Managing Congestion in Heart Failure: A Mechanistic Study in Patients With HFpEF

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial (MAGIC-HF) is to understand whether daily remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure using the CardioMEMS™ device and body water levels using a smart scale can improve the management of congestion in people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Participants who already have an indication for remote monitoring with CardioMEMS™ (A sensor to be implanted in the pulmonary artery in a minimal invasive procedure) will be enrolled. Every day, patients will measure their pulmonary pressure using CardioMEMS and assess the amount of water in different parts of the body, including the arms, legs, and trunk using the scale BWA ON. The measurements will take about 2 minutes each. Over a period of six months, researchers will monitor these measurements along with regular blood tests to observe changes in heart and kidney function by monitoring biomarkers reflecting the function of these organs. Managing fluid buildup (congestion) is a major challenge in people with heart failure, and current methods based on clinical signs are not always reliable. Recent research suggests that congestion in heart failure is not only related to pressure but also to changes in fluid volume, and that better monitoring could help tailor treatments more effectively. By combining pressure and volume data, this study aims to help reach a more balanced fluid state (euvolemia) in participants, which could reduce hospital readmissions and improve overall outcomes. In addition, the study seeks to identify different types, or phenotypes, of congestion based on pressure and volume profiles, which could guide more personalized care in the future. This study is important because it addresses an urgent need to improve the early detection and management of congestion in heart failure. It also explores new approaches that could lead to better understanding and treatment of this complex condition, especially in patients with preserved ejection fraction who often have fewer treatment options.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a major clinical challenge, with high hospitalization and readmission rates that contribute to substantial healthcare costs. Achieving and maintaining euvolemia is a key goal in the management of heart failure (HF), but current methods of monitoring congestion are suboptimal. Clinical signs and symptoms often occur late and are neither sensitive nor specific for detecting early decompensation. Furthermore, traditional reliance on pressure measurements alone, such as pulmonary artery pressures, has been questioned, since elevated pressure may coexist with euvolemia or hypovolemia. The MAGIC-HF study is a prospective, mechanistic, multi centre, remote monitoring (RM) study aiming to explore the combined use of pressure- and volume-based monitoring to improve congestion management in patients with HFpEF and to better understand the relation pressure-volume in this group of patients. This study will evaluate the daily measurements of pulmonary artery pressure, collected via the CardioMEMS™ device, in conjunction with extracellular and total body water assessments obtained through a segmental bioelectrical impedance smart scale (BWA device). Participants enrolled in the study will have an indication for CardioMEMS™ monitoring and will undergo continuous daily assessments over a 6-month follow-up period. These measurements will focus on changes in pulmonary pressure and body fluid distribution across upper extremities, lower extremities, and trunk compartments. The hypothesis is that combining pressure and volume data will allow better detection and management of congestion, reaching a euvolemic state more effectively, and ultimately improving important biomarkers such as NT-proBNP and renal function. Baseline evaluations will include a comprehensive echocardiographic assessment: laboratory analyses (NT-proBNP, creatinine, GFR, sST2, CA-125, bio-ADM, ALAT, ASAT, complete blood count, hsCRP). Daily remote monitoring will involve CardioMEMS™ pressure recordings and smart scale assessments. Additional blood tests will be collected at days 14, 42, 90, and at the final visit. The study aims to characterize different congestion phenotypes based on pressure-volume relationships, such as elevated pressure with hypervolemia, euvolemia, or hypovolemia. Understanding these subgroups may allow tailored management strategies. This could challenge current treatment paradigms, particularly the routine use of diuretics based solely on pressure readings. The primary focus will be an exploratory analysis of changes in NT-proBNP levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and the proportion of participants presenting with discordant pressure and volume statuses. NT-proBNP will be adjusted for BMI following formulas used in previous trials like GUIDE-HF. Overall, MAGIC-HF seeks to expand knowledge of congestion mechanisms in HFpEF, inform clinical practice about more precise management of congestion, and potentially lead to improved clinical outcomes through more individualized and physiologically guided therapy.