Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society
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The patients' misinterpretation of symptoms of an evolving acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major cause for prolonged pre-hospital delays. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with an attribution of the symptoms to the heart and to investigate the association between symptom misinterpretation and time until first medical contact (delay time). ⋯ Symptom misinterpretation is common among patients with AMI, significantly related to symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and individual risk factors, and associated with a prolonged delay time.
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The study sought to compare the clinical performance of two more sensitive cardiac troponin (cTn) assays, a novel high-sensitivity (hs) troponin T assay and a contemporary cTnI assay. ⋯ Using the 99th percentile cutoff for hs-cTnT and cTnI, both assays enable prediction of adverse long-term outcomes and earlier diagnosis of non-STEMI. Used as a continuous variable, the hs-cTnT assay showed superior performance compared to the cTnI assay, especially in regard to prognosis.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Cardiogoniometry as a diagnostic tool in patients with acute coronary syndromes: results of the CGM@ACS trial.
Cardiogoniometry (CGM) is a novel electrocardiac method utilising computer-assisted three-dimensional information on cardiac potentials. ⋯ CGM can detect NSTE-ACS at first medical contact. CGM in conjunction with traditional markers, 12-lead ECG and troponin may effectively aid early decision making in patients presenting with acute chest pain.
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Systolic heart failure (SHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are frequently associated. The purpose of our study was to explore the impact of COPD severity on symptoms and prognosis in patients with SHF. ⋯ Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is frequent in patients with SHF and increases mortality. Since dyspnoea is poorly specific of COPD in chronic heart failure patients, COPD remains underdiagnosed thus leading to inappropriate increase of diuretics' dose. COPD should be systematically screened in patients with SHF to adapt prescription of selective β1-blockers, and diuretics' dose and reduce the exposition to risk factors.