New Risk Models Pinpoint Future Heart Failure 03/11/26

Welcome to Cardiology Today – Recorded March 11, 2026. This episode summarizes 5 key cardiology studies on topics like morbidity and Incident heart failure. Key takeaway: New Risk Models Pinpoint Future Heart Failure. Article Links: Article 1: Cardiovascular Statistics in the United States, 2026: JACC Stats. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology) Article 2: Prediction of incident heart failure in established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: the SMART2-HF model. (European heart journal) Article 3: Prediction of incident heart failure in individuals without prior cardiovascular disease: the SCORE2-HF risk model. (European heart journal) Article 4: Risk prediction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the LIFE-Preserved model. (European heart journal) Article 5: Long-Term Outcomes of Left Bundle-Branch Pacing vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure: The HeartSync-LBBP Randomized Clinical Trial. (JAMA cardiology) Full episode page: https://podcast.explainheart.com/podcast/new-risk-models-pinpoint-future-heart-failure-03-11-26/ Featured Articles Article 1: Cardiovascular Statistics in the United States, 2026: JACC Stats. Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41524687 Summary: The JACC Cardiovascular Statistics 2026 report found that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. It provides the most up-to-date data on cardiovascular health, covering major risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and cigarette smoking. The report details conditions such as coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease, which collectively cause most cardiovascular deaths and disability. Article 2: Prediction of incident heart failure in established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: the SMART2-HF model. Journal: European heart journal PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41810961 Summary: The SMART2-HF model was developed and externally validated for the prediction of incident heart failure in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This model addresses a critical gap, as current guideline-recommended risk assessment models do not include incident heart failure. The SMART2-HF model provides a new tool to identify patients at high risk of developing heart failure, thus informing preventive strategies. Article 3: Prediction of incident heart failure in individuals without prior cardiovascular disease: the SCORE2-HF risk model. Journal: European heart journal PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41810943 Summary: The SCORE2-HF risk model was developed and validated for heart failure risk estimation in European adults over 40 years of age without prior cardiovascular disease. This sex-specific, competing risk-adjusted model was derived using data from 25 prospective cohorts, involving 611778 individuals and observing 21818 incident heart failure events. The SCORE2-HF models incorporate age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, and antihypertensive treatment status to assess risk. Article 4: Risk prediction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the LIFE-Preserved model. Journal: European heart journal PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41810940 Summary: The LIFE-Preserved model was developed and validated for predicting individual short-term and lifetime risk of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death. This model specifically addresses risk in patients diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. It provides a tool for identifying high-risk individuals who could benefit most from targeted preventive treatments, given the rising incidence and varying prognosis of this heterogeneous disease. Article 5: Long-Term Outcomes of Left Bundle-Branch Pacing vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure: The HeartSync-LBBP Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal: JAMA cardiology PubMed Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41811342 Summary: The HeartSync-Left Bundle-Branch Pacing Randomized Clinical Trial established a multicenter, prospective, randomized comparison of left bundle-branch pacing versus biventricular pacing for heart failure. The trial enrolled 200 patients across 6 centers in China. These patients had a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35 percent or less and a left bundle-branch block, reflecting a specific population requiring robust long-term clinical outcome data for pacing strategies. Transcript Today’s date is March 11, 2026. Welcome to Cardiology Today. Here are the latest research findings. Article number one. Cardiovascular Statistics in the United States, 2026: JACC Stats. The JACC Cardiovascular Statistics 2026 report found that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. It provides the most up-to-date data on cardiovascular health, covering major risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and cigarette smoking. The report details conditions such as coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease, which collectively cause most cardiovascular deaths and disability. Article number two. Prediction of incident heart failure in established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: the SMART2-HF model. The SMART2-HF model was developed and externally validated for the prediction of incident heart failure in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This model addresses a critical gap, as current guideline-recommended risk assessment models do not include incident heart failure. The SMART2-HF model provides a new tool to identify patients at high risk of developing heart failure, thus informing preventive strategies. Article number three. Prediction of incident heart failure in individuals without prior cardiovascular disease: the SCORE2-HF risk model. The SCORE2-HF risk model was developed and validated for heart failure risk estimation in European adults over 40 years of age without prior cardiovascular disease. This sex-specific, competing risk-adjusted model was derived using data from 25 prospective cohorts, involving 611778 individuals and observing 21818 incident heart failure events. The SCORE2-HF models incorporate age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, and antihypertensive treatment status to assess risk. Article number four. Risk prediction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the LIFE-Preserved model. The LIFE-Preserved model was developed and validated for predicting individual short-term and lifetime risk of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death. This model specifically addresses risk in patients diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. It provides a tool for identifying high-risk individuals who could benefit most from targeted preventive treatments, given the rising incidence and varying prognosis of this heterogeneous disease. Article number five. Long-Term Outcomes of Left Bundle-Branch Pacing vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure: The HeartSync-LBBP Randomized Clinical Trial. The HeartSync-Left Bundle-Branch Pacing Randomized Clinical Trial established a multicenter, prospective, randomized comparison of left bundle-branch pacing versus biventricular pacing for heart failure. The trial enrolled 200 patients across 6 centers in China. These patients had a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35 percent or less and a left bundle-branch block, reflecting a specific population requiring robust long-term clinical outcome data for pacing strategies. Thank you for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe. Keywords morbidity, Incident heart failure, Cardiovascular disease, LIFE-Preserved model, SMART2-HF model, heart failure hospitalization, coronary heart disease, Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, biventricular pacing, risk prediction, cardiovascular disease, European adults, risk estimation, left bundle-branch block, randomized clinical trial, SCORE2-HF model, mortality, risk factors, acute myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, Left bundle-branch pacing, cardiovascular death, heart failure. About Concise summaries of cardiovascular research for professionals. Subscribe • Share • FollowThe post New Risk Models Pinpoint Future Heart Failure 03/11/26 first appeared on Cardiology Today.