Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary risk factor for heart failure (HF) development. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains the gold-standard treatment for multivessel coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of cardiovascular events in patients after CABG by looking at clinical parameters, examining biomarkers of inflammation and fibrosis, and assessing patients’ adherence to heart failure therapy before CABG. The prospective observational study included consecutively hospitalized patients with HF and CAD eligible for CABG (n = 82). The study’s primary endpoint was a combination (MACE) of cardiac death, hospitalization with HF, acute ischemic events requiring unplanned revascularization, or stroke. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to assess serum levels of NGAL, GDF-15, NTproBNP, TGF beta, and hsCRP. The participants’ medication adherence level was assessed using the Morisky–Green scale. A total of 37 events were registered (45.1%) at follow-up (36 (26; 43) months). All patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 45) comprised patients without the combined endpoint, and Group 2 (n = 37) comprised patient who suffered adverse cardiovascular events. A high GDF-15 level and low adherence based on the Morisky–Green scale were independent predictors of a MACE at follow-up. The median time before the development of the MACE which was predicted based on Kaplan–Meier analysis in the group with a GDF-15 value less than 2064 pg/mL was 64 (50; 80) months, and in the group with a GDF-15 value more than or equal to 2064 pg/mL, it was 40 (34; 46) months (p < 0.001). Higher GDF-15 values and poor adherence to treatment are associated with adverse cardiovascular events in patients with HF and CAD who have undergone CABG. However, further studies are needed to support the use of GDF-15 as a prognostic marker in real-life clinical practice.

Aim. To analyze the prognostic significance of clinical, anamnestic and paraclinical parameters in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and non-obstructive coronary artery disease.Material and methods. The study included 54 patients. Cardiac and lung ultrasound was performed. In addition, the level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), interleukin-1β, interleukin-18, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), and cryopyrin was determined. The level of quality of life, anxiety and depression, and adherence to treatment were analyzed.Results. The patients were divided into 2 following groups: group 1 (n=22) with an unfavorable course and group 2 (n=32) with a favorable disease course. Basic echocardiographic parameters, as well as the number of B-lines in lungs, were comparable in both groups. An unfavorable HFpEF course was associated with a longer history of hypertension — 17,5 [10;20] and 7 [5;15] years (p=0,03), smoking — 36,4 and 9,4% (p=0,035), impaired carbohydrate metabolism — 54,5 and 15,6% (p=0,003) and lower adherence to treatment (p=0,02). In group 1, GDF-15 levels were higher than in group 2 — 1841 [1237;3552] vs 1709,5 [1158;2492] pg/ml (p=0,026).Conclusion. Low-intensity subclinical inflammation, the predisposing factors of which are smoking, impaired carbohydrate metabolism, and a long history of hypertension, is associated with higher GDF-15 values in patients with HFpEF and, along with low patient adherence to treatment, has an adverse effect on the clinical course of heart failure.

Aim. Comparative analysis of the prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF), clinical and medical history data, and drug therapy of patients admitted to a cardiology hospital in 2002 and 2021. Material and methods . The study analyzed the medical records of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CHF who were admitted in 2002 (n=210) and 2021 (n=381) to a specialized cardiology hospital. Results . According to medical records of 2021, the proportion of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CHF (87.6%) in the cohort of patients admitted to a cardiology hospital was twice as high as in 2002 (46.4%; p<0.001). The majority of patients with CHF in the study sample were patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF). The proportion of such patients significantly increased to reach 75.9% in 2021 compared to 58.6% in 2002 (p<0.001). At the same time, the number of severe forms of CHF (NYHA functional class (FC) IV) decreased by 10% and was 13.2% in 2002 and 1.3% in 2021 (p<0.001). In the majority of patients, ischemic heart disease (98.1 and 91.1% in 2002 and 2021, respectively, p<0.001) and hypertension (80.5 and 98.2%, respectively, p<0.001) were diagnosed as the cause for CHF. Furthermore, the incidence of comorbidity increased significantly: atrial fibrillation was detected in 12.3% of patients in 2002 and 26.4% in 2021 (p < 0.001); type 2 diabetes mellitus, in 14.3 and 32% of patients (p <0.001); and obesity, in 33.3 and 43.7% of patients, respectively (p=0.018). The frequency of using the major groups of drugs increased during the analyzed period: renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers were administered to 71.9% of patients in 2002 and to 87.7% in 2021 (p<0.001); beta-blockers were administered to 53.3 and 82.4% of patients (p<0.001); and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, to 1.9 and 18.6% of patients, respectively (p=0.004). Conclusion . In 2021, the proportion of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CHF in the patient cohort admitted to a cardiology hospital was twice as high as in 2002; the phenotype with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction predominated in the CHF structure. During the analyzed twenty-year period, the prevalence of comorbidities increased among CHF patients. The prescription frequency of pathogenetic evidence-based therapy has significantly increased by 2021, however, it remains insufficient even in patients with CHF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Introduction. The prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) ranges from 50% to 80%. It has been established that ID is a significant predictor of adverse outcomes and mortality in CHF, and is also associated with a decrease in exercise tolerance. The use of oral iron preparations for the purpose of its correction is limited by the high frequency of adverse events and, in some cases, their ineffectiveness in CHF. Ferric carboxymaltose has a high potential in the correction of ID, which has proven itself well in the cohort of patients with CHF, but its effectiveness has not been precisely established in CHF.Aim: To evaluate the effect of ferric carboxymaltose therapy on the quality of life, functional status, and clinical picture of CHF in patients with diagnosed iron deficiency.Material and Methods. It is a prospective randomized cohort study. It is planned to include 70 adult patients with CHF (NYHA II-III) and diagnosed ID: group 1 (n = 35) – group of drug therapy with ferric carboxymaltose, group 2 (n = 35) – without drug therapy. A control group of patients without ID (n = 30) will also be recruited. The prospective part involves the observation of patients with repeated visits after 6, 12 months, during which the indicators of quality of life, functional status, clinical picture of CHF, structural and functional echocardiographic indicators of LV and right heart, as well as the presence of repeated hospitalizations for CHF and death from all causes will be evaluated.

Aim . To study the prognostic significance of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and stenotic multivessel coronary atherosclerosis, with determination of the biomarker separate set that reflects subclinical inflammation and is associated with the development of cardiovascular complications during prospective observation. Material and methods . A prospective observational study was conducted that included 80 patients with CHF and ischemic heart disease who were scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) during their current hospitalization. In addition to routine clinical laboratory tests, coagulation parameters were evaluated and the following inflammatory biomarkers were determined: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Also, the calculated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N LR) was included in the analysis. Follow-up duration was at least 12 months (median 16 [13, 22] months). Statistical analysis of the data was performed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 software. Results . The study presented results of a factor analysis of 10 inflammatory biomarkers in patients who were scheduled for CABG. One of the factors identified by the analysis included the levels of NGAL and GDF-15, N LR, and the level of fibrinogen in the blood in CHF patients with stenotic coronary atherosclerosis and was significantly associated with the death rate during prospective observation. Furthermore, this association remained significant even after adjustments for age, glomerular filtration rate, severity of heart and coronary insufficiency, and the presence of diabetes mellitus. Conclusion . In patients with CHF and stenotic coronary atherosclerosis, a set of inflammatory markers, including blood NGAL, GDF-15, N LR, and fibrinogen, can be combined into one factor reflecting subclinical inflammation. The value of this factor can be used to predict cardiovascular death in the long term after surgical myocardial revascularization.  

The article presents preliminary study results of association of direct ultrastructural characteristics of mitochondria (MTC) in cardiomyocytes and indirect signs of mitochondrial dysfunction with clinical course and outcomes of chronic heart failure (CHF). According to electron microscopy of the myocardium a violation of the ultrastructure of MTC of cardiomyocytes is accompanied by a decrease in the rate of oxygen absorption by mitochondria of leukocytes of peripheral blood, separation of oxidation and phosphorylation processes, an increased rate of radiopharmaceuticals leaching from myocardium, indicating mitochondrial membrane damage, low tolerance to physical load and reduced oxygen consumption at peak of load test, which confirms the feasibility of studying associations of indirect signs of mitochondrial dysfunction with ultrastructural changes in the mitochondrial cardiomyocytes and clinical manifestations of heart failure.