RESTING HEART RATE AS A PREDICTOR OF MORTALITY IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE

Background: Although high resting heart rate (RHR) is known to be associated with an increased risk of mortality and hospital admission in patients with heart failure, the relationship between RHR and ischemic stroke remains unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between RHR and ischemic stroke in patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm. Methods: We examined 2,060 patients with systolic heart failure in sinus rhythm from the Warfarin versus Aspirin in Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction trial. RHR was determined from baseline electrocardiogram, and was examined as both a continuous variable and a categorical variable using quartiles. Ischemic strokes were identified during follow-up and adjudicated by physician review. Results: During 3.5 ± 1.8 years of follow-up, 77 patients (5.3% from Kaplan-Meier [KM] curve) experienced an ischemic stroke. The highest incidence of ischemic stroke (21/503 [KM 6.9%]) was observed in the lowest RHR quartile (RHR <64 beats/min) compared to other groups; 22/573 (KM 5.3%) in 64-70 beats/min, 13/465 (KM 3.5%) in 71-79 beats/min, and 21/519 (KM 5.4%) in RHR >79 beats/min (p = 0.693). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that RHR was significantly associated with ischemic stroke (hazard ratio per unit decrease: 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13, when RHR <64/beats/min; p = 0.038), along with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions: In contrast to its beneficial effect on mortality and hospital re-admissions, lower RHR may increase the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with systolic heart failure in sinus rhythm.

Download Full-text

Remote monitoring of patients with heart failure during the first national lockdown for COVID-19 in France

European Heart Journal - Digital Health ◽

10.1093/ehjdh/ztab044 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sylvain Ploux ◽

Marc Strik ◽

Saer Abu-Alrub ◽

F Daniel Ramirez ◽

Samuel Buliard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Health Care ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Remote Monitoring ◽

Marked Decrease ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Health Care Use ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

Vital Parameters

Abstract Background Multiparametric remote monitoring of patients with heart failure (HF) has the potential to mitigate the health risks of lockdowns for COVID-19. Aims To compare health care use, physiological variables, and HF decompensations during one month before and during the first month of the first French national lockdown for COVID-19 among patients undergoing remote monitoring. Methods Transmitted vital parameters and data from cardiac implantable electronic devices were analyzed in 51 patients. Medical contact was defined as the sum of visits and days of hospitalization. Results The lockdown was associated with a marked decrease in cardiology medical contact (118 days before vs 26 days during, -77%, p = 0.003) and overall medical contact (180 days before vs 79 days during, -58%, p = 0.005). Patient adherence with remote monitoring was 84±21% before and 87±19% during lockdown. The lockdown was not associated with significant changes in various parameters, including physical activity (2±1 to 2±1 h/day), weight (83±16 to 83±16 kg), systolic blood pressure (121±19 to 121±18 mmHg), heart rate (68±10 to 67±10 bpm), heart rate variability (89±44 to 78±46 ms, p = 0.05), atrial fibrillation burden (84±146 vs 86±146 h/month), or thoracic impedance (66±8 to 66±9 Ω). Seven cases of HF decompensations were observed before lockdown, all but one of which required hospitalization, versus six during lockdown, all but one of which were managed remotely. Conclusions The lockdown restrictions caused a marked decrease in health care use but no significant change in the clinical status of HF patients under multiparametric remote monitoring. lay summary The first French COVID-19 lockdown had a huge detrimental impact on conventional health care use (-78% in cardiology medical contact). However the lockdown had little impact over the short-term, if any, on vital parameters and the clinical status of patients with heart failure who were adherent to multiparametric remote monitoring. This remote monitoring strategy allowed early identification and home management of most of the heart failure decompensations during the lockdown.

Download Full-text

Heart Rate–Induced Myocardial Ca 2+ Retention and Left Ventricular Volume Loss in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.120.017215 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (17) ◽

Author(s):

Daniel N. Silverman ◽

Mehdi Rambod ◽

Daniel L. Lustgarten ◽

Robert Lobel ◽

Martin M. LeWinter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Sinus Rhythm ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Atrial Pacing ◽

Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽

Volume Loss ◽

Heart Rates ◽

Patients With Heart Failure

Background Increases in heart rate are thought to result in incomplete left ventricular (LV) relaxation and elevated filling pressures in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Experimental studies in isolated human myocardium have suggested that incomplete relaxation is a result of cellular Ca 2+ overload caused by increased myocardial Na + levels. We tested these heart rate paradigms in patients with HFpEF and referent controls without hypertension. Methods and Results In 22 fully sedated and instrumented patients (12 controls and 10 patients with HFpEF) in sinus rhythm with a preserved ejection fraction (≥50%) we assessed left‐sided filling pressures and volumes in sinus rhythm and with atrial pacing (95 beats per minute and 125 beats per minute) before atrial fibrillation ablation. Coronary sinus blood samples and flow measurements were also obtained. Seven women and 15 men were studied (aged 59±10 years, ejection fraction 61%±4%). Patients with HFpEF had a history of hypertension, dyspnea on exertion, concentric LV remodeling and a dilated left atrium, whereas controls did not. Pacing at 125 beats per minute lowered the mean LV end‐diastolic pressure in both groups (controls −4.3±4.1 mm Hg versus patients with HFpEF −8.5±6.0 mm Hg, P =0.08). Pacing also reduced LV end‐diastolic volumes. The volume loss was about twice as much in the HFpEF group (controls −15%±14% versus patients with HFpEF −32%±11%, P =0.009). Coronary venous [Ca 2+ ] increased after pacing at 125 beats per minute in patients with HFpEF but not in controls. [Na + ] did not change. Conclusions Higher resting heart rates are associated with lower filling pressures in patients with and without HFpEF. Incomplete relaxation and LV filling at high heart rates lead to a reduction in LV volumes that is more pronounced in patients with HFpEF and may be associated with myocardial Ca 2+ retention.

Download Full-text