Baseline characteristics in the TransitionCHF study: asymptomatic patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.
| Title: | Baseline characteristics in the TransitionCHF study: asymptomatic patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. |
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| Authors: | Müller-Kozarez I; Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, Leipzig 04103, Germany.; Sandek A; Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Edelmann F; Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, German Heart Center Charité, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; Gertler C; Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Placzek M; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Friede T; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Licka M; Department of Internal Medicine III cardiology, Angiology and Respiratory Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.; Rieth A; Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Bad Nauheim, Germany.; Schunkert H; Department of Cardiology, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, TUM Universitätsklinikum, Munich, Germany.; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.; Akin I; First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.; Arnold N; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of cardiology, University Heart and Vascular center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.; Störk S; Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.; Department of Clinical Research and Epidemiology, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.; Feuerstein A; Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, German Heart Center Charité, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; Herrmann-Lingen C; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Hasenfuß G; Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; Wachter R; Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, Leipzig 04103, Germany.; Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. |
| Source: | ESC heart failure [ESC Heart Fail] 2026 Feb 03; Vol. 13 (1). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Observational Study; Multicenter Study |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101669191 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2055-5822 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20555822 NLM ISO Abbreviation: ESC Heart Fail Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [Oxford] : John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology, [2014]- |
| MeSH Terms: | Stroke Volume*/physiology ; Heart Failure*/physiopathology ; Heart Failure*/epidemiology ; Ventricular Function, Left*/physiology ; Quality of Life*; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Disease Progression |
| Abstract: | Introduction: The majority of clinical studies investigating patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) exclusively included patients with symptomatic heart failure. There is a paucity of information concerning the clinical characteristics, progression to symptomatic heart failure, heart failure hospitalization rates and survival in patients with asymptomatic systolic left ventricular dysfunction (ASLVD). We address this knowledge gap by describing the baseline characteristics of participants in the prospective observational TransitionCHF study of patients with reduced left ventricular Function in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional Class I and comparing them to those of other recent trials in HFrEF.; Methods: In total, 1005 individuals with ASLVD NYHA I with an ejection fraction ≤ 40% were recruited. Patient characteristics were compared with other studies involving patients with symptomatic heart failure. Multivariable linear regression and Pearson coefficients were used to determine the association between quality of life, mental health, markers of organ function, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) plasma levels, and exercise performance.; Results: The mean age of participants was 60 ± 14 years and 18% were women. The mean ejection fraction was 36% and the mean left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 59 mm. When compared with studies involving patients with symptomatic heart failure, the age was ≈ 5 years younger and the frequency of comorbidities was lower. The Short Form Health Survey-36 physical functioning score was moderately correlated with the Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire (MQ; r = -0.44 and weakly with 6-min walking distance (r = 0.32), peak VO2 at ergospirometry (r = 0.28), and Heart Focus Anxiety (HAF17; r = -0.34). NT-proBNP levels showed a weak association with peak VO2 (r = -0.29) and the 6-min walk distance (r = -0.21).; Conclusions: Patients included in the TransitionCHF study are younger and suffer from fewer comorbidities as compared with symptomatic heart failure patients. Associations between NT-proBNP levels and markers of exercise performance were weak.; (© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Asymptomatic systolic left ventricular dysfunction; Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 114471-18-0 (Natriuretic Peptide, Brain) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260219 Date Completed: 20260219 Latest Revision: 20260426 |
| Update Code: | 20260426 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13108272 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/eschf/xvag012 |
| PMID: | 41711737 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Observational Study; Multicenter Study