Search

Objectives: Right ventricular failure following implantation of a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a major driver of mortality. Reported survival following biventricular (BiVAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) implantation remains substantially inferior to LVAD alone. We report our outcomes with LVAD and BiVAD HeartMate 3 (HM3)., Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing implantation of an HM3 LVAD between November 2014 and December 2021, at The Alfred, Australia were included in the study. Comparison was made between the BiVAD and LVAD alone groups., Results: A total of 86 patients, 65 patients with LVAD alone and 21 in a BiVAD configuration underwent implantation. The median age of the LVAD and BiVAD groups was 56 years (Interquartile range 46-62) and 49 years (Interquartile range 37-55), respectively. By 4 years after implantation, 54% of LVAD patients and 43% of BiVAD patients had undergone cardiac transplantation. The incidence of stroke in the entire experience was 3.5% and pump thrombosis 5% (all in the RVAD). There were 14 deaths in the LVAD group and 1 in the BiVAD group. The actuarial survival for LVAD patients at 1 year was 85% and BiVAD patients at 1 year was 95%., Conclusions: The application of HM 3 BiVAD support in selected patients appears to offer a satisfactory solution to patients requiring biventricular support., (© 2024 The Authors. Artificial Organs published by International Center for Artificial Organ and Transplantation (ICAOT) and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Nurse-led disease management programs (DMPs) decrease readmission after acute decompensated heart failure (HF). We sought whether readmissions could be further reduced by lung ultrasound (LUS)-guided decongestion before discharge and during DMP., Methods and Results: Of 290 patients hospitalized with acute decompensated HF, 122 at high risk for readmission or mortality were randomized to receive usual care (UC) (n = 64) or UC plus intervention (DMP-Plus) (n = 58), comprising LUS-guided management before discharge and during at-home follow-up. Residual congestion was identified by ≥10 B-lines detected in 8 lung zones. The outcomes included a composite of readmission and/or mortality at 30 and 90 days, and 90-day HF readmission. Residual congestion was detected equally among the patient groups. The 30-day composite outcome occurred in 28% DMP-plus patients and 22% UC patients (odd ratio [OR], 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-3.1; P = .5) and the 90-day HF readmission outcome occurred in 22% and 31%, respectively (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.28-1.43; P = .3). Residual congestion, identified at predischarge LUS examination in high-risk patients, was associated with early (<14-day) HF readmission (relative risk, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06-1.32; P = .002) and multiple (≥2) readmissions over 90 days of follow-up (relative risk, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01-1.16; P = .012), independent of demographics and comorbidities., Conclusions: Readmission in patients with incomplete decongestion before discharge occurs within the first 2 weeks. However, our DMP-plus strategy did not improve the primary outcome., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors have nothing to disclose, (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: We sought to examine incidence and predictors of eosinophilic myocardial hypersensitivity (EMH) in a cohort of patients in the home inotrope program of a quaternary cardiac transplant center. Patients on home inotropes with progression to heart transplantation or ventricular assist device (VAD) between January 2000 and May 2020 were included. EMH was diagnosed by the presence of an interstitial predominate eosinophilic infiltrate within the myocardium by experienced cardiac pathologists. From a cohort of 74 patients, 58% (43) were on dobutamine and 42% (31) were on milrinone. Dobutamine was associated with EMH incidence of 14% (6/43), with zero cases in the milrinone cohort. Mean age was 52 ± 12 years, 22% were female. More than half (62%) were nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathies, the remainder were ischemic cardiomyopathy. Dobutamine dose [250 (200-282) vs. 225 (200-291) μg/min] and duration of therapy [41 (23-79) vs. 53 (24-91) days] was similar between those with and without EMH. Median change in eosinophil count was 0.31 × 10 9 /L in the EMH group compared with only 0.03 × 10 9 /L in the non-EMH cohort, P = 0.02. Increase in peripheral eosinophil count of >0.20 × 10 9 /L demonstrated good discrimination between those with and without EMH, c-statistic 0.83 (95% CI 0.66-1.0). Heart failure hospitalization occurred in 83% of the EMH group versus 59% in the non-EMH group, P = 0.26. Requirement for VAD was significantly higher in the EMH group (83% vs. 41%, P = 0.05). In conclusion, EMH occurred in 14% of patients receiving home dobutamine. Rising eosinophil count should prompt physicians to consider EMH and switch to milrinone to avoid possible escalation to VAD., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: To describe the use of levosimendan in a quaternary referral center with a dedicated heart failure service and compare its efficacy and safety to continuous outpatient support with inotropes (COSI) among patients with advanced heart failure (AHF) who require bridge-to-decision (BTD) or bridge-to-transplant (BTT) therapy. This study was a retrospective, single-center, descriptive study of patients with AHF who received either a single levosimendan infusion or COSI between 2018 and 2021. A total of 23 patients received a levosimendan infusion, and 14 were started on COSI. Three indications for levosimendan were identified: (1) to facilitate weaning of continuous inotropes, (2) to augment diuresis in cardiorenal syndrome, and (3) as first-line therapy for cardiogenic shock in selected patients. Eighty-three percent (19 of 23) of patients who received levosimendan survived to discharge, and there were few clinically significant adverse events. Overall survival at 12 months among patients who received levosimendan was 74%. No statistically significant difference in survival was observed at 12 months (P = 0.68) or beyond (P = 0.63) between patients who received levosimendan and were discharged with a plan for BTD or BTT and those who received COSI. Levosimendan is a safe and effective short-term therapy in AHF and offers comparable long-term survival to COSI in patients who require BTD or BTT therapy., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Cognitive impairment (CI) is highly prevalent in heart failure (HF), and increases patients' risks of readmission. This study sought to determine whether the presence and degree of CI could identify patients most likely to benefit from a HF disease management programme (DMP) to reduce readmissions., Methods and Results: A total of 1152 consecutive Australian patients admitted with HF (2014-2017) were prospectively followed up for 12 months. Of these, 324 patients who received DMP (1-month duration, including post-discharge home visits, medication reconciliation, exercise guidance and early clinical review) were matched (1:2 ratio) with 648 usual care patients. Cognitive function was assessed either on the day of or one day before discharge using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Outcomes included readmission or death at 1, 3 and 12 months, and days at home within 12 months of discharge. Poorer cognitive function was associated with all adverse outcomes. Compared with usual care, DMP was associated with lower odds of 30-day [odds ratio (OR) 0.60, 95% confidence interval 0.40, 0.91] and 90-day (OR 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.36, 0.77) readmission or death, and with 19 more days at home within 12 months, independent of HF therapy. The effect sizes of these associations were greater for patients with diminished cognition than those with normal cognition (interaction P = 0.036), and might have been more pronounced among those with mild CI compared with those with more severe CI (MoCA score 17-22; OR 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.21, 0.87) at 30 days (OR 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.16, 0.60 at 90 days). Patients with normal cognition had fewer events, irrespective of DMP., Conclusions: Cognitive function may determine how HF patients respond to a DMP. Cognitive screening before implementation of a DMP may allow personalized plans for patients with different levels of cognitive function., (© 2021 European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: Right ventricular (RV) failure after left ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation is a difficult problem. One solution is the implantation of continuous-flow VADs in a biventricular configuration. Disappointing survival and a concerning incidence of right-sided pump thrombosis have been previously reported., Methods: From May 2017 to April 2020, a total of 12 patients underwent implantation of HeartMate 3 (HM3) biventricular VADs (BiVADs) as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. The right-sided pump was implanted in the right atrium in all cases. Adverse events and patient outcomes were determined., Results: Patients were male, and the mean age was 44 years. The etiology was dilated cardiomyopathy (6 patients), sarcoid heart disease (2 patients), ischemic cardiomyopathy (1 patient), anthracycline cardiomyopathy (1 patient), non-compaction cardiomyopathy (1 patient), and arrhythmogenic RV cardiomyopathy with biventricular involvement (1 patient). There was 1 death from multisystem failure. There were 3 episodes of right VAD thrombus (thrombosis or clot ingestion); 1 managed medically, 1 recognized intraoperatively treated with clot retrieval, and 1 requiring pump exchange. There were 3 driveline infections. At 18 months after the procedure, 5 patients (41.7%) had undergone cardiac transplantation, 5 patients (41.7%) were alive and on biventricular support, 1 patient had died (8.3%), and 1 patient had VAD explantation for myocardial recovery (8.3%). Actuarial survival at 18 months was 91.7%., Conclusions: In this small study, HM3 BiVAD in these critically ill patients was used with low mortality. This suggests that the timely deployment of biventricular support with HM3 can be associated with favorable outcomes., (Copyright © 2020 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Obesity and cardiac failure are globally endemic and increasingly intersecting. Bariatric surgery may improve cardiac function and act as a bridge-to-transplantation. We aim to identify effects of bariatric surgery on severe heart failure patients and ascertain its role regarding cardiac transplantation., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of a prospectively collected database identified heart failure patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2017. Patients were followed up 12 months post-operatively. Cardiac investigations, functional capacity, cardiac transplant candidacy, morbidity and length of stay were recorded., Results: Twenty-one patients (15 males, 6 females), mean age 48.7 ± 10, BMI 46.2 kg/m 2 (37.7-85.3) underwent surgery (gastric band (18), sleeve gastrectomy (2), biliopancreatic diversion (1)). There were no loss to follow-up. There was significant weight loss of 26.0 kg (5.0-78.5, p < 0.001), significant improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (10.0 ± 11.9%, p < 0.001) and significant reduction of 0.5 New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification (0-2, p < 0.001). Multivariate models delineated the absence of atrial fibrillation and pre-operative BMI < 49 kg/m 2 as significant predictors (adjusted R-square 69%) for improvement of LVEF. Mean length of stay was 3.6 days and in-hospital morbidity rate was 42.9%. One patient subsequently underwent a heart transplant, and two patients were removed from the waitlist due to clinical improvements., Conclusion: Bariatric surgery is safe and highly effective in obese patients with severe heart failure with substantial improvements in cardiac function and symptoms. A threshold pre-operative BMI of 49 kg/m 2 and absence of atrial fibrillation may be significant predictors for improvement in cardiac function. There is a role for bariatric surgery to act as a bridge-to-transplantation or even ameliorate this requirement.

Aims: This study aims to determine if traditional markers of disadvantage [female sex, low socio-economic status (SES), and remoteness] are associated with lower prescription of evidence-based therapy and higher mortality among patients with moderate-severe heart failure with reduced ejection fraction., Methods and Results: We recruited 452 consecutive class II-III heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients. Baseline clinical data were recorded prospectively. The primary outcome was the association of female sex on overall survival. Secondary outcomes included association between evidence-based therapy delivery and sex and association of SES and remoteness on heart failure therapy and survival. The Australian Bureau of Statistics generated all indices. Median follow-up was 37.9 months. One hundred and nine patients (24.3%) were women. There was no difference in overall survival based on sex (hazard ratio = 1.19, 95% confidence interval: 0.74-1.92, 0.48). There was no difference in prescription of beta-blockers [χ 2 (1) = 0.91, 0.66], angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [χ 2 (1) = 0.001, 0.97], nor aldosterone antagonists [χ 2 (1) = 2.71, 0.10]. There was no difference in rates of primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in men compared with women [χ 2 (1) = 0.35, 0.56]. Neither higher SES nor inner city residence conferred an overall survival benefit., Conclusions: In this Australian cohort of heart failure patients, delivery of care and likelihood of death are comparable between the sexes, SES groups, and rural vs. city residents., (© 2019 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Background Cognitive impairment is a prevalent, independent marker of readmission in heart failure (HF), but the screening is time-consuming. This study sought (1) to identify HF patients at low risk of cognitive impairment (obviating screening) and (2) to simplify a predictive model of HF outcomes by only using cognitive domains that are most predictive. Methods and Results The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was performed in 1152 Australian patients with HF who were followed for 12 months. One-third (376/1152) of the patients were enrolled into an HF disease management plan to reduce early readmission. Postdischarge outcomes in HF included 30- and 90-day readmission or death and days alive and out of hospital within 12 months of discharge. Cognitive impairment-present in 54% of patients-independently predicted HF outcomes. Normal cognition could be predicted with common clinical and sociodemographic factors with good discrimination (C statistic=0.74 [0.69-0.78]). The visuospatial/executive and orientation domains were most predictive of HF postdischarge outcomes. Using either Montreal Cognitive Assessment score or these 2 domains provided similar incremental values ( P=0.0004 and P=0.0008, respectively) in predicting HF outcomes (both C statistic=0.76) and could similarly identify a group of high-risk patients who benefited most from an HF disease management plan. Conclusions Cognitive function independently predicts HF outcomes and may also contribute to how a patient responds to intervention. The time and resources spent on cognitive assessment for risk-stratification in HF may be minimized by (1) identifying patients with low risk of cognitive impairment and (2) simplifying the screening instrument to include only the domains that are most predictive of postdischarge outcomes in HF.

Existing prediction algorithms for the identification of patients with heart failure (HF) at high risk of readmission or death after hospital discharge are only modestly effective. We sought to validate a recently developed predictive model of 30-day readmission or death in HF using an Australia-wide sample of patients. This study used data from 1,046 patients with HF at teaching hospitals in 5 Australian capital cities to validate a predictive model of 30-day readmission or death in HF. Besides standard clinical and administrative data, we collected data on individual sociodemographic and socioeconomic status, mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD]-7 scale score), cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA] score), and 2-dimensional echocardiograms. The original sample used to develop the predictive model and the validation sample had similar proportions of patients with an adverse event within 30 days (30% vs 29%, p = 0.35) and 90 days (52% vs 49%, p = 0.36). Applying the predicted risk score to the validation sample provided very good discriminatory power (C-statistic = 0.77) in the prediction of 30-day readmission or death. This discrimination was greater for predicting 30-day death (C-statistic = 0.85) than for predicting 30-day readmission (C-statistic = 0.73). There was a small difference in the performance of the predictive model among patients with either a left ventricular ejection fraction of <40% or a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥40%, but an attenuation in discrimination when used to predict longer-term adverse outcomes. In conclusion, our findings confirm the generalizability of the predictive model that may be a powerful tool for targeting high-risk patients with HF for intensive management., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in heart failure (HF), and may be associated with short-term readmission. This study investigated the role of cognition, incremental to other clinical and non-clinical factors, independent of depression and anxiety, in predicting 30-day readmission or death in HF., Methods: This study followed 565 patients from an Australia-wide HF longitudinal study. Cognitive function (MoCA score) together with standard clinical and non-clinical factors, mental health and 2D echocardiograms were collected before hospital discharge. The study outcomes were death and readmission within 30days of discharge. Logistic regression, Harrell's C-statistic, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification index were used for analysis., Results: Among 565 patients, 255 (45%) had at least mild cognitive impairment (MoCA≤22). Death (n=43, 8%) and readmission (n=122, 21%) within 30days of discharge were more likely to occur among patients with mild cognitive impairment (OR=2.00, p=0.001). MoCA score was also negatively associated with 30-day readmission or death (OR=0.91, p<0.001) independent of other risk factors. Adding MoCA score to an existing prediction model of 30-day readmission significantly improved discrimination (C-statistic=0.715 vs. 0.617, IDI estimate 0.077, p<0.001). From prediction models developed from our study, adding MoCA score (C-statistic=0.83) provided incremental value to that of standard clinical and non-clinical factors (C-statistic=0.76) and echocardiogram parameters (C-statistic=0.81) in predicting 30-day readmission or death. Reclassification analysis suggests that addition of MoCA score improved classification for a net of 12% of patients with 30-day readmission or death and of 6% of patients without (p=0.002)., Conclusions: Mild cognitive impairment predicts short-term outcomes in HF, independent of clinical and non-clinical factors., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) can reduce symptoms, hospitalisations, and mortality in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and electro-mechanical dyssynchrony. Unfortunately, approximately 30 % of eligible patients fail to respond to CRT. This study prospectively compared electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for the prediction of response to CRT. We performed ECG, echocardiography and CMR on 46 patients prior to planned CRT implantation. Patients were divided into predicted responder and non-responder groups using previously described criteria for each modality. Changes in indicators of CRT response were recorded 6 months post-implantation, and later for transplant-free survival. Less dyspnoea, lower levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, more LV reverse remodelling, and longer transplant-free survival were observed in predicted responders compared to predicted non-responders using each of the three modalities (p < 0.05 for each comparison). Additionally, for patients with QRS duration <150 ms and/or non-left bundle branch block (non-LBBB) QRS morphology, CMR predicted both clinical response and improved longer term transplant-free survival (80 % transplant-free survival in predicted responders vs. 20 % in predicted non-responders, p = 0.04). ECG and cardiac imaging techniques predict improvements in markers of response following CRT with similar accuracy. However, for CRT candidates with shorter, non-LBBB QRS complexes, a subgroup known to derive less benefit from CRT, CMR may predict those who are more likely to gain both symptomatic and survival benefits.