| 1. |
- Bondesson, Susanne M., et al.
(författare)
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Hospital utilization and costs for spinal cord stimulation compared with enhanced external counterpulsation for refractory angina pectoris
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Evaluation In Clinical Practice. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1356-1294 .- 1365-2753. ; 19:1, s. 139-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale, aims and objectives The aim of this study was to compare acute hospital utilization and costs for patients with refractory angina pectoris undergoing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) versus enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP). Method Seventy-three persons were included in this register study. The acute hospital utilization and costs for SCS and EECP were followed over a period from 12 months before treatment to 24 months after treatment using Patient Administrative Support in Skåne for publicly organized care. Results SCS was significantly more expensive than EECP (P < 0.001). Both SCS and EECP entailed fewer days of hospitalization for coronary artery disease in the 12-month follow-up compared with the 12 months preceding treatment. Patients treated with EECP showed an association between reduced hospital admissions and an improved Canadian Cardiovascular Society classification class compared with 1 year before treatment. A significant reduction in cost was seen in both the SCS group (P = 0.018 and P = 0.001, respectively) and the EECP group (P = 0.002 and P = 0.045, respectively) during 12 and 24 months of follow-up compared with before treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups for hospitalization days or admissions, including costs, at the different follow-ups. Conclusions Cost-effective treatment modalities such as SCS and EECP are valuable additions to medical and revascularization therapy in patients with refractory angina pectoris. Pre-existing conditions and the patient's preferences should be taken in consideration when clinicians choose between treatments for this group of patients.
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| 2. |
- Bondesson, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
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Effects on blood pressure in patients with refractory angina pectoris after enhanced external counterpulsation
- 2010
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Ingår i: Blood Pressure. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0803-7051 .- 1651-1999. ; 19:5, s. 287-294
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive technique that has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of angina pectoris. Little is known how EECP affects the blood pressure. Methods. 153 patients with refractory angina were treated with either EECP or retained on their pharmacological treatment (reference group). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate were measured pre- and post-treatment and at 12 months follow-up. Results. EECP treatment altered the blood pressure in patients with refractory angina pectoris. A decrease in the blood pressure was more common in the EECP group compared with the reference group. In the reference group, an increase in the blood pressure was more common. A correlation between a decrease in blood pressure after EECP treatment and a higher baseline MAP, SBP and DBP was seen. No such correlation was seen in the reference group. The blood pressure response did not persist at 12 months follow-up. Conclusion. EECP treatment affects the blood pressure in patients with refractory angina pectoris. The decreased blood pressure may be a result of an improved exercise capacity, an improved endothelial function and vasoreactivity in general.
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| 3. |
- Bondesson, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
-
Hospital utilization and costs for spinal cord stimulation compared with enhanced external counterpulsation for refractory angina pectoris
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 1356-1294 .- 1365-2753. ; 19:1, s. 139-147
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale, aims and objectives The aim of this study was to compare acute hospital utilization and costs for patients with refractory angina pectoris undergoing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) versus enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP). Method Seventy-three persons were included in this register study. The acute hospital utilization and costs for SCS and EECP were followed over a period from 12 months before treatment to 24 months after treatment using Patient Administrative Support in Skåne for publicly organized care. Results SCS was significantly more expensive than EECP (P < 0.001). Both SCS and EECP entailed fewer days of hospitalization for coronary artery disease in the 12-month follow-up compared with the 12 months preceding treatment. Patients treated with EECP showed an association between reduced hospital admissions and an improved Canadian Cardiovascular Society classification class compared with 1 year before treatment. A significant reduction in cost was seen in both the SCS group (P = 0.018 and P = 0.001, respectively) and the EECP group (P = 0.002 and P = 0.045, respectively) during 12 and 24 months of follow-up compared with before treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups for hospitalization days or admissions, including costs, at the different follow-ups. Conclusions Cost-effective treatment modalities such as SCS and EECP are valuable additions to medical and revascularization therapy in patients with refractory angina pectoris. Pre-existing conditions and the patient's preferences should be taken in consideration when clinicians choose between treatments for this group of patients.
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| 4. |
- Bondesson, Susanne
(författare)
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Initial and long-term effects of enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with refractory angina pectoris
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Symptom relief through spinal cord stimulation (SCS) based on the gate-control theory and enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) through improved coronary perfusion is two treatments in angina pectoris refractory to medication and surgery. The overall aim was to evaluate and compare the initial and longterm effects, utilization and cost of EECP compared to SCS. The effects were also compared to the effects of retained medical treatment in groups of controls and age-matched healthy people. Study I included 153 consecutive patients treated with either SCS, EECP or retained pharmacy. The anginal status was registered by Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class and weekly sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) use at baseline, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Study II comprised 153 consecutive patients receiving EECP or not. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate were measured at baseline, post-EECP and at a 12 month follow-up. Study III included data from 73 patients drawn from the PASiS, a register of healthcare consumption and costs. Data were merged with CCS class following SCS and EECP respectively. Study IV comprised 20 patients randomized to EECP or not. Laser Doppler with iontophoresis, hemodynamics and blood samples were used to collect data concerning cutaneous microcirculation. The data were compared to 20 age-matched healthy controls. CCS class decreased after SCS and EECP compared to medically treated controls. EECP was slightly better than SCS. Thus EECP can be used as an alternative treatment for patients who do not responde to electrical stimulation. Both treatments lowered GTN compared to the controls. EECP altered the blood pressure. A decrease was more common than in the controls, where an increase was more common. EECP patients with decreased blood pressure had a higher baseline MAP, SBP and DBP compared to those increasing. Blood pressure responses did not persist at the follow-up. Acute hospitalisations and costs for patients undergoing SCS and EECP decreased in the first and second years of follow-up respectively. EECP showed an association between hospital admissions and improved CCS class. Reduced responsiveness in the refractory angina patient’s cutaneous microcirculation to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside and to heat was seen as compared to healthy controls. Although EECP reduced the CCS class this was not associated with an improvement in responsiveness of the cutaneous microcirculation. EECP corresponded positively in reducing the plasma level of sIL-2 receptor as a marker of inflammatory activity. This reduction was paralleled by decreases in CCS class.
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| 5. |
- Bondesson, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced peripheral vascular reactivity in refractory angina pectoris: Effect of enhanced external counterpulsation
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of geriatric cardiology : JGC. - 1671-5411. ; 8:4, s. 215-223
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To examine if the skin microvascular bed is altered and can be modified by enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) in patients with chronic refractory angina. Methods Twenty patients diagnosed with refractory angina were divided into EECP (n = 10) or no EECP (n = 10) groups. The data were compared to matched healthy subjects (n = 20). The cutaneous forearm microvascular blood flow was measured by Laser-Doppler flowmetry. The vascular responsiveness to iontophoretic administration of acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and local skin warming were studied. Measurements of Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS)-class, blood pressure and plasma samples were registered. Results EECP patients showed reduced CCS-class compared to no EECP (P < 0.05). Both EECP and no EECP (P < 0.05) groups had decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) as compared to SBP at baseline (P < 0.05). There was no difference in resting blood flow between the two refractory groups at baseline as well as after EECP and seven weeks of follow-up. Responses to heating, the responses to ACh and SNP in the cutaneous microcirculation were lower in both groups of refractory angina patients as compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05). EECP patients corresponded positively to the treatment shown by reduced plasma level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and CCS-class. Conclusions Refractory angina patients have reduced responsiveness in their cutaneous microcirculation to ACh, SNP and heat compared to healthy subjects. Although EECP reduced the CCS-class, this effect was not associated with improvements in responsiveness of the cutaneous microcirculation.
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