Obesity and inflammation in chronic and acute heart failure.

Obesity and inflammation have been associated with an increased incidence of heart failure (HF) and death. However, until recent years, no therapy directed towards reducing inflammation and reducing obesity has been shown to reduce those adverse outcomes. Over the past few years, a few small studies have suggested that improving obesity-and in even smaller studies, reducing inflammation-may help improve HF severity, congestion, quality of life, and possibly outcomes. Larger studies that are being planned and executed, which will report their results within the next 2-3 years, should help further clarify the effects of weight and inflammation reduction in patients with HF.