Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (684 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The volume of blood passing through the heart per unit of time. It is usually expressed as liters (volume) per minute so as not to be confused with stroke volume (volume per beat).
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Cardiac Outputs; Output, Cardiac; Outputs, Cardiac.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Heart Function Tests; Hemodynamics
- Narrower topics
- Stroke Volume
Related concepts
- Blood
- Heart
- Stroke Volume
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 97,701 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Cardiac Output” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 21,166 of them (21.7%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 40,811 records.
Reviews account for 8,062 records (8.3%) and meta-analyses for 1,369. Randomized controlled trials number 5,637 (5.8%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 40,811 |
| 2000-2009 | 14,518 |
| 2010-2019 | 21,206 |
| 2020 onward | 21,166 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 8,062 | 8.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,369 | 1.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 5,637 | 5.8% |
Method: PubMed query "Cardiac Output"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in cardiovascular medicine
Cardiovascular medicine has an unusually large body of randomized trials, so the type of outcome matters: hard clinical events such as death, heart attack and stroke carry more weight than changes in blood pressure, cholesterol or imaging markers that only predict risk. Observational studies can show associations but are confounded by age, lifestyle and other illness. Check whether a result is about prevention or treatment, the baseline risk of participants, and the absolute rather than only the relative size of any benefit.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The microRNA inhibitor CDR132L in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction: a randomized phase 2 trial | 2026 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 8 | cc by PMID 42108271 · DOI · PMC13375544 |
| Outcomes of heart failure with reduced, mildly reduced, or preserved ejection fraction: the ESC HF III registry | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41736503 · DOI · PMC13183174 |
| Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction beyond the heart: exploring the heart-liver-pancreas axis | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41711215 · DOI · PMC13108270 |
The microRNA inhibitor CDR132L in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction: a randomized phase 2 trial [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- MicroRNA-132 (miR-132) is a central regulator of adverse cardiac remodeling.
- Closing excerpt
- gov: NCT05350969 .
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (206 words)
MicroRNA-132 (miR-132) is a central regulator of adverse cardiac remodeling. Here we evaluated CDR132L, a synthetic antisense oligonucleotide miR-132 inhibitor, in a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial (HF-REVERT) in patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI) and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Within 3-14 days after MI, 294 patients were randomized to receive CDR132L 5 mg kg-1, CDR132L 10 mg kg-1 or placebo as three intravenous doses at 4-week intervals plus guideline-directed therapy. In total, 280 patients (245 men and 35 women) who received at least one dose of the study drug were included in the modified intention-to-treat population. CDR132L was well tolerated, with no hepatic, renal, hematologic or cardiac toxicity signals. The primary endpoint-the percentage change in LV end-systolic volume index at 6 months-improved in all groups but did not differ significantly between the CDR132L groups (5 mg kg-1 and 10 mg kg-1) and the placebo group. Secondary endpoints, including LV ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, were also not significantly different between the CDR132L and placebo groups. Prespecified exploratory analyses suggested potential benefits of CDR132L treatment in patients with advanced adverse remodeling at baseline, supporting further evaluation of CDR132L, including in chronic heart failure conditions. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05350969 .
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42108271 · DOI · PMC13375544
Outcomes of heart failure with reduced, mildly reduced, or preserved ejection fraction: the ESC HF III registry [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background and aimsTo assess in-hospital and 1-year cause-specific outcomes in the contemporary European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Heart Failure (HF) III Registry.
- Closing excerpt
- The percent of patients that were (re-)hospitalized for HF at least once over 1-year follow-up ranged 14-44% and was twice as high post-AHF compared with post-out-patient visit.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (307 words)
Background and aimsTo assess in-hospital and 1-year cause-specific outcomes in the contemporary European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Heart Failure (HF) III Registry.MethodsPatients were enrolled in European or ESC affiliated countries and characterized in detail regarding clinical characteristics and cause-specific outcomes.ResultsBetween 1 November 2018 and 31 December 2020, 10,162 patients were enrolled from 220 centres in 41 countries. Of these, 39% had acute HF ('AHF', age 70 [62-79] years, 36% women) and 61% had out-patient visit for HF ['out-patient HF', age 66 (58-75) years, 33% women]. Overall, 58% had HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 17% HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), and 25% HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In AHF, median [interquartile range (IQR)] duration of hospitalization was 9 (6-14) days, and 5.1% died in hospital (HFrEF 5.2%; HFmrEF 4.8%, HFpEF 3.4%). In AHF discharged alive and in out-patient HF, after a median (IQR) follow-up of 376 (360-432) days, all-cause, cardiovascular (CV), and unknown-cause mortality rates per 100 patient-years were as follows: AHF HFrEF: 19, 13, and 3.0 per 100 patient-years. The corresponding numbers were in AHF HFmrEF: 22, 11, and 6.3; AHF HFpEF: 16, 7.0, and 4.7; out-patient HFrEF: 6.6, 4.3, and 0.9; out-patient HFmrEF: 4.0, 2.6, and 0.8; out-patient HFpEF: 3.9, 1.7, and 1.2. At least one (re-)hospitalization for HF was experienced in 44% AHF HFrEF, 42% AHF HFmrEF, 36% AHF HFpEF, 21% out-patient HFrEF, 14% out-patient HFmrEF, and 18% out-patient HFpEF.ConclusionsIn HF in Europe and affiliated countries, in-hospital mortality was 5.1% and greater with lower ejection fraction. Among hospital survivors and out-patients over 1 year of follow-up, event rates per 100 patient-years varied for death, 3.9-22, CV death 1.7-13, and unknown cause of death 0.8-6.3. The percent of patients that were (re-)hospitalized for HF at least once over 1-year follow-up ranged 14-44% and was twice as high post-AHF compared with post-out-patient visit.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41736503 · DOI · PMC13183174
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction beyond the heart: exploring the heart-liver-pancreas axis [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- It has become increasingly recognized that heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) results from an inflammatory process, congestion, and metabolic dysbiosis rather than an intrinsic structural heart abnormality.
- Closing excerpt
- Future research integrating multi-organ imaging, inflammatory biomarkers, and therapeutic trials such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and cytokine blockers will be critical to disrupt this tri-organ inflammatory circuit and improve outcomes in HFpEF.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (171 words)
It has become increasingly recognized that heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) results from an inflammatory process, congestion, and metabolic dysbiosis rather than an intrinsic structural heart abnormality. Recent studies have highlighted the close link between the heart, the liver, and the pancreas, which are organically connected via the same inflammatory processes and pathways. Liver congestion and fibrosis are responsible for the inflammatory process and the lack of metabolic adaptation, whereas pancreatic ischaemia and insufficiency of the exocrine glands aggravate malnutrition and cachexia, worsening the heart condition. Acute pancreatitis may cause heart failure and arrhythmia through injury and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), an inflammatory process mediated by the cytokines released during the injury process. Recognition of this hepato-pancreato-cardiac axis offers a paradigm shift towards integrated management of HFpEF, emphasizing anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and haemodynamic interventions. Future research integrating multi-organ imaging, inflammatory biomarkers, and therapeutic trials such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and cytokine blockers will be critical to disrupt this tri-organ inflammatory circuit and improve outcomes in HFpEF.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41711215 · DOI · PMC13108270
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article A meta-analysis of studies using bias and precision statistics to compare cardiac output measurement techniques [4]
- Research article SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a meta-analysis of the EMPEROR-Reduced and DAPA-HF trials [5]
- Research article Dynamic changes in arterial waveform derived variables and fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients: a systematic review of the literature [6]
- Research article Effect of a perioperative, cardiac output-guided hemodynamic therapy algorithm on outcomes following major gastrointestinal surgery: a randomized clinical trial and systematic review [7]
- Research article Beta-blockers for heart failure with reduced, mid-range, and preserved ejection fraction: an individual patient-level analysis of double-blind randomized trials [8]
- Research article Assessment of Prognostic Value of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain for Early Prediction of Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [9]
References
- Bauersachs J, Solomon SD, Anker SD, Antorrena-Miranda I, de Boer RA, Filippatos G, et al.. The microRNA inhibitor CDR132L in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction: a randomized phase 2 trial. . 2026. PMID 42108271 · DOI · PMC13375544
- Lund LH, Maggioni AP, Crespo-Leiro MG, Laroche C, Gotsman I, Pojskic B, et al.. Outcomes of heart failure with reduced, mildly reduced, or preserved ejection fraction: the ESC HF III registry. . 2026. PMID 41736503 · DOI · PMC13183174
- Tun HN, Rahal O, Figueroa Baez IR, Santana-Sánchez O, Gardner T. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction beyond the heart: exploring the heart-liver-pancreas axis. . 2026. PMID 41711215 · DOI · PMC13108270
- Critchley LA, Critchley JA. A meta-analysis of studies using bias and precision statistics to compare cardiac output measurement techniques. J Clin Monit Comput. 1999. PMID 12578081 · DOI
- Zannad F, Ferreira JP, Pocock SJ, Anker SD, Butler J, Filippatos G, et al.. SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a meta-analysis of the EMPEROR-Reduced and DAPA-HF trials. Lancet. 2020. PMID 32877652 · DOI
- Marik PE, Cavallazzi R, Vasu T, Hirani A. Dynamic changes in arterial waveform derived variables and fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients: a systematic review of the literature. Crit Care Med. 2009. PMID 19602972 · DOI
- Pearse RM, Harrison DA, MacDonald N, Gillies MA, Blunt M, Ackland G, et al.. Effect of a perioperative, cardiac output-guided hemodynamic therapy algorithm on outcomes following major gastrointestinal surgery: a randomized clinical trial and systematic review. JAMA. 2014. PMID 24842135 · DOI
- Cleland JGF, Bunting KV, Flather MD, Altman DG, Holmes J, Coats AJS, et al.. Beta-blockers for heart failure with reduced, mid-range, and preserved ejection fraction: an individual patient-level analysis of double-blind randomized trials. Eur Heart J. 2018. PMID 29040525 · DOI · PMC5837435
- Oikonomou EK, Kokkinidis DG, Kampaktsis PN, Amir EA, Marwick TH, Gupta D, et al.. Assessment of Prognostic Value of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain for Early Prediction of Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Cardiol. 2019. PMID 31433450 · DOI · PMC6705141
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.