ICF framework in cardiac rehabilitation: a real-life implementation in post-cardiac surgery and chronic heart failure patients.

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is growing in importance in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) as the number of elderly comorbid patients increases.

Aim: To classify through the ICF framework a group of post-cardiac surgery (CS) and chronic heart failure (CHF) patients undergoing rehabilitation. Then, to compare the two groups and identify possible factors at admission that could affect ICF evaluations at discharge.

Predictors of survival in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac rehabilitation (CR)-derived predictors of outcome in patients discharged from rehabilitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 232 TAVR patients (aged 82±6 years, 55% females) discharged following an average 3-week residential CR program in the period January 2009 to December 2017. Comorbidities (cumulative illness rated state-comorbidity index, CIRS-CI), echocardiography on admission, disability (Barthel Index [BI]) and functional capacity (6-min walk distance, 6MWD) at discharge, and maximal training session intensity expressed in METs/min were collected.

Validation of the Italian HeartQoL: a short health-related quality of life questionnaire for patients with ischemic heart disease.

The psychometric properties of the core disease-specific 14-item Italian HeartQoL health-related quality of life questionnaire have been evaluated in this study. The Italian version of the HeartQoL, the MacNew questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were completed by 472 patients (angina, N = 183; myocardial infarction, N = 167; or ischemic heart failure, N = 122) who were recruited in five Italian centers (Florence, Veruno, Turin, Udine, and Naples) between 2015 and 2017. Patients with myocardial infarction reported significantly higher HeartQoL scores than patients with angina or ischemic heart failure.

Cardiac Rehabilitation for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

More than 300,000 patients worldwide have undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS). The rise in TAVR as a treatment option is driven in large part by evidence showing its benefits compared with medical treatment in patients with symptomatic severe AS who were too ill to undergo surgical aortic valve replacement. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended after valvular cardiac surgery for improving exercise capacity, with data also now showing its utility to improve quality of life, moderate frailty, and increase survival.

Predictors of survival in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: Cardiac rehabilitation may improve physical and functional recovery after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), but outcome predictors in TAVI patients are usually based on assessments made before or at the time of TAVI without regard to cardiac rehabilitation referral. We aimed to assess exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation-derived parameters that may predict 3-year outcome in TAVI patients undergoing residential cardiac rehabilitation.

Methods And Results: In 95 consecutive TAVI patients (82.

Cardiac rehabilitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared to patients after valve replacement.

Aims: To evaluate feasibility, safety, and outcome of an exercise-based residential cardiac rehabilitation program in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients compared to elderly patients after surgical valve replacement (sAVR).

Methods: From January 2010 to January 2013, 65 consecutive TAVI and 70 sAVR older than 70 years were enrolled. Six-min walk test (6MWT) distance, Barthel index, Morse Fall Scale (MFS) on admission and discharge, Cumulative Illness Rated State-Comorbidity Index (CIRS-CI), and echocardiography were assessed.

Prognostic value of angiopoietin-2 in patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: The analysis of biomarkers with a prognostic value in chronic heart failure (CHF) is in constant progress. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term prognostic value of angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), galectin-3 (Gal-3), myeloperoxidase (MPO), endostatin (End), and pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) as a conventionally accepted prognosis biomarker in CHF patients.

Methods And Results: 146 consecutive patients with CHF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF<40% at echocardiography) were enrolled, and underwent serum/blood sample analysis after 12-h fasting.

EaRly-start ExerciSe training afTer acute hemodynAmic decompensation in patients with chRonic hearT failure (RE-START). A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial on short-term feasibility and impact on functional capacity, symptoms and neurohumoral activation .

RE-START is a multicenter, randomized, prospective, open, controlled trial aiming to evaluate the feasibility and the short- and medium-term effects of an early-start AET program on functional capacity, symptoms and neurohormonal activation in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with recent acute hemodynamic decompensation. Study endpoints will be: 1) safety of and compliance to AET; 2) effects of AET on i) functional capacity, ii) patient-reported symptoms and iii) AET-induced changes in beta-adrenergic receptor signaling and circulating angiogenetic and inflammatory markers. Two-hundred patients, randomized 1:1 to training (TR) or control (C), will be enrolled.

Fibrosis markers and CRIM1 increase in chronic heart failure of increasing severity.

Background: Fibrosis suppressors/activators in chronic heart failure (CHF) is a topic of investigation.

Aim: To quantify serum levels of fibrosis regulators in CHF.

Methods: ELISA tests were used to quantify fibrosis regulators, procollagen type-(PIP)I, (PIP)III, collagen-I, III, BMP1,2,3,7, SDF1α, CXCR4, fibulin 1,2,3, BMPER, CRIM1 and BAMBI in 66 CHF (NYHA class I, n = 9; II, n = 34; III n = 23), and in 14 controls.

Flow-mediated dilation normalization predicts outcome in chronic heart failure patients.

Background: Reduced flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a known prognostic marker in heart failure (HF), but may be influenced by the brachial artery (BA) diameter. Aiming to adjust for this influence, we normalized FMD (nFMD) by the peak shear rate (PSR) and tested its prognostic power in HF patients.

Methods And Results: BA diameter, FMD, difference in hyperemic versus rest brachial flow velocity (FVD), PSR (FVD/BA), and nFMD (FMD/PSR × 1000) were assessed in 71 HF patients.

Prognostic relevance of a non-invasive evaluation of right ventricular function and pulmonary artery pressure in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aim: To determine the prognostic relevance of the echocardiographic evaluation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction have both been associated with poor prognosis in CHF.

Methods And Results: A complete echocardiographic examination was performed in 658 outpatients with CHF and LVEF <45%.

Stepwise increase of angiopoietin-2 serum levels is related to haemodynamic and functional impairment in stable chronic heart failure.

Background: A reciprocal link between inflammation, oxidative/nitrosative stress, and endothelial dysfunction has been postulated in chronic heart failure (CHF). The endothelial repair mechanisms involved remain to be determined. Our aim was to investigate whether there are detectable signs of ongoing angiogenesis in serum of CHF patients and to evaluate the correlation with indexes of haemodynamic and functional impairment.

Flow mediated dilation in patient with Berlin Heart Incor left ventricle assist device.

Endothelial function measured with brachial ultrasound (BU) is a validated prognostic factor in heart failure patients. LVAD (left ventricle assist device) application is a promising surgical technique to treat refractory heart failure patients both as a bridge to heart transplantation or as destination therapy. Clinical recovery in such patients may be associated to normal endothelial function measured by BU but, as recently reported, only in pulsatile flow LVAD patients.

Ultrasound-guided compression repair of femoral pseudoaneurysms complicating cardiac catheterization.

Background: Femoral pseudoaneurysms complicate cardiac catheterizations in up to 3.2% of cases. Ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) is a known valid alternative therapy to surgical and percutaneous repair.