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Background Findings from the T.O.S.CA. Registry recently reported that patients with concomitant chronic heart failure (CHF) and impairment of insulin axis (either insulin resistance—IR or diabetes mellitus—T2D) display increased morbidity and mortality. However, little information is available on the relative impact of IR and T2D on cardiac structure and function, cardiopulmonary performance, and their longitudinal changes in CHF. Methods Patients enrolled in the T.O.S.CA. Registry performed echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test at baseline and at a patient-average follow-up of 36 months. Patients were divided into three groups based on the degree of insulin impairment: euglycemic without IR (EU), euglycemic with IR (IR), and T2D. Results Compared with EU and IR, T2D was associated with increased filling pressures (E/e′ratio: 15.9 ± 8.9, 12.0 ± 6.5, and 14.5 ± 8.1 respectively, p 2) in TD2 vs EU and IR patients was recorded (respectively, 15.8 ± 3.8 ml/Kg/min, 18.4 ± 4.3 ml/Kg/min and 16.5 ± 4.3 ml/Kg/min, p 2 in the T2D group (+ 13% increase in RV dimension, − 21% decline in TAPSE/PAPS ratio and − 20% decrease in peak VO2). Conclusion The higher risk of death and CV hospitalizations exhibited by HF-T2D patients in the T.O.S.CA. Registry is associated with progressive RV ventricular dysfunction and exercise impairment when compared to euglycemic CHF patients, supporting the pivotal importance of hyperglycaemia and right chambers in HF prognosis. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT023358017

Aims Recent evidence supports the occurrence of multiple hormonal and metabolic deficiency syndrome (MHDS) in chronic heart failure (CHF). However, no large observational study has unequivocally demonstrated its impact on CHF progression and outcome. The T.O.S.CA. (Trattamento Ormonale nello Scompenso CArdiaco; Hormone Treatment in Heart Failure) Registry has been specifically designed to test the hypothesis that MHDS affects morbidity and mortality in CHF patients. Methods and Results The T.O.S.CA. Registry is a prospective, multicentre, observational study involving 19 Italian centres. Thyroid hormones, insulin-like growth factor-1, total testosterone, dehydropianoandrosterone sulfate, insulin resistance, and the presence of diabetes were evaluated. A MHDS was defined as the presence of ≥2 hormone deficiencies (HDs). Primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations. Four hundred and eighty heart failure patients with ejection fraction ≤45% were enrolled. MHDS or diabetes was diagnosed in 372 patients (77.5%). A total of 271 events (97 deaths and 174 cardiovascular hospitalizations) were recorded, 41% in NO-MHDS and 62% in MHDS (P Conclusion MHDS is common in CHF and independently associated with increased all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization, representing a promising therapeutic target. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT023358017

BACKGROUND: Carotid dolicoarteriopathies (CDA) are a common finding during the carotid ultrasound or angiography, but their potential role in the development of cerebrovascular diseases is still unclear. Aim of this study is to clarify the possible relationship between CDA and the occurrence of cerebral events. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis on 2124 hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk that underwent carotid ultrasound from January 2000 to December 2008. Follow-up data on cerebrovascular events (transient ischemic attack and/or stroke occurrence) at 10 years were collected. RESULTS: The global prevalence of CDA in the study population was 12.9% (274/2124), and carotid kinking was more frequent in females and in the left carotid axis. The percentage of cerebrovascular events among hypertensive patients with CDA was similar to those occurred in the group of patients without CDA (10.94% vs. 10.97%, P=NS), with no differences in the number of strokes (8.39% vs. 8.38% P=NS) and TIA (2.55% vs. 2.59% P=NS). CONCLUSIONS: CDA are not associated with a major occurrence of cerebrovascular events in a high-risk population of hypertensives.

Modifications of lean mass are a frequent critical determinant in the pathophysiology and progression of heart failure (HF). Sarcopenia may be considered one of the most important causes of low physical performance and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness in older patients with HF. Sarcopenia is frequently misdiagnosed as cachexia. However, muscle wasting in HF has different pathogenetic features in sarcopenic and cachectic conditions. HF may induce sarcopenia through common pathogenetic pathways such as hormonal changes, malnutrition, and physical inactivity; mechanisms that influence each other. In the opposite way, sarcopenia may favor HF development by different mechanisms, including pathological ergoreflex. Paradoxically, sarcopenia is not associated with a sarcopenic cardiac muscle, but the cardiac muscle shows a hypertrophy which seems to be “not-functional.” First-line agents for the treatment of HF, physical activity and nutritional interventions, may offer a therapeutic advantage in sarcopenic patients irrespective of HF. Thus, sarcopenia is highly prevalent in patients with HF, contributing to its poor prognosis, and both conditions could benefit from common treatment strategies based on pharmacological, physical activity, and nutritional approaches.

Type 2 myocardial infarctions (T2-MI) is a type of necrosis that results from reduced oxygen supply and/or increased demand secondary to other causes unrelated to acute coronary atherothrombosis. The development and implementation of sensitive and high-sensitivity cardiac necrosis marker and the age-related increase of comorbidity lead to a boost of the frequency of T2-MI. T2-MI is often a complication of a high degree of clinical frailty in older adults, emerging as a "geriatric syndrome". Age-related non-cardiovascular causes may be the triggering factors and are strongly associated with the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of T2-MI. To date, there are no guidelines on management of this pathology in advancing age. Patient-centered approach and comprehensive geriatric assessment play a key role in the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of geriatric patients with T2-MI.

Mounting evidence suggests that hormonal deficiencies (HD) have an important role in chronic heart failure (CHF). In particular, androgen depletion is common in men with CHF and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes the current understanding of the complex relationship between CHF and testosterone, focusing on evidence derived from clinical trials that have investigated the role of testosterone in the treatment of CHF. A greater comprehension of this area will allow researchers and clinicians to plan future studies that improve current strategies to reduce mortality in this high-risk population. Online databases PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for manuscripts published prior to June 2018 using key words "heart failure" AND "testosterone" OR "anabolism" OR "hormone" OR "replacement treatment”. Manuscripts were collated, studied and carried forward for discussion where appropriate. In summary, findings from the literature demonstrate that testosterone treatment in CHF is a promising topic that requires further investigation.  Â