The Heart and Artificial Intelligence —How Can We Improve Medicine Without Causing Harm
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe introduction of Artificial Intelligence into the healthcare system offers enormous opportunities for biomedical research, the improvement of patient care, and cost reduction in high-end medicine. Digital concepts and workflows are already playing an increasingly important role in cardiology. The fusion of computer science and medicine offers great transformative potential and enables enormous acceleration processes in cardiovascular medicine.Recent FindingsAs medical data becomes smart, it is also becoming more valuable and vulnerable to malicious actors. In addition, the gap between what is te...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - June 9, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15), a New Biomarker in Heart Failure Management
AbstractThe emergence of biomarkers across medicine ’s subspecialties continues to evolve. In essence, a biomarker is a biological observation that clearly substitutes a clinical endpoint or intermediate outcome not only are more difficult to observe but also, biomarkers are easier, less expensive and could be measured over shorter periods. In gene ral, biomarkers are versatile and not only used for disease screening and diagnosis but, most importantly, for disease characterization, monitoring, and determination of prognosis as well as individualized therapeutic responses. Obviously, heart failure (HF) is no exception to...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - June 8, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Assessment of Right Ventricular Function —a State of the Art
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe right ventricle (RV) has a complex geometry and physiology which is distinct from the left. RV dysfunction and failure can be the aftermath of volume- and/or pressure-loading conditions, as well as myocardial and pericardial diseases.Recent FindingsEchocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and right heart catheterisation can assess RV function by using several qualitative and quantitative parameters. In pulmonary hypertension (PH) in particular, RV function can be impaired and is related to survival.SummaryAn accurate assessment of RV function is crucial for the early diagnosis and managemen...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - June 5, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Heart Failure
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDespite substantial progress in medical and device-based heart failure (HF) therapy, ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) remain a major challenge. Here we review contemporary management of VA in the context of HF with one particular focus on recent advances in imaging and catheter ablation.Recent FindingsBesides limited efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), their potentially life-threatening side effects are increasingly acknowledged. On the other hand, with tremendous advances in catheter technology, electroanatomical mapping, imaging, and understanding of arrhythmia mec...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - May 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Role of Sodium and Sodium Restriction in Heart Failure
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSodium plays an essential role in the regulation of extracellular volume. The current review discusses the physiologic handling of sodium in the body, underscores pathophysiologic alterations in sodium handling in heart failure and assesses the evidence and rational for sodium restriction in heart failure.Recent FindingsRecent trials such as the SODIUM-HF trial have failed to demonstrate a benefit of sodium restriction in heart failure. The current review re-evaluates physiologic elements in sodium handling and discusses how the intrinsic renal sodium avidity, which drives the renal propensity towa...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - May 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Heart Failure
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDespite substantial progress in medical and device-based heart failure (HF) therapy, ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) remain a major challenge. Here we review contemporary management of VA in the context of HF with one particular focus on recent advances in imaging and catheter ablation.Recent FindingsBesides limited efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), their potentially life-threatening side effects are increasingly acknowledged. On the other hand, with tremendous advances in catheter technology, electroanatomical mapping, imaging, and understanding of arrhythmia mec...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - May 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Role of Sodium and Sodium Restriction in Heart Failure
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSodium plays an essential role in the regulation of extracellular volume. The current review discusses the physiologic handling of sodium in the body, underscores pathophysiologic alterations in sodium handling in heart failure and assesses the evidence and rational for sodium restriction in heart failure.Recent FindingsRecent trials such as the SODIUM-HF trial have failed to demonstrate a benefit of sodium restriction in heart failure. The current review re-evaluates physiologic elements in sodium handling and discusses how the intrinsic renal sodium avidity, which drives the renal propensity towa...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - May 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Sex differences in Cardiorenal Syndrome: Insights from CARDIOREN Registry
This study aims to explore the sex-related differences in cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) in a contemporary cohort of outpatients with HF.FindingsAn analysis of the Cardiorenal Spanish registry (CARDIOREN) was performed. CARDIOREN Registry is a prospective multicenter observational registry including 1107 chronic ambulatory HF patients (37% females) from 13 Spanish HF clinics. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was present in 59.1% of the overall HF population, being this prevalence higher in the female population (63.2% vs. 56.6%,p = 0.032, median age: 81 years old, IQR:74–86). Amo...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - May 24, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
MINOCA and INOCA: Role in Heart Failure
AbstractPurpose of ReviewInfarction (MINOCA) and ischaemia (INOCA) with non-obstructive coronary disease are recent non-conventional presentations of coronary syndromes that are increasingly recognised in the clinical arena, particularly with the availability of new cardiovascular imaging techniques. Both are related to heart failure (HF). MINOCA is not associated with benign outcomes, and HF is among the most prevalent events. Regarding INOCA, microvascular dysfunction has also been found to associate with HF, particularly with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Recent FindingsRegardless of the several aetiologies underl...
Source: Current Heart Failure Reports - May 18, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
