Innovative clinical pathway shortened the length of hospital stay and prevented readmission in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: With the rapidly aging population in Japan, the number of patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is increasing. Mitoyo General Hospital created an innovative clinical pathway (CP) for promoting early discharge in patients with ADHF. Major points of the CP were as follows: using tolvaptan as a standard therapy, completing the acute therapies within three days, and starting cardiac rehabilitation from the second day after admission.

High Plasma Docosahexaenoic Acid Associated to Better Prognoses of Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

The clinical relevance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in heart failure remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PUFA levels and the prognosis of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This retrospective study included 140 hospitalized patients with acute decompensated HFpEF (median age 84.

An increase in the coronary calcification score is associated with an increased risk of heart failure in patients without a history of coronary artery disease.

Background: The presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and its severity predict future cardiovascular events and is used for risk stratification. However, the association of CAC with heart failure (HF) in patients without a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the correlations of CAC with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and HF events in patients without a history of CAD or HF.

Serum cystatin C level is associated with left atrial enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired left ventricular relaxation in patients with stage 2 or 3 chronic kidney disease.

Background: Cystatin C is an endogenous marker of kidney function that overcomes the limitations of serum creatinine. High serum cystatin C levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the associations between serum cystatin C levels and structural and functional cardiac changes in patients with stage 2 or 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD).