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Aims: In peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), electrocardiography (ECG) and its relationship to echocardiography have not yet been investigated in large multi‐centre and multi‐ethnic studies. We aimed to identify ECG abnormalities associated with PPCM, including regional and ethnic differences, and their correlation with echocardiographic features. Methods and results: We studied 411 patients from the EURObservational PPCM registry. Baseline demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were collected. ECGs were analysed for rate, rhythm, QRS width and morphology, and QTc interval. The median age was 31 [interquartile range (IQR) 26–35] years. The ECG was abnormal in > 95% of PPCM patients. Sinus tachycardia (heart rate > 100 b.p.m.) was common (51%), but atrial fibrillation was rare (2.27%). Median QRS width was 82 ms [IQR 80–97]. Left bundle branch block (LBBB) was reported in 9.30%. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH), as per ECG criteria, was more prevalent amongst Africans (59.62%) and Asians (23.17%) than Caucasians (7.63%, P < 0.001) but did not correlate with LVH on echocardiography. Median LV end‐diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was 60 mm [IQR 55–65] and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) 32.5% [IQR 25–39], with no significant regional or ethnic differences. Sinus tachycardia was associated with an LVEF < 35% (OR 1.85 [95% CI 1.20–2.85], P = 0.006). ECG features that predicted an LVEDD > 55 mm included a QRS complex > 120 ms (OR 11.32 [95% CI 1.52–84.84], P = 0.018), LBBB (OR 4.35 [95% CI 1.30–14.53], P = 0.017), and LVH (OR 2.03 [95% CI 1.13–3.64], P = 0.017). Conclusions: PPCM patients often have ECG abnormalities. Sinus tachycardia predicted poor systolic function, whereas wide QRS, LBBB, and LVH were associated with LV dilatation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We assessed the interplay between hyperkalaemia (HK) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi) use, dose and discontinuation, and their association with all-cause or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that HK-associated increased death may be related to RAASi withdrawal.Methods and Results: The ESC-HFA-EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry was used. Among 9222 outpatients (HF with reduced ejection fraction: 60.6%, HF with mid-range ejection fraction: 22.9%, HF with preserved ejection fraction: 16.5%) from 31 countries, 16.6% had HK (≥5.0 mmol/L) at baseline. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) was used in 88.3%, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in 58.7%, or a combination in 53.2%; of these, at ≥50% of target dose in ACEi: 61.8%; ARB: 64.7%; and MRA: 90.3%. At a median follow-up of 12.2 months, there were 789 deaths (8.6%). Both hypokalaemia and HK were independently associated with higher mortality, and ACEi/ARB prescription at baseline with lower mortality. MRA prescription was not retained in the model. In multivariable analyses, HK at baseline was independently associated with MRA non-prescription at baseline and subsequent discontinuation. When considering subsequent discontinuation of RAASi (instead of baseline use), HK was no longer found associated with all-cause deaths. Importantly, all RAASi (ACEi, ARB, or MRA) discontinuations were strongly associated with mortality.Conclusions: In HF, hyper- and hypokalaemia were associated with mortality. However, when adjusting for RAASi discontinuation, HK was no longer associated with mortality, suggesting that HK may be a risk marker for RAASi discontinuation rather than a risk factor for worse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients.Methods and Results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P ≤ 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P = 0.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P < 0.001) and there were no differences in causes of death. All-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalization increased with greater age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of 1-year all-cause mortality (restricted to patients with LVEF ≤45%). Mortality risk was significantly lower in patients of younger age, compared to patients aged >75 years.Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF ≤45%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. Because the prevalence of diabetes is rising worldwide and chronic heart failure (CHF) is becoming increasingly common with the aging population, it is timely to examine the impact of diabetes per se on 1-year adverse outcomes in patients with CHF.Research Design and Methods: We prospectively assessed whether diabetes status independently affected the 1-year risk of all-cause and CVD mortality and first hospitalization for worsening heart failure (HF) in a multinational cohort of 9,428 outpatients with CHF enrolled in the European Society of Cardiology and Heart Failure Association Long-Term Registry.Results: Compared with those patients without diabetes, patients with diabetes (n = 3,440, 36.5%) had higher cumulative rates of 1-year all-cause death (9.4% vs. 7.2%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.28; 95% CI 1.07-1.54), CVD death (4.8% vs. 3.8%; adjusted HR 1.28; 95% CI 0.99-1.66), and HF hospitalization (13.8% vs. 9.3%; adjusted HR 1.37; 95% CI 1.17-1.60), all independent of age, sex, BMI, smoking, systolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, HF etiology, left ventricular ejection fraction, hypertension, statin use, and prior stroke or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among CHF patients with HbA1c measurements available at baseline (n = 2,567), there was a significant and independent association between increasing HbA1c levels and the risk of 1-year survival outcomes.Conclusions: The presence of diabetes markedly increases the risk of 1-year adverse clinical outcomes in outpatients with CHF independent of multiple common risk factors. More effective and personalized treatment for diabetes should be considered in this particularly high-risk patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The purpose of this study was too describe the associated baseline features of AF patients with heart failure ( HF) with reduced and preserved ejection fraction ( HFrEF and HFpEF). Secondly, we assessed symptomatic status and their clinical correlates. Finally, we examined independent predictors for 'heart failure' at the 1-year follow-up period. Methods and results A survey of European cardiologists from nine countries, participating in the EURObservational Research Programme Pilot survey on Atrial Fibrillation ( EORP-AF Pilot), was carried out. Of the whole cohort of 2972 patients, 1411 (47.5%) had a diagnosis of HF. Of the AF patients with HF, oral anticoagulants were prescribed to 82.1% and antiarrhythmic drugs in 36.7%. Independent predictors of HFpEF were high body mass index, high heart rate, high systolic blood pressure, low diastolic blood pressure, high CHA2DS2-VASc score, and absence of chronic kidney disease, sleep apnoea, or ischaemic cardiomyopathy. On multivariate stepwise regression analysis, independent predictors of the development of HF were mode of AF presentation, diuretic use, prior HF, COPD, and valvular disease. At 1 year, HF was associated with a greater risk of all-cause mortality (log-rank test, P < 0.001). When HFrEF was compared with HFpEF at 1 year, crude rates were significant for the composite endpoint of 'stroke/thrombo-embolism/transient ischaemic attack and death' (15.9% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.043). Conclusion We provide insights into the clinical characteristics and outcomes in AF patients with HF, who were managed by European cardiologists. Despite a high prevalence of oral anticoagulant use, 1-year mortality and morbidity remained high in AF patients with HF, whether HFrEF or HFpEF. Such patients require a holistic approach to cardiovascular risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current practice of atrial fibrillation ablation (AFA) as a treatment option for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF) across Europe, their clinical profiles and outcomes is still undefined. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) led a prospective observational registry of consecutive patients undergoing AFA, in 27 member countries. The subgroup of patients with HF, followed-up for 1 year, was analyzed and the results are reported. Of the 3582 AF patients in the Registry, 537 (14.9%) had HF. Diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score ≥ 2, structural heart disease and persistent AF were more common in HF than non-HF patients (all p < 0.001). However the in-hospital complications were less frequent in HF patients (5.0% vs. 8.2% p = 0.01). Both in-hospital and 1-year outcomes, including 1-year AF recurrence (15.4%) and repeat ablations (9.5%), were similar in both groups. We subdivided HF patients according to their left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) at baseline into reduced (HFrEF, <40%), mid-range (HFmEF, 40–49%), or preserved EF (HFpEF, ≥ 50%). Most patients were HFpEF (n 375, 77%), 72 (15%) were HFmEF and 8% HFrEF. The most frequent underlying conditions in HFpEF were hypertension and ischemic heart disease, while those most common in HFmEF and HFrEF were valvular and dilated cardiomyopathy. In routine care in Europe, HF patients represent a minority of patients undergoing AFA, and most belong to the HFpEF phenotype. The limited clinical research on AFA HFpEF patients is reflected by the uncertainty expressed in the current AF Guidelines and Expert statements. • A survey conducted by the ESC in 27 member countries evaluated the practice use of atrial fibrillation ablation. • 3582 ablated patients were enrolled, 537 with HF, 77% of which had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF≥50%). • In contrast most randomized clinical research trials focused on HF with reduced LVEF (35-40%). • Such asymmetry in evidence may account for some inconsistency in current Guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• sUA contributes to microvascular inflammation and dysfunction in HF. • Elevated serum uric acid (sUA) levels predict poor outcome in heart failure (HF). • Role of sUA across left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) phenotypes is unknown. • Prognostic role of high sUA was shown in HF patients with reduced or preserved LVEF. Retrospective analyses of clinical trials indicate that elevated serum uric acid (sUA) predicts poor outcome in heart failure (HF). Uric acid can contribute to inflammation and microvascular dysfunction, which may differently affect different left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) phenotypes. However, role of sUA across LVEF phenotypes is unknown. We investigated sUA association with outcome in a prospective cohort of HF patients stratified according to LVEF. Through the Heart Failure Long-Term Registry of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC-EORP-HF-LT), 4,438 outpatients were identified and classified into: reduced (<40% HFrEF), mid-range (40–49% HFmrEF), and preserved (≥50% HFpEF) LVEF. Endpoints were the composite of cardiovascular death/HF hospitalization, and individual components. Median sUA was 6.72 (IQ:5.48-8.20) mg/dl in HFrEF, 6.41 (5.02-7.77) in HFmrEF, and 6.30 (5.20-7.70) in HFpEF. At a median 372-day follow-up, the composite endpoint occurred in 648 (13.1%) patients, with 176 (3.6%) deaths and 538 (10.9%) HF hospitalizations. Compared with lowest sUA quartile (Q), Q-III and Q-IV were significantly associated with the composite endpoint (adjusted HR 1.68: 95% CI 1.11–2.54; 2.46: 95% CI 1.66–3.64, respectively). By univariable analyses, HFrEF and HFmrEF patients in Q-III and Q-IV, and HFpEF patients in Q-IV, showed increased risk for the composite endpoint (P<0.05 for all); after model-adjustment, significant association of sUA with outcome persisted among HFrEF in Q-IV, and HFpEF in Q-III-IV. In a large, contemporary-treated cohort of HF outpatients, sUA is an independent prognosticator of adverse outcome, which can be appreciated in HErEF and HFpEF patients. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]