With Maria Tereza Sampaio de Sousa Lira, Federal University of Pernambuco - Brazil and Anja Zupan Meznar, University Medical Centre Ljubljana - Slovenia.

This episode will discuss when conduction system pacing (CSP) may be the appropriate pacing strategy for heart failure patients, particularly those with pacing-induced dyssynchrony or suspected pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM).

Key talking points include:

• Clinical clues and diagnostic approach to PICM

• Differentiating PICM from other causes of LV dysfunction

• When to consider CRT upgrade in pacemaker patients

• Insights from the BUDAPEST-CRT upgrade trial

• Advantages and limitations of CSP (His-bundle and left bundle branch pacing)

• Practical take-home message for clinicians managing HF patients with pacemaker

This 2026 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer in the form of unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsors.

With Felix Lindberg, Karolinska Institute & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm - Sweden, Martha Kyriakou, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia - Cyprus and Maggie Simpson, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh - UK.

In this episode, Felix Lindberg, Martha Kyriakou, and Maggie Simpson discuss multidisciplinary care in heart failure, exploring why HF complexity and multimorbidity make coordinated, team-based management essential.

They outline the key professional roles and how they can work together to support continuity across the HF trajectory, from diagnosis and optimisation, through decompensations, and transition to advanced therapies and palliative care.

The discussion also addresses real-world gaps in implementation, and considers how the expanding roles of nurses, pharmacists, and allied professionals, alongside emerging digital tools, may shape the future of multidisciplinary HF care.

Proposed reading: 

• Examining the clinical role and educational preparation of heart failure nurses across Europe. A survey of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (ACNAP) of the ESC. Hill et al. 2025. Eur J Heart Fail. DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.3519
• Multidisciplinary Care in Heart Failure Services. Sokos et al. 2023. J Card Fail. DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2023.02.011
• The Core Curriculum for Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Professionals. Neubeck et al. 2023. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvad035
• How to handle polypharmacy in heart failure. A clinical consensus statement of the Heart Failure Association of the ESC. Stolfo et al. 2025. Eur J Heart Fail. DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.3642
• Pharmacist- and Nurse-Led Medical Optimization in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Zheng et al. 2023. J Card Fail. DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2023.03.01
• Nurse-led diuretic titration via a point-of-care urinary sodium sensor in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (EASY-HF): A single-centre, randomized, open-label study. Meekers et al. 2024. Eur J Heart Fail. DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.3429
• Heart failure disease management: a systematic review of effectiveness in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Kalogirou et al. 2020. ESC Heart Fail. DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.12559
• What Are Effective Program Characteristics of Self-Management Interventions in Patients With Heart Failure? An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis. Jonkman et al. 2016. J Card Fail. DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2016.06.422
• Comparative effectiveness of transitional care services in patients discharged from the hospital with heart failure: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Van Spall et al. 2017. Eur J Heart Fail. DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.765

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 - 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 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 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 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 Sotiria Liori, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Greece and Julie De Backer, Ghent University Hospital - Belgium.

In this episode, Sotiria Liori and Julie De Backer discuss heart failure in adult congenital heart disease patients — covering how congenital lesions and prior repairs shape epidemiology and mechanisms (ventricular remodeling, valvular and conduit dysfunction, arrhythmias), as well as clinical assessment with imaging, biomarkers, and hemodynamics. They outline management with guideline-directed therapy, rhythm considerations, indications for advanced therapies (MCS and transplant), and pregnancy counseling. The episode also highlights multidisciplinary care models and key evidence gaps.

Proposed reading: 

1. General Principles of Heart Failure Management in Adult Congenital Heart Disease. Tompkins R, Romfh A. Heart Failure Reviews. 2020;25(4):555-567. doi:10.1007/s10741-019-09895-x
2. Chronic Heart Failure in Congenital Heart Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Stout KK, Broberg CS, Book WM, et al. Circulation. 2016;133(8):770-801. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000352.
3. Relation Between New York Heart Association Functional Class and Objective Measures of Cardiopulmonary Exercise in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease. Das BB, Young ML, Niu J, et al. The American Journal of Cardiology. 2019;123(11):1868-1873. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2019.02.053.
4.  Heart Failure and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease from 15 Countries. Lu CW, Wang JK, Yang HL, Kovacs AH, et al; APPROACH‐IS consortium, the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD) *.J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 May 3;11(9):e024993. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.024993. Epub 2022 Apr 26.
5. Pharmacological Therapy in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: Growing Need, Yet Limited Evidence. Brida M, Diller GP, Nashat H, et al. European Heart Journal. 2019;40(13):1049-1056. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy480.
6. Advanced Heart Failure Therapies For Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. Givertz MM, DeFilippis EM, Landzberg MJ, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2019;74(18):2295-2312.doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.004.
7. A Review of Heart Transplantation for Adults With Congenital Heart Disease. McMahon A, McNamara J, Griffin M. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2021;35(3):752-762. doi:10.1053/j.jvca.2020.07.027.
8. Heart Failure in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: From Advanced Therapies to End-of-Life Care. Crossland DS, Van De Bruaene A, Silversides CK, Hickey EJ, Roche SL. The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2019;35(12):1723-1739. doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2019.07.626.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 

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 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 Tim Balthazar, University Hospital of Brussels - Belgium and Luca Fazzini, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo - Italy.

In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Luca Fazzini interviews Tim Balthazar on the contemporary use of vasodilators and inotropic agents in heart failure. The conversation explores the gaps in current guidelines, the hemodynamic profile of patients suited for vasodilator therapy, and the rationale behind choosing specific inotropes in different clinical settings. Tim Balthazar further discusses the management of patients on chronic beta-blocker therapy presenting with signs of hypoperfusion and the challenges in designing randomized trials in this field. The discussion also touches on the role of inotropes in palliative care, as well as future perspectives and emerging pharmacological strategies.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 

 

With Gregorio Tersalvi, Mayo Clinic, Rochester - USA, and Faiez Zannad, University of Lorraine, Nancy - France.   In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Gregorio Tersalvi interviews Faiez Zannad on the future of trials in heart failure. Together, they explore how the landscape of heart failure trials has evolved, the major challenges in trial design today, the relevance of current and emerging outcomes, and the vision for the next decades of heart failure research. The discussion also touches on lessons learned from landmark trials and advice for young clinicians and researchers who aspire to become trialists.   Recommended readings:  Zannad F, Pitt B. The Future of Clinical Trials. Circulation 2024 Jun 4;149(23):1783-85. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066982.   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 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 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 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 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 Gianluigi Savaresse, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm - Sweden & Otilia Țica, University of Medicine of Oradea-Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Oradea, Oradea - Romania.

 

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

Link to paper

 

In this episode, we give a wrap-up of late-breaking clinical science presented at the ESC Congress 2025 in Madrid.

First, David Berg presents the DAPA ACT HF-TIMI 68 trial, reporting on dapagliflozin in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, along with a meta-analysis of SGLT2 inhibitors in this setting.

Next, Javed Butler highlights results of the VICTOR trial, a large phase 3 study of vericiguat in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Then, Andre Zimerman discusses the PhysioSync-HF trial, comparing conduction system pacing with biventricular resynchronization therapy in patients with HFrEF.

Finally, Kieran Docherty shares insights from a community-based study on the benefits of early initiation of disease-modifying therapy in suspected heart failure.

 

Additional information:

Topic 1:

With Gregorio Tersalvi, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN - USA, David Berg, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston - USA and Novi Yanti Sari, Siloam Hospitals Group, Jakarta - Indonesia

Results paper:

Dapagliflozin in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: Primary Results of the DAPA ACT HF-TIMI 68 Randomized Clinical Trial and Meta-Analysis of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure

Replay ESC Congress Hot Line: https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/312142

Circulation. 2025 Aug 29. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.076575. 

 

Topic 2:

With Javed Butler, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas - USA and Henrike Arfsten, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna - Austria

Results papers:

Vericiguat in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (VICTOR): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 trial Lancet. 2025

Replay ESC Congress hotline: https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/312148 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01665-4. 

Vericiguat for patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction across the risk spectrum: an individual participant data analysis of the VICTORIA and VICTOR trials Lancet. 2025 Aug 29:S0140-6736(25)01682-4. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01682-4.

 

Topic 3:

With Andre Zimerman, Hospital Moinhos De Vento, Porto Alegre - Brazil and Floran Sahiti, University Hospital of Wurzburg, Wurzburg - Germany

Methods paper:

Conduction system pacing vs biventricular resynchronization in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and left bundle branch block: Rationale and design of the PhysioSync-HF Trial

Am Heart J. 2025 Dec:290:38-45.

Replay ESC Congress: https://esc365.escardio.org/session/50327 doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2025.06.002.

 

Topic 3:

With Kieran Docherty, University of Glasgow, Glasgow - UK and Jolie Bruno, Inserm UMR-S942, Paris - France

Results paper:

Benefit of early initiation of disease-modifying therapy in community-based patients with suspected heart failure

Eur Heart J. 2025 Aug 29:ehaf675. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf675. 

 

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. 

Wtih Robert Mentz, Duke University, North Carolina - USA, and Cornelia Margineanu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest - Romania. 

A focused discussion and an update on the latest developments in iron deficiency — a journey from definition to outcomes through available therapeutic options. Not to be missed!

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 Kevin Damman, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen - The Netherlands, Floran Sahiti, University Hospital of Wurzburg, Wurzburg - Germany, Joao Pedro Ferreira, University of Porto, Porto - Portugal, Novi Yanti Sari, Siloam Hospitals Group, Jakarta - Indonesia, Marat Fudim, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC - USA, Gregorio Tersalvi, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN - USA, Jose Luis Morales Rull, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida - Spain and Cornelia Margineanu, Bucharest - Romania.

In this episode, we discuss four late-breaking clinical trials presented at the Heart Failure Congress 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia.

First, Kevin Damman presents the results of FUTURE-HF, a first-in-human study evaluating the long-term safety, accuracy, and clinical utility of a novel implantable IVC sensor for remote heart failure management.

Next, Joao Pedro Ferreira highlights the key findings of SOGALDI-PEF, a crossover trial comparing SGLT2 inhibitor monotherapy versus combination therapy with an SGLT2 inhibitor and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in reducing NT-proBNP levels.

Third, Marat Fudim reports on the MUSIC-HFpEF phase 1/2a trial, which explores the safety and preliminary efficacy of a novel gene therapy using adeno-associated virus vectors in patients with HFpEF.

Finally, Jose Luis Morales Rull shares insights from PREFER-HF, a study assessing the effects of intravenous or oral iron therapy versus placebo in patients with HFpEF and iron deficiency anemia.

1. FUTURE-HF: Long-term safety, accuracy, and utility of a novel implantable IVC sensor for remote HF management - Kevin Damman, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Host: Floran Sahiti, University Hospital of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2025.01.019.
2. SOGALDI-PEF: SOdium-Glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor with and without an ALDosterone AntagonIst for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction – Joao Pedro Ferreira, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Host: Novi Yanti Sari, Siloam Hospitals Group, Jakarta (Indonesia). 
3. MUSIC-HFpEF: Gene therapy in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction – Marat Fudim, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. Host: Gregorio Tersalvi, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
4. PREFER¬-HF: Effects intravenous iron or oral iron therapy compared to placebo in HFpEF with iron deficiency anemia - Jose Luis Morales Rull, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain. Host: Cornelia Margineanu, Bucharest, Romania.

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 Justyna Sokolska, Institute of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw - Poland, and Maja Cikes, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Head at the Unit for Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospital Center, Zagreb - Croatia.

In this episode of HFA CardioTalk, Justyna Sokolska interviews Maja Cikes on the challenges in management of long-term left ventricular assist device in patients with advanced heart failure. The discussion emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate patients at the optimal time, examines the adverse events and highlights major ongoing clinical trials. 

Recommended readings: 

Aspirin and Hemocompatibility Events With a Left Ventricular Assist Device in Advanced Heart Failure: The ARIES-HM3 Randomized Clinical Trial, Mehra MR, et al. JAMA. 2023 Dec 12;330(22):2171-81 

Trends and Outcomes of Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: JACC Focus Seminar, Varshney AS, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2022 Mar 22;79(11):1092-1107

Cardiac implantable electronic devices with a defibrillator component and all-cause mortality in left ventricular assist device carriers: results from the PCHF-VAD registry, Cikes M, et al. Eur J Heart Fail 2019 Sep;21(9):1129-41

A Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device — Final Report, Mehra MR, et al. N Engl J Med 2019 Apr 25;380(17):1618-27

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 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 Felix Lindberg, Karolinska Institutet & Södersjukhuset Hospital, Stockholm – Sweden and Marianna Fontana, National Amyloidosis Center, University College London, London – UK.

In this episode, Felix Lindberg and Marianna Fontana discuss the evolving landscape in the treatment of cardiac amyloidosis. After exploring the pathophysiology of cardiac AL and ATTR amyloidosis and recent years' insights about the epidemiology of these conditions, they focus on the transformation that has occurred in the therapeutic options for cardiac ATTR amyloidosis. The conversation addresses the key mechanistic differences and trial data on stabilizers and silencers, how to approach patient selection for these therapies, as well as emerging therapies including anti-amyloid antibodies. The discussion also highlights the importance of early diagnosis and key red flags that should elicit suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis.

Suggested reading:

• Vutisiran in patients with transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy. Fontana M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2025.
• Tafamidis treatment for patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Maurer M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018.
• Efficacy and safety of acoramidis in tranthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Gillmore JD, et al. N Engl J Med. 2024.
• CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing with nexiguran ziclumeran for ATTR cardiomyopathy. Fontana M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2024.
• Conventional heart failure therapy in cardiac ATTR amyloidosis. Ioannou A, et al. Eur Heart J. 2023.
• Nonbiopsy diagnosis of cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis. Gillmore JD, et al. Circulation. 2016.
• Current landscape of therapies for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Griffin JM, et al. JACC Heart Fail. 2025.
• Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: from cause to novel treatments. Fontana M, et al. Eur Heart J. 2026.
• Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis: a position statement of the ESC Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases. Garcia-Pavia P, et al. Eur Heart J. 2021.

This 2026 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer in the form of unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.

With Liemena Harold Adrian, Syarifah Ambami Rato Ebu General Academic Hospital, Surabaya - Indonesia and Shelley Zieroth, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg - Canada. 

In this episode, Liemena Harold Adrian and Shelley Zieroth discuss heart failure in post–myocardial infarction patients, covering how myocardial infarction leads to the development of heart failure despite advances in reperfusion and acute care. The conversation addresses the epidemiology and underlying pathophysiology, approaches to early prevention and screening, diagnostic tools, as well as key interventions in the acute and early post-MI phases that may alter heart failure trajectories. They outline management with guideline-directed medical therapy, review current studies on heart failure–modifying therapies (such as the DAPA-MI and EMPACT-MI trials), and address indications for advanced therapies in post-MI populations. The episode also highlights the importance of early diagnosis, prompt recognition, and key evidence gaps in the field.

Recommended readings:

• Akhtar KH, Khan MS, Baron SJ, et al. The Spectrum of Post-Myocardial Infarction Care: From Acute Ischemia to Heart Failurehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2024.01.017. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. (2024); 82: 15-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2024.01.017.
• Butler J, Hammonds K, Talha KM, et al. Incident Heart Failure and Recurrent Coronary Events Following Acute Myocardial Infarctionhttps://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae885. Eur Heart J (2025); 46: 1540-50. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae885.
• Butler J, Jones WS, Udell JA. Empagliflozin after Acute Myocardial Infarction. N Engl J Med (2024); 390: 1455-66. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2314051.
• Fioretti F, Butler J, Udell JA, et al. Empagliflozin after myocardial infarction with or without diabetes and chronic kidney disease: Insights from EMPACT-MI. ESC Heart Failure (2025); 12: 3940-3952. DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.15393.
• Hernandez AF, Udell JA, Jones WS. Effect of Empagliflozin on Heart Failure Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Insights From the EMPACT-MI Trial. Circulation (2024); 149: 1627–1638. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.069217.
• Jenca D, Melenovsky V, Stehlik J, et al. Heart Failure after Myocardial Infarction: Incidence and Predictors. ESC Heart Failure (2021): 8: 222-237. DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.13144.
• Lala A, Beavers C, Blumer V, et al. The Continuum of Prevention and Heart Failure in Cardiovascular Medicine: A Joint Scientific Statement from the Heart Failure Society of America and The American Society for Preventive Cardiology. Journal of Cardiac Failure (2026); 32: 75-105.
• Petrie MC, Udell JA, Anker SD, et al. Empagliflozin in Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients with and without Type 2 Diabetes: A Pre-specified Analysis of the EMPACT-MI Trial. Eur J of Heart Fail. (2025): 27: 577-588. DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.3548.
• Zieroth S, Rizi SS. Time Is of the Essence. JACC: Heart Failure (2023): 11(6): 713-714. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchf.2023.03.022

"This 2026 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer in the form of unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsors."

With Giulia Bruno, Hospital Limerick, Limerick - Ireland and Piotr Ponikowski, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw - Poland.

In this episode, Giulia Bruno is joined by Piotr Ponikowski to explore the complex interplay between valvular heart disease and heart failure. As our understanding of secondary mitral and tricuspid regurgitation evolves, new questions are emerging around prognosis, optimal timing of intervention, and the role of transcatheter therapies.

Together, they discuss how to approach management in these patients, the importance of guideline-directed medical therapy, and whether treating the valve can truly improve outcomes. This conversation highlights the challenges, current evidence, and future directions shaping this rapidly evolving field.

Recommended readings:

• 2025 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease: Developed by the task force for the management of valvular heart disease of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf194
• 2023 Focused Update of the 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: Developed by the task force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) with the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad195
• 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab086
• Coats AJ et al. The management of secondary mitral regurgitation in patients with heart failure: a joint position statement from the HFA, EACVI, EHRA, and EAPCI of the ESC. European Heart Journal. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab086
• Stone GW et al. Transcatheter Mitral-Valve Repair in Patients with Heart Failure. NEJM. 2018 (COAPT). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1806640
• Stone GW et al. Five-Year Follow-up after Transcatheter Repair of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation. NEJM. 2023. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2300213
• Sorajja P et al. Transcatheter Repair for Patients with Tricuspid Regurgitation. NEJM. 2023 (TRILUMINATE Pivotal). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2300525
• Iliadis C et al. Acute heart failure and valvular heart disease: a scientific statement of the HFA, ACVC and EAPCI of the ESC. European Journal of Heart Failure. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.70043

This 2026 HFA Cardio Talk podcast series is supported by Bayer in the form of unrestricted financial support. The discussion has not been influenced in any way by its sponsor.