ATTR-CA Linked to Heart Failure in Older Black Adults

September 23, 2025 Jennifer Chen Health
News Context
At a glance
  • Okay,here's a breakdown of the provided text,focusing on key information and ⁢summarizing the study described.
  • Core Topic: The prevalence of ATTR-CA (Transthyretin Amyloid ⁤Cardiomyopathy) in older Black and Caribbean Hispanic individuals ⁢with heart failure (HF).
  • * Higher Prevalence in Black Individuals: ATTR-CA was found to be the cause of HF in 7.8% of Black participants ‍and a substantially higher 17.2% of Black participants...
Original source: hcplive.com

Okay,here’s a breakdown of the provided text,focusing on key information and ⁢summarizing the study described.

Core Topic: The prevalence of ATTR-CA (Transthyretin Amyloid ⁤Cardiomyopathy) in older Black and Caribbean Hispanic individuals ⁢with heart failure (HF).

Key Findings:

* Higher Prevalence in Black Individuals: ATTR-CA was found to be the cause of HF in 7.8% of Black participants ‍and a substantially higher 17.2% of Black participants older than 75 years.
* Lower Prevalence in Hispanic Individuals: The prevalence was much lower in Hispanic participants, at 2.2%.
* V1421 Variant: The V1421 TTR gene variant (common in Black americans – 3-4% prevalence) is linked to increased risk of HF hospitalization and death.It’s most ⁢common in those with West⁣ African ancestry.
* Underdiagnosis: ATTR-CA is a treatable but often underdiagnosed cause of HF in older⁣ adults.

Study Details:

* Design: Prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study.
* Participants: 646 individuals ⁢self-identifying as Black or Caribbean‍ Hispanic, aged 60 years or older.
* Location: Boston, New York, and⁤ New Haven (US).
* Dates: May 2019 – June 2024.
* ⁣ Demographics:

* Median age: 73 years (range 66-80)
* 50.6% women
* ⁣ 85.1% Black
* 28.8% Caribbean Hispanic
‍⁣ * Median left ventricular wall thickness: 13mm
* ‍ Median left ventricular ejection fraction: 61%
* Methods:

* Radionuclide imaging to assess ATTR-CA.
* Blood testing to rule out light-chain amyloidosis.
* Genotyping to identify TTR gene variants.

Significance:

The study ‍highlights the importance of considering ATTR-CA as a potential cause of heart failure, especially in older Black individuals. The higher prevalence in this population suggests⁣ a need for increased awareness and diagnostic testing.The research also aims to understand the contribution of⁤ specific gene variants (like V1421) to the overall prevalence of ATTR-CA.

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