Heart Failure
Heart failure symptoms, self-efficacy, social supports play role in kinesiophobia
In older adults with HF, strong social support could affect kinesiophobia, or fear of movement, by influencing the severity of HF symptoms and improving disease self-care and symptom management, researchers reported.
Air pollution exposure tied to increased diagnostic testing in adults with heart failure
Adults with HF exposed to long-term fine particulate air matter pollution are more likely to receive in-hospital procedures, including HbA1c testing, prothrombin time tests and stress tests, researchers reported.
Trial of new driver for pediatric VAD could transform research for children with HF
The first prospective FDA-regulated device trial using a pediatric ventricular assist device registry was launched in November. It could transform how research is conducted in children with advanced heart failure.
Outcomes poor after HF hospitalization for patients with mildly reduced, preserved EF
Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and those with HF and mildly reduced EF experienced similarly poor outcomes and mortality rates over 12 months follow-up after HF hospitalization, researchers reported.
ACC expert consensus pathway highlights ‘revolutionary’ advances in HFpEF management
HF with preserved ejection fraction is a complex condition with multiple overlapping comorbidities that requires timely diagnosis and optimal guideline-based therapies, according to new guidance from the American College of Cardiology.
Polypharmacy lowers odds for initiating recommended heart failure medications
Patients prescribed a higher number of overall medications had a lower probability of initiating or achieving optimal guideline-directed medical therapy for HF, despite higher risk for long-term outcomes, data show.
Adverse events after device implant tied to quality of life measures for end-stage HF
Recent adverse events soon after receiving a left ventricular assist device, such as major organ dysfunction, have the largest effect on scores measuring health-related quality of life, according to a patient registry analysis.
Novel score identifies those likely to improve heart failure symptoms after AF ablation
The novel ANTWERP score demonstrated good predictive value in identifying patients whose heart failure symptoms would improve after ablation for atrial fibrillation, a speaker reported.
Hospitals with high proportions of Black patients provide similar HF care vs. other centers
Heart failure quality-of-care did not differ between hospitals with high proportions of Black patients vs. other hospitals and researchers reported no significant differences in care by race.
BETTER CARE-HF
Two methods of informing providers when a patient with HFrEF is not on appropriate medical therapy — EHR alerts during patient encounters and messages in between encounters — vs. usual care.