Excessive adiposity is associated with the development and progression of both HFpEF and T2DM. Comorbidity of T2DM in patients with HFpEF is common, resulting in a greater symptom burden and worse functional status. Semaglutide is a once-weekly GLP-1RA shown to significantly improve HF related symptoms, physical limitations and body weight in patients with obesity-related HFpEF without T2DM.

Hyperkalemia, defined as serum potassium >5.0mmol/L, is a potentially lethal condition as it hinders muscle function and myocardial excitability, which may contribute to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac deaths. Epidemiological data suggests the global prevalence of hyperkalemia is around 6.3%, but the

Since the publication of the 2021 ESC guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute and chronic heart failure (HF), multiple randomized controlled trials (RCT) and meta-analyses have investigated alternative prevention and discharge management strategies for HF patients.¹ With additional data on via

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, such as dapagliflozin, are strongly recommended by clinical guidelines for the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).¹

Recently, the effects of empagliflozin and placebo have been compared in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), taking age as an account of adverse events (AEs) in the EMPEROR-Preserved trial.¹ The results showed that empagliflozin reduced first heart failure hospitalization (HFH) and recurrent HFH.¹ The efficacy in different age groups was similar.¹ In addition, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were investigated.¹ It also showed significant efficacy across all age groups on these aspects.¹

In the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2022 Scientific Session, Professor Mark Loeb from McMaster University, Canada, discussed his randomized controlled trial of influenza vaccines in heart failure (HF) patients to reduce adverse vascular events.1 The risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and de

Globally, approximately 26 million people suffer from heart failure, and an estimated 50% of those cases are heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).^1,2 HFrEF patients have seen improvement in the mortality rate, in light of the evolving pharmacological treatment options.³ The utilization of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers (BBs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have readily been employed.^1,3-5 Despite the advancements and the availability of a variety of treatments, the mortality rate of individuals with HFrEF remains high.^3,6 Therefore, it is necessary to ascertain optimal pharmacological therapy combinations supported by up-to-date global data, with the aim of further reducing HFrEF cases.² Recent findings by Tromp J and colleagues published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure estimated and compared which treatment options are the most advantageous for HFrEF.⁴

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) therapy is believed to improve symptoms, LV function and survival in symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).¹ However, the indication for AVR in this group of patients remains a debate.¹ And it is hypothesized that the strategy of early valve replacement in patients with severe AS in the absence of symptoms can be more beneficial than watchful waiting in carefully selected patients.¹ Therefore, the Aortic Valve replAcemenT versus conservative treatment in Asymptomatic seveRe aortic stenosis (AVATAR) trial was conducted, by Professor Marko Banovic, Associate Professor of Cardiology at University Clinical Centre of Serbia and University of Belgrade Medical School, and his team to evaluate the safety and efficacy of early surgical AVR in asymptomatic patients with severe AS and normal LV function.¹ This is a physician-initiated, prospective, multicentre, randomized, open-label, parallel group trial performed in 9 medical centres in 7 European Union (EU) countries to reach minimum of 35 prespecified events.¹ The primary composite endpoints included all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure.