Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology Meeting 2011: ARISTOTLE, SMART-AV: QLV substudy, SHIFT: echocardiography and quality of life substudies, European CRT Survey, and Basic Science Update.

This article provides information and a commentary on key trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting held in Paris, France in August 2011. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. Results from ARISTOTLE suggest that apixaban is more effective than warfarin for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure meeting 2011: TEHAF, WHICH, CARVIVA, and atrial fibrillation in GISSI-HF and EMPHASIS-HF.

This article provides information and a commentary on key trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure (HF) presented at the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure meeting held in Gothenburg, Sweden in May 2011. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. In the TEHAF study, use of the Health Buddy(®) monitoring system failed to reduce the number of HF admissions compared with usual care but a subgroup of patients with more recently diagnosed HF may have benefited.

Clinical trials update from the American College of Cardiology Meeting 2011: STICH, NorthStar, TARGET, and EVEREST II.

This article provides information and a commentary on key trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure (HF) presented at the annual American College of Cardiology meeting held in New Orleans in 2011. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. The STICH trial failed to show a benefit of revascularization on all-cause mortality in patients with HF and coronary artery disease; however, cardiovascular deaths were reduced compared with medical therapy alone.

Clinical trials update from the American Heart Association meeting 2010: EMPHASIS-HF, RAFT, TIM-HF, Tele-HF, ASCEND-HF, ROCKET-AF, and PROTECT.

This article provides information and a commentary on key trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association held in Chicago in 2010. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. In patients with mild heart failure (HF), EMPHASIS-HF showed that the addition of eplerenone to standard therapy was well tolerated and reduced both the risk of death and hospitalization.

Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology Meeting 2010: SHIFT, PEARL-HF, STAR-heart, and HEBE-III.

This article provides information and a commentary on key trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure (HF) presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology held in Stockholm in 2010. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. The SHIFT study supports the use of ivabradine in patients with HF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and resting sinus rhythm rate ≥70 b.

Clinical trials update from the American College of Cardiology meeting 2010: DOSE, ASPIRE, CONNECT, STICH, STOP-AF, CABANA, RACE II, EVEREST II, ACCORD, and NAVIGATOR.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology held in March 2010. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. Results from DOSE suggest that giving diuretics using a high-dose, bolus strategy may be better than using lower doses or a continuous infusion for patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Clinical trials update from the American Heart Association meeting 2009: HEAAL, FAIR-HF, J-CHF, HeartMate II, PACE and a meta-analysis of dose-ranging studies of beta-blockers in heart failure.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association held in Orlando, Florida in 2009. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, as analyses may change in the final publication. Patients with heart failure randomized to high-dose losartan treatment (150 mg) in the HEAAL study had a reduced risk of death or heart failure hospitalization compared with patients in the low-dose (50 mg) group.

Clinical trials update from the Heart Failure Society of America Meeting 2009: FAST, IMPROVE-HF, COACH galectin-3 substudy, HF-ACTION nuclear substudy, DAD-HF, and MARVEL-1.

This article presents findings and a commentary on late-breaking trials presented during the meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America in September 2009. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. The FAST trial showed somewhat better performance of intrathoracic impedance for prediction of deterioration in patients with heart failure (HF) when compared with daily weighing.

Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology Meeting 2009: AAA, RELY, PROTECT, ACTIVE-I, European CRT survey, German pre-SCD II registry, and MADIT-CRT.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology held in Barcelona in 2009. The AAA study does not support the routine use of aspirin for the prevention of vascular events in patients with asymptomatic atherosclerosis. RELY suggests that dabigatran may be more effective than warfarin for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure meeting 2009: CHANCE, B-Convinced, CHAT, CIBIS-ELD, and Signal-HF.

This paper provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure presented at the annual meeting of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology held in Nice. The CHANCE study showed a substantial reduction in morbidity and mortality in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a multidisciplinary management programme for patients with chronic heart failure in Russia. Data from the B-Convinced study, also an RCT, suggest that continuation of beta-blocker (BB) therapy in patients hospitalized with worsening heart failure may be associated with improved outcomes when compared with treatment discontinuation.

Clinical trials update from the American College of Cardiology 2009: ADMIRE-HF, PRIMA, STICH, REVERSE, IRIS, partial ventricular support, FIX-HF-5, vagal stimulation, REVIVAL-3, pre-RELAX-AHF, ACTIVE-A, HF-ACTION, JUPITER, AURORA, and OMEGA.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in 2009. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, since analyses may change in the final publication. (123)I-mIBG myocardial scintigraphy was a good predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure in ADMIRE-HF.

Clinical trials update from the Heart Failure Society of America and the American Heart Association meetings in 2008: SADHART-CHF, COMPARE, MOMENTUM, thyroid hormone analogue study, HF-ACTION, I-PRESERVE, beta-interferon study, BACH, and ATHENA.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of heart failure presented at the Heart Failure Society of America and the American Heart Association meetings in 2008. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, as analyses may change in the final publication. (i) SADHART-CHF showed no difference in outcome for heart failure patients with depression treated with sertraline compared with placebo.

Clinical trials update from European Society of Cardiology meeting 2008: TIME-CHF, BACH, BEAUTIFUL, GISSI-HF, and HOME-HF.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting which was held in Munich, Germany from 30th August to 3rd September 2008. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary, as analyses may change in the final publication. The TIME-CHF study failed to show that BNP guided therapy was superior to usual care in patients with heart failure.

Clinical trials update from Heart Rhythm 2008 and Heart Failure 2008: ATHENA, URGENT, INH study, HEART and CK-1827452.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting in San Francisco, USA and the Heart Failure Association meeting of the European Society of Cardiology which was held in Milan, Italy in June 2008. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. The ATHENA study showed that dronedarone reduced the incidence of the composite outcome of cardiovascular hospitalisation or death, in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter, 29% of whom had a history of heart failure, compared with placebo.

Clinical trials update from the American College of Cardiology 2008: CARISMA, TRENDS, meta-analysis of Cox-2 studies, HAT, ON-TARGET, HYVET, ACCOMPLISH, MOMENTUM, PROTECT, HORIZON-HF and REVERSE.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the American College of Cardiology. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. CARISMA investigated the use of implantable loop recorders for detecting life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with LVSD after MI and found that brady- and ventricular tachy-arrhythmias predicted an adverse prognosis.

Clinical trials update from the American Heart Association 2007: CORONA, RethinQ, MASCOT, AF-CHF, HART, MASTER, POISE and stem cell therapy.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the American Heart Association 2007. These should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. Rosuvastatin did not reduce mortality compared to placebo in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction due to ischaemic heart disease in the CORONA study.

Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2007: 3CPO, ALOFT, PROSPECT and statins for heart failure.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2007. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. In the 3CPO study, non-invasive ventilation produced a more rapid resolution of symptoms in patients hospitalised with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema; but had no effect on survival, compared to standard oxygen therapy.

Clinical trials update from Heart Rhythm 2007 and Heart Failure 2007: CARISMA, PREPARE, DAVID II, SAVE-PACE, PROTECT and AREA-IN-CHF.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at Heart Rhythm 2007 organised by the Heart Rhythm Society which was held in Denver, USA and Heart Failure 2007 organised by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology which was held in Hamburg, Germany. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. The CARISMA study suggests that non-invasive screening tests may help to identify post-MI patients who may benefit from ICD therapy.

Clinical trials update from the American College of Cardiology 2007: ALPHA, EVEREST, FUSION II, VALIDD, PARR-2, REMODEL, SPICE, COURAGE, COACH, REMADHE, pro-BNP for the evaluation of dyspnoea and THIS-diet.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in March 2007. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. The ALPHA study suggested that patients with heart failure (HF) due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy who have a negative T-wave alternans test have a good prognosis and are unlikely to benefit from ICD therapy.

Clinical trials update from the American Heart Association 2006: OAT, SALT 1 and 2, MAGIC, ABCD, PABA-CHF, IMPROVE-CHF, and percutaneous mitral annuloplasty.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials presented at the American Heart Association meeting held in November 2006, relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure. All reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. The OAT study failed to show a benefit of PCI over optimal medical therapy in patients with persistent total occlusion of the infarct related artery following a myocardial infarction.

Clinical trials update from the Heart Failure Society of America meeting: FIX-CHF-4, selective cardiac myosin activator and OPT-CHF.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the Heart Failure Society of America meeting held in Seattle in September 2006. All reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. Devices designed to improve cardiac contractility may have improved exercise tolerance and quality of life in the FIX-CHF-4 study; however, uncertainties in trial interpretation exist.

Clinical trials update from the joint European Society and World Congress of Cardiology meeting: PEP-CHF, ACCLAIM and the HHH study.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the joint European Society and World Congress of Cardiology meeting held in Barcelona in September 2006. All reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. The PEP-CHF study suggests that perindopril improves symptoms and functional capacity and may reduce heart failure hospitalisations in patients with diastolic heart failure.

Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology heart failure meeting: TNT subgroup analysis, darbepoetin alfa, FERRIC-HF and KW-3902.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the European Society of Cardiology heart failure meeting held in June 2006. All reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. In a sub-group analysis of the TNT study, intensive treatment with high-dose atorvastatin significantly reduced hospitalisations for heart failure in patients with stable coronary heart disease, compared with low-dose atorvastatin; this benefit was most evident in patients with a history of heart failure at baseline.

Clinical trials update from the American College of Cardiology: Darbepoetin alfa, ASTEROID, UNIVERSE, paediatric carvedilol, UNLOAD and ICELAND.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the American College of Cardiology 55th Annual Scientific Session held in March 2006. All reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. Darbepoetin alfa increased haemoglobin levels in heart failure patients and improved some aspects of quality of life compared to placebo.

Clinical trials update from the American Heart Association: REPAIR-AMI, ASTAMI, JELIS, MEGA, REVIVE-II, SURVIVE, and PROACTIVE.

This article provides information and a commentary on trials presented at the American Heart Association meeting held in November 2005, relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure. All reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. In REPAIR-AMI an improvement in ejection fraction was observed in post-MI patients following infusion of bone marrow stem cells.