No abstract

Background-The relation between infarct tissue heterogeneity on contrast-enhanced MRI and the occurrence of spontaneous ventricular arrhythmia (or sudden cardiac death) is unknown. Therefore, the study purpose was to evaluate the predictive value of infarct tissue heterogeneity assessed with contrast-enhanced MRI on the occurrence of spontaneous ventricular arrhythmia with subsequent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy (as surrogate of sudden cardiac death) in patients with previous myocardial infarction.

The sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin reduces the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure, but whether empagliflozin also improves clinical outcomes when initiated in patients who are hospitalized for acute heart failure is unknown. In this double-blind trial (EMPULSE; NCT04157751), 530 patients with a primary diagnosis of acute de novo or decompensated chronic heart failure regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin 10 mg once daily or placebo. Patients were randomized in-hospital when clinically stable (median time from hospital admission to randomization, 3 days) and were treated for up to 90 days. The primary outcome of the trial was clinical benefit, defined as a hierarchical composite of death from any cause, number of heart failure events and time to first heart failure event, or a 5 point or greater difference in change from baseline in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Total Symptom Score at 90 days, as assessed using a win ratio. More patients treated with empagliflozin had clinical benefit compared with placebo (stratified win ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.68; P = 0.0054), meeting the primary endpoint. Clinical benefit was observed for both acute de novo and decompensated chronic heart failure and was observed regardless of ejection fraction or the presence or absence of diabetes. Empagliflozin was well tolerated; serious adverse events were reported in 32.3% and 43.6% of the empagliflozin- and placebo-treated patients, respectively. These findings indicate that initiation of empagliflozin in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure is well tolerated and results in significant clinical benefit in the 90 days after starting treatment.

The extent of LV reverse remodeling at midterm follow-up is predictive for long-term outcome in CRT patients.

Cardiac sympathetic denervation predicts ventricular arrhythmias causing appropriate ICD therapy as well as the composite of appropriate ICD therapy or cardiac death.

Background-The relative merits of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, LV lead position, and myocardial scar to predict long-term outcome after cardiac resynchronization therapy remain unknown and were evaluated in the present study. Methods and Results-In 397 ischemic heart failure patients, 2-dimensional speckle tracking imaging was performed, with comprehensive assessment of LV radial dyssynchrony, identification of the segment with latest mechanical activation, and detection of myocardial scar in the segment where the LV lead was positioned. For LV dyssynchrony, a cutoff value of 130 milliseconds was used. Segments with Ͻ16.5% radial strain in the region of the LV pacing lead were considered to have extensive myocardial scar (Ͼ50% transmurality, validated in a subgroup with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging). The LV lead position was derived from chest x-ray. Long-term follow-up included all-cause mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure. Mean baseline LV radial dyssynchrony was 133Ϯ98 milliseconds. In 271 patients (68%), the LV lead was placed at the latest activated segment (concordant LV lead position), and the mean value of peak radial strain at the targeted segment was 18.9Ϯ12.6%. Larger LV radial dyssynchrony at baseline was an independent predictor of superior long-term survival (hazard ratio, 0.995; Pϭ0.001), whereas a discordant LV lead position (hazard ratio, 2.086; Pϭ0.001) and myocardial scar in the segment targeted by the LV lead (hazard ratio, 2.913; PϽ0.001) were independent predictors of worse outcome. Addition of these 3 parameters yielded incremental prognostic value over the combination of clinical parameters. Conclusions-Baseline LV radial dyssynchrony, discordant LV lead position, and myocardial scar in the region of the LV pacing lead were independent determinants of long-term prognosis in ischemic heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy. Larger baseline LV dyssynchrony predicted superior long-term survival, whereas discordant LV lead position and myocardial scar predicted worse outcome. (Circulation. 2011;123:70-78.)

In a large cohort of ICD patients, inappropriate shocks were common. The most important finding is the association between inappropriate shocks and mortality, independent of interim appropriate shocks.

Background-Cardiac resynchronization therapy for heart failure with left bundle branch block reduces left ventricular (LV) conduction delay, contraction asynchrony, and LV end-systolic volume ("reverse remodeling"). Up to one third of patients do not improve, and the electric requirements for reverse remodeling are unclear. We hypothesized that reverse remodeling is predicted by the left bundle branch block ventricular activation sequence, the paced activation sequence, and interactions between these 2 conditions. Methods and Results-Twelve-lead ECGs during left bundle branch block and cardiac resynchronization therapy were analyzed in 202 consecutive patients (New York Heart Association class III to IV heart failure, ejection fraction Յ35%) for predictors of reverse remodeling (Ն10% reduction in end-systolic volume) at 6 months.