BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with cardiogenic shock (CS) are at risk of developing mixed shock (MS), characterized by distributive-inflammatory phenotype. However, no objective definition exists for this clinical entity. METHODS: We assessed the frequency, predictors, and prognostic relevance of MS complicating CS, based on a newly proposed objective definition. MS complicating CS was defined as an objective shock state secondary to both an ongoing cardiogenic cause and a distributive-inflammatory phenotype arising at least 12 hours after the initial CS diagnosis, as substantiated by predefined longitudinal changes in hemodynamics, clinical, and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Among 213 consecutive patients admitted at 2 cardiac intensive care units with CS, 13 with inflammatory-distributive features at initial presentation were excluded, leading to a cohort of 200 patients hospitalized with pure CS (67±13 years, 96% Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions CS stage class C or higher). MS complicating CS occurred in 24.5% after 120 (29–216) hours from CS diagnosis. Lower systolic arterial pressure ( P =0.043), hepatic injury ( P =0.049), and suspected/definite infection ( P =0.013) at CS diagnosis were independent predictors of MS development. In-hospital mortality (53.1% versus 27.8%; P =0.002) and hospital stay (21 [13–48] versus 17 [9–27] days; P =0.018) were higher in the MS cohort. At logistic multivariable analysis, MS diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 3.00 [95% CI, 1.39–6.63]; P _adj =0.006), age (OR, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.03–1.10] years; P _adj <0.001), admission systolic arterial pressure <100 mm Hg (OR, 2.41 [95% CI, 1.19–4.98]; P _adj =0.016), and admission serum creatinine (OR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.19–2.26]; P _adj =0.003) conferred higher odds of in-hospital death, while early temporary mechanical circulatory support was associated with lower in-hospital death (OR, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.17–0.75]; P _adj =0.008). CONCLUSIONS: MS complicating CS, objectively defined leveraging on longitudinal changes in distributive and inflammatory features, occurs in one-fourth of patients with CS, is predicted by markers of CS severity and inflammation at CS diagnosis, and portends higher hospital mortality.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a systemic syndrome driven by inflammation, with a substantial contribution from comorbidities, ageing, lifestyle factors, and genetic predisposition. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction accounts for ∼50% of hospital admissions for heart failure. Mortality ranges from 15% at 1 year to up to 75% at 5–10 years. This paper provides an overview of HFpEF, spanning epidemiological to therapeutic aspects, with particular focus on diagnostic challenges and strategies to overcome them. The diagnostic pathway leading to HFpEF requires extensive exclusion of potentially confounding conditions. Indeed, the identification of some of these conditions allows for targeted therapies that may improve survival. Diagnostic suspicion begins with the recognition of symptoms and signs of heart failure, followed by the assessment of natriuretic peptides and supported by scoring systems and instrumental investigations performed at rest or during exercise. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction remains a challenging condition to diagnose due to the lack of uniform definitions in the literature, the presence of symptoms and signs shared with other diseases, and the absence of a universally recognized pathognomonic marker.

Background/Objectives: Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (USAT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are increasingly used for intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), but real-world comparisons are scarce. We compare 30-day all-cause, cardiovascular, non-cardiovascular, PE-related, and major bleeding events between intermediate-high-risk patients with acute PE treated with USAT or MT. Methods: We analyzed 286 patients with acute intermediate-high-risk PE enrolled in the multicenter USAT IH-PE registry (March 2019–October 2025). Patients underwent USAT (EKOS™, Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) or MT (FlowTriever, Inari Medical, Irvine, CA, USA or Indigo, Penumbra, Inc., Alameda, CA, USA) during index hospitalization. Primary endpoints were 30-day all-cause, cardiovascular, and PE-related mortality. Propensity score matching (1:1) balanced baseline characteristics. Kaplan–Meier analyses with log-rank testing assessed time-to-event outcomes. Results: After matching (69 patients per group), baseline clinical and hemodynamic variables were well balanced. Both USAT and MT significantly improved RV/LV ratio, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and PASP (all p < 0.001). Thirty-day all-cause mortality was similar between USAT and MT (13.0% vs. 11.5%; p = 0.78), with no differences in cardiovascular or PE-related mortality (8.6% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.58 and 5.7% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.17, respectively). Major bleeding was infrequent and observed only in the USAT group (4.3%). Conclusions: In this real-world multicenter cohort, USAT and MT showed comparable short-term mortality, safety, and echocardiographic recovery, supporting individualized catheter-based reperfusion strategies for intermediate-high-risk PE.