on CRT implantation practice with regard to baseline NYHA functional class. Methods and Results: Between October 2015 and January 2017, 11.088 patients (pts) with an initial implant or upgrade from a previous device were included in the Survey. We analyzed 10848 pts with available data on New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart failure (HF) class. Among these, 370 (3.4%) were in NYHA class I, 4083 (37.6%) in class II, 5909 (54.5%) in class III and 486 (4.5%) in class IV. The table compares clinical data across NYHA classes and shows significant differences with regard to age, gender, etiology, QRS width/morphology and indication. The indication for CRT in NYHA I pts was more often a primary ICD indication for HF or a pacing indication with expected need for ventricular pacing. Implant complications were overall low but higher in NYHA IV pts. Conclusion: Few pts in Europe in NYHA class I receive a CRT system indicating overall good guideline adherence. Most NYHA I pts are implanted for a primary ICD indication or for a PM indication with expected high need for ventricular pacing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous data have shown that about 25% of pts receiving CRT have atrial fibrillation (AF) but AF pts have been underrepresented in randomized CRT trials. The ESC/EHRA CRT Survey II collected data on current CRT implantation practice in 42 European countries. This analysis focuses on CRT implantation practice with regard to the presence of AF. Methods and Results: Between October 2015 and January 2017, 11.088 patients (pts) with an initial implant or upgrade from a previous device were included in the Survey. We analyzed 10843 pts with available data on AF presence. Overall, 4582 pts (42.2%) had AF. Permanent AF was present in 1889 pts. (42.4% of all AF pts), persistent AF in 994 (22.3%) and paroxysmal AF in 1548 pts (34.7%). AF pts. were older, had more advanced HF stage and more co-morbidities than pts. without AF (see table). There were also differences with regard to pacemaker dependency, CRT indication and device type implanted. Perioperative bleeding occurred slightly more often in AF pts. (1.3 vs. 0.8%, p=0.002) but the overall complication rate was not increased (5.2 vs. 5.8%, p=n.s.). Adverse events until discharge were more frequent in AF pts (5.4 vs. 4.3%, p=0.01), mostly due to increases in infections, worsening renal function and arrhythmias, but did not more often necessitate re-intervention (4.0 vs. 4.1%). Conclusion: The percentage of pts currently receiving CRT with concomitant AF is higher than previously reported. AF pts are older and sicker than pts receiving CRT without AF. Assuming a worse prognosis in the AF population, there is need for more prospective data on these pts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurohormonal (NH) activation characterizes the heart failure (HF) syndrome and is a well-established therapeutic target. Acute HF (AHF) presumably results from or is due to even greater NH activation, contributing to the high post-discharge morbidity and mortality. Objective: To describe the association between plasma renin activity (PRA) and 3 separate AHF outcomes a) worsening HF (WHF) or death through day 5; b) HF hospitalization or all-cause death through day 30; c) all-cause death through day 30. Methods: A secondary analysis of the BLAST-AHF (Biased Ligand of the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor) Trial, a Phase II, global, dose-finding, randomized, controlled study of TRV027 that enrolled 621 patients. Eligible patients had a history of HF, elevated natriuretic peptide level, signs and symptoms of HF, a SBP > 120mmHg, and an eGFR between 20-75ml/min/1.73m2. The primary trial was neutral, with no differential effect of TRV027 by PRA level. PRA was measured at baseline and divided into tertiles to compare baseline characteristics. Cox-proportional hazard modelling considered PRA as a continuous variable using well-established prognostic co-variates, with α set at p<0.05. Results: Of 621 randomized patients, 578 (93.1%) had a baseline PRA. See Table for several key baseline characteristics. Using doubling of PRA to determine the effect size, PRA was significantly, but modestly, associated with each outcome by univariable association (WHF or death through day 5 (HR 1.11 (95%CI 1.01-1.23, p=0.04)); HF hospitalization or death through day 30 (HR 1.13 (95% CI 1.02-1.26, p=0.02)), all-cause death through day 30 (1.18 (95% CI 1.02-1.37, p=0.03). After multivariable adjustment, PRA was no longer significantly associated with any outcome. Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis from BLAST-AHF, baseline PRA levels were not associated with worse outcomes, suggesting acute neurohormonal blockade may be less beneficial in AHF vs chronic HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]