HFA Cardio Talk (Heart Failure Association of the ESC)

With Robert M.A. van der Boon, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam - The Netherlands, and Anuradha Lala, Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, New York City - USA.

In this episode of HFA Cardio talk, we dive into how factors like sex, socio-economics status and ethnicity shape the way heart failure presents and progresses in different populations. We’ll discuss why recognizing these differences is critical for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment and highlight practical steps clinicians can take to close the gaps in prevention and care.

Papers:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejhf.2534

https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/40/47/3859/5652224?login=true

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071916421004322?via%3Dihub

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002914922010074?via%3Dihub

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468266719301082?via%3Dihub

https://journals.lww.com/co-cardiology/fulltext/2021/05000/racial_and_ethnic_disparities_in_heart_failure_.12.aspx

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ehf2.14986

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 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 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 Ewa A. Jankowska & Mateusz Sokolski, Institute of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, University Hospital, Wroclaw - Poland

Link to paper

With Dr. Mateusz Sokolski, Wroclaw Medical University – Poland and Prof. Finn Gustafsson, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen - Denmark

In February´s HFA Cardio Talk, Finn Gustafsson, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Copenhagen, director of the advanced heart failure, transplantation and mechanical circulatory support program at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark and member of the HFA Board is interviewed by Dr. Mateusz Sokolski, from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland, member of the HFA Young Committee. The podcast is related to the HFA Advanced Heart Failure course 2023, discussing its aims and rationale. Moreover, the podcast covers challenges of the disease and provides tips and tricks for the management of patients with advanced heart failure and long-term mechanical circulatory support.

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 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 excluded¹. 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 Germany¹. Several risk factors have been associated with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, as pre-eclampsia and many more². More than half of the affected individuals receiving the appropriate treatment for heart failure have a full recovery in 6 months³. 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 ^2,4. Women willing to have a subsequent pregnancy should be counseled and monitored by a multidisciplinary team experienced with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy³.

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 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 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 Brenda Moura, Military Hospital, Porto, and Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto - Portugal & Francesca Musella, Santa Maria della Grazie Hospital, Naples, Italy, Karolinska Institutet - Sweden

In December´s HFA Cardio Talk, Dr. Francesca Musella interviews Dr. Brenda Moura on the emerging role of Patients´profiling in Heart Failure. The podcast starts with an overview of this emerging concept introduced by current HF guidelines, and then addresses the main benefits and practical repercussions of following this approach in clinical practice. In conclusion, the podcast underlies how tailoring HF medications prescription to each patient specific profile and personal tolerability may guide physicians to both HF medications prescription and up-tritation in real world scenarios.

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 failure
• 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiomyopathies
• Defibrillator Implantation in Patients with Nonischemic Systolic Heart Failure
• 2023 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, 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 Antonio Cannata, BHF Centre of Excellence, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Science. Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London - UK & Mauro Giacca, King's College, BHF Centre of Excellence, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Science. Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London - UK.

In this episode, Dr Cannata interviews Prof Giacca on the present and future perspectives of translational science in Heart Failure. A deep dive into the translational world with a view on the research of the next 30 years. 

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 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 Emma Louise Robinson (Host), University of Colorado, Aurora, USA. - USA and Luisa Mestroni (Interviewee), University of Colorado, Aurora, USA.

In July’s HFA Cardio Talk podcast, Dr Emma Robinson interviews Prof Luisa Mestroni, Director of the International Familial Cardiomyopathy Registry and Co-Director of the Molecular Genetics Program of the Cardiovascular Institute in Denver. This podcast discusses current approaches to diagnosis, treatment options and support for patients and families of inherited cardiomyopathy as well as how advances in gene editing have transformed translational research, understanding of disease mechanisms and prospects for clinical care.

Relevant website

With Amitai Segev, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan - Israel and Massimo Francesco Piepoli, IRCCS San Donato Polyclinic, San Donato Milanese - Italy

In this episode of HFA Cardio Talk, we dive into the world of heart failure prevention with our esteemed guest, Prof. Massimo Piepoli, an eminent figure in preventive cardiology, as he is interviewed by Dr. Amitai Segev. Join us as we discuss the importance of heart failure prevention in modern cardiology, explore practical evidence-based measures, and address key topics in the field. Tune in for an engaging and informative conversation filled with valuable insights and actionable tips for promoting cardiovascular health.

With Doctor Emanuele Bobbio, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg - Sweden and Professor Carsten Tschoepe, Head of the Cardiomyopathy Unit – Campus Virchow German  Heart Center at Charite (DZHK), Berlin - Germany and Head of the Cardiovascular Unit Immunocardiology, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charite - Germany

In January's HFA Cardio Talk, Prof. Tschöpe, chair of the HFA Committee on "Cardiomyopathies, Myocarditis & Pericardial Disease", is interviewed by Dr. Bobbio, member of the HFA Young Committee, on myocarditis. This podcast will walk us through the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of myocarditis, explaining the role of biomarkers, imaging techniques and histology in defining different subtypes of myocarditis and their prognostic and therapeutic implications. Prof. Tschöpe will also provide tips and tricks for the management of patients presenting with acute, fulminant forms of myocarditis.

With Gianluigi Savaresse, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm - Sweden & Otilia Țica, University of Medicine of Oradea-Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Oradea, Oradea - Romania.

With Daniela Tomasoni and Marianna Adamo, University of Brescia, Brescia - Italy.

In November’s HFA Cardio Talk, Dr. Daniela Tomasoni interviews Dr.Marianna Adamo on valvular heart disease in heart failure. The podcast starts with an epidemiological overview and then addresses the main pathophysiological mechanisms of valvular heart disease in patients with heart failure. It also discusses current recommendations regarding the treatment of mitral regurgitation. In conclusion, dr. Adamo will guide us through the new available percutaneous devices for the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation.

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 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 Interviewee: Doctor Tuvia Ben Gal, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel and Interviewer: Doctor Cornelia Margineanu, Emergency Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Prof. Dr. C.C. Iliescu, Bucharest, Romania.

In this podcast, Dr Cornelia Margineanu from Bucharest, Romania interviews professor Tuvia Ben Gal from Petah Tikva, Israel on cardiac transplantation. Throughout the podcast, the expert shares a wealth of knowledge, drawing from years of experience and expertise in the field regarding indications, outcomes, specific management and also, valuable practical advice.

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 Prof. Markus Wallner, Medical University of Graz, Graz - Austria & Rudolf de Boer, University Medical Center Groningen - Netherlands.

This podcast will discuss the most recent developments in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Prof. de Boer, HFA board member and HFpEF expert, is interviewed by Dr. Wallner, chair of the HoT Committee, and will walk us through the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of HFpEF and provide tips and tricks for the management of patients with HFpEF.

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.

With Angela Massouh (Host), American University of Beirut - Lebanon and Loreena Hill (Interviewee), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast - United Kingdom

In September’s HFA cardio podcast Dr. Angela Massouh interviews Dr. Loreena Hill on living with a Left Ventricular Assist Device, lessons learned from around the globe. This podcast will address the lived experiences of patients living with a Left Ventricular Assist Device and their informal caregivers. It will also highlight clinical aspects of self-care and how international multidisciplinary healthcare providers can do better to assist this vulnerable group.

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 Cardiology
• Risk 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 France
• Effect of Dapagliflozin on Worsening Heart Failure and Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Heart Failure With and Without Diabetes
• Sotagliflozin in Patients with Diabetes and Recent Worsening Heart Failure
• Effect of Empagliflozin on the Clinical Stability of Patients With Heart Failure and a Reduced Ejection Fraction: The EMPEROR-Reduced Trial
• Safety, tolerability and efficacy of up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies for acute heart failure (STRONG-HF): a multinational, open-label, randomised, trial
• Vericiguat 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 Antonio Cannata, King’s College London, London - UK, Mateusz Sokolski, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław - Poland, Otilia Țica, Emergency County Hospital of Oradea, Oradea - Romania, Finn Gustafsson, University of Copenhagen - Danemark, John Cleland, Imperial College of London - UK,  Theresa McDonagh, King’s College London - UK, Gianluigi Savarese, Karolinska Institute - Sweden, Carolyn Sp Lam, National Heart Centre Singapore - Singapore & Marco Metra, University and Civil Hospital of Brescia, Brescia - Italy

This podcast will discuss the insights and highlights shared by key-leaders in heart failure during the annual meeting: Heart Failure Congress, held in Madrid, Spain. Prof. Gustafson offers an overview on advanced heart failure therapies and the role of MCS (mechanical circulatory support). Prof Cleland debates when should we attempt revascularisation in  heart failure patients. Prof McDonagh shares the updates and changes in the implementation of the HF guidelines in the last year, since their release. Prof Savarese highlights the best scientific statement of this year, the universal definition of Heart Failure. Prof Lam provides key message and trials in HF and also underlines the sex-differences in these patients. Prof Metra discusses the pillars and future perspectives of HF and the importance of education. 

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 Chiara Bucciarelli-Ducci (Interwiee), Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, London - United Kingdom & Jessica Artico (Interwier), University College of London and Barts Heart Centre, London - United Kingdom.

In this podcast, Prof Chiara Bucciarelli-Ducci, interviewed by Dr Jessica Artico, will discuss the enhanced role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Heart Failure Patients and in the new HF guidelines.  It will walk us through the advancements of this imaging technique, what can possibly change after the results of recent HF trials, as well as the role of stress CMR and the future perspectives of CMR for a HF specialist. 

Interviewees: Associate Professor Jasper Brugts, Erasmus University Medical Centre of Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Professor John Cleland and Doctor Ross Campbell, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland; Doctor Jeroen Dauw AZ Saint-Lucas, Ghent, Belgium and Interviewers: Doctor Antonio Cannata, King's College London, United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland; Doctor Jozine Ter Maaten, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands; Doctor Sotiria Liori, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece; Doctor Francesca Musella, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

This podcast discusses the results of four late breaking clinical trials presented at the Heart Failure congress 2023 in Prague, Czech. First, dr. Brugts shares the results of the MONITOR-HF trial, an open-label, randomized trial showing that haemodynamic monitoring using a cardioMEMS device, significantly improved quality of life and reduced heart failure hospitalizations in patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure. This trial was simultaneously published in the Lancet (Remote haemodynamic monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures in patients with chronic heart failure (MONITOR-HF): a randomised clinical trial - The Lancet). Second, dr. Cleland walks us through a population study from the greater Glasgow area that found that use of loop diuretics in patients without a diagnosis of heart failure was associated with poor outcomes. He consequently discusses possible explanations and clinical consequences. Third, dr. Campbell shares the results of the DAPA-RESIST trial, that found that in patients with diuretic resistance, dapagliflozin was not superior to metolazone at relieving congestion (Dapagliflozin versus metolazone in heart failure resistant to loop diuretics | European Heart Journal | Oxford Academic (oup.com)). Fourth, dr. Dauw discusses the results of the ENACT-HF trial where a strategy of natriuresis guided therapy as recommended by the HF guidelines, in an open label, sequential roll-out (first 10 patients standard of care, followed by 10-30 patients in the natriuresis arm), was shown to improve natriuresis and reduced length of hospital stay. No effect on change in congestion score or in-hospital mortality was observed. The podcast is concluded with a brief discussion of some HFA Young highlights at the congress. 

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 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 Giuseppe Rosano - St George's Hospital Medical School – London - UK & Antonio Cannata - King's College London, London - UK

This podcast will discuss the most recent and serendipitous revolution in the field of Heart Failure, the SGLT2-inhibitors, their indications and future perspectives. Prof Rosano, interviewed by Dr Cannata, will drive through the most recent evidence supporting the use of SGLT2-i in patients with heart failure. Let's see whether an apple a day truly keeps the doctor away.

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 Sotiria Liori, Attikon University Hospital, Athens - Greece and Ovidiu Chioncel, Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Disease - Institut De Boli Cardiovasculare C.C.Iliescu, Bucharest; University of Medicine Carol Davila, Bucharest - Romania.

In the latest episode of HFA Cardio Talk, Dr. Sotiria Liori, member of the HFA Young Committee, interviews Prof. Ovidiu Chioncel on cardiogenic shock. The podcast delves into the challenges and latest advancements in the diagnosis and management of this complex condition, providing valuable insights for clinicians and researchers. Prof. Chioncel shares his extensive knowledge on the importance of hemodynamic monitoring, the use of mechanical circulatory support devices, and other therapeutic interventions in the management of patients with cardiogenic shock. With his practical tips and tricks, Prof. Chioncel offers guidance for optimizing patient outcomes and enhancing the quality of care for this high-risk population.

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.