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Background: Hypothyroidism is a frequently observed comorbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), possibly giving rise to unfavorable outcomes. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of TSH changes over time on cardiac function and prognosis of outpatients with CHF. Methods: Patients underwent clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic evaluations at baseline and after 12 months. Moreover, blood chemistry tests were performed to evaluate renal function, cardiac biomarkers, fT3, fT4, and TSH levels. Based on TSH serum levels, patients were retrospectively classified into four categories: Group 1, patients with improved thyroid function at one-year follow up vs. baseline; Group 2, patients with stable and mildly high TSH values (3.74 – 10 mUI/L); Group 3, patients with worsening thyroid function; Euthyroid patients Group, TSH levels within the normal range of reference at baseline as well as at 12 months follow-up. We considered as end-points: one-year changes of laboratory and echocardiographic parameters; hospitalizations due to worsening of HF (acute decompensated heart failure - ADHF); death for all causes. Results: Among 257 patients, 174 (67.7%) were euthyroid at baseline and after 12 months. Group 1 patients (n. 22, 8.6%) showed a significant improvement in systolic and diastolic function, filling pressures, NT-proBNP and Galectin-3. Group 2 patients (n. 34, 13.2%) did not exhibit significant modifications in studied parameters. Group 3 patients (n. 27, 10.5%) showed worsening of diastolic function and NT-proBNP and a greater risk of ADHF (HR: 2.12; 95%CI: 1.20-3.74; p: 0.009) and death (HR: 4.05; 95%CI: 2.01-8.15; p Conclusion: In patients with CHF, changes in thyroid function over time influenced echocardiographic parameters and biomarkers reflecting modifications of cardiac function and prognosis, thus suggesting the clinical relevance of thyroid deficiency screening and correction.

Left atrial intramural hematoma (LAIH) is an uncommon entity for which a timely diagnosis is critical for decision making. Cardiac surgical or catheter-based procedures are potential causing factors. Though cardiac computerized tomography and magnetic resonance are highly accurate diagnostic modalities, their role is limited by the lack of widespread availability. The present clinical case illustrates the diagnostic features of LAIH that can be obtained using echocardiography at the bedside in critically ill patients. We report a case of LAIH, that followed a catheter ablation procedure and was complicated by cardiac and cerebral ischemia. Cardiac surgical management was required.

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Aims Sodium–glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been shown to have a relevant role in the prevention of hospitalizations for heart failure and improvement in the life expectancy of patients with diabetes and outpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, independently from the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of our study was to evaluate in a real‐world population the number of outpatients with CHF who meet the enrolment criteria of the main randomized controlled trials (RCT) published in the last 5 years and consequently identify the percentage of patients who could potential benefit from SGLT2i therapy. Methods and results We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive outpatients referred for CHF. The diagnosis of T2DM was according to the latest European Society of Cardiology Guidelines. Clinical characteristics considered for the enrolment in the RCTs were recorded. We enrolled 515 patients, 384 (75%) of whom had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%, 82 (16%) had pre‐diabetes, and 187 (36%) had diabetes. Most of the patients with LVEF ≤ 40% met the criteria for the DAPA‐HF trial (65%), and this percentage was even higher if the serum level of N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide was not considered. A high percentage of patients with diabetes and LVEF > 40% met the criteria for the DECLARE (39%), CANVAS (47%), and EMPA‐REG (30%) trials. Patients meeting the enrolment criteria of RCTs evaluating SGLT2i were also characterized by a high risk of heart failure events during follow‐up. Conclusions In spite of a low number of patients actually treated with SGLT2i, we observed that a high prevalence of patients with CHF met the clinical characteristics of RCTs that have demonstrated a beneficial effect of SGLT2i.

Electrolyte serum disorders are associated with poor outcome in chronic heart failure. The aim of this study sought to identify the main driver of incident hypochloremia in chronic HF (CHF) outpatients and to determine the prognostic value of baseline and incident hypochloremia.Consecutive CHF outpatients were enrolled and clinical, laboratoristic and echocardiographic evaluations were performed at baseline and repeated yearly in a subgroup of patients. Baseline and incident hypochloremia were evaluated. During an up to 5-year follow-up, all-cause mortality was the primary end-point for outcome.Among 506 patients enrolled, 120 patients died during follow-up. At baseline, hypochloremia was present in 10% of patients and it was associated with mortality at univariate (HR: 3.25; 95%CI: 2.04-5.18; p0.001) and at multivariate analysis (HR 2.14; 95%CI: 1.23-3.63; p: 0.005) after correction for well-established CHF prognostic markers. Among patients with repeated evaluations and without baseline hypochloremia, in 13% of these, incident hypochloremia occurred during follow-up and furosemide equivalent daily dose was its first determinant (HR for 1 mg/die: 1.008; 95%CI: 1.004-1.013; p0.001) at forward stepwise logistic regression analysis. Finally, incident hypochloremia was associated with mortality at univariate (HR: 4.69; 95%CI: 2.69-8.19; p0.001) as well as at multivariate analysis (HR: 2.97; 95%CI: 1.48-5.94; p: 0.002).In CHF outpatients baseline and incident hypochloremia are independently associated with all-cause mortality, thus highlighting the prognostic role of serum chloride levels which are generally unconsidered. Future studies should evaluate if the strict monitoring and correction of hypochloremia could exert a beneficial effect on prognosis.