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- A Portuguese expert panel position paper on the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - part II: unmet needs and organization of care in PortugalPublication . Silva-Cardoso, José; Moreira, Emília; Melo, Rachel Tavares de; Moraes-Sarmento, Pedro; Cardim, Nuno; Oliveira, Mário; Gavina, Cristina; Moura, Brenda; Araújo, Inês; Santos, Paulo; Peres, Marisa; Fonseca, Cândida; Ferreira, João Pedro; Marques, Irene; Andrade, Aurora; Baptista, Rui; Brito, Dulce; Cernadas, Rui; Santos, Jonathan dos; Leite-Moreira, Adelino; Gonçalves, Lino; Ferreira, Jorge; Aguiar, Carlos; Fonseca, Manuela; Fontes-Carvalho, Ricardo; Franco, Fátima; Lourenço, Carolina; Martins, Elisabete; Pereira, Hélder; Santos, Mário; Pimenta, JoanaIn Portugal, a 15.2% prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was recently identified among those aged ≥50 years. HFpEF represents 90% of Portuguese heart failure patients. HFpEF management in Portugal is challenging due to patient heterogeneity, diagnostic and therapeutic complexity, and organizational constraints on the healthcare system. Considering the above, a panel of Portuguese experts convened to address HFpEF management within the national context. This was done in a two-paper set. This, the second paper, identifies unmet needs and suggests a set of measures to improve the current organization of HFpEF management in Portugal. Our purpose is to create a multidisciplinary integrated care system, ensuring a seamless connection between hospitals and primary care. Additionally, we propose a practical approach to the management of HFpEF, including a roadmap for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment. The aim is to help clinicians improve HFpEF management throughout the disease trajectory.
- A Portuguese expert panel position paper on the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - part I: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatmentPublication . Silva-Cardoso, José; Moreira, Emília; Melo, Rachel Tavares de; Moraes-Sarmento, Pedro; Cardim, Nuno; Oliveira, Mário; Gavina, Cristina; Moura, Brenda; Araújo, Inês; Santos, Paulo; Peres, Marisa; Fonseca, Cândida; Ferreira, João Pedro; Marques, Irene; Andrade, Aurora; Baptista, Rui; Brito, Dulce; Cernadas, Rui; Santos, Jonathan dos; Leite-Moreira, Adelino; Gonçalves, Lino; Ferreira, Jorge; Aguiar, Carlos; Fonseca, Manuela; Fontes-Carvalho, Ricardo; Franco, Fátima; Lourenço, Carolina; Martins, Elisabete; Pereira, Hélder; Santos, Mário; Pimenta, JoanaHeart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) affects more than 50% of HF patients worldwide, and more than 70% of HF patients aged over 65. This is a complex syndrome with a clinically heterogeneous presentation and a multifactorial pathophysiology, both of which make its diagnosis and treatment challenging. A Portuguese HF expert panel convened to address HFpEF pathophysiology and therapy, as well as appropriate management within the Portuguese context. This initiative resulted in two position papers that examine the most recently published literature in the field. The present Part I includes a review of the HFpEF literature covering pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. Part II, the second paper, addresses the development of a holistic and integrated HFPEF clinical care system within the Portuguese context that is capable of reducing morbidity and mortality and improving patients’ functional capacity and quality of life.
- Perturbação de hiperatividade/défice de atenção no adulto: um posicionamento de peritos portugueses sobre diagnóstico e tratamentoPublication . Madeira, Nuno; França, Gustavo; Jesus, Gustavo; Fernandes, João M.; Almeida, Susana S.; Filipe, Carlos N.A perturbação de hiperatividade e défice de atenção (PHDA) é uma perturbação do neurodesenvolvimento que frequentemente persiste na vida adulta, afetando aproximadamente 1,5% - 3% da população adulta em Portugal. A PHDA não tratada em adultos está ligada a um risco aumentado de abuso de substâncias, criminalidade, baixo desempenho académico e profissional. Menos de 20% dos adultos com PHDA são diagnosticados e tratados adequadamente, devido a sintomas sobrepostos com outras perturbações mentais, à existência de comorbilidades, ou ao desconhecimento e preconceitos sobre esta perturbação. Este documento de posicionamento resulta da realização de reuniões de peritos envolvendo seis psiquiatras portugueses experientes na gestão da PHDA em adultos. Visa orientar estratégias de diagnóstico e tratamento, bem como abordar as principais barreiras e limitações no acompanhamento destes doentes no contexto português, ao nível do diagnóstico e tratamento. Este documento pretende ainda esclarecer e desmistificar preconceitos, aumentar a consciencialização médica e promover a discussão para a elaboração de diretrizes para melhorar o diagnóstico, tratamento e qualidade de vida dos adultos com PHDA em Portugal.
- Correction to: worsening heart failure: progress, pitfalls, and perspectives (Heart Failure Reviews, (2025), 10.1007/s10741-025-10497-z)Publication . Fonseca, Cândida; Baptista, Rui; Franco, Fátima; Moura, Brenda; Pimenta, Joana; Sarmento, Pedro Moraes; Cardoso, José Silva; Brito, DulceThe order of the authors' first and last names was reversed in the original publication. The correct author names are as follows: Incorrect Author List: Fonseca Cândida · Baptista Rui · Franco Fátima · Moura Brenda · Pimenta Joana · Pedro Moraes Sarmento · Silva Cardoso José · Brito Dulce Correct Author List: Cândida Fonseca · Rui Baptista · Fátima Franco · Brenda Moura · Joana Pimenta · Pedro Moraes Sarmento · José Silva Cardoso · Dulce Brito The original article has been corrected.
- Worsening heart failure: progress, pitfalls, and perspectivesPublication . Cândida, Fonseca; Rui, Baptista; Fátima, Franco; Brenda, Moura; Joana, Pimenta; Sarmento, Pedro Moraes; José, Silva Cardoso; Dulce, BritoFor most patients with chronic heart failure (HF), the clinical course of the disease includes periods of apparent clinical stability punctuated by episodes of clinical deterioration with worsening signs and symptoms, a condition referred to as worsening heart failure (WHF). Over time, episodes of WHF may become more frequent, and patients may enter a cycle of recurrent events associated with deterioration in their quality of life and functional capacity, hospitalizations, and ultimately death. WHF is apparently an old concept but seems to have acquired new boundaries in terms of definition and clinical and prognostic value due to the fast-paced evolution of the HF treatment landscape and the emergence of new drugs in this setting. As a result, the management of WHF is being reshaped. In the present paper, a group of HF experts gathered to discuss the concept, prevention, detection, and treatment of WHF.
- Arrhythmic risk stratification in patients with left ventricular ring-like scarPublication . Parisi, Vanda; Graziosi, Maddalena; Lopes, Luis R.; Luca, Antonio De; Pasquale, Ferdinando; Tini, Giacomo; Targetti, Mattia; Cueto, Maria R.; Moura, Ana R.; Ditaranto, Raffaello; Torlasco, Camilla; Taglieri, Nevio; Nardi, Elena; Lovato, Luigi; Augusto, João B.; Galiè, Nazzareno; Crotti, Lia; Gasperetti, Alessio; Biffi, Mauro; Autore, Camillo; Merlo, Marco; Olivotto, Iacopo; Sinagra, Gianfranco; Elliott, Perry M.; Biagini, ElenaAims Left ventricular (LV) ring-like scar on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been linked to malignant arrhythmias in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive evaluation of this phenotype and to identify risk factors for life-threatening arrhythmic events (LAEs), a composite of sudden cardiac death (SCD), aborted SCD, and sustained ventricular tachycardia. Methods and results One hundred and fifteen patients [median age 39 (interquartile range, IQR, 28–52), 42% females] were identified at 6 referral centres. Inclusion criteria were ring-like LV scar [≥3 contiguous segments with sub-epicardial/midwall late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the same slice] and one among: pathogenic/likely pathogenic genetic variant, family history for cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy diagnosis. During the study follow-up, survival free from LAEs was 60% (3.8 events/100 patients/year); at a median follow-up of 4.6 years (IQR 1.7–8.4) it was 84%. On multivariable analysis, anterior Q waves [hazard ratio (HR): 1.030, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.014–1.046, P < 0.001], QRS width (HR: 4.642, 95% CI: 1.296–16.628, P = 0.018), and LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi; HR: 1.011, 95% CI: 1.001–1.021, per mL/m2 increase, P = 0.040) were independently associated with LAEs; with good discrimination power (Harrell’s C-index = 0.796). Three risk categories were identified: normal electrocardiogram (ECG), abnormal ECG and no LAEs predictive variables, abnormal ECG and ≥1 LAEs predictive variables, with a decreasing survival from 100 to 65% and 49%, respectively (Log-rank test = 0.015). Conclusion In this study, the LV ring-like scar phenotype was associated with a high rate of malignant arrhythmias in presence of anterior Q waves, QRS prolongation, and increased LVEDVi. A normal ECG identified a lower risk sub-group.
- World Heart Federation cholesterol roadmap: the Portuguese casePublication . Abreu, Ana; Dores, Hélder; Gonçalves, Lino; Franco, Fátima; Silveira, Conceição; Proença, Gonçalo; Timóteo, Ana Teresa; Cardim, Nuno; Pedro, Mónica; Fiuza, Manuela; Ferreira, Daniel; Bento, Luísa; Patrício, Lino; Caldeira, Daniel; Baptista, Sérgio Bravo; Santos, José; Rocha, Evangelista; Raimundo, Anabela; Catarino, Carlos; Carrageta, Manuel; Mexia, Ricardo; Araújo, Francisco; Pereira, Hélder; Santos, Raul; Pinto, Fausto J.Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the major cause of premature death and disability; effective cardiovascular (CV) risk prevention is fundamental. The World Heart Federation (WHF) Cholesterol Roadmap provides a framework for national policy development and aims to achieve ASCVD prevention. At the invitation of the WHF, a group of experts from the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), addressed the cholesterol burden at nationally and discussed possible strategies to include in a Portuguese cholesterol roadmap. The literature review showed that the cholesterol burden in Portugal is high and especially uncontrolled in those with the highest CV risk. An infographic scorecard was built to include in the WHF collection, for a clear idea about CV risk and cholesterol burden in Portugal, which would also be useful for health policy advocacy. The expert discussion and preventive strategies proposal followed the five pillars of the WHF document: awareness improvement; population-based approaches for CV risk and cholesterol; risk assessment/population screening; system-level approaches; surveillance of cholesterol and ASCVD outcomes. These strategies were debated by all the expert participants, with the goal of creating a national cholesterol roadmap to be used for advocacy and as a guide for CV prevention. Several key recommendations were outlined: include all stakeholders in a multidisciplinary national program; create a structured activities plan to increase awareness in the population; improve the quality of continuous CV health education; increase the interaction between different health professionals and non-health professionals; increment the referral of patients to cardiac rehabilitation; screen cholesterol levels in the general population, especially high-risk groups; promote patient self-care, engage with patients’ associations; use specific social networks to spread information widely; create a national database of cholesterol levels with systematic registry of CV events; redefine strategies based on the evaluation of results; create and involve more patients’ associations – invert the pyramid order. In conclusion, ASCVD and the cholesterol burden remain a strong global issue in Portugal, requiring the involvement of multiple stakeholders in prevention. The Portuguese cholesterol roadmap can provide some solutions to help urgently mitigate the problem. Population-based approaches to improve awareness and CV risk assessment and surveillance of cholesterol and ASCVD outcomes are key factors in this change. A call to action is clearly needed to fight hypercholesterolemia and ASCVD burden.
- Therapeutical usefulness of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in aggressive or metastatic pituitary tumoursPublication . Lopes-Pinto, Mariana; Lacerda-Nobre, Ema; Silva, Ana Luísa; Marques, PedroTherapeutic options for pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs) refractory to temozolomide are scarce. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly inhibitors of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) pathway and its ligand (PD-L1), have been experimentally used in aggressive or metastatic PitNETs. We aimed to study the therapeutic usefulness of anti-PD-1 drugs in patients with aggressive or metastatic PitNETs. Published cases and case series involving patients with PitNETs treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors were reviewed. Demographic data, clinical–pathological features, previous therapies, drug dosage and posology, and the best radiological and biochemical responses, as well as survival data, were evaluated. We identified 29 cases of aggressive (n = 13) or metastatic (n = 16) PitNETs treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. The hypersecretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was documented in eighteen cases (62.1%), seven were prolactinomas (24.1%), and four were non-functioning PitNETs. All patients underwent various therapies prior to using ICIs. Overall, a positive radiological response (i.e., partial/complete radiological response and stable disease) was observed in eighteen of twenty-nine cases (62.1%), of which ten and four were ACTH- and prolactin-secreting PitNETs, respectively. Hormonal levels reduced or stabilised after using ICIs in 11 of the 17 functioning PitNET cases with available data (64.7%). The median survival of patients treated with ICIs was 13 months, with a maximum of 42 months in two ACTH-secreting tumours. Among 29 patients with PitNETs treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, the positive radiological and biochemical response rates were 62.1% and 64.7%, respectively. Altogether, these data suggest a promising role of ICIs in patients with aggressive or metastatic PitNETs refractory to other treatment modalities.
- Heart with Mozambique: a Portuguese contribution to the eradication of rheumatic heart diseasePublication . Almeida, Inês Grácio de; Esteves, Ana; Gil, Victor
- Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021Publication . GBD 2021 Nervous System Disorders Collaborators; Steinmetz, Jaimie D.; Seeher, Katrin Maria; Schiess, Nicoline; Nichols, Emma; Cao, Bochen; Servili, Chiara; Cavallera, Vanessa; Cousin, Ewerton; Hagins, Hailey; Moberg, Madeline E.; Mehlman, Max L.; Abate, Yohannes Habtegiorgis; Abbas, Jaffar; Abbasi, Madineh Akram; Abbasian, Mohammadreza; Abbastabar, Hedayat; Abdelmasseh, Michael; Abdollahi, Mohammad; Abdollahi, Mozhan; Abdollahifar, Mohammad Amin; Abd-Rabu, Rami; Abdulah, Deldar Morad; Abdullahi, Auwal; Abedi, Aidin; Abedi, Vida; Abeldaño Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel; Abidi, Hassan; Abiodun, Olumide; Aboagye, Richard Gyan; Abolhassani, Hassan; Aboyans, Victor; Abrha, Woldu Aberhe; Abualhasan, Ahmed; Abu-Gharbieh, Eman; Aburuz, Salahdein; Adamu, Lawan Hassan; Addo, Isaac Yeboah; Adebayo, Oladimeji M.; Adekanmbi, Victor; Adekiya, Tayo Alex; Adikusuma, Wirawan; Adnani, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah; Adra, Saryia; Afework, Tsion; Afolabi, Aanuoluwapo Adeyimika; Afraz, Ali; Afzal, Saira; Aghamiri, Shahin; Agodi, Antonella; Bettencourt, Paulo J. G.Background: Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. Methods: We estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined. Findings: Globally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer. Interpretation: As the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.