Heart failure (HF) results in reduced peak torque and power in the skeletal muscle of the lower limbs compared with healthy controls.

Muscle function in the upper limbs of HF patients is not significantly different from healthy controls.

Patients with HF have prolonged skeletal muscle contractility dynamics, which may be a result of neuromuscular coupling dysfunction.

HF patients have increased adiposity and lower lean muscle than age-matched controls.

There was an increase in circulating ceramides levels, but a decrease in circulating unsaturated fatty acids in HF patients.