Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of CAC detected by chest CT scan (CT) in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients (pts) in the absence of coronary artery disease history (CAD Hx). Methods: In this retrospective cohort, we queried [...]

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is underdiagnosed in patients with heart disease, however, there has been controversy surrounding whether it is a cardiovascular risk factor or not. To determine the prognostic significance of SCH in Heart Failure (HF) with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) we followed a cohort of patients for 9 years. Methods: In this retrospective [...]

Background: The diagnosis of sepsis is often associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. When it occurs in patients with Heart failure (HF), those rates increase dramatically. This study focuses on the differences in the outcomes in septic patients with Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) versus patients with Heart Failure with reduced [...]

Background: Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) share several risk factors including coronary artery disease, hypertension, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and renal disease, as well as common pathophysiologic pathway involving activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, maladaptive atrial remodeling and subsequent impaired conduction system. Some studies have supported the role of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) [...]

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old male patient with a history of intravenous drug use was transferred from an outside hospital after initial presentation with persistent fevers, episodic flushing and swelling in right hand and forearm. Workup at the other hospital included blood cultures positive for unspeciated yeast, and a transthoracic echocardiogram with normal ejection fraction (65%) [...]

Case Presentation: A 44-year-old African American female with a medical history of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) presented with a six month history of multiple hospitalizations for acute decompensated HFpEF and right upper quadrant pain. One month ago, she presented with an acute elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to greater than four [...]

Case Presentation: A 49-year-old male with a history of OSA on CPAP, Parkinson’s disease, hyperlipidemia, and obesity presented to the emergency department with a three-week history of progressive dyspnea on exertion (DOE) and abdominal pain on exertion that radiated into his chest, neck, and jaw that resolved after rest. He had an intentional 50-lb weight [...]

Case Presentation: A 63-year-old male with a history of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), type 2 diabetes, and recent left below-knee amputation presented with worsening dyspnea, orthopnea, and leg swelling. Physical examination revealed volume overload with jugular venous distention and pitting edema. NT-proBNP was markedly elevated (10,901 pg/mL). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed a [...]