Top 5 Most-Read Heart Failure Articles of 2024

The top heart failure articles of 2024 reflect a growing focus on innovative treatments and preventative strategies to improve patient outcomes, especially for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). From surgical interventions and medication breakthroughs to understanding the impacts of comorbidities and vaccination, these studies highlight the evolving landscape of heart failure care.

Here are the 5 most-read heart failure articles of 2024. You can check out the rest of our heart failure news here.

5. Surgery Improves Outcomes for Patients With Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation

Research highlights the potential benefits of surgical intervention in AFMR over medical management alone. | Image credit: totojang1977 – stock.adobe.com

A study revealed that older patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) who underwent mitral valve surgery had significantly better outcomes than those treated with medical therapy alone. Patients who had surgery experienced a 57% reduction in heart failure hospitalizations and mortality over nearly 3 years of follow-up. The findings emphasize the potential benefits of surgical intervention in managing AFMR, a condition often linked with atrial fibrillation and prevalent among older adults, while highlighting the need for further research to clarify its role in treatment.

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4. 30-Day Atorvastatin Improved Brachial Artery FMD in Patients With HFpEF, but More Research Is Needed

A 30-day regimen of atorvastatin improved brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of blood vessel function, in patients with HFpEF. However, the statin did not impact other factors like reactive hyperemia or blood flow during exercise, suggesting a limited scope of benefit. While these findings highlight atorvastatin's potential role in improving vascular health, the small sample size and short study duration underscore the need for further research to confirm these results and explore long-term effects.

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3. Semaglutide Linked to Improved Exercise Capacity, Weight Loss in Patients With HFpEF and Obesity

A yearlong study found that semaglutide significantly improved exercise capacity and reduced body weight by 2.9% more than placebo in patients with HFpEF and obesity. The treatment also lowered C-reactive protein levels, suggesting anti-inflammatory benefits, and led to additional health improvements such as waist circumference reduction and lower systolic blood pressure. While some adverse events—particularly gastrointestinal issues—were more common in the semaglutide group, the researchers highlighted the drug’s potential as a weight-loss strategy to enhance quality of life and functional status in this population.

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2. Patients With Diabetes and Heart Failure May Face Worse Outcomes, Increased HFpEF Risk

Research from the Jordanian Heart Failure Registry revealed that patients with diabetes and heart failure are more likely to develop HFpEF and experience worse renal and lipid profiles compared with those without diabetes. HFpEF prevalence was 94.3% among patients with diabetes vs 39.5% for those without. Patients with diabetes also had significantly higher cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels, reduced hemoglobin levels, and more severe kidney impairment than those without diabetes.

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1. Study Says COVID-19 Vaccines Can Reduce Risk of Heart Failure, Blood Clots Following Infection

COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the risks of heart failure, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and arterial thrombosis/thromboembolism (ATE) following COVID-19 infection. These reductions were as high as 55% for heart failure, 78% for VTE, and 47% for ATE, all in the acute phase. This study analyzed data from over 20 million individuals across 3 countries, showing that the protective effects persisted for up to a year after infection, though trends varied slightly by condition.

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