Obesity: New Heart Failure Risk Factor? 09/28/25
Welcome to Cardiology Today – Recorded September 28, 2025. This episode summarizes 5 key cardiology studies on topics like heart failure and waist circumference. Key takeaway: Obesity: New Heart Failure Risk Factor?.
Article Links:
Article 1: Underrepresented patient populations in cardiovascular device trials: A transatlantic expert narrative on sex, age, demographic groups, and geographical background. (International journal of cardiology)
Article 2: Poor cardiovascular outcomes of underweight abdominal obesity in the entire population of newly diagnosed heart failure. (ESC heart failure)
Article 3: Impact of epicardial adipose tissue on myocardial function and structure in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. (ESC heart failure)
Article 4: Simultaneous vaccination against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in high-risk heart failure patients. (ESC heart failure)
Article 5: Bridging Hypertension Care Shortfalls Between Provider Capacity and Patient Needs: A Pooled Analysis of Data From 199 Countries and Territories. (Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979))
Full episode page: https://podcast.explainheart.com/podcast/obesity-new-heart-failure-risk-factor-09-28-25/
📚 Featured Articles
Article 1: Underrepresented patient populations in cardiovascular device trials: A transatlantic expert narrative on sex, age, demographic groups, and geographical background.
Journal: International journal of cardiology
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41015124
Summary: This article highlights the critical need to improve the representation of historically underrepresented patient groups—specifically defined by sex, age, demographic, and geographic diversity—in cardiovascular device trials to ensure external validity of clinical research. Addressing disparities in enrollment is essential, especially in countries with pronounced inequities, to promote equitable access to and benefit from cardiovascular technologies. Raising awareness is paramount to closing the gaps in future trials.
Article 2: Poor cardiovascular outcomes of underweight abdominal obesity in the entire population of newly diagnosed heart failure.
Journal: ESC heart failure
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40999962
Summary: This extensive study of nearly one million newly diagnosed heart failure patients in Korea over a decade revealed that underweight individuals with abdominal obesity exhibit poor cardiovascular outcomes. Body Mass Index alone may not be sufficient to assess cardiovascular risk in heart failure patients, highlighting the importance of considering waist circumference alongside B.M.I. for a more comprehensive risk stratification. These findings suggest the need for tailored management strategies for heart failure patients with this specific phenotype.
Article 3: Impact of epicardial adipose tissue on myocardial function and structure in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis.
Journal: ESC heart failure
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40999636
Summary: This study investigates the impact of epicardial adipose tissue on myocardial remodeling and function in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Elevated epicardial adipose tissue volume is associated with adverse myocardial remodeling and dysfunction, potentially influencing outcomes post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Understanding these pathophysiological mechanisms could lead to targeted therapies aimed at reducing epicardial adipose tissue and improving outcomes in these patients.
Article 4: Simultaneous vaccination against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in high-risk heart failure patients.
Journal: ESC heart failure
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40998567
Summary: A prospective, randomized trial demonstrated that simultaneous vaccination against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in high-risk heart failure patients improves outcomes during the subsequent infection season. This suggests a proactive approach to respiratory virus prevention through vaccination can significantly reduce morbidity in this vulnerable population. The findings support the implementation of combined vaccination strategies as a standard of care for high-risk heart failure patients.
Article 5: Bridging Hypertension Care Shortfalls Between Provider Capacity and Patient Needs: A Pooled Analysis of Data From 199 Countries and Territories.
Journal: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41000007
Summary: This analysis of hypertension management across 199 countries highlights significant gaps between healthcare system capacity, specifically physician and non-physician provider density, and patient needs. The study reveals substantial shortfalls in hypertension care delivery, emphasizing the need for strategies to optimize healthcare workforce distribution and task-sharing to improve hypertension control globally. Addressing these gaps is crucial for reducing the global burden of hypertension-related cardiovascular disease.
📝 Transcript
Today’s date is September 28, 2025. Welcome to Cardiology Today. Here are the latest research findings.
Article number one. Underrepresented patient populations in cardiovascular device trials: A transatlantic expert narrative on sex, age, demographic groups, and geographical background. This article highlights the critical need to improve the representation of historically underrepresented patient groups—specifically defined by sex, age, demographic, and geographic diversity—in cardiovascular device trials to ensure external validity of clinical research. Addressing disparities in enrollment is essential, especially in countries with pronounced inequities, to promote equitable access to and benefit from cardiovascular technologies. Raising awareness is paramount to closing the gaps in future trials.
Article number two. Poor cardiovascular outcomes of underweight abdominal obesity in the entire population of newly diagnosed heart failure. This extensive study of nearly one million newly diagnosed heart failure patients in Korea over a decade revealed that underweight individuals with abdominal obesity exhibit poor cardiovascular outcomes. Body Mass Index alone may not be sufficient to assess cardiovascular risk in heart failure patients, highlighting the importance of considering waist circumference alongside B.M.I. for a more comprehensive risk stratification. These findings suggest the need for tailored management strategies for heart failure patients with this specific phenotype.
Article number three. Impact of epicardial adipose tissue on myocardial function and structure in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. This study investigates the impact of epicardial adipose tissue on myocardial remodeling and function in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Elevated epicardial adipose tissue volume is associated with adverse myocardial remodeling and dysfunction, potentially influencing outcomes post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Understanding these pathophysiological mechanisms could lead to targeted therapies aimed at reducing epicardial adipose tissue and improving outcomes in these patients.
Article number four. Simultaneous vaccination against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in high-risk heart failure patients. A prospective, randomized trial demonstrated that simultaneous vaccination against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in high-risk heart failure patients improves outcomes during the subsequent infection season. This suggests a proactive approach to respiratory virus prevention through vaccination can significantly reduce morbidity in this vulnerable population. The findings support the implementation of combined vaccination strategies as a standard of care for high-risk heart failure patients.
Article number five. Bridging Hypertension Care Shortfalls Between Provider Capacity and Patient Needs: A Pooled Analysis of Data From 199 Countries and Territories. This analysis of hypertension management across 199 countries highlights significant gaps between healthcare system capacity, specifically physician and non-physician provider density, and patient needs. The study reveals substantial shortfalls in hypertension care delivery, emphasizing the need for strategies to optimize healthcare workforce distribution and task-sharing to improve hypertension control globally. Addressing these gaps is crucial for reducing the global burden of hypertension-related cardiovascular disease.
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🔍 Keywords
heart failure, waist circumference, non-physician providers, aortic valve stenosis, myocardial remodeling, Body Mass Index, epicardial adipose tissue, abdominal obesity, healthcare capacity, myocardial dysfunction, hypertension, physician shortage, cardiovascular device trials, underrepresented populations, cardiovascular outcomes, simultaneous vaccination, geographical diversity, respiratory infections, age disparities, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, influenza vaccine, sex disparities, respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, provider density.
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Concise summaries of cardiovascular research for professionals.
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