| 1. |
- Rydberg, Erik, et al.
(författare)
-
Left atrioventricular plane displacement but not left ventricular ejection fraction is influenced by the degree of aortic stenosis.
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Heart. - : BMJ. - 1355-6037. ; 90:10, s. 5-1151
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract in UndeterminedAims: To examine how left atrioventricular plane displacement ( AVPD), a widely used measure of left ventricular (LV) function, is related to presence and degree of aortic stenosis. Methods and results: Cardiac dimensions, LV filling, left AVPD, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and valve function were assessed by echocardiography/Doppler in 182 patients with various cardiac diseases (mean (SD) age 69 (12) years, 36% women), 49 consecutive with and 133 consecutive without aortic stenosis. In an analysis of covariance, neither left AVPD nor LVEF was independently correlated with the presence of aortic stenosis. However, looking separately at patients with aortic stenosis, left AVPD (p = 0.03) but not LVEF correlated independently with degree of aortic stenosis in multiple linear regression analysis. In patients with aortic stenosis, an abnormal left AVPD had 94% sensitivity and 90% negative predictive value with regard to severe aortic stenosis, compared with 56% and 62%, respectively, for LVEF. Conclusion: In patients with cardiac disease, neither left AVPD nor LVEF correlated independently with presence of aortic stenosis. However, in patients with aortic stenosis, left AVPD but not LVEF correlated with the degree of aortic valve obstruction and left AVPD but not LVEF had high sensitivity and negative predictive value with regard to severe aortic stenosis. Compared with LVEF, left AVPD is an earlier and more sensitive marker of LV haemodynamic load in patients with aortic stenosis.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Tasevska, Gordana, et al.
(författare)
-
Gender aspects on survival among patients admitted to hospital with suspected or diagnosed heart failure.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1651-2006 .- 1401-7431. ; 42, s. 383-391
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives and design. There are conflicting data on gender differences in survival among heart failure (HF) patients. We prospectively assessed gender differences in survival among 930 consecutive patients (464 [49.9%] women, mean age 76.1 +/- 10.1 years), admitted to hospital with suspected or diagnosed HF. Results. Overall, women had lower unadjusted mortality hazard ratio (HR) than men: HR 0.827; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.690-0.992; p = 0.040. Adjusted HR was 0.786; 95% CI 0.601-1.028; p = 0.079. Unadjusted mortality was significantly higher among patients with a discharge HF diagnosis, compared to those without: HR 1.330; 95% CI 1.107-1.597; p = 0.002; adjusted p = 0.289. Women and men with a discharge HF diagnosis had similar survival: unadjusted HR 1.052; 95% CI 0.829-1.336; p = 0.674; adjusted HR 0.875; 95% CI 0.625-1.225; p = 0.437. Women had lower mortality risk among patients without a discharge HF diagnosis: HR 0.630, 95% CI 0.476-0.833, p = 0.001; adjusted HR 0.611, p = 0.036. Conclusion. Prognosis was poor among patients hospitalised with suspected or diagnosed HF. Among all patients, women had better survival, whereas both sexes had similar survival when the HF diagnosis was certified.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Cleland, J. G., et al.
(författare)
-
A description of the clinical characteristics at baseline of patients recruited into the Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET)
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Cardiovascular drugs and therapy / sponsored by the International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy. - 0920-3206. ; 18:2, s. 139-52
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND & AIMS: The COMET trial was a prospective, double-blind, randomised trial comparing carvedilol, a comprehensive adrenergic receptor antagonist, with metoprolol, a beta-1-selective agent in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The trial showed a reduction in mortality with carvedilol that was consistent across subgroups. The purpose of this report is to describe in greater detail the heterogeneity of this population at baseline with particular reference to the impact of symptomatic severity, age and gender on patient characteristics. METHODS: A descriptive report using data entered in the COMET study data-base. RESULTS: The characteristics of the population studied were similar to those reported in previous trials of beta-blockers. Almost all patients were receiving diuretics and ACE inhibitors with few patients taking angiotensin receptor blockers. As expected, older patients had more co-morbidity. Older patients and women reported worse symptoms and poorer well-being despite similar ventricular dimensions and systolic dysfunction. NT-proBNP was higher in patients with more severe symptoms and older patients but not in women, although differences in NT-proBNP may have been confounded by differences in renal function. CONCLUSION: Age and gender, as well as the severity of cardiac dysfunction, appear to have an important effect on the severity of heart failure symptoms and patient 'well-being'. This could have important implications for the relationship between symptoms and prognosis and therefore the way in which patients are selected for clinical trials and the goals of treatment. This will be the subject of further analyses.
|
|
| 6. |
- Erhardt, Leif RW
(författare)
-
Barriers to effective implementation of guideline recommendations.
- 2005
-
Ingår i: The American journal of medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1555-7162 .- 0002-9343. ; 118 Suppl 12A:12, Suppl 1, s. 36-41
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, and its prevention and treatment are important healthcare aims. Hypercholesterolemia is among the most important modifiable Rick factors for CVD, and numerous guidelines exist for the treatment of this condition. Nevertheless, despite the existence of well-established and safe pharmacologic therapy for lowering cholesterol and preventing CVD, surveys in the United States and Europe have revealed that many patients have elevated cholesterol levels. There is a clear gap between what is known about treating CVD and the implementation of that knowledge. A survey assessing patients' knowledge about CVD observed that many patients are unaware of the disease prevalence and have little knowledge about the main risk factors, including the importance of cholesterol. Another survey demonstrated that many physicians overestimate patients' awareness of CVD and that physicians also overestimate the extent to which guidelines are implemented in clinical practice. Guideline implementation may be improved by narrowing the discrepancies between what patients and physicians believe and the reality. Many physicians claim that lack of time hinders guideline implementation and improvement of patient education. Physicians also appear to lack the motivation to implement lipid-lowering interventions. A multifactorial approach to improving use of guidelines in clinical practice may improve the treatment and prevention of CVD.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Erhardt, Leif RW
(författare)
-
An emerging role for calcium sensitisation in the treatment of heart failure.
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. - : Informa Healthcare. - 1744-7658 .- 1354-3784. ; 14:6, s. 659-670
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Heart failure occurs in 2 - 3% of the adult population in the developed world. With decompensation of cardiac function, haemodynamic stability can be achieved by using intravenous vasodilators, diuretics and inotropes. Unlike traditional inotropes, Ca2+, sensitisers enhance cardiac function without significantly increasing cardiac oxygen consumption, promoting arrhythmia or impairing lusitropy. The most promising drug in this new class is levosimendan, which has a unique dual mechanism; it enhances cardiac output through a Ca2+-dependent stabilisation of cardiac myofilaments and exhibits vasodilatory effects by opening ATP-dependent K+ channels. Clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial haemodynamic effects of levosimendan, and prospective trials are currently underway to confirm its potential benefits on long-term prognosis. Updated guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology advise on how to incorporate levosimendan into care for patients who have acute heart failure.
|
|
| 9. |
- Benner, J. S., et al.
(författare)
-
A novel programme to evaluate and communicate 10-year risk of CHD reduces predicted risk and improves patients' modifiable risk factor profile
- 2008
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Clinical Practice. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1742-1241 .- 1368-5031. ; 62:10, s. 1484-1498
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: We assessed whether a novel programme to evaluate/communicate predicted coronary heart disease (CHD) risk could lower patients' predicted Framingham CHD risk vs. usual care. Methods: The Risk Evaluation and Communication Health Outcomes and Utilization Trial was a prospective, controlled, cluster-randomised trial in nine European countries, among patients at moderate cardiovascular risk. Following baseline assessments, physicians in the intervention group calculated patients' predicted CHD risk and were instructed to advise patients according to a risk evaluation/communication programme. Usual care physicians did not calculate patients' risk and provided usual care only. The primary end-point was Framingham 10-year CHD risk at 6 months with intervention vs. usual care. Results: Of 1103 patients across 100 sites, 524 patients receiving intervention, and 461 receiving usual care, were analysed for efficacy. After 6 months, mean predicted risks were 12.5% with intervention, and 13.7% with usual care [odds ratio = 0.896; p = 0.001, adjusted for risk at baseline (17.2% intervention; 16.9% usual care) and other covariates]. The proportion of patients achieving both blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets was significantly higher with intervention (25.4%) than usual care (14.1%; p < 0.001), and 29.3% of smokers in the intervention group quit smoking vs. 21.4% of those receiving usual care (p = 0.04). Conclusions: A physician-implemented CHD risk evaluation/communication programme improved patients' modifiable risk factor profile, and lowered predicted CHD risk compared with usual care. By combining this strategy with more intensive treatment to reduce residual modifiable risk, we believe that substantial improvements in cardiovascular disease prevention could be achieved in clinical practice.
|
|
| 10. |
- Erhardt, Leif RW, et al.
(författare)
-
A global survey of physicians' perceptions on cholesterol management: the From The Heart study
- 2007
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Clinical Practice. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1742-1241 .- 1368-5031. ; 61:7, s. 1078-1085
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: Guidelines for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention cite high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as a major risk factor and recommend LDL-C goals for various risk groups. Lifestyle changes are advised as first-line treatment for patients with high cholesterol, and statins are recommended in high-risk patients. The From The Heart study investigated current practice for the diagnosis and treatment of high cholesterol, and attitudes towards management of the condition. Methods: Physicians were randomly selected from 10 countries, and completed a confidential, semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Of 2790 physicians agreeing to participate, 750 (27%) responded. Physicians rated CVD as the leading cause of death, although physicians (80%) perceived that cancer was the most feared illness among patients. Physicians (71%) believed smoking to be the greatest CVD risk factor, while only 50% thought high cholesterol was the greatest risk. Most physicians (81%) used guidelines to set cholesterol goals, primarily their national guidelines (34%) or the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines (24%). Although only 47% of patients reached and maintained their cholesterol goals, 61% of physicians believed that a sufficient number of patients achieved goals, and 53% did not feel frustrated that they could not always effectively treat patients with CVD. Conclusion: Results indicate discrepancies between guideline recommendations and clinical practice. Although physicians appreciate the risk of CVD, the importance of achieving healthy cholesterol levels for CVD prevention does not seem to be widely endorsed. There is a need for improved communication regarding the importance of cholesterol lowering and investigation of initiatives to improve goal achievement among physicians.
|
|
