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Limited data are available on outcomes among COVID-19 patients beyond the acute phase of the disease. All-cause mortality among our COVID-19 patients one year after hospital discharge and factors/conditions associated with death were evaluated. All patients discharged from our COVID center were periodically evaluated by clinical assessment and by digital healthcare registry consultation. All findings acquired on discharge day represented the baseline data and were utilized for statistics. Of the 208 patients admitted, 187 patients were discharged. Among these, 17 patients died within 12 months (non-survivors). Compared to survivors, non-survivor patients were significantly (p < 0.05) older, exhibited significantly greater comorbidities and prevalence of active malignancy, heart failure, and arrhythmias, and showed significantly higher circulating levels of B-type natriuretic peptide, troponin, C-reactive protein, and d-dimer, as well as a longer heart-rate-corrected QT interval and significantly lower values for the glomerular filtration rate. Following multivariate analysis, cancer, arrhythmias, and high C-reactive protein levels were found to be factors independently associated with death. At the one-year follow-up, about 9% of patients discharged from our COVID center had a fatal outcome. Ageing, myocardial injury, impaired renal function, and, in particular, cancer, hyperinflammation, and arrhythmias represented strong predictors of the worst long-term outcome among COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome with increasing prevalence, high morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by high symptom burden, poor quality of life and high economic costs. This implies that the heart failure (HF) patients who receive palliative care (PC) have needs similar to cancer patients, but which are often unmet. This paper analyzes the main unresolved issues regarding the relationship between HF patients and the referral to an early PC program. These issues are presented as ten questions related to which patients should be admitted to PC and at what stage of their disease. Furthermore, the barriers opposing to referral to PC, the role of cardiologists and PC physicians within the care team, the gap between the scientific societies' suggestions and the real world, the right time to promote patients' awareness and shared decision making, regarding prognosis, end of life wishes and choices, with reference also to cardiac implantable devices' deactivation, are discussed. These unresolved questions support the need to reevaluate programs and specific models in achieving equal access to palliative care interventions for HF patients, which is still mainly offered to patients with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan has been shown to be superior to enalapril in reducing the risks of death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF). However, knowledge of the impact on cardiac performance remains limited. We sought to evaluate the effects of sacubitril/valsartan on clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: Sacubitril/valsartan was administered to 205 HFrEF patients. Results: Among 230 patients (mean age 59 ± 10 years, 46% with ischemic heart disease) 205 (89%) completed the study. After a follow-up of 10.49 (2.93 ± 18.44) months, the percentage of patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III changed from 40% to 17% (p < 0.001). Median N–Type natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) decreased from 1865 ± 2318 to 1514 ± 2205 pg/mL, (p = 0.01). Furosemide dose reduced from 131.3 ± 154.5 to 120 ± 142.5 (p = 0.047). Ejection fraction (from 27± 5.9% to 30 ± 7.7% (p < 0.001) and E/A ratio (from 1.67 ± 1.21 to 1.42 ± 1.12 (p = 0.002)) improved. Moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (from 30.1% to 17.4%; p = 0.002) and tricuspid velocity decreased from 2.8 ± 0.55 m/s to 2.64 ± 0.59 m/s (p < 0.014). Conclusions: Sacubitril/valsartan induce "hemodynamic recovery" and, consistently with reduction in Nt-proBNP concentrations, improve NYHA class despite diuretic dose reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was shown to be superior to enalapril in reducing the risk of death and hospitalization for HF. Our aim was to evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with HFrEF. Methods. We conducted an observational study. Ninety-nine ambulatory patients with HFrEF underwent serial cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) after initiation of sacubitril/valsartan in addition to recommended therapy. Results. At baseline, 37% of patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III. After a median follow-up of 6.2 months (range 3–14.9 months) systolic blood pressure decreased from 117 ± 14 to 101 ± 12 mmHg (p < 0.0001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 27 ± 6 to 29.7 ± 7% (p < 0.0001), peak oxygen consumption (VO2) improved from 14.6 ± 3.3 (% of predicted = 53.8 ± 14.1) to 17.2 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min (% of predicted = 64.7 ± 17.8) (p < 0.0001), minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production relationship (VE/VCO2 Slope) decreased from 34.1 ± 6.3 to 31.7 ± 6.1 (p = 0.006), VO2 at anaerobic threshold increased from 11.3 ± 2.6 to 12.6 ± 3.5 mL/kg/min (p = 0.007), oxygen pulse increased from 11.5 ± 3.0 to 13.4 ± 4.3 mL/kg/min (p < 0.0001), and ∆VO2/∆Work increased from 9.2 ± 1.5 to 10.1 ± 1.8 mL/min/watt (p = 0.0002). Conclusion. Sacubitril/valsartan improved exercise tolerance, LVEF, peak VO2, and ventilatory efficiency at 6.2 months follow-up. Further studies are necessary to better clarify underlying mechanisms of this functional improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary congestion (PC) is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death in patients with heart failure (HF). Lung ultrasound is highly sensitive for detecting PC. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether lung ultrasound-guided therapy improves 6-month outcomes in patients with HF. Methods: A randomized, multicenter, single-blind clinical trial in patients discharged after hospitalization for decompensated HF. Participants were assigned 1:1 to receive treatment guided according to the presence of lung ultrasound signs of congestion (semi-quantitative evaluation of B lines and the presence of pleural effusion) versus standard of care (SOC). The primary endpoint was the combination of cardiovascular death, readmission, or emergency department or day hospital visit due to worsening HF at 6 months. In September 2020, after an interim analysis, patient recruitment was stopped. Results: A total of 79 patients were randomized (mean age 81.2 +/− 9 years) and 41 patients (51.8%) showed a left ventricular ejection fraction >50%. The primary endpoint occurred in 11 patients (29.7%) in the SOC group and in 11 patients (26.1%) in the LUS group (log-rank = 0.83). Regarding nonserious adverse events, no significant differences were found. Conclusions: LUS-guided diuretic therapy after hospital discharge due to ADHF did not show any benefit in survival or a need for intravenous diuretics compared with SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart rate recovery (HRR) is a marker of vagal tone, which is a powerful predictor of mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) is a treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), which impressively impacts cardiovascular outcome. This study aims at evaluating the effects of S/V on HRR and its correlation with cardiopulmonary indexes in HFrEF patients. Methods: Patients with HFrEF admitted to outpatients' services were screened out for study inclusion. S/V was administered according to guidelines. Up-titration was performed every 4 weeks when tolerated. All patients underwent laboratory measurements, Doppler-echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing (CPET) at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Results: Study population consisted of 134 HFrEF patients (87% male, mean age 57.9 ± 9.6 years). At 12-month follow-up, significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (from 28% ± 5.8% to 31.8% ± 7.3%, p < 0.0001), peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2peak) (from 15.3 ± 3.7 to 17.8 ± 4.2 mL/kg/min, p < 0.0001), the slope of increase in ventilation over carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2 slope)(from 33.4 ± 6.2 to 30.3 ± 6.5, p < 0.0001), and HRR (from 11.4 ± 9.5 to 17.4 ± 15.1 bpm, p = 0.004) was observed. Changes in HRR were significantly correlated to changes in VE/VCO2slope (r = −0.330; p = 0.003). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, multivariate analysis showed that changes in HRR were significantly associated to changes in VE/VCO2slope (Beta (B) = −0.975, standard error (SE) = 0.364, standardized Beta coefficient (Bstd) = −0.304, p = 0.009). S/V showed significant reduction in exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) detection at CPET (28 EOV detected at baseline CPET vs. 9 EOV detected at 12-month follow-up, p < 0.001). HRR at baseline CPET was a significant predictor of EOV at 12-month follow-up (B = −2.065, SE = 0.354, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In HFrEF patients, S/V therapy improves autonomic function, functional capacity, and ventilation. Whether these findings might translate into beneficial effects on prognosis and outcome remains to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]