Iftikhar, Momina

Heart failure (HF) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with its prevalence continuing to rise due to an aging population and the increasing burden of cardiometabolic diseases. Advances in understanding HF pathophysiology—neurohormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic mechanisms—have led to significant improvements in diagnosis and management, emphasizing earlier detection and patient-centered approaches. Novel biomarkers have the potential to enhance risk assessment beyond traditional natriuretic peptides. Imaging advances can enhance structural and functional assessment, enabling more accurate phenotyping, disease characterization, and risk stratification. Recent advances and real-world data have been used to implement and optimize guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HF to reduce HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality across the spectrum of HF etiologies. Adjunctive therapies are reserved for select patients with persistent symptoms or high-risk features despite optimal GDMT. Device- and transcatheter-based interventions include established and emerging technologies that address persistent symptoms, structural abnormalities, and hemodynamic abnormalities despite optimal GDMT, thereby expanding treatment options for high-risk patients. Collectively, these advancements highlight a paradigm shift toward precise, personalized approaches to HF management, thereby improving long-term outcomes across the spectrum of HF etiologies.

ABSTRACT Background Early catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) improves outcomes, but the optimal timing, especially in heart failure (HF) subtypes, remains unclear. Objective To evaluate the impact of ablation timing on outcomes in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods We used the TriNetX database (2010–2024) to identify HF patients with AF who underwent ablation. Patients were classified as early ablation (≤ 1 year of first AF diagnosis) or delayed ablation (1–3 years), with propensity score matching (PSM) applied to balance the baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was AF recurrence, defined by repeat ablation, direct current cardioversion (DCCV), or antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use after a 3‐month blanking period. Secondary outcomes included stroke, hospitalization, and mortality over 5 years. Results After PSM, delayed ablation was associated with higher AF recurrence in both HFrEF (HR = 1.28, p < 0.001) and HFpEF (HR = 1.21, p = 0.02), as seen in multivariate analysis. In HFrEF, delayed ablation was associated with higher incidence of re‐do ablation, AAD use, and DCCV, while in HFpEF, higher recurrence with delayed ablation was associated with increased AAD use. Both cohorts had similar stroke and mortality rates between early and delayed ablation. Conclusions Delayed ablation in HFrEF and HFpEF was linked to higher AF recurrence, driven by increased redo ablations, DCCV, AAD use in HFrEF, and higher AAD use in HFpEF. Stroke, HF hospitalization and mortality rates were similar, suggesting earlier ablation may enhance rhythm control over other outcomes.

Background: Early catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) improves outcomes, but the optimal timing, especially in heart failure (HF) subtypes, remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the impact of ablation timing on outcomes in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: We used the TriNetX database (2010–2024) to identify HF patients with AF who underwent ablation. Patients were classified as early ablation (≤1 year of first AF diagnosis) or delayed ablation (1–3 years), with propensity score matching (PSM) applied to balance the baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was AF recurrence, defined by repeat ablation, direct current cardioversion (DCCV), or antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use after a 3-month blanking period. Secondary outcomes included stroke, hospitalization, and mortality over 5 years. Results: After PSM, delayed ablation was associated with higher AF recurrence in both HFrEF (HR 1.25, p < 0.001) and HFpEF (HR 1.27, p = 0.01), as seen in multivariate analysis. In HFrEF, delayed ablation was associated with higher incidence of re-do ablation, AAD use, and DCCV, while in HFpEF, higher recurrence with delayed ablation was associated with increased AAD use. Both cohorts had similar stroke and mortality rates between early and delayed ablation. Conclusions: Delayed ablation in HFrEF and HFpEF was linked to higher AF recurrence, driven by increased redo ablations, DCCV, AAD use in HFrEF, and higher AAD use in HFpEF. Stroke and mortality rates were similar, suggesting earlier ablation may enhance rhythm control without affecting long-term survival.

11pt, fleqn, a4paper, ]LegrandOrangeBook Background: Early catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) improves outcomes, but the optimal timing, especially in heart failure (HF) subtypes, remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the impact of ablation timing on outcomes in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: We used the TriNetX database (2010–2024) to identify HF patients with AF who underwent ablation. Patients were classified as early ablation (≤1 year of first AF diagnosis) or delayed ablation (1–3 years), with propensity score matching (PSM) applied to balance the baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was AF recurrence, defined by repeat ablation, direct current cardioversion (DCCV), or antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use after a 3-month blanking period. Secondary outcomes included stroke, hospitalization, and mortality over 5 years. Results: After PSM, delayed ablation was associated with higher AF recurrence in both HFrEF (HR 1.25, p < 0.001) and HFpEF (HR 1.27, p = 0.01), as seen in multivariate analysis. In HFrEF, delayed ablation was associated with higher incidence of re-do ablation, AAD use, and DCCV, while in HFpEF, higher recurrence with delayed ablation was associated with increased AAD use. Both cohorts had similar stroke and mortality rates between early and delayed ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed ablation in HFrEF and HFpEF was linked to higher AF recurrence, driven by increased redo ablations, DCCV, AAD use in HFrEF, and higher AAD use in HFpEF. Stroke and mortality rates were similar, suggesting earlier ablation may enhance rhythm control without affecting long-term survival. Condensed Abstract Delayed atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation was associated with higher (AF) recurrence in both HFrEF and HFpEF. In HFrEF, delayed ablation led to increased use of re-do ablation, cardioversion and antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs). In HFpEF, only AAD use was significantly higher with delayed ablation. Stroke and mortality rates were similar between early and delayed ablation groups.

Introduction: Chronic elevation of left heart filling pressure causes pulmonary vascular remodeling, pulmonary hypertension, and right heart dysfunction. Although diastolic dysfunction is relatively common in patients with coarctation of aorta (COA), there are limited data about the prevalence and prognostic implications of pulmonary hypertension and right heart dysfunction in this population. The purpose of the study was to assess right heart function and hemodynamics in patients with COA, and to determine the relationship between right heart indices and clinical outcomes. Methods: Right heart structure, function and hemodynamics were assessed with these indices: right atrial (RA) volume, RA pressure, RA reservoir strain, right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain, RV end-diastolic area, RV systolic pressure, and tricuspid regurgitation severity. These indices were used to generate a composite right heart hemodynamic score (RHHS), range 0-5. We then assessed the relationship between RHHS and primary outcome (death/transplant) and secondary outcomes (heart failure hospitalization and hepatorenal function). Results: Of 821 COA patients, RA dysfunction, RV dysfunction, and pulmonary hypertension were present in 16%, 14%, and 20% of patients respectively. RHHS was independently associated with primary and secondary outcomes (p<0.001). For every unit increase in RHHS, we observed 83% increase in death/transplant and 71% increase in heart failure hospitalization. Conclusions: The current study underscores an important point, which is that COA is not just a disease of the left heart but can result in right heart dysfunction, and that the onset of right heart dysfunction is associated with adverse outcomes.

Introduction: Valvuloarterial impedance (Zva) is used for assessment of left ventricular (LV) global pressure load in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and impaired arterial compliance. Since patients with coarctation of aorta (COA) have impaired arterial compliance, we hypothesized that COA patients with ≥moderate AS (AS-COA group) will have higher Zva, symptomatic progression, and cardiovascular events, as compared to non-COA patients with similar AS severity (AS group). Methods: 1:1 propensity matching of 71 AS-COA and 71 AS patients based on age, sex, body mass index, and aortic valve mean gradient. Results: The AS-COA group had higher Zva (4.2±0.6 vs 3.5±0.4 mmHg/ml*m 2 , p<0.001), more advanced cardiac remodeling, and higher 5-year incidence of symptomatic progression (85% vs 51%, p<0.001). Pre-operative Zva was independently associated with cardiac remodeling (r=0.66, p<0.001) and symptomatic progression (HR 1.08, 1.05-1.12, per mmHg/ml*m 2 increase in Zva). Of 172 patients, 117 underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). The AS-COA group had higher residual Zva(3.3±0.5 vs 2.4±0.4 mmHg/ml*m 2 , p<0.001), less robust LV mass index (LVMI) regression at 1-year post-AVR, and higher 5-year incidence of cardiovascular events. Post-operative Zva was independently associated with LVMI regression (r=-0.46, p<0.001) and cardiovascular events (HR 1.06, 1.02-1.10, per mmHg/ml*m 2 increase in Zva). Conclusions: Adults with repaired COA repair and moderate-severe AS had higher LV global pressure load, cardiac remodeling, symptomatic progression, and cardiovascular events as compared to non-COA patients with similar severity of AS. Zva can identify patients at risk for adverse outcomes, and perhaps should be used for risk stratification with regards to timing of AVR.

Abstract Aims Conotruncal anomalies share common embryogenic defects of the outflow tracts and great arteries, which result in a predisposition to aortic aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and risk of progressive aortic aneurysms in adults with conotruncal anomalies. Methods and results Retrospective study of adults with conotruncal anomalies that underwent cross-sectional imaging 2003–20. Aneurysm was defined as aortic root/mid-ascending aorta &gt;2.1 mm/m2/&gt;1.9 mm/m2, progressive aneurysm as increase by &gt;2 mm, and severe aneurysm as dimension &gt;50 mm. Of 2261 patients (38 ± 12 years; male 58%), 1167 (52%) had an aortic aneurysm, and 205 (14%) had a severe aortic aneurysm. Mean annual increase in aortic root/mid-ascending aorta was 0.3 ± 0.1 mm/0.2 ± 0.1 mm. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year cumulative incidence of the progressive aortic aneurysm was 4%, 7%, and 9%, respectively. The rate of aneurysm growth decreased with age, with no significant growth after age 40 years. There was an excellent correlation between aortic indices from cross-sectional imaging and echocardiography. Of 950 females, 184 had ≥1 pregnancy, and 81 (44%) of the 184 patients had aortic aneurysm prior to pregnancy. There was no aortic dissection or progression of the aortic aneurysm during pregnancy. Overall, there was no aortic dissection during 7984 patient-years of follow-up. Conclusions Aortic aneurysm was common in patients with conotruncal anomalies. However, the risk of progressive aneurysm or dissection was low. Collectively, these data suggest a benign natural history and perhaps a less frequent need for cross-sectional imaging. Further studies are required to determine the optimal timing for surgical intervention in this population.