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[Abstract] It is not clear to date whether a first admission in heart failure (HF) marks a worse evolution in patients not previously diagnosed with HF ("de novo HF") than those already diagnosed as outpatients ("acutely decompensated HF"). The aim of the study was to analyze whether survival in patients admitted for de novo HF differs from the survival in those admitted for a first episode of decompensation but with a previous diagnosis of HF. This study includes an analysis of 1,728 patients admitted for decompensated HF during 9 years. Readmissions and patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% were excluded (finally, 524 patients analyzed). We compared de novo HF (n = 186) in patients not diagnosed with HF, although their structural heart disease was defined, versus acutely decompensated HF (n = 338). The clinical profiles in both groups were similar. The de novo HF group more frequently presented with normal right ventricular function, with less presence of severe tricuspid regurgitation. The probability of survival was low in both groups. Thus, the median life in the de novo HF group was 2.1 years and in the acutely decompensated HF group, 3.5 years. There was a lower probability of long-term survival in the de novo HF group (p = 0.035). The variables associated with mortality were age (p

Advanced heart failure; Inotropes; Palliative care Insuficiencia cardiaca avanzada; Inotropos; Cuidados paliativos Insuficiència cardíaca avançada; Inòtrops; Cures pal·liatives Aim Patients with advanced heart failure (AHF) who are not candidates to advanced therapies have poor prognosis. Some trials have shown that intermittent levosimendan can reduce HF hospitalizations in AHF in the short term. In this real-life registry, we describe the patterns of use, safety and factors related to the response to intermittent levosimendan infusions in AHF patients not candidates to advanced therapies. Methods and results Multicentre retrospective study of patients diagnosed with advanced heart failure, not HT or LVAD candidates. Patients needed to be on the optimal medical therapy according to their treating physician. Patients with de novo heart failure or who underwent any procedure that could improve prognosis were not included in the registry. Four hundred three patients were included; 77.9% needed at least one admission the year before levosimendan was first administered because of heart failure. Death rate at 1 year was 26.8% and median survival was 24.7 [95% CI: 20.4–26.9] months, and 43.7% of patients fulfilled the criteria for being considered a responder lo levosimendan (no death, heart failure admission or unplanned HF visit at 1 year after first levosimendan administration). Compared with the year before there was a significant reduction in HF admissions (38.7% vs. 77.9%; P < 0.0001), unplanned HF visits (22.7% vs. 43.7%; P < 0.0001) or the combined event including deaths (56.3% vs. 81.4%; P < 0.0001) during the year after. We created a score that helps predicting the responder status at 1 year after levosimendan, resulting in a score summatory of five variables: TEER (+2), treatment with beta-blockers (+1.5), Haemoglobin >12 g/dL (+1.5), amiodarone use (−1.5) HF visit 1 year before levosimendan (−1.5) and heart rate >70 b.p.m. (−2). Patients with a score less than −1 had a very low probability of response (21.5% free of death or HF event at 1 year) meanwhile those with a score over 1.5 had the better chance of response (68.4% free of death or HF event at 1 year). LEVO-D score performed well in the ROC analysis. Conclusion In this large real-life series of AHF patients treated with levosimendan as destination therapy, we show a significant decrease of heart failure events during the year after the first administration. The simple LEVO-D Score could be of help when deciding about futile therapy in this population.

The outcomes of heart-lung transplant (HLT) are worse than those of heart transplant (HT) and lung transplant alone; this and the availability of mechanical assistance have meant that the indications for HLT have been changing. This study aims to analyze the evolution of indications for HLT in a country of 47 million inhabitants.We performed a retrospective observational study of all HLTs performed in Spain (performed in 2 centers) from 1990 to 2020. The total number of patients included was 1751 (HT 1673 and HLT 78). After clinical adjustment, overall survival was compared between the 2 groups. Seven etiological subgroups were considered within the HLT group: (1) cardiomyopathy with pulmonary hypertension (CM + PH);, (2) Eisenmenger syndrome, (3) congenital heart disease without Eisenmenger syndrome, (4) idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), (5) cystic fibrosis, (6) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or emphysema), and (7) diffuse interstitial lung disease.There were a large number of differences between patients with HLT vs HT. HLT had a 2.69-fold increased probability of death in the first year compared with HT. The indications for HLT have changed over the years. In the recent period the indications are mainly congenital heart disease and Eisenmenger syndrome, with some cases of CM + PH. Other indications for HLT have virtually disappeared, mainly lung diseases (IPAH, COPD, cystic fibrosis). Median survival was low in CM + PH (18 days), diffuse interstitial lung disease (29 days), and ischemic heart disease (114 days); intermediate in Eisenmenger syndrome (600 days); and longer in IPAH, COPD and/or emphysema, and cystic fibrosis.HLT is a procedure with high mortality. This and mechanical assists mean that the indications have changed over the years. Etiological analysis is of utmost interest to take advantage of organs and improve survival.

The age of heart transplant (HTx) donors and recipients is progressively increasing. The combination of donor-recipient ages has been shown to have prognostic implications. The objective of this study is to analyze survival in the first year and in the long-term based on the difference in age between donor and recipient of HTx.We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive HTxs performed in 1 center from 1987 to December 2021. Patients younger than 16 years, retransplants, and combined transplants were excluded. Three groups were considered according to the age of the donor and recipient: group 1: recipient and donor of the same age ± 10 years; group 2: donor10 years older than recipient; and group 3: donor10 years younger than recipient.A total of 841 HTxs were included (81% men, 31% urgent HTxs, donor mean (standard deviation) age 38.5 [12.3] years and recipient age 51.2 [12]). The most frequent group was group 3 with 476 patients (56%) followed by group 1 with 305 patients (36%). Figure 1 shows that long-term survival is similar in groups 1 and 2, being worse in group 3, P = .026. Mortality at the end of follow-up is 38.7% in group 1, 34.9% in group 2, and 71.9% in group 3 (P.0001). These differences occurred in the long-term without finding significant differences the first year after HTx. No differences were found in early graft failure between the 3 groups.Using donors of a different age from the recipient does not seem to have an impact on long-term survival, except when donors are used who are more than 10 years younger than the recipient, where survival is lower. This consolidates the concept that the use of elderly donors does not affect survival, allowing the pool of donors to be expanded.

Potassium alterations constitute a major clinical problem in decompensated heart failure (HF). This study aims to assess the prognostic implications of hypo and hyperkalaemia on admission for acute HF in cardiovascular mortality and hospital readmissions.From January 2016 to June 2020, 1,397 cases with a diagnosis of acute HF were admitted. Admission programmed for study, elective therapies, and patients with LVEF40% were excluded. The study was carried out on 689 patients, 45 with KAnnual mortality due to hypokalaemia (K+3.5mmol/L) was 37.8% (HR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.3-4.7; P.007); for hyperkalaemia 40.8% (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 0.98-3.51; P.055). Creatinine level and age were variables associated with mortality in both the hyperkalaemic and hypokalaemic cohorts. Hospital readmissions did not show statistical association with these electrolyte disorders.In patients admitted for decompensated HF, both hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia determined at admission have a negative prognostic impact on survival. Creatinine and age are other independent factors associated with mortality. The effect on the probability of hospital readmission at one year is not demonstrated in this study.

Resumen Antecedentes y objetivos Las alteraciones del potasio constituyen un problema clinico de gran magnitud en la insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) descompensada. Este estudio pretende valorar las implicaciones pronosticas de la hipo e hiperpotasemia al ingreso por IC aguda en la mortalidad cardiovascular y reingresos hospitalarios. Material y metodo De enero de 2016 a junio de 2020 fueron ingresados 1.397 casos con diagnostico de IC aguda. Se excluyeron ingresos programados para estudio, terapias electivas y pacientes con fraccion de eyeccion del ventriculo izquierdo > 40%. El estudio se realizo sobre 689 pacientes, 45 con potasio (K+) 5,0 mmol/l y 595 K+ = 3,5-5,0 mmol/l. Se analizaron los antecedentes, perfil clinico basal, terapia farmacologica y niveles de potasio obtenidos al ingreso. Resultados La mortalidad anual por hipopotasemia (K+ Conclusiones En los pacientes ingresados por IC descompensada, tanto la hiperpotasemia como la hipopotasemia determinadas al ingreso tienen impacto pronostico negativo en la supervivencia. La creatinina y la edad son otros factores independientes asociados a la mortalidad. El efecto sobre la probabilidad de reingreso hospitalario al ano no se demuestra en este trabajo.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus that is affecting the entire world population. The objective of this study was to analyze the repercussion of the disease in a group of patients at risk such as heart transplant recipients. Methods From February 2020 to February 2021, heart transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 were consecutively included. The total number of transplant recipients in outpatient follow-up at that time was 381. Three levels of infection were determined: group A: asymptomatic patients or with trivial symptoms without the need for hospital admission (6 patients); group B: patients admitted to the hospital for respiratory symptoms (12 patients); and group C: patients with severe symptoms and need for admission to the critical care unit (2 patients). At each risk level, medical performance was different: group A: close control, no therapeutic modification; group B: reduction of calcineurin inhibitor and substitution of mycophenolate mofetil for everolimus; group C: reduction of calcineurin inhibitor and withdrawal of mycophenolate mofetil. Results The prevalence of infection in the series was 5.2%. Most patients admitted had a pathologic chest x-ray with fever, cough, dyspnea, or vomiting. The change in immunosuppression performed in patients in group 2 was well tolerated and there was no graft rejection. Antiviral treatment was little used. However, boluses of steroids and some antibiotics were used frequently. The need for supplemental oxygen was 50% in group 2 and 100% in group 3. Conclusions A significant number of transplant recipients will be affected by COVID-19 (5.3%). Management of the infection will depend on the severity of the infection and must be based on a balance between reduction and adjustment of immunosuppression, strict control of the cardiologic situation, and treatment of the infection.

The most common symptom in heart failure (HF) is congestion, which can be refractory to diuretic treatment. To verify whether, in patients with advanced HF and diuretic resistance, subcutaneous furosemide or furosemide in an oral solution can improve the clinical-analytical status. From 2018 to 2020, 27 consecutive outpatients with diuretic resistance, not candidates for other alternatives, were recruited. Patients were treated either with subcutaneous furosemide in elastomeric pump (n: 10) or with oral solution (n: 17) for 5 days. The functional status (NYHA) improved with subcutaneous administration (predose: 3.8 ± 0.5 vs. postdose: 3.1 ± 0.7; p: 0.02) and oral solution (predose: 3.7 ± 0.3 vs. postdose: 2.5 ± 0.7; p: 0.0001). Weight loss was greater with the oral solution (predose: 85.5 ± 19.5 vs. postdose: 81.3 ± 18.8Kg; p: 0.0001) than subcutaneous (predose: 81.6 ± 15.9 vs. postdose: 80.4 ± 15.1kg; p: 0.16). Creatinine showed a non-significant increase in both groups. The number of hospital visits showed no difference between both options. The administration of furosemide, both subcutaneously by elastomeric pump or drinking the oral solution, is effective for the treatment of congestion in advanced HF refractory to diuretic treatment.

Heart transplant (HTx) recipients constitute a group vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Vaccination has been a turning point in the evolution of the pandemic. The objective was to analyze a series of HTx recipients with COVID-19 prior to vaccination and post vaccination.Inclusion: All HTx recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 (February 2020 to April 2022).HTx younger than 16 years. They were subdivided into prevaccination period (February 2020 to February 2021) and postvaccination period (March 2021 to April 2022). They were classified into 3 groups according to severity. Group 1: mild symptoms without admission. Group 2: admission for nonsevere pneumonia. Group 3: severe pneumonia according to American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria. The general therapeutic attitude before and after vaccination was similar in both groups.A total of 65 HTx recipients have had COVID-19 to date (10.7% of the 374 HTx recipients alive). In the prevaccination period, 22 HTx recipients presented the disease (Fig 1A): 27% in group 1; 59% were admitted for nonsevere pneumonia (group 2), with favorable evolution and a mean stay of 16 days; and 14% in group 3 (criteria for severe pneumonia), with 2 HTx recipients dying in this group. In the postvaccination period, 43 HTx recipients have presented COVID-19 (Fig 1B), 49% in group 1, 42% in group 2, and 9% in group 3. The hospital stay is slightly reduced to 15 days and 3 of the 4 patients in group 3 have died (mortality rate 7%).A significant number of HTx recipients have been affected by COVID-19, associating high mortality in severe forms both in the pre- and postvaccination period. In our series of patients, vaccination has reduced the percentage of hospitalization for nonsevere pneumonia slightly below the average hospitalization and mortality.

In advanced heart failure (HF), each hospitalization for decompensation is a vulnerable moment, and it requires optimizing pharmacologic treatment. This study aimed to analyze changes in the pharmacologic treatment of HF before admission (P), during hospitalization (H), and at discharge (D) of patients with decompensated advanced HF.We performed an ambispective, cross-sectional, noninterventional study conducted from January 2020 to June 2020. There were 252 consecutive patients admitted for decompensated advanced HF. The following were excluded: de novo HF cases, deceased patients, and scheduled admissions. Finally, 134 patients were analyzed, compared in 3 subgroups: pulmonary congestion (n = 90), systemic congestion (n = 31), and low output (n = 13).In the global analysis, an increase was detected in angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibitors (P: 9.7%, H: 16.4, D: 22.4%; P.02), beta blockers (P: 67.2%, H: 77.6%, D: 84.3%; P.004), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (P: 29.9%, H: 44.4%, D: 46.3%; P.01), loop diuretics (P: 70.1%, H: 99.3%, D: 95.5%; P.001), and nitrates (P: 6.0%, H: 22.4%, D: 9.7%; P.001). Pulmonary congestion was predominant with a significant increase in beta blockers (P: 61.1%, H: 77.8%, D: 88.9%; P.001) and loop diuretics (P: 64.4%, H: 100%, D: 100%; P.001); diuretics were increased in the systemic congestion group (P: 80.6%, H: 100%, D: 100%; P.002), and 22.6% required 3% hypertonic saline solution. In patients with low output, beta blockers and diuretics were withdrawn (P: 84.6%, H: 76.9%, D: 46.1%; P.08 and P: 84.6%, H: 92.3%, D: 61.5%; P.1 respectively), without variation in the other pharmacologic groups.In daily clinical practice, HF drugs are increased and optimized in decompensated HF with a pulmonary or systemic congestion profile. When the profile is low output, beta blockers and diuretics are reduced.

Currently, a high percentage of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) reach adulthood. The consequence is that more and more patients will require a heart transplant (HTx) or heart-lung transplant (HLTx). The objective of the study was to analyze the evolution and temporary trend of the number of HTxs and HLTxs in patients with and without CHD.We performed a retrospective analysis of all HTxs and HTLxs from a Spanish transplant hospital. Retransplant and other combined transplants were excluded. HTx and HLTx were divided into 2 groups (CHD or non-CHD). The number of procedures of each modality was grouped in 5 years.A total of 930 HTxs were analyzed between 1987 and 2020; 36 were CHD (18 HTxs and 18 HLTxs). HTx and HLTx in CHD showed a growing progressive trend, probably because of the greater number of these patients who reach adulthood and finally develop advanced heart failure. HTx in patients without CHD showed a very high rise in the first decade, reaching the maximum peak around the year 2000, with a poststabilization trend or even progressive reduction in the number of procedures. HLTx in patients without CHD showed a marked ascent during the first decade with a peak around 2005 and subsequent significant decline in recent years practically in disuse, probably because of the possibility of circulatory assistance in the case of right ventricular failure.The number of HTxs and HLTxs in CHD has a progressive rise. The number of HTx in patients without CHD remains relatively stable. HLTx in patients without CHD shows a marked decrease.

Background: Tricuspid valve disease is the most frequent valvulopathy after heart transplantation (HTx). Evidence for the negative effect of post-transplant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on survival is contradictory. The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of post-transplant TR and its effect on overall mortality.Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of all transplants performed in two Spanish centers (1009 patients) between 2000 and 2019. Of the total number of patients, 809 had no TR or mild TR and 200 had moderate or severe TR. The etiology of TR was analyzed in all cases.Results: The prevalence of moderate and severe TR was 19.8%. The risk of mortality was greater when TR was caused by early primary graft failure (PGF) or rejection (p < 0.05). TR incidence was related to etiology: incidence of PGF-induced TR was higher in the first period, while TR due to rejection and undefined causes occurred more frequently in three periods: in the first year, in the 10–14-year period following HTx, and in the long term (16–18 years). In the multivariable analysis, TR was significantly associated with mortality/retransplantation (HR:1.04, 95% CI:1.01–1.07, p:0.02).Conclusion: The development of TR after HTx is relatively frequent. The annual incidence depends on TR severity and etiology. The risk of mortality is greater in severe TR due to PGF or rejection.

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the level of IgA is related to right ventricular function and systemic congestion in patients with decompensated heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (EF).This was a consecutive prospective and observational study of hospitalized patients diagnosed with decompensated HF with reduced EF. The recruitment period lasted 2 months. In the first 24 hours after admission, clinical assessment, general laboratory tests, determination of HF biomarkers, IgA and echocardiographic study were performed. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to whether the plasma IgA level was lower (n = 11) or higher than 300 mg/dL (n = 12).Significant differences in IgA levels were found in the peripheral congestion variables (no congestion: 232, interquartile range [IQR], 125-310 mg/dL vs congestion: 429, IQR, 308-520 mg/dL; P = .03). There were also differences in echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular function, with a greater deterioration of right ventricular function in the group with higher IgA levels (P.05). There was a highly significant correlation between tricuspid annulus systolic excursion values and IgA levels (P = .004).In decompensated HF, patients with greater clinical congestion and echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular dysfunction have higher plasma IgA levels. This study is a preliminary experience that will help to establish the basis of the cardiointestinal syndrome as a clinical picture of systemic congestion in HF.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to compare early and late survival among patients who have undergone heart transplantation (HTx) with a short-term mechanical assist device. METHODS This was an ambispective, single-center, consecutive study of patients undergoing urgent HTx for 5 years. Pediatric transplants, retransplants, and combined transplants were excluded. Forty-five patients were included. Four groups were analyzed: those with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) implanted 10 days; patients classified as INTERMACS 2 to 3 with Levitronix Centrimag implanted; and those classified as INTERMACS 2 with Levitronix Centrimag implanted. Survival and the influence of orotracheal intubation (OI) at the time of transplantation were compared. RESULTS There were differences in in-hospital mortality (P = .03) and total mortality (P = .06). The groups with the highest risk for mortality were those who carried ECMO for >10 days before transplantation or those classified as INTERMACS 2 with Levitronix Centrimag implanted. In these groups, the need for posttransplant circulatory support was also greater (P = .04) as was the length of stay in critical care (P = .02). The need for OI during the days of care and until transplantation had a negative effect on survival in all groups (P < .1). CONCLUSIONS There are different risk subgroups among patients who are transplanted with a circulatory/ventricular assist device. The lowest mortality occurs when the days of ECMO implantation are