BackgroundHeart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is recognized as a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Thus, a profound understanding of the pathophysiologic changes in HFpEF is needed to identify risk factors and potential treatment targets in this specific patient population. Therefore, we aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of left- and right-ventricular function and hemodynamics on long-term mortality and morbidity in order to improve risk prediction in patients with HFpEF.Methods and ResultsWe prospectively included 142 consecutive patients with HFpEF into our observational, non-interventional registry. Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and invasive hemodynamic assessments including myocardial biopsy were performed at baseline. We detected significant correlations between left ventricular extracellular matrix and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = -0.64;p = 0.03) and stroke volume (r = -0.53;p = 0.04). Hospitalization for heart failure and/or cardiac death was observed over a median follow up of 10 months. The strongest risk factors were reduced right ventricular function (adj. HR 6.62;95%CI 3.12- 14.02;p<0.001), systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (adj. HR per 1-SD 1.55;95%CI 1.15- 2.09;p = 0.004) and the pulmonary artery wedge pressure (adj. HR per 1-SD 1.51;95%CI 1.09–2.08; p = 0.012). The area under the ROC curve for right ventricular function was 0.63, for systolic pulmonary arterial pressure 0.75, and for pulmonary artery wedge pressure 0.68.ConclusionThe current study emphasizes the importance of right ventricular function and pulmonary pressures on outcome in patients with HFpEF providing pathophysiological insights into the hemodynamic changes in HFpEF.

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Aims Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) represents a novel treatment option for patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) unsuitable for established therapies. The CHOICE‐MI registry aimed to investigate outcomes of patients undergoing screening for TMVI. Methods and results From May 2014 to March 2021, patients with MR considered suboptimal candidates for transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair (TEER) and at high risk for mitral valve surgery underwent TMVI screening at 26 centres. Characteristics and outcomes were investigated for patients undergoing TMVI and for TMVI‐ineligible patients referred to bailout‐TEER, high‐risk surgery or medical therapy (MT). The primary composite endpoint was all‐cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization after 1 year. Among 746 patients included (78.5 years, interquartile range [IQR] 72.0–83.0, EuroSCORE II 4.7% [IQR 2.7–9.7]), 229 patients (30.7%) underwent TMVI with 10 different dedicated devices. At 1 year, residual MR ≤1+ was present in 95.2% and the primary endpoint occurred in 39.2% of patients treated with TMVI. In TMVI‐ineligible patients (n = 517, 69.3%), rates of residual MR ≤1+ were 37.2%, 100.0% and 2.4% after bailout‐TEER, high‐risk surgery and MT, respectively. The primary endpoint at 1 year occurred in 28.8% of patients referred to bailout‐TEER, in 42.9% of patients undergoing high‐risk surgery and in 47.9% of patients remaining on MT. Conclusion This registry included the largest number of patients treated with TMVI to date. TMVI with 10 dedicated devices resulted in predictable MR elimination and sustained functional improvement at 1 year. In TMVI‐ineligible patients, bailout‐TEER and high‐risk surgery represented reasonable alternatives, while MT was associated with poor clinical and functional outcomes.

HFpEF patients with measurable fluid overload face a dismal prognosis as compared to euvolemic patients. Our data, while preliminary, suggest that patients with fluid overload may face a better outcome under continued fluid removal irrespective of changes in eGFR.

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