Association between early detected heart failure stages and future cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular events in the elderly (Copenhagen Heart Failure Risk Study).

Background: Early stages of heart failure (HF) are associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and increased mortality, however the course of progression and the impact of non-cardiovascular comorbidities on adverse events in elderly high-risk patients are unknown.

Aim: To examine the risk of future cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV events in early stages of HF in a cohort of elderly patients (age ≥ 60 with ≥ 1 risk factor for HF and without known or clinically suspected HF).

Methods: A total of 400 patients (American Heart Association HF stage A: N = 177; stage B: N = 150; stage C: N = 73) from the Copenhagen Heart Failure Risk Study were identified and followed for the main composite outcome of a HF hospitalization (HFH), ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and all-cause death, recorded within the Danish nationwide registries.

Early Stages of Obesity-related Heart Failure Are Associated with Natriuretic Peptide Deficiency and an Overall Lack of Neurohormonal Activation: The Copenhagen Heart Failure Risk Study.

Objective: This study evaluated the associations between the natriuretic peptide activity and the neurohormonal response in non-obese and obese outpatients with and without heart failure (HF).

Background: Obesity-related HF may be a distinct subtype of HF. Obesity is associated with lower plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides.

Diagnostic utility of MR-proANP and NT-proBNP in elderly outpatients with a high risk of heart failure: the Copenhagen heart failure risk study.

Amino-terminal-pro-B-type-natriuretic-peptide (NT-proBNP) is a diagnostic biomarker for heart failure (HF), but plasma concentrations are influenced by numerous factors. Mid-regional-pro-atrial-natriuretic-peptide (MR-proANP) have comparable diagnostic value in acute HF. However, data are lacking in the non-acute setting.

Prevalence of early stages of heart failure in an elderly risk population: the Copenhagen Heart Failure Risk Study.

Aims: To describe the prevalence of heart failure (HF) stages in elderly outpatients with risk factors for HF but without known HF, and characterise the clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic findings in each stage.

Background: Early stages of HF are underdiagnosed; nevertheless, they are associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation and increased mortality. The prevalence of HF stages in elderly high-risk patients is unknown.

Influence of renal impairment on aldosterone status, calcium metabolism, and vasopressin activity in outpatients with systolic heart failure.

Aims: Renal dysfunction (RD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in heart failure (HF). At present, no specific treatment for patients with RD, to prevent progression of HF, has been developed. How different hormone axes-and thereby potential treatment options-are affected by RD in HF warrants further investigations.

Iron deficiency: Prevalence and relation to cardiovascular biomarkers in heart failure outpatients.

Background: Both iron deficiency (ID) and cardiovascular biomarkers are associated with a poor outcome in heart failure (HF). The relationship between different cardiovascular biomarkers and ID is unknown, and the true prevalence of ID in an outpatient HF clinic is probably overlooked.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence of ID in a HF clinic and evaluate whether ID is associated with increased plasma concentrations of different cardiovascular biomarkers that carry a poor prognosis.

Alcohol intake and risk of venous thromboembolism. A Danish follow-up study.

Knowledge about the influence of alcohol intake on the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is limited. We investigated the risk of VTE according to alcohol intake and drinking pattern among 27,178 men and 29,876 women participating in the Danish follow-up study Diet, Cancer and Health. Information on alcohol exposure and potential confounders were obtained from baseline questionnaires.