My goal in seeking a K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award is to acquire the knowledge and skills to become an independent clinical investigator and a leader in cardiopulmonary imaging research. I have a broad background in ultrasonography, with specific expertise in lung ultrasonography and point-of-care echocardiography which are key research areas for this application. I propose to investigate the relationship of pulmonary congestion assessed by lung ultrasound (LUS) and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Pulmonary congestion, often manifested by breathlessness (dyspnea), is the most common sign of ADHF and the leading cause of hospitalization in the U.S. population over 65 years of age. Patient reported dyspnea is used both clinically and in trials as a surrogate marker of pulmonary congestion, because the detection and quantification of pulmonary congestion based on current methods remains challenging. Although patient symptoms represent an important treatment goal, there is a critical need for novel quantitative markers of pulmonary congestion. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a novel, semi-quantitative tool in the assessment of pulmonary congestion that has been identified as a useful point-of-care tool in the evaluation of undifferentiated dyspnea. B-lines are vertical lins on LUS which, when quantified, provide a graded measure of extra-vascular lung water. Although LUS has been used clinically as a diagnostic tool in the acute care setting, little is known about the correlates, dynamic changes and prognostic value of this method.
In aim 1, we will examine the cross-sectional association of baseline B-line number with conventional clinical, biomarker, and imaging correlates of congestion, as well as short term outcomes.
In aim 2, we will determine the extent to which B-line number decreases in response to therapy.
In aim 3, we will examine the association of pre- discharge B-line number with long term outcomes, including heart failure related readmissions and death.
These aims will be investigated at two leading academic institutions with an extensive track record of heart failure and imaging research, as well as mentorship of early career investigators. The long term goal of this proposal is to improve the assessment of pulmonary congestion in patients with heart failure and to determine the extent to which LUS as a novel imaging tool can measure sub-clinical pulmonary congestion, guide titration of therapy, and predict adverse outcomes in this population. The proposed research will be conducted in the context of a comprehensive five-year career development training program with the goal of providing me with the knowledge and skills to become an independent clinical investigator in cardiopulmonary imaging research at the interface of emergency medicine and cardiology. A team of accomplished mentors and collaborators with expertise in cardiac imaging, heart failure, quality of life assessment, epidemiology, biostatistics, and clinical trials will guide me in my transition to scientific independence.

Public Health Relevance

Heart failure is a major public health concern affecting over 2% of the population in North America and Europe and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary congestion is the most common sign of acute decompensated heart failure and the leading cause of hospitalization in the U.S. population over 65 years of age. The detection and quantification of pulmonary congestion based on current methods remains challenging. We will investigate the utility of lung ultrasound in assessing pulmonary congestion in heart failure, which has the potential to improve heart failure management and risk prediction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23HL123533-02
Application #
9042412
Study Section
NHLBI Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Review Committee (MPOR)
Program Officer
Reineck, Lora A
Project Start
2015-04-01
Project End
2020-03-31
Budget Start
2016-04-01
Budget End
2017-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
030811269
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Proplesch, Moritz; Merz, Allison A; Claggett, Brian L et al. (2018) Right atrial structure and function in patients with hypertension and with chronic heart failure. Echocardiography 35:905-914
Dwyer, Kristin H; Merz, Allison A; Lewis, Eldrin F et al. (2018) Pulmonary Congestion by Lung Ultrasound in Ambulatory Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction and Hypertension. J Card Fail 24:219-226
Brainin, Philip; Skaarup, Kristoffer Grundtvig; Iversen, Allan Zeeberg et al. (2018) Post-systolic shortening predicts heart failure following acute coronary syndrome. Int J Cardiol :
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Platz, Elke; Merz, Allison; Silverman, Montane et al. (2018) Association between lung ultrasound findings and invasive exercise haemodynamics in patients with undifferentiated dyspnoea. ESC Heart Fail :
Platz, Elke; Merz, Allison A; Jhund, Pardeep S et al. (2017) Dynamic changes and prognostic value of pulmonary congestion by lung ultrasound in acute and chronic heart failure: a systematic review. Eur J Heart Fail 19:1154-1163
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Harjola, Veli-Pekka; Mullens, Wilfried; Banaszewski, Marek et al. (2017) Organ dysfunction, injury and failure in acute heart failure: from pathophysiology to diagnosis and management. A review on behalf of the Acute Heart Failure Committee of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur J Heart Fail 19:821-836
Miró, Òscar; Peacock, Frank W; McMurray, John J et al. (2017) European Society of Cardiology - Acute Cardiovascular Care Association position paper on safe discharge of acute heart failure patients from the emergency department. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care 6:311-320

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