HFA Cardio Talk

With Henrique Arfsten, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna - Austria and Alexandre Mebazza, Hospital Lariboisiere, Paris - France. In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Henrike Arfsten and Alexandre Mebazaa discuss the importance of rapid initiation and titration of guideline-directed medical heart failure therapy. A focus will be on data from the STRONG-HF trial, which demonstrated safety and efficacy of rapid up-titration following an acute heart failure event. The trial was even stopped early as the benefits of the intensive treatment strategy were overwhelming. Moreover, specific questions are raised, such as the right time to start therapy and how to deal with possible side effects. Mebazaa A, et al. Lancet 2022 Dec 3;400(10367):1938-52 Biegus J, et al. Heart Fail Rev 2024 Sep;29(5):1065-1077 McDonagh TA, et al. Eur J Heart Fail 2022 Jan;24(1):4-131 McDonagh TA, et al. Eur J Heart Fail 2024 Jan;26(1):5-17 This 2025 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer AG in the form of an unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Novi Yanti Sari, Siloam Hospitals, Jakarta - Indonesia, and Mark Petrie, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow - UK. In this episode of the HFA podcast series, we explore the complex relationship between obesity and heart failure, discussing challenges, management strategies, and the latest therapies, while emphasising the importance of integrated care in improving clinical outcomes. This 2025 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer AG in the form of an unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Jasper Brugts, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam - The Netherlands and Floran Sahiti, University Hospital Würzburg and Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Würzburg, Würzburg - Germany. In this episode of the HFA Podcast Series, we will discuss telemonitoring in general, with a main focus on invasive monitoring in heart failure, the current evidence, and the advantages and disadvantages of the systems. This 2025 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer AG in the form of unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsors.

With Daniella Motta da Costa Dan, University of São Paulo - Brazil, and Marianna Adamo, University of Brescia - Italy. In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Daniella Motta interviews Marianna Adamo on the controversies, consensus, and challenges surrounding revascularization in ischemic heart failure. The discussion highlights major clinical trials, emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate patients, and examines the risks and benefits of revascularization in this context. Lastly, they address key updates from the latest ESC guidelines This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast serie is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Emmanouil Kampanieris, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion - Greece, and Peter Van Der Meer, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen - The Netherlands. In this episode, Peter Van Der Meer and Emmanouil Kampanieris discuss peripartum cardiomyopathy, a potentially life-threatening condition that presents as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in women in the last month of pregnancy or in the months after delivery, after other causes of heart failure have been excluded. Peripartum Cardiomyopathy is defined as cardiomyopathy occurring towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery with a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) < 45%, when other causes for heart failure have been excluded. Its incidence differs widely depending on the geographic area being higher in developing countries, as 1:100 pregnancies in Nigeria, while in developed countries being lower, as 1:1500 pregnancies in Germany. Several risk factors have been associated with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, as pre-eclampsia and many more. More than half of the affected individuals receiving the appropriate treatment for heart failure have a full recovery in 6 months. The role of bromocriptine as a potential specific treatment for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy remains uncertain and randomized clinical trials are needed for determining its benefits and safety Women willing to have a subsequent pregnancy should be counseled and monitored by a multidisciplinary team experienced with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. References: 1. Pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of peripartum cardiomyopathy: a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Study Group on peripartum cardiomyopathy. 2. Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: JACC State-of-the-Art Review 3. Long-term prognosis, subsequent pregnancy, contraception and overall management of peripartum cardiomyopathy: practical guidance paper from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Study Group on Peripartum Cardiomyopathy 4. Bromocriptine treatment and outcomes in peripartum cardiomyopathy: the EORP PPCM registry This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast serie is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Nicolas Verheyen, Medical University of Graz, Graz - Austria, and Lars Kober, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen - Denmark. In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Nicolas Verheyen interviews Lars Kober on controversies in ICD/CRT implantation in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy for primary prevention. They focus in particular on the importance of selecting the right patients, and discuss biomarkers beyond left ventricular ejection fraction that may add value in predicting sudden death risk, and the need of randomized controlled trials with adequate endpoint selection to guide prophylactic ICD implantation. Related scientific paper: 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiomyopathiesDefibrillator Implantation in Patients with Nonischemic Systolic Heart Failure2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiomyopathies: Developed by the task force on the management of cardiomyopathies of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast serie is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Jozine ter Maaten, University Medical Center Groningen - The Netherlands, Antonio Cannata, King's College London - UK, Mateusz Sokolski, Wroclaw Medical University - Poland, Henrike Arfsten, Medical University of Vienna - Austria, Stefan Anker, Charité University Hospital Berlin - Germany, Muthiuh Vaduganathan, Brigham and Women's hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston - USA, Cornelia Margineanu, Bucharest – Romania and Kengo Kusano, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Hospital, Osaka - Japan. In this multivoice podcast from the ESC Congress 2024, the main results of three randomized controlled clinical trials (FINEARTS-HF, RESHAPE-HF2, and CRABL-HF) are discussed. Links to the papers: FINEARTS-HF RESHAPE-HF2 This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast serie is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Guillaume Baudry, University Hospital of Brabois, Nancy - France, and Marco Metra, University of Brescia - Italy. In this episode of the HFA Cardiotalk podcast, Guillaume Baudry interviews Marco Metra, the lead author of the recent HFA clinical consensus statement on worsening heart failure. They delve into the definition of worsening heart failure, its prognosis, prevention strategies, and both acute and long-term management of this condition. Related scientific paper: Worsening of chronic heart failure: definition, epidemiology, management and prevention. A clinical consensus statement by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of CardiologyRisk of readmission and death after hospitalization for worsening heart failure: Role of post-discharge follow-up visits in a real-world study from the Grand Est Region of FranceEffect of Dapagliflozin on Worsening Heart Failure and Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Heart Failure With and Without DiabetesSotagliflozin in Patients with Diabetes and Recent Worsening Heart FailureEffect of Empagliflozin on the Clinical Stability of Patients With Heart Failure and a Reduced Ejection Fraction: The EMPEROR-Reduced TrialSafety, tolerability and efficacy of up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies for acute heart failure (STRONG-HF): a multinational, open-label, randomised, trialVericiguat in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast serie is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Raja Ezman Faridz Bin Raja Shariff, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor - Malaysia, and Kevin Damman, University Medical Centre Groningen - The Netherlands In this episode of the HFA Cardiotalk podcast, Ezman Shariff interviewed Kevin Damman – a key opinion leader in the field of cardiorenal interactions, to better understand the role natriuresis plays in the acute heart failure and what we have learnt from trials like PUSH-AHF and ENACT-HF, and the future direction of clinical trials in this field. This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast serie is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Jozine ter Maaten, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen - the Netherlands, Marta Cobo Marcos, Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Madrid - Spain, Mateusz Sokolski, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland, Aferdita Spahillari, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC - USA, Laura Cohen, Massachusets General Hospital, Boston, MA - USA, Antonio Cannata, King's College London, London - United Kingdom & Varun Sundaram, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA This podcast discusses the results of four late-breaking clinical trials presented at the Heart Failure Congress 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. First, Dr Cobo Marcos shares the results of the SALT-HF study, a randomised trial investigating the addition of hypertonic saline to diuretics in patients with worsening heart failure. Second, Dr Spahillari and Dr Cohen discuss the main findings and echo substudy of the TEAM-HF trial. Thirdly, Dr Sundaram gives us an insight into the results of the PRAISE-HFpEF trial. The podcast concludes with a brief discussion of some of the HFA Young highlights from the congress. This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast series is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Jozine M. ter Maaten, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen - Netherlands, Bart A. Mulder, 2022-2024, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen - Netherlands & Giuseppe Boriani, Polyclinic Modena University Hospital, Modena -Italy. Atrial fibrillation and heart failure often co-exist and influence each other. Treatment of AF specifically in the setting of heart failure can be challenging. Recently, new data emerged regarding the potential role of AF ablation in heart failure patients. In this podcast we discuss these in a special episode with a strong representation also from the EHRA Young highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary decision making in these patients. Recommended readings from this episode: CASTLE HTx CASTLE AF CABANA results in heart failure patients This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast series is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Cornelia Margineanu, Bucharest - Romania & Thomas Felix Luscher, London - UK A brief description of the discussion, which I have provided below: "In this episode, Dr. Cornelia Margineanu interviews Professor Thomas F. Lüscher on Education and professional development of the future generation of heart failure specialists, covering the entire pathway for young physicians, from training and having the right mentors to future trajectories. "This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast series is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor."

With Mateusz Sokolski, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw - Poland & Amina Rakisheva, Scientific Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, Almaty - Kazakhstan. Might heart failure be reversible or does it go only into remission in some cases? During this podcast, we discuss these issues, exploring the possibility of reversing heart failure and ending with regenerative medicine. "This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast series is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor."

With Alberto Esteban-Fernández. Severo Ochoa University Hospital, Madrid - Spain & John McMurray. BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glasgow - UK. We discuss the implementation of 2021 HF guidelines, the possibility of implementing foundational therapy in clinical practice, and difficulties and barriers. Also, we discuss future heart failure treatments in the coming years. Access the 2023 Focused Update of the 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. "This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast series is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor."

With Antonio Cannata, King’s College London - UK and Folkert Asselbergs, Amsterdam University Medical Centre - Netherlands. In this episode of HFA CardioTalk Antonio Cannata interviews one of the pioneer in digital medicine and artificial intelligence in cardiovascular medicine, Prof Folkert Asselbergs. Several interesting insights were discussed on the present role of AI in Heart Failure and what the future holds. "This 2024 HFA CardioTalk podcast series is supported by Novartis in the form of an educational grant. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor."

With Henrike Arfsten,Medical University of Vienna - Austria & Antoni Bayes-Genis, Heart Institute, University Hospital Germans Trias and Pujol de Badalona - Spain In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Henrike Arfsten interviews Antoni Bayes-Genis on circulating biomarkers in heart failure. They focus in particular on natriuretic peptides and discuss the benefits of biomarkers assessment and their fundamental role in heart failure diagnosis and disease progression. NEW! If you want to know more on this topic, access some recommended readings from the speakers: - Bayes-Genis A, et al.; Eur J Heart Fail. 2023 Sep 15 - Mueller C, et al.; Eur J Heart Fail. 2019 Jun;21(6):715-731. - Bayes-Genis A, et al.; Eur J Heart Fail. 2021:23,1432–1436. - Huelsmann M, et al.; J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Oct 8;62(15):1365-72 - Tsutsui H, et al; Eur J Heart Fail. 2023 May;25(5):616-631.

With Chris Kapelios, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens - Greece & Gianluigi Savarese, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm - Sweden. This HFA CardioTalk podcast episode addresses Clinical inertia and optimization of heart failure therapy. The data we have on use of HF medications come from registries and may not be generalizable to unselected, real-world populations. The proportion of HFrEF patients treated with optimal medical therapy differs considerably among registries (between 70% to >90% for a beta-blocker, 60% to >90% for RASi, 15-45% for ARNI, 30-60% for MRA). It is well documented that optimal HFrEF treatment leads to better quality of life, and reduction in mortality, HF hospitalizations and healthcare costs. Clinical inertia is the lack of treatment intensification in patients not on optimized therapy. Its manifestations may differ from country to country, but it is always present, irrespective of whether the approach to HF medication initiation is sequential or in parallel. Increase of awareness, collaboration of all healthcare professionals, and use of checklists and digital tools are among the measures we can apply to tackle clinical inertia.

With Antonio Cannata, King’s College London, London - UK & Stuart Pocock, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London - UK. In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Antonio Cannata interviews Stuart Pocock on how to understand randomised clinical trials. From the use of observational data to the key points in critically interpreting the results. Don’t forget: a p value is no substitute for a brain.

With Henrike Arfsten, University of Vienna, Vienna - Austria, Juan Pablo Kaski, University College London, London - United Kingdom, Mateusz Sokolski, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw - Poland, Jozine ter Maaten, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen - the Netherlands, Peter van der Meer, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen - the Netherlands, Antonio Cannata, King's College London, London - United Kingdom & Theresa McDonagh, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom. This podcast discusses two new guidelines and the results of two hot line presentation all presented at the ESC congress 2023 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. First, Prof. Kaski shares highlights from the new and first ESC cardiomyopathy guidelines. Second, Prof. van der Meer discusses the results from the STEP HFpEF study in which semaglutide showed beneficial effect on weight, 6MWT and a win ratio compared to placebo in patients with the obesity phenotype of HFpEF. Next, Dr. ter Maaten discusses the results of the first randomized trial investigating the effect of natriuresis guided diuretic therapy in acute heart failure, as already incorporated in the guidelines. Finally, Prof. McDonagh walks us through the update of the ESC heart failure guidelines. The podcast is concluded with a brief discussion of some HFA Young highlights at the congress.

With Wilfred Mullens, Hospital Oost-Limburg (ZOL) and Hasselt University - Belgium & Alberto Esteban-Fernández, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa y Alfonso X El Sabio University - Spain. This podcast addresses some of the main developments in congestion management in heart failure patients, especially those with cardiorenal syndrome. We discuss the ADVOR and CLOROTIC trials and their implications for clinical practice.