Heart Failure

Fewer than 3% of Americans are active enough, eat a healthy diet, are nonsmokers, and have a healthy weight and percentage of body fat-the 4 important elements of a heart-healthy lifestyle that are promoted by the American Heart Association.

Data on drug prescriptions, diagnoses, and events are increasingly being used for epidemiologic and pharmacologic studies and for the evaluation of quality of care, but questions arise about how complete and accurate the diagnoses and events in these databases are.

Study finds a first heart attack is more likely to lead to heart failure in patients when the burden of coronary artery disease increases.

A new study in behavioral cardiology establishes a strong link between posttraumatic stress disorder and an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and deaths.

Intracoronary gene transfer among heart failure patients increased left ventricular function beyond standard heart failure therapy.

Heart failure patients who have early follow-up with general medicine or cardiology providers within 7 days of discharge from the hospital had 19% had lower odds of readmission within 30 days.

The study from researchers at Cleveland Clinic found that during the years before full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a shift in treatment methods for patients with a painful condition was associated with fewer amputations and deaths. But large disparities remain.

Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption might actually be a good thing for the heart and heart diseases, according to the recent results of a study out of Norway.

In a nationwide cross-sectional comparison of organizational structure for chronic disease management, less attention was given to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than chronic heart failure.

Proactive identification of cognitive impairment and compensatory destigmatized patient/familial psychoeducation regarding “forgetfulness” in hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure may reduce readmission rates substantially.

The 30-day readmission risk was reduced 25% by a collaborative program model employing discharge planning and telephonic follow-up for high-risk patients with CMS penalty diagnoses.

Last year, an FDA advisory panel called for an updated label for saxagliptin, but the agency is still gathering information.

The 3 core measures of acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia are the leading causes of hospital admissions and expenditures. Our study sets the benchmark foundation for outcome evaluations of CMS’s value-based purchasing program and the Affordable Care Act.

Social support is becoming increasingly crucial to maintain a regular exercise regimen for heart failure patients, according to a recent study.

The findings suggest that addressing heart patients' social needs is the first step toward getting them to exercise more.

A study finds that a commonly prescribed therapy reduces activity in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Hospitals that face penalties from CMS for failing to reduce readmission rates have looked to telehealth as a potential tool to keep track of patients after discharge. A study presented by a UCLA researcher did not meet its end point but offered some insights for future work.

A study presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting has found that cancer increases cardiac stress, which is further accentuated by chemotherapy.

The Swiss drug giant Novartis is looking at alternate pricing models for its heart failure drug Entresto, which is expected to gain FDA approval in August.

In the United States, where 1 in 680 people between 20 and 50 years old are survivors of childhood cancer, the impact of long-term health consequences is a cause for concern, and even more so because this population is increasing.

To promote collaboration and efficiency, the MD Anderson Cancer Center developed an interdisciplinary team—based Heart Success Program to coordinate the management of concurrent cardiomyopathy and HF while the patient is receiving cancer treatment.

With the prognosis for many cancers improving, we are seeing an appropriate sharpening of focus on the cardiovascular risks of patients who have survived cancer or are being treated for cancer, as well as a growing recognition of the impact this competing morbidity has on both short- and long-term health outcomes.

The results of an ongoing study, presented at the annual meeting of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology in Seville, Spain, identified a 5-fold increased risk of death in heart failure patients who were depressed.

Coverage from the 64th Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology.

Remote monitoring for heart failure patients resulted in fewer hospitalizations and deaths than a similar group of patients receiving usual care during a 4-month study, but the benefits didn't last beyond the study period.