ESC heart failure
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Acute heart failure (AHF) is one of the leading causes of unscheduled hospitalization and is associated with frequent readmissions and substantial mortality. Precipitating factors of AHF influence short-term mortality, but their effect on outcome after hospital discharge is unknown. The present study assessed the effect of precipitating factors on readmission and long-term survival in the overall population and in patients aged 75 years or younger. ⋯ Precipitating factors of AHF substantially influenced outcome after hospitalization. In particular, patients with AHF precipitated by acute pulmonary disease showed fewer readmissions and higher 1 year mortality, especially in patients aged 75 years or younger.
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Pneumonia and acute exacerbations of obstructive lung diseases (AEOLD) are associated with a significant long-term mortality. Elevated level of amino-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a predictor of late all-cause mortality in these disorders but the pathophysiological basis for this is unknown. The present study was conducted to define the predictive role of NT-proBNP on late cardiovascular mortality among patients with acute lung disorders. ⋯ NT-proBNP concentration during pneumonia or AEOLD was strongly associated with late cardiovascular mortality but not with non-cardiovascular mortality. The results suggest that the increase in NT-proBNP during acute lung disorders may reveal occult cardiac diseases arousing a question whether patients with acute pulmonary disorders with elevated NT-proBNP levels should be subjected to further diagnostic or therapeutic cardiovascular interventions.
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Heart failure is a life-threatening disease and addressing it should be considered a global health priority. At present, approximately 26 million people worldwide are living with heart failure. The outlook for such patients is poor, with survival rates worse than those for bowel, breast or prostate cancer. ⋯ International collaborative research focusing on the causes and treatment of heart failure worldwide has the potential to benefit tens of millions of people. Change at the policy level has the power to drive improvements in prevention and care that will save lives. It is time to make a difference across the globe by confronting the problem of heart failure.
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Iron deficiency (ID) is a common co-morbidity associated with chronic heart failure (CHF), which has unfavourable clinical and prognostic consequences. In Ferinject Assessment in Patients with IRon Deficiency and Chronic Heart Failure (FAIR-HF), the treatment with i.v. ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) improved symptoms and quality of life over a 24 week period. Ferric CarboxymaltOse evaluatioN on perFormance in patients with IRon deficiency in coMbination with chronic Heart Failure (CONFIRM-HF) was designed to test a simplifieddosage scheme of FCM during a longer follow-up period. ⋯ This study will provide further information on the efficacy and safety of iron therapy with i.v. FCM in CHF patients with ID over a 1 year period using a simplified dosing scheme.