The prevalence of heart failure (HF) has been steadily increasing and it now creates an enormous social and economic burden. HF is a syndrome characterized by a high mortality rate, frequent hospitalization, a reduced quality of life, and a complex therapeutic regimen. In the last three decades, major progress in both the diagnosis and management of HF has taken place, and the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic advances have led to a significant improvement in survival and symptoms in HF patients. After an accurate diagnosis, a proper HF management plan requires a multi-level team approach comprised of the correct combination of drug therapy, device therapy, and surgery, including heart transplantation. In this review, we focused on the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies for HF with reduced ejection fraction. The goal was to develop treatment guidelines based on significant evidence derived from large clinical trials.
Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Failure, Systolic ; Heart Transplantation ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is rapidly increasing throughout the world, and is closely associated with serious morbidity and mortality. In particular, acute HF is one of the main causes of hospitalization and mortality, especially in elderly individuals. In Korea, the socioeconomic burden of HF is substantial. Because of this, the Korean HF society developed chronic and acute HF management guidelines in 2017, adapted process while including as much data from Korean studies as possible. The scope of the current review, which is based on the Korean HF guidelines, includes the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of acute HF with reduced or preserved ejection fractions of various etiologies.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Heart Failure ; Heart ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Medication Therapy Management ; Mortality ; Prevalence

Echocardiographic parameters can predict cardiovascular events in several clinical settings. However, which echocardiographic parameter is most predictive of each cardiovascular or non-cardiovascular event in patients starting hemodialysis remains unresolved. Echocardiography was used in 189 patients at the time of starting hemodialysis. We established primary outcomes as follows: cardiovascular events (ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, and acute heart failure), fatal non-cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and all combined events. The most predictable echocardiographic parameter was determined in the Cox hazard ratio model with a backward selection after the adjustment of multiple covariates. Among several echocardiographic parameters, the E/e' ratio and the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) were the strongest predictors of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular events, respectively. After the adjustment of clinical and biochemical covariates, the predictability of E/e' remained consistent, but LVEDV did not. When clinical events were further analyzed, the significant echocardiographic parameters were as follows: s' for ischemic heart disease and peripheral artery disease, LVEDV and E/e' for acute heart failure, and E/e' for all-cause mortality and all combined events. However, no echocardiographic parameter independently predicted cerebrovascular disease or non-cardiovascular events. In conclusion, E/e', s', and LVEDV have independent predictive values for several cardiovascular and mortality events.
*Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure/*diagnosis/mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/mortality/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; *Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology

Although the incidence of bleeding complications during extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) support has decreased in various trials, bleeding is still the most fatal complication. We investigated the ideal dosage and efficacy of nafamostat mesilate for use with ECMO in patients with acute cardiac or respiratory failure. We assessed 73 consecutive patients who received ECMO due to acute cardiac or respiratory failure between January 2006 and December 2009. To evaluate the efficacy of nafamostat mesilate, we divided the patients into 2 groups according to the anticoagulants used during ECMO support. All patients of nafamostat mesilate group were male with a mean age of 49.2 yr. Six, 3, 5, and 3 patients were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, septic shock, and acute respiratory distress syndrome, respectively. The mean dosage of nafamostat mesilate was 0.64 mg/kg/hr, and the mean duration of ECMO was 270.7 hr. The daily volume of transfused packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate and the number of complications related to hemorrhage and thrombosis was lower in the nafamostat mesilate group than in the heparin group. Nafamostat mesilate should be considered as an alternative anticoagulant to heparin to reduce bleeding complications during ECMO.
Acute Disease ; Anticoagulants/*administration & dosage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; *Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Guanidines/*administration & dosage ; Heart Failure/diagnosis/mortality/therapy ; Heparin/administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis/mortality/therapy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult/diagnosis/mortality/therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock, Septic/diagnosis/mortality/therapy ; Survival Analysis

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but serious form of cardiac failure affecting women in the last months of pregnancy or early puerperium. Clinical presentation of PPCM is similar to that of systolic heart failure from any cause, and it can sometimes be complicated by a high incidence of thromboembolism. Prior to the availability of echocardiography, diagnosis was based only on clinical findings. Recently, inclusion of echocardiography has made diagnosis of PPCM easier and more accurate. Its etiopathogenesis is still poorly understood, but recent evidence supports inflammation, viral infection and autoimmunity as the leading causative hypotheses. Prompt recognition with institution of intensive treatment by a multidisciplinary team is a prerequisite for improved outcome. Conventional treatment consists of diuretics, beta blockers, vasodilators, and sometimes digoxin and anticoagulants, usually in combination. In resistant cases, newer therapeutic modalities such as immunomodulation, immunoglobulin and immunosuppression may be considered. Cardiac transplantation may be necessary in patients not responding to conventional and newer therapeutic strategies. The role of the anesthesiologist is important in perioperative and intensive care management. Prognosis is highly related to reversal of ventricular dysfunction. Compared to historically higher mortality rates, recent reports describe better outcome, probably because of advances in medical care. Based on current information, future pregnancy is usually not recommended in patients who fail to recover heart function. This article aims to provide a comprehensive updated review of PPCM covering etiopathogeneses, clinical presentation and diagnosis, as well as pharmacological, perioperative and intensive care management and prognosis, while stressing areas that require further research.
Anesthesia, Obstetrical/adverse effects ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Heart Failure/*diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular/*diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/ultrasonography

Pulmonary artery sarcomas (PAS) are rare malignant neoplasms. Right heart failure due to tumour location is the main cause of death in PAS patients. The hemodynamic influence of PAS may effect prognosis, but this has not been proven. We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of PAS in Korea, their association with pulmonary hypertension (PH). PAS patients treated at the Asan Medical Center between 2000 and 2014 were reviewed. We examined demographic characteristics, diagnostic and treatment modalities. Potential prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Twenty patients were diagnosed with PAS. Ten patients were male, the median age was 54 years (range, 33–75 years). The most common symptom observed was dyspnea (65%). The most common histologic type was spindle cell sarcoma (30%). Ten patients had a presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) and received anticoagulation therapy. Seventeen patients underwent surgery, but only 5 patients had complete resection. Eleven patients received post-operative treatment (chemotherapy = 3, radiotherapy = 5, chemoradiotherapy = 3). PH was observed in 12 patients before treatment and in 6 patients after treatment. Overall median survival was 24 months. Post-treatment PH was associated with poor prognosis (HR 9.501, 95% CI 1.79–50.32; P = 0.008) while chemotherapy was negatively associated with mortality (HR 0.102, 95% CI 0.013–0.826; P = 0.032) in univariate analysis. Post-treatment PH was also associated with poor prognosis in multivariate analysis (HR 5.7, 95% CI 1.08–30.91; P = 0.041). PAS patients are frequently misdiagnosed with PE in Korea. Post-treatment PH is associated with a poor prognosis.
Cause of Death ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Korea* ; Male ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This meta-analysis compared the effects of amlodipine besylate, a charged dihydropyridine-type calcium channel blocker (CCB), with other non-CCB antihypertensive therapies regarding the cardiovascular outcome. METHODS: Data from seven long-term outcome trials comparing the cardiovascular outcomes of an amlodipine-based regimen with other active regimens were pooled and analyzed. RESULTS: The risk of myocardial infarction was significantly decreased with an amlodipine-based regimen compared with a non-CCB-based regimen (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 0.99; p = 0.03). The risk of stroke was also significantly decreased (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.90; p < 0.00001). The risk of heart failure increased slightly with marginal significance for an amlodipine-based regimen compared with a non-CCB-based regimen (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.31; p = 0.08). However, when compared overall with beta-blockers and diuretics, amlodipine showed a comparable risk. Amlodipine-based regimens demonstrated a 10% risk reduction in overall cardiovascular events (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.99; p = 0.02) and total mortality (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91 to 0.99; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Amlodipine reduced the risk of total cardiovascular events as well as all-cause mortality compared with non-CCB-based regimens, indicating its benefit for high-risk cardiac patients.
Amlodipine/*therapeutic use ; Antihypertensive Agents/*therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure/*drug effects ; Calcium Channel Blockers/*therapeutic use ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Heart Failure/etiology/mortality/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy/mortality/physiopathology ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology/mortality/*prevention & control ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Stroke/etiology/mortality/*prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

We applied cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for desynchronized heart failure patients. We evaluated clinical outcomes including morbidity, mortality, and echocardiographic parameters in 47 patients with implanted CRT in Korea from October 2005 to May 2013. The combined outcomes of hospitalization from heart failure, heart transplantation and death were the primary end point. Median follow-up period was 17.5 months. The primary outcomes listed above occurred in 10 (21.3%) patients. Two patients (4.3%) died after CRT and 8 (17%) patients were hospitalized for recurrent heart failure. Among patients hospitalized for heart failure, 2 (4.3%) patients underwent heart transplantation. The overall free rate of heart failure requiring hospitalization was 90.1% (95% CI, 0.81-0.99) over one year and 69.4% (95% CI, 0.47-0.91) over 3 yr. We observed improvement of the New York Heart Association classification (3.1+/-0.5 to 1.7+/-0.4), decreases in QRS duration (169.1 to 146.9 ms), decreases in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic (255.0 to 220.1 mL) and end-systolic (194.4 to 159.4 mL) volume and increases in LV ejection fraction (22.5% to 31.1%) at 6 months after CRT. CRT improved symptoms and echocardiographic parameters in a relatively short period, resulting in low mortality and a decrease in hospitalization due to heart failure.
Age Distribution ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy/*mortality ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Heart Failure/diagnosis/*mortality/*prevention & control ; *Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Prostheses and Implants/statistics & numerical data ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hyponatremia is a well-known risk factor for poor outcomes in Western studies of heart failure (HF) patients. We evaluated the predictive value of hyponatremia in hospitalized Asian HF patients. METHODS: The Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in the Relation with Serum Sodium Level in Asian Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure (the COAST) study enrolled hospitalized patients with systolic HF (ejection fraction < 45%) at eight centers in South Korea, Taiwan, and China. The relationship between admission sodium level and clinical outcomes was analyzed in 1,470 patients. RESULTS: The mean admission sodium level was 138 +/- 4.7 mmol/L, and 247 patients (16.8%) had hyponatremia defined as Na+ < 135 mmol/L. The 12-month mortality was higher in hyponatremic patients (27.9% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.001), and hyponatremia was an independent predictor of 12-month mortality (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 2.65). During hospital admission, 57% of hyponatremic patients showed improvement without improvement in their clinical outcomes (p = 0.620). The proportion of patients with optimal medical treatment was only 26.5% and 44.2% at admission and discharge, respectively, defined as the combined use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker and beta-blocker. Underuse of optimal medical treatment was more pronounced in hyponatremic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In hospitalized Asian HF patients, hyponatremia at admission is common and is an independent predictor of poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, hyponatremic patients receive less optimal medical treatment than their counterparts.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asia/epidemiology ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biomarkers/blood ; Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Guideline Adherence ; Healthcare Disparities ; Heart Failure/*diagnosis/drug therapy/ethnology/mortality/physiopathology ; *Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyponatremia/blood/*diagnosis/drug therapy/ethnology/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Sodium/*blood ; Stroke Volume ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Readmission and mortality rates of patients with heart failure are good indicators of care quality. To determine whether hospital resources are associated with care quality for cardiac patients, we analyzed the effect of number of physicians and the combined effects of number of physicians and beds on 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used national cohort sample data of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) claims in 2002–2013. Subjects comprised 2345 inpatients (age: >65 years) admitted to acute-care hospitals for heart failure. A multivariate Cox regression was used. RESULTS: Of the 2345 patients hospitalized with heart failure, 812 inpatients (34.6%) were readmitted within 30 days and 190 (8.1%) had died within a year. Heart-failure patients treated at hospitals with low physician volumes had higher readmission and mortality rates than high physician volumes [30-day readmission: hazard ratio (HR)=1.291, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.020–1.633; 1-year mortality: HR=2.168, 95% CI=1.415–3.321]. Patients admitted to hospitals with low or middle bed and physician volume had higher 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality rates than those admitted to hospitals with high volume (30-day readmission: HR=2.812, 95% CI=1.561–5.066 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians, 1-year mortality: HR=8.638, 95% CI=2.072–36.02 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians). CONCLUSION: Physician volume is related to lower readmission and mortality for heart failure. Of interest, 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality were significantly associated with the combined effects of physician and institution bed volume.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Heart Failure/diagnosis/*mortality/therapy ; Hospitalization ; *Hospitals, High-Volume/statistics & numerical data ; *Hospitals, Low-Volume/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Readmission/*statistics & numerical data ; Physicians/economics/*supply & distribution ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Quality Improvement ; Quality Indicators, Health Care/*statistics & numerical data ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome