| 1. |
- Wong, C. M., et al.
(author)
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Clinical characteristics and outcomes of young and very young adults with heart failure: the CHARM programme
- 2013
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In: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0735-1097 .- 1558-3597. ; 62:20, s. 1845-1854
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To determine the characteristics and outcomes of young adults with heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on young and very young adults with HF. METHODS: Patients were categorized into 5 age groups: 20-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and >/=70 years. RESULTS: The youngest patients with HF were more likely to be obese (youngest vs. oldest: BMI>/=35kg/m2: 23% vs. 6%), of black ethnicity (18% vs. 2%), and have idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM 62% vs. 9%) (all p<0.0001). They were less likely to adhere to medication (non-adherence in youngest vs. oldest: 24% vs. 7%, p=0.001), salt intake and other dietary measures (21% vs. 9%, p=0.002). The youngest patients were less likely to have clinical and radiological signs of HF during hospitalization. Quality of life was worst but all-cause mortality was lowest in the youngest age group (3 years mortality rates across the respective age categories: 12%, 13%, 13%, 19%, and 31%). Compared to the referent age group of 60-69 years, both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were lower in the youngest group even after multivariable adjustment (respective HR 0.60 (0.36-1.00) [p=0.049] and 0.71 (0.42-1.18) [p=0.186]). Three-year HF hospitalisation rates were 24%, 15%, 15%, 22% and 28% in age categories 20-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and >/=70 years respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Beyond divergent etiology and comorbidities, younger patients exhibit striking differences in presentation and outcomes compared with older counterparts. Clinical and radiological signs of HF are less common, yet quality of life more significantly impaired. Fatal and non-fatal outcomes are discordant, with better survival despite higher hospitalization rates.
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| 2. |
- Pfeffer, W. Tad, et al.
(author)
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The Randolph Glacier Inventory : a globally complete inventory of glaciers
- 2014
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In: Journal of Glaciology. - 0022-1430 .- 1727-5652. ; 60:221, s. 537-552
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) is a globally complete collection of digital outlines of glaciers, excluding the ice sheets, developed to meet the needs of the Fifth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for estimates of past and future mass balance. The RGI was created with limited resources in a short period. Priority was given to completeness of coverage, but a limited, uniform set of attributes is attached to each of the similar to 198 000 glaciers in its latest version, 3.2. Satellite imagery from 1999-2010 provided most of the outlines. Their total extent is estimated as 726 800 +/- 34 000 km(2). The uncertainty, about +/- 5%, is derived from careful single-glacier and basin-scale uncertainty estimates and comparisons with inventories that were not sources for the RGI. The main contributors to uncertainty are probably misinterpretation of seasonal snow cover and debris cover. These errors appear not to be normally distributed, and quantifying them reliably is an unsolved problem. Combined with digital elevation models, the RGI glacier outlines yield hypsometries that can be combined with atmospheric data or model outputs for analysis of the impacts of climatic change on glaciers. The RGI has already proved its value in the generation of significantly improved aggregate estimates of glacier mass changes and total volume, and thus actual and potential contributions to sea-level rise.
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| 3. |
- Chang, S. M., et al.
(author)
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Efficacy and safety of angiotensin receptor blockade are not modified by aspirin in patients with chronic heart failure: a cohort study from the Candesartan in Heart failure--Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) programme
- 2010
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In: European Journal of Heart Failure. - 1388-9842. ; 12:7, s. 738-745
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: It is unknown whether there is an interaction between aspirin and angiotensin receptor blockers on outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The efficacy and safety of candesartan vs. placebo was assessed in 7599 patients with symptomatic HF and reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction enrolled in the CHARM programme according to baseline aspirin use. Patients were randomized to candesartan or matching placebo and were followed for a median of 38 months. Aspirin was used in 4246 (55.9%) of patients at baseline. When compared with placebo, candesartan use was associated with lower event rates for cardiovascular (CV) death or HF hospitalization (primary outcome) in both the aspirin group (28 vs. 31.9%, HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72-0.90) and non-aspirin group (33 vs. 38%, HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72-0.91). Baseline aspirin use did not modify the effectiveness of candesartan in reducing the risk of CV death or HF hospitalization in CHARM overall (P = 0.64) or in the CHARM individual trials. In addition, there was no significant interaction between aspirin therapy and candesartan in terms of discontinuation of study drug due to adverse reactions (P = 0.72). CONCLUSION: There appears to be no significant modification of the benefit of candesartan on CV mortality and morbidity outcomes or safety by concomitant use of aspirin in patients with chronic HF.
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| 4. |
- McMurray, J. J., et al.
(author)
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Baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF)
- 2013
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In: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : Wiley. - 1388-9842 .- 1879-0844. ; 15:3, s. 334-341
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106-117) g/L. CONCLUSION: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.
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| 5. |
- Teo, Koon K., et al.
(author)
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Effects of telmisartan, irbesartan, valsartan, candesartan, and losartan on cancers in 15 trials enrolling 138 769 individuals The ARB Trialists Collaboration
- 2011
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In: Journal of Hypertension. - 0263-6352 .- 1473-5598. ; 29:4, s. 623-635
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, but a recent meta-analysis of selected studies suggested that ARBs may increase cancer risks.Objective Candesartan, irbesartan, telmisartan, valsartan, and losartan were assessed for incident cancers in 15 large parallel long-term multicenter double-blind clinical trials of these agents involving 138 769 participants.Patients and methods Individuals at high CVD risk were randomized to telmisartan (three trials, n=51 878), irbesartan (three trials, n=14 859), valsartan (four trials, n=44 264), candesartan (four trials, n=18 566), and losartan (one trial, n=9193) and followed for 23-60 months. Incident cancer cases were compared in patients randomized to ARBs versus controls. In five trials (n=42 403), the ARBs were compared to ACEi and in 11 trials (n=63 313) to controls without ACEi. In addition, in seven trials (n=47 020), the effect of ARBs with ACEi was compared to ACEi alone and in two trials ARBs with ACEi versus ARB alone (n=25 712).Results Overall, there was no excess of cancer incidence with ARB therapy compared to controls in the 15 trials [ 4549 (6.16%) cases of 73 808 allocated to ARB versus 3856 (6.31%) of 61 106 assigned to non-ARB controls; odds ratio (OR) 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95-1.04] overall or when individual ARBs were examined. ORs comparing combination therapy with ARB along with ACEi versus ACEi was 1.01 (95% CI 0.94-1.10), combination versus ARB alone 1.02 (95% CI 0.91-1.13), ARB alone versus ACEi alone 1.06 (95% CI 0.97-1.16) and ARB versus placebo/control without ACEi 0.97 (95% CI 0.91-1.04). There was no excess of lung, prostate or breast cancer, or overall cancer deaths associated with ARB treatment.Conclusion There was no significant increase in the overall or site-specific cancer risk from ARBs compared to controls.
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| 6. |
- Castagno, D., et al.
(author)
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Association of Heart Rate and Outcomes in a Broad Spectrum of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: Results From the CHARM (Candesartan in Heart Failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity) Program
- 2012
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In: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1558-3597 .- 0735-1097. ; 59:20, s. 1785-1795
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between baseline resting heart rate and outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) according to baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac rhythm. BACKGROUND: Elevated resting heart rate is associated with worse outcomes in patients with HF and reduced LVEF. Whether this association is also found in patients with HF and preserved LVEF is uncertain, as is the predictive value of heart rate in patients in atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Patients enrolled in the CHARM (Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity) Program were divided into groups by tertiles of baseline heart rate. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the association between heart rate and pre-specified outcomes in the overall population as well as in subgroups defined according to LVEF (40%) and presence (or absence) of AF at baseline. RESULTS: After adjusting for predictors of poor prognosis, patients in the highest heart rate tertile had worse outcomes when compared with those in the lowest heart rate group (e.g., for the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospital stay hazard ratio: 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.11 to 1.36, p < 0.001). The relationship between heart rate and outcomes was similar across LVEF categories and was not influenced by beta-blocker use (p value for interaction >0.10 for both endpoints). However, amongst patients in AF at baseline, heart rate had no predictive value (p value for interaction <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Resting heart rate is an important predictor of outcome in patients with stable chronic HF without AF, regardless of LVEF or beta-blocker use.
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| 7. |
- McNabb, B, et al.
(author)
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Using surface velocities to infer ice thickness and bed topography : A case study a Columbia Glacier, Alaska, USA
- 2012
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In: Journal of Glaciology. - 0022-1430 .- 1727-5652. ; 58:212, s. 1151-1164
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Information about glacier volume and ice thickness distribution is essential for manyglaciological applications, but direct measurements of ice thickness can be diffcult and costly. Wepresent a new method that calculates ice thickness via an estimate of ice fux. We solve the familiarcontinuity equation between adjacent fowlines, which decreases the computational time requiredcompared to a solution on the whole grid. We test the method on Columbia Glacier, a large tidewaterglacier in Alaska, USA, and compare calculated and measured ice thicknesses, with favorable results.This shows the potential of this method for estimating ice thickness distribution of glaciers for whichonly surface data are available. We fnd that both the mean thickness and volume of Columbia Glacierwere approximately halved over the period 1957–2007, from 281m to 143m, and from 294km3to134km3, respectively. Using bedrock slope and considering how waves of thickness change propagatethrough the glacier, we conduct a brief analysis of the instability of Columbia Glacier, which leads usto conclude that the rapid portion of the retreat may be nearing an end.
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| 8. |
- Swedberg, Karl, 1944, et al.
(author)
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Treatment of Anemia with Darbepoetin Alfa in Systolic Heart Failure
- 2013
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In: New England Journal of Medicine. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 368:13, s. 1210-1219
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Patients with systolic heart failure and anemia have worse symptoms, functional capacity, and outcomes than those without anemia. We evaluated the effects of darbepoetin alfa on clinical outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure and anemia. Methods In this randomized, double-blind trial, we assigned 2278 patients with systolic heart failure and mild-to-moderate anemia (hemoglobin level, 9.0 to 12.0 g per deciliter) to receive either darbepoetin alfa (to achieve a hemoglobin target of 13 g per deciliter) or placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause or hospitalization for worsening heart failure. Results The primary outcome occurred in 576 of 1136 patients (50.7%) in the darbepoetin alfa group and 565 of 1142 patients (49.5%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio in the darbepoetin alfa group, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.90 to 1.13; P=0.87). There was no significant between-group difference in any of the secondary outcomes. The neutral effect of darbepoetin alfa was consistent across all prespecified subgroups. Fatal or nonfatal stroke occurred in 42 patients (3.7%) in the darbepoetin alfa group and 31 patients (2.7%) in the placebo group (P=0.23). Thromboembolic adverse events were reported in 153 patients (13.5%) in the darbepoetin alfa group and 114 patients (10.0%) in the placebo group (P=0.01). Cancer-related adverse events were similar in the two study groups. Conclusions Treatment with darbepoetin alfa did not improve clinical outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure and mild-to-moderate anemia. Our findings do not support the use of darbepoetin alfa in these patients. (Funded by Amgen; RED-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00358215 .).
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| 9. |
- Ariti, C. A., et al.
(author)
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Days alive and out of hospital and the patient journey in patients with heart failure: Insights from the Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) program
- 2011
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In: American heart journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 1097-6744 .- 0002-8703. ; 162:5, s. 900-6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Conventional composite outcomes in heart failure (HF) trials, for example, time to cardiovascular death or first HF hospitalization, have recognized limitations. We propose an alternative outcome, days alive and out of hospital (DAOH), which incorporates mortality and all hospitalizations into a single measure. A refinement, the patient journey, also uses functional status (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class) measured during follow-up. The CHARM program is used to illustrate the methodology. METHODS: CHARM randomized 7,599 patients with symptomatic HF to placebo or candesartan, with median follow-up of 38 months. We related DAOH and percent DAOH (ie, percentage of time spent alive and out of hospital) to treatment using linear regression adjusting for follow-up time. RESULTS: Mean increase in DAOH for patients on candesartan versus placebo was 24.1 days (95% CI 9.8-38.3 days, P < .001). The corresponding mean increase in percent DAOH was 2.0% (95% CI 0.8%-3.1%, P < .001). These findings were dominated by reduced mortality (23 days) but enhanced by reduced time in hospital (1 day). Percent time spent in hospital because of HF was reduced by 0.10% (95% CI 0.04%-0.14%, P < .001). The patient journey analysis showed that patients in the candesartan group spent more follow-up time in NYHA classes I and II and less in NYHA class IV. CONCLUSIONS: Days alive and out of hospital, especially percent DAOH, provide a valuable tool for summarizing the overall absolute treatment effect on mortality and morbidity. In future HF trials, percent DAOH can provide a useful alternative perspective on the effects of treatment.
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| 10. |
- Bello, N. A., et al.
(author)
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Influence of Previous Heart Failure Hospitalization on Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Reduced and Preserved Ejection Fraction
- 2014
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In: Circulation-Heart Failure. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1941-3289 .- 1941-3297. ; 7:4, s. 590-595
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background-Hospitalization for acute heart failure (HF) is associated with high rates of subsequent mortality and readmission. We assessed the influence of the time interval between previous HF hospitalization and randomization in the Candesartan in Heart failure: Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) trials on clinical outcomes in patients with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction. Methods and Results-CHARM enrolled 7599 patients with New York Heart Association class II to IV HF, of whom 5426 had a history of previous HF hospitalization. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association between time from previous HF hospitalization and randomization and the primary outcome of cardiovascular death or unplanned admission to hospital for the management of worsening HF during a median of 36.6 months. For patients with HF and reduced or preserved ejection fraction, rates of cardiovascular mortality and HF hospitalization were higher among patients with previous HF hospitalization than those without. The risk for mortality and hospitalization varied inversely with the time interval between hospitalization and randomization. Rates were higher for patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction within each category. Event rates for those with HF with preserved ejection fraction and a HF hospitalization in the 6 months before randomization were comparable with the rate in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction with no previous HF hospitalization. Conclusions-Rates of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization are greatest in those who have been previously hospitalized for HF. Independent of EF, rates of death and readmission decline as time from HF hospitalization to trial enrollment increased. Recent HF hospitalization identifies a high-risk population for future clinical trials in HF and reduced ejection fraction and HF with preserved ejection fraction.
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