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- BAKOS, ZOLTAN, et al.
(författare)
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Positive Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy : The Role of NT-proBNP
- 2016
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Ingår i: International journal of cardiovascular research. - : OMICS Publishing Group. - 2324-8602. ; 5:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective, but only 60-70% of patients benefit from the therapy. Despite numerous implantations, identification of predictive factors for response is still a challenge. We sought to assess the correlation of echocardiographic and clinical response to baseline demographics in relation to change in NT-proBNP levels at 6 months. Methods: 211 patients on optimal medical therapy were included retrospectively (72 ± 10 yrs., 66% LBBB, 48% DCMP, 80% male) and investigated at baseline and 6 months later. Improvement of ≥ 1 NYHA class was used as a marker for clinical response, and >15% reduction of left ventricular end-systolic volume was used to de ne reverse remodeling. NT-proBNP levels were measured at baseline and at 6 months and were compared to echocardiographic and clinical response status.Results: Four groups were identi ed: 1) non-responder, 2) echo responder, 3) clinical responder, and 4) double responder (echo and clinical). Responders were younger (70 vs. 74 years, p=0.04), had better NYHA class (2.1 vs. 2.5, p=0.01) and had lower NT- proBNP compared to non-responders at baseline. NT-proBNP slightly increased or remained unchanged in non-responders, whereas reduction in NT-proBNP was of similar magnitude for clinical or echo responders, and was most pronounced for double responders. A reduction of NT-proBNP ≥25% separated non- responders from responders (p=0.01). No signi cant differences in NT-proBNP levels and no signi cant changes in NT-proBNP were found across the responder subgroups.Conclusion: Six-month reduction in NT-proBNP is most pronounced for “double responders, ” but was comparable in patients with either clinical or echo response. Lack of NT-proBNP reduction can help identify the non-responders for further intervention.Keywords Cardiac resynchronization therapy; Electrocardiography; Echocardiography
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| 2. |
- Drevenhorn, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Possibilities for patients with elevated blood pressure to achieve blood pressure control without affecting quality of life (the PEQ-study) – a study protocol.
- 2017
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Ingår i: International journal of cardiovascular research. - : OMICS Publishing Group. - 2324-8602. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several interventions on adherence have been tested in hypertension care but still the number of patients with well controlled blood pressure is not increasing. The aim is to get a deeper understanding of the patients’ reasons for not following their treatment as a base for in collaboration with the patients, developing effective interventions. A mixed methods design is to be used. Patients with hypertension who have considered changing lifestyle will be interviewed individually about their reasons for changing or not changing lifestyle and for taking or not taking medicines. Other patients, both those who do and those who do not have well-controlled blood pressure, treated at health centres and hospital clinics, will be asked to fill in instruments. The Exercise of Self Care Agency instrument gives information about the patients’ ability to perform self-care (change lifestyle) and the SF-36 is about health-related quality of life. Finally, patients will be asked to participate in focus-group interviews about how they want to be treated and what would be of help for them to achieve blood pressure control. From the findings we will create intervention/interventions without negative impact on quality of life together with the patients. These interventions are to be carried out and evaluated in real practice with patients with hypertension and other significant persons or health care personnel that may be involved.
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| 3. |
- Hansson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Self-Treatment Techniques in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and the Probable Influence of the Autonomic Nervous System
- 2013
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Ingår i: International journal of cardiovascular research. - : OMICS Publishing Group. - 2324-8602. ; 02:02
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Self-treatment techniques in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) have seldom been described. It has been suggested that PAF attacks might be initiated by changes in the tonus of the autonomic nervous system. Our aim was to study patients’ measures to terminate PAF attacks and to evaluate the possible influence of the autonomic nervous system on start and stop mechanisms.
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