European journal of internal medicine
-
Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2025
The impact of hypoalbuminemia on the long-term prognosis of patients with acute heart failure: The modifying role of carbohydrate antigen 125.
Hypoalbuminemia is frequently found in patients with heart failure (HF), associated with higher morbimortality in acute HF (AHF). Moreover, Carbohydrate Antigen 125 (CA125) is elevated in most of the AHF patients. In this cohort of patients admitted for AHF, our objective was to evaluate the association between hypoalbuminemia and long-term outcomes, including mortality and HF readmissions, stratified by CA125 concentration. ⋯ In patients with AHF, the prognostic impact of albumin is influenced by CA125 levels. Hypoalbuminemia was associated with higher risk of death or HF readmission only when coexisted with high CA125. On the contrary, when CA125 was low, hypoalbuminemia lacked prognostic effect.
-
Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2025
ReviewTranslating evidence into practice: Managing electrolyte imbalances and iron deficiency in heart failure.
Mineral abnormalities are a common complication of heart failure (HF). In particular, dyskalaemia, hyponatraemia, and hypomagnesaemia are prevalent, with hypo- and hyperkalaemia observed in over 40 % of HF patients, hyponatraemia in 18-27 %, hypomagnesaemia in 7-52 %, and phosphate imbalance in 13 %. These abnormalities serve as indicators of the severity of HF and are strongly associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Various pathways contribute to the development of ID in HF, including reduced iron intake due to anorexia, increased hepcidin levels associated with chronic inflammation and hepatic congestion, and occult gastrointestinal bleeding due to the concomitant use of antithrombotic agents. The efficacy of iron replacement therapy has been demonstrated in clinical trials, particularly in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), whilst more recently, it has also been shown to improve exercise capacity in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This review focuses on potassium and phosphate abnormalities, hyponatraemia, hypomagnesaemia, and ID in HF, providing a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms, clinical significance, and intervention strategies with the latest findings.
-
Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2025
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAssociation between trajectory of systolic blood pressure and outcomes in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
The optimal systolic blood pressure (SBP) in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains controversial. We aim to assess the SBP trajectory and prognosis in HFpEF. ⋯ The decreasing or increasing SBP trajectory is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events in HFpEF, suggesting a stable SBP trajectory group (≈130 mmHg) have lower incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality. Trials are necessary to determine the optimal SBP in HFpEF.