November 2021 at a glance: focus on prevention, comorbidities, cardiogenic shock and novel devices

Abstract

Imaging and heart failure preventionThe role of imaging in the management of heart failure (HF) is well established. [1][2][3] Less evidence is available regarding its role in HF prevention. The Copenhagen City Heart Study investigated the prognostic value of whole wall, endomyocardial, and epimyocardial global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the general population. In the sex-stratified analysis, whole wall and epimyocardial GLS were found to be significant predictors of prognosis in males, while no GLS parameter was useful in females. 4 Another study investigated the presence of subclinical congestion, assessed by three ultrasound (US) variables (inferior vena cava diameter, jugular vein distensibility ratio, the number of B-lines from a 28-point lung US), in patients with at least one risk factor for HF, including diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, and hypertension. Subclinical congestion was common and was described in 30% of subjects. Plasma natriuretic peptide concentrations were more closely related to left atrial volume than other US measures of congestion. 5