Prognostic significance and clinical determinants of residual dyspnoea at discharge in acute heart failure: a single-centre, prospective observational study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of residual (discharge) dyspnoea in acute heart failure (AHF) patients.

Design: Single-centre, prospective observational study.

Setting: Patients hospitalised for decompensated AHF in a single cardiology centre, in Poland.

Sex-stratified patterns of emergency cardiovascular admissions prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global public health, with long-term consequences that are still largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the data regarding acute cardiovascular hospital admissions in five European centers before and during the pandemic. A multicenter, multinational observational registry was created, comparing admissions to the emergency departments during a 3-months period in 2020 (during the pandemic) with the corresponding period in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

A Methodological Perspective on the Function and Assessment of Peripheral Chemoreceptors in Heart Failure: A Review of Data from Clinical Trials.

Augmented peripheral chemoreceptor sensitivity (PChS) is a common feature of many sympathetically mediated diseases, among others, and it is an important mechanism of the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). It is related not only to the greater severity of symptoms, especially to dyspnea and lower exercise tolerance but also to a greater prevalence of complications and poor prognosis. The causes, mechanisms, and impact of the enhanced activity of peripheral chemoreceptors (PChR) in the HF population are subject to intense research.

COVID-19 Related Myocarditis in Adults: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.

Despite the progress of its management, COVID-19 maintains an ominous condition which constitutes a threat, especially for the susceptible population. The cardiac injury occurs in approximately 30% of COVID-19 infections and is associated with a worse prognosis. The clinical presentation of cardiac involvement can be COVID-19-related myocarditis.

Clinical determinants and prognostic significance of hypocapnia in acute heart failure.

The aim of this research was to examine the prevalence of hyperventilation (defined by pCO value) among acute heart failure (AHF) patients and to link it with potential triggers and prognosis. All patients underwent dyspnea severity assessment and capillary blood examination on hospital admission and during hospitalization. Out of 241 AHF patients, 57(24%) were assigned to low pCO group (pCO ≤ 30 mmHg) and 184 (76%) to normal pCO group (pCO > 30 mmHg).

Distinct renin/aldosterone activity profiles correlate with renal function, natriuretic response, decongestive ability and prognosis in acute heart failure.

Background: Although renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation is believed to be the major driver of acute heart failure (AHF) episodes our understanding of its prevalence and clinical relevance in contemporary settings is incomplete.

Methods: Serum renin and aldosterone were measured at day-1 and at discharge in patients (n = 211) that were hospitalized between 2016 and 2017 for AHF in a single cardiology center. The population was profiled based on upper limits of normal (ULN) of both biomarkers assessed at day-1 and linked with the clinical course and outcomes.

Spot urine sodium in acute heart failure: differences in prognostic value on admission and discharge.

Aims: Most studies examined spot urine sodium's (sUNa ) prognostic utility during the early phase of acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization. In AHF, sodium excretion is related to clinical status; therefore, we investigated the differences in the prognostic information of spot UNa throughout the course of hospitalization for AHF (admission vs. discharge).

Elevated plasma endothelin-1 is related to low natriuresis, clinical signs of congestion, and poor outcome in acute heart failure.

Aims: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor, which regulates renal and vascular function. We aimed to relate plasma levels of ET-1 with the clinical picture and outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods And Results: We studied 113 patients with AHF [mean age 65 ± 13 (years), median (upper and lower quartiles) N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, 5422 (2689; 8582) (pg/mL)], in whom plasma levels of ET-1 were serially measured at admission (10.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak on Acute Admissions at the Emergency and Cardiology Departments Across Europe.

Purpose: We evaluated whether the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) pandemic was associated with changes in the pattern of acute cardiovascular admissions across European centers.

Methods: We set-up a multicenter, multinational, pan-European observational registry in 15 centers from 12 countries. All consecutive acute admissions to emergency departments and cardiology departments throughout a 1-month period during the COVID-19 outbreak were compared with an equivalent 1-month period in 2019.