Russian scientists develop new approach to diagnosing, treating heart failure

Scientists at Sechenov University in Russia have developed a new approach to treating chronic heart failure, based on blood analysis that takes into account patients’ individual metabolic characteristics. In a press release, the university explained that researchers identified four metabolic types of heart failure, each with distinct clinical features and disease progression patterns.

The study involved 498 participants, including 218 patients with chronic heart failure, 108 with hypertension, 89 with coronary artery disease, and 83 healthy volunteers.

Specialists analyzed the levels of 93 metabolites in the participants’ blood plasma to detect hidden metabolic disorders. The analysis revealed differences in 25 metabolites among the patient groups.

Based on these findings, the scientists identified four metabolic types of heart failure, each characterized by unique clinical features and disease progression forecasts.

The research team believes that this blood-based testing method could help doctors more accurately assess the risk of complications and select appropriate treatments tailored to individual patients. It may also improve the accuracy of heart failure diagnosis compared to current traditional methods.

Traditional methods for diagnosing heart failure currently rely on evaluating symptoms and clinical examination, along with a range of medical and laboratory tests to assess heart function. These include blood tests to evaluate liver, kidney, and thyroid function, and sometimes catheterization to measure pressure inside the heart chambers and examine the coronary arteries for blockages.