Abstract Background The evidence supporting the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and beta-blockers for the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy is controversial. Objective We performed a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of these drugs in preventing cardiotoxicity. Methods The meta-analysis included prospective, randomized studies in adults receiving anthracycline chemotherapy and compared the use of RAAS inhibitors or beta-blockers versus placebo with a follow-up of 6 to 18 months. The primary outcome was change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during […]

Abstract Background Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) increase the expression of ACE2, which is a receptor for entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells. Though evidence suggests that ARB/ACEI are safe among the general population with COVID-19, their safety in patients with overweight/obesity-related hypertension deserves further evaluation. Objective We assessed the association between ARB/ACEI use and COVID-19 severity in patients with overweight/obesity-related hypertension. Methods This study included 439 adult patients with overweight/obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) […]

Introduction Heart failure (HF) phenotypes can be divided into categories according to the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) – HF with preserved EF (HFpEF; EF ≥ 50%); HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF; EF 41-49%) and HF with reduced EF (HFrEF; EF ≤ 40%). However, HF phenotypes differ beyond just a different EF. While HFpEF develops from an interplay of comorbidities that lead to structural heart disease and HF symptoms, HFrEF usually develops due to a cardiac insult that reduces […]

Introduction Heart failure (HF) has been classically divided into HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, to better classify HF patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 41 and 49%, previous guidelines have introduced the term HF with mid-range ejection fraction. Nonetheless, shortly after its formal introduction, HF with mid-range ejection fraction is now called HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). In this letter, we explore the reasons behind this […]

Abstract Blood pressure (BP)-lowering therapy improves left ventricular (LV) parameters of hypertensive target-organ damage in stage II hypertension, but whether there is a drug-class difference in echocardiographic parameters in stage I hypertension patients is less often studied. In the PREVER treatment study, where individuals with stage I hypertension were randomized for treatment with diuretics (chlorthalidone/amiloride) or losartan, 110 participants accepted to participate in a sub-study, where two-dimensional echocardiograms were performed at baseline and after 18 months of antihypertensive treatment. As […]