| 1. |
- Almroth, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Atorvastatin and persistent atrial fibrillation following cardioversion : a randomized placebo-controlled multicentre study
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - Philadelphia : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 30:7, s. 827-833
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin in achieving stable sinus rhythm (SR) 30 days after electrical cardioversion (CV) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 234 patients. The patients were randomized to treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg daily (n = 118) or placebo (n = 116) in a prospective, double-blinded fashion. Treatment was initiated 14 days before CV and was continued 30 days after CV. The two groups were well-balanced with respect to baseline characteristics. Mean age was 65 +/- 10 years, 76% of the patients were male and 4% had ischaemic heart disease. Study medication was well-tolerated in all patients but one. Before primary endpoint 12 patients were excluded. In the atorvastatin group 99 patients (89%) converted to SR at electrical CV compared with 95 (86%) in the placebo group (P = 0.42). An intention-to-treat analysis with the available data, by randomization group, showed that 57 (51%) in the atorvastatin group and 47 (42%) in the placebo group were in SR 30 days after CV (OR 1.44, 95%CI 0.85-2.44, P = 0.18). CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin was not statistically superior to placebo with regards to maintaining SR 30 days after CV in patients with persistent AF.
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| 2. |
- Bohm, Katarina, et al.
(författare)
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Dispatcher-assisted telephone-guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation: an underused lifesaving system.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Eur J Emerg Med. - 0969-9546. ; 14:5, s. 256-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Our purpose with this investigation was to (i) estimate how often telephone-guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation was offered from emergency medical service dispatchers in Stockholm, (ii) study the willingness to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and (iii) assess factors that could mislead the dispatcher in identifying the patient as a cardiac arrest victim. METHODS: In this prospective study, 313 consecutive emergency calls of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were obtained from the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Register. Seventy-six cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All alarm calls were tape-recorded and analyzed according to a standardized protocol. RESULTS: Dispatchers offered bystanders telephone instructions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 47% (n=36) of the cases and, among these, cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructions were given in 69% (n=25). Only 6% (n=2) of bystanders were not willing to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Signs of breathing (suspected agonal breathing) were described in 45% of the cases. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was offered to 23% (n=10) of patients with signs of breathing versus 92% (n=23) of those who were not breathing (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that the vast majority of bystanders are willing to take part in telephone-guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation, emergency medical service dispatchers offer telephone-guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation in about only half of cases. Signs of breathing (agonal breathing) are often mistaken for normal breathing and are a cause of delay in the diagnosis of cardiac arrest.
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| 3. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Fler kan räddas efter hjärtstopp utanför sjukhus
- 2009
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Ingår i: Läkartidningen. - : Sveriges Läkarförbund. - 0023-7205 .- 1652-7518. ; 106:8, s. 502-505
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 4. |
- Hollenberg, Jacob, et al.
(författare)
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Dual dispatch early defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the SALSA-pilot
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 30:14, s. 1781-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major public health problem. The objective of this study is to explore the effects of a dual dispatch early defibrillation programme. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this pilot study, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were provided to all 43 fire stations in Stockholm during 2005. Fire-fighters were dispatched in parallel with traditional emergency medical responders (EMS) to all suspected cases of OHCA. Additionally, 65 larger public venues were equipped with AEDs. All 863 OHCA from December 2005 to December 2006 were included during the intervention, whereas all 657 OHCA from 2004 served as historical controls. Among dual dispatches, fire-fighters assisted with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in 94% of the cases and arrived first on scene in 36%. The median time from call to arrival of first responder decreased from 7.5 min during the control period to 7.1 min during the intervention (P = 0.004). The proportion of patients in shockable rhythm remained unchanged. The proportion of patients alive 1 month after OHCA rose from 4.4 to 6.8% [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9-2.9]. One-month survival in witnessed cases rose from 5.7 to 9.7% (adjusted OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.7). Survival after OHCA in the rest of Sweden (Stockholm excluded) declined from 8.3 to 6.6% during the corresponding time period (unadjusted OR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6-1.0). Only three OHCA occurred at public venues equipped with AEDs. CONCLUSION: An introduction of a dual dispatch early defibrillation programme in Stockholm has shortened response times and is likely to have improved survival in patients with OHCA, especially in the group of witnessed cardiac arrests. The increase in survival is believed to be associated with improved CPR and shortened time intervals.
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| 5. |
- Häggmark, Sören, 1949-
(författare)
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Detection of myocardial ischemia : clinical and experimental studies with focus on vectorcardiography, heart rate and perioperative conditions.
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction. Multiple clinical methods for detecting myocardial ischemia are utilised in the hospital setting each day, but there is uncertainty about their diagnostic accuracy. In the operating room, multiple methods may be employed, while in the CCU advanced electrophysiological (ECG) techniques for myocardial ischemia detection, and in particular, ST segment analysis, are common. Vectorcardiography (VCG) is one form of ECG. Several conditions other than ischemia may cause marked ST changes, which can impair the process of diagnosis of clinical ischemia. Elevated HR is one of these factors, which is studied here. The hypotheses were about concordance of different methods to detect ischemia, and relation of ECG ST levels to HR with and without myocardial ischemia. Methods. Study I. Anesthetised vascular surgical patients with coronary artery disease were studied during the start of anesthesia and surgery: ECG, hemodynamic, mechanical, and metabolic parameters were measured and categorised as positive or negative with reference to a specific definition of myocardial ischemia. Study II. Awake patients with no ischemic heart disease were paced in graded steps, and VCG ST analyses were performed. Study III. Anesthetised pigs were studied for local metabolic and VCG ST changes related to controlled HR levels and transient coronary occlusion. Study IV. Thirty five anesthetised coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and ten non-CAD patients were paced at controlled levels, and great coronary artery vein (GCV) lactate measurement was used to determine presence or absence of myocardial ischemia. The CAD patients were paced up to HR levels where myocardial ischemia could be confirmed. The relation of HR-related VCG ST levels to presence or absence of ischemia was analysed. In Studies II,, III, and IV the ST vector magnitude (ST-VM), the change from baseline in ST-VM (STC-VM), and the vector angle change from baseline (STC-VA) were analysed for each step. Results. Study I. Poor concordance was demonstrated for positive events (presumed myocardial ischemia) between the hemodynamic, ECG, mechanical, and metabolic detection methods. Study II. STC-VM but not ST-VM levels demonstrated HR-related increases in the presumed absence of myocardial ischemia in 18 awake subjects. J point time to ST measurement did not affect the response of VCG ST to HR. Study III. STC-VM levels showed HR-related increases in the absence of ischemia (tested by local metabolic observations). VCG ST parameters responded positively to transient regional ischemia. Study IV. CAD patients, which demonstrated a clear pattern of onset and progress of ischemia during pacing, were further analysed for the relation of VCG ST level to ischemia. Sensitivity and specificity of STC-VM levels were described by ROC analysis for a range of STC-VM levels. Conclusions. Concordance of different measures for detection of onset of myocardial ischemia is difficult to assess in the absence of a very reliable reference method. The contribution of HR and ischemia to VCG ST levels were estimated in study subjects. HR-related increases in STC-VM occur in the absence of ischemia. HR levels need to be considered when interpreting STC-VM as a diagnostic test for ischemia. Further study is needed to establish criteria that take into account multiple clinical factors in order to improve the predictive value of our tests for myocardial ischemia.
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| 6. |
- Ljungman, Petter L S, et al.
(författare)
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Rapid effects of air pollution on ventricular arrhythmias.
- 2008
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Ingår i: European heart journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1522-9645 .- 0195-668X. ; 29:23, s. 2894-901
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: Air pollution has been associated with ventricular arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for exposure periods of 24-48 h. Only two studies have investigated exposure periods <24 h. We aimed to explore such effects during the 2 and 24 preceding hours as well as in relation to distance from the place of the event to the air pollution monitor. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used a case-crossover design to investigate the effects of particulate matter <10 microm in diameter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in 211 patients with ICD devices in Gothenburg and Stockholm, Sweden. Events interpreted as ventricular arrhythmias were downloaded from the ICDs, and air pollution data were collected from urban background monitors. We found an association between 2 h moving averages of PM10 and ventricular arrhythmia [odds ratio (OR) 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.72], whereas the OR for 24 h moving averages was 1.24 (95% CI 0.87-1.76). Corresponding ORs for events occurring closest to the air pollution monitor were 1.76 (95% CI 1.18-2.61) and 1.74 (95% CI 1.07-2.84), respectively. Events occurring in Gothenburg showed stronger associations than in Stockholm. CONCLUSION: Moderate increases in air pollution appear to be associated with ventricular arrhythmias in ICD patients already after 2 h, although future studies including larger numbers of events are required to confirm these findings. Representative geographical exposure classification seems important in studies of these effects.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Tabrizi, Fariborz, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of left bundle branch block on long-term mortality in a population with heart failure
- 2007
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - Philadelphia : W.B. Saunders. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 28:20, s. 2449-2455
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the independent contribution of left bundle branch block (LBBB) on long-term mortality in a large cohort with symptomatic heart failure (HF) requiring hospitalization. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied a prospective cohort of 21 685 cases of symptomatic HF requiring hospitalization in the Register of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart Intensive care Admissions in 1995-2003. Long-term mortality was evaluated by Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for multiple covariates that could influence long-term prognosis. LBBB was present in 20% (4395 of 21 685) of HF admissions. Patients with LBBB had a higher prevalence of cardiac comorbid conditions than patients with no LBBB. 1-, 5-, and 10-year mortality was 31.5 vs. 28.4%, 69.3 vs. 61.3%, and 90.1 vs. 84.7% for HF patients with and without respectively LBBB. When adjusting for comorbidity, LBBB was associated with increased 5-year mortality (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.10-1.35; P < 0.001). When left ventricular ejection fraction was included in the analysis LBBB had no longer any independent influence on 5-mortality (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.62-1.56; P = 0.953). CONCLUSION: LBBB occurs in 1/5 in HF patients requiring hospitalization and is associated with a very high mortality. However, the high long-term mortality appears to be caused by cardiac comorbidities and myocardial dysfunction rather than the LBBB per se.
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| 9. |
- Tabrizi, Fariborz, et al.
(författare)
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Time relation between a syncopal event and documentation of atrioventricular block in patients with bifascicular block: clinical implications.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Cardiology. - Basel : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9751 .- 0008-6312. ; 108:2, s. 138-43
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transient high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block is a common cause of syncope in patients with bifascicular block (BFB) but the intermittent nature of AV block makes ECG documentation a challenge. A sensitive and safe tool to investigate BFB patients with syncope would be a bradycardia-detecting pacemaker, which provides a possibility of studying the time relation between the index syncopal episode and the development of high-degree AV block.
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| 10. |
- Wallby, Lars, 1955-
(författare)
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Signs of inflammation in different types of heart valve disease : The VOCIN study
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Heart valve dysfunction is a relatively common condition in the population, whereas significant heart valve disease is more unusual. The cause of different types of heart valve disease depends on which valve is concerned. Rheumatic heart valve disease, has for a long time been considered to constitute a post-inflammatory condition. During the 1990s it was also shown that the so-called non-rheumatic or degenerative tricuspid aortic stenosis, comprised signs of inflammation.In this study, 118 patients (the VOCIN study group) referred to the University Hospital for preoperative investigation due to significant heart valve disease, were examined regarding signs of inflammation.Twenty-nine aortic valves from patients with significant aortic stenosis were divided into tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves. The bicuspid aortic stenotic valves revealed signs of inflammation to a similar extent as the tricuspid valves. However, the tricuspid and bicuspid valves differed regarding distribution of calcification. In contrast, inflammation was not a predominant feature in 15 aortic and mitral valves from patients with significant heart valve regurgitation.Gross valvular pathology consistent with rheumatic aortic stenosis was found in 10 patients. These valves revealed a somewhat lower degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, but on the whole, there were no substantial differences when compared to non-rheumatic aortic stenotic valves. They did, however, reveal a similar distribution of calcification as the bicuspid, non-rheumatic aortic valves.The VOCIN study group was compared to an age- and gender matched control group with regard to history and signs of rheumatic disease. There was not any increased prevalence of clinical manifestations of non-cardiac inflammatory disease in patients with significant heart valve disease, when compared to healthy control subjects. However, patients with heart valve disease had significantly increased serum levels of inflammatory markers compared to controls. The increase in inflammatory markers remained significant even in the subgroup of non-rheumatic aortic stenosis devoid of coronary artery disease. These results indicate that a systemic inflammatory component is associated with stenotic, non-rheumatic heart valve disease.The similarities between different forms of calcific aortic valve disease indicate a similar pathogenesis. The question is raised whether aortic stenosis is one disease, mainly caused by a general and non-specific response to dynamic tissue stress due to an underlying malformation of the valve.
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