Most read in HF of 2021: Empagliflozin for HFpEF, COVID-19-related myocarditis and more

Healio and Cardiology Today have curated a list the most-read news in HF of 2021.

Readers were most interested in empagliflozin, the first drug to show promise for patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction; cardiac implications of high coffee consumption; COVID-19- and vaccine-related cardiac injury; and more.

Empagliflozin becomes first agent to improve outcomes in HFpEF: EMPEROR-Preserved

Anticipated results of the EMPEROR-Preserved trial demonstrate that the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (Jardiance, Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly) improved clinical outcomes in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction — the first agent to be shown to do so. Read more

Higher coffee consumption could confer reduced HF risk

Increased coffee consumption was associated with reduced risk for HF in three different cohorts, according to results published in Circulation: Heart Failure. Read more

Sacubitril/valsartan receives expanded indication, including for some with HFpEF

Novartis announced the FDA has granted an expanded indication for sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto, Novartis) to lower risk for CV death and HF hospitalization in adult patients with chronic HF. Read more

Getting to the heart of COVID-19-related cardiac injury

The ability of COVID-19 to cause cardiac injury and myocarditis has been well documented since the pandemic began, and data continue to accumulate. Read more

First North American patient implanted with next-generation total artificial heart

Duke University and Carmat announced that doctors at Duke University Hospital performed the first North American implantation of a next-generation total artificial heart. Read more

Aspirin use associated with 26% increased HF risk in patients with predisposing factors

Among patients with predisposing factors for HF, aspirin use was associated with a 26% increased risk for HF development, researchers reported in ESC Heart Failure. Read more

SGLT2 inhibitors now ‘pillars of care’ for HF

HF and type 2 diabetes are intertwined. Their shared pathophysiology can accelerate debilitating outcomes for patients that clinicians struggle to prevent and treat. Read more

Nearly 1 in 4 hospitalized patients with HF, COVID-19 died

Patients with HF and COVID-19 had high risk for complications, with nearly 1 in 4 dying during hospitalization, researchers reported. Read more

FDA approves vericiguat to reduce HF hospitalization, CV mortality in HFrEF

Merck announced that the FDA has approved vericiguat (Verquvo) to reduce CV death, subsequent HF hospitalization or need for outpatient IV diuretics in adults with symptomatic chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction. Read more

Q&A: New universal definition, classification of HF ‘clinically relevant and simple’

In March, three societies announced a new universal definition and classification of HF designed to standardize language and practices around the definition and classification of HF. Read more