The American journal of cardiology
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Previous clinical trials have shown that alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonists are not effective in subjects with heart failure (HF) and might increase HF rates when used for hypertension. However, alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonists may be prescribed to subjects with HF who have symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. We sought to determine any association between alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonist use, commonly prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the clinical outcomes of subjects with HF receiving contemporary therapy. ⋯ In patients not receiving beta-blocker therapy, alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonist therapy was significantly associated with increased HF hospitalizations (hazard ratio 1.94, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 3.32, p = 0.015). In conclusion, in patients with chronic HF, the use of alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonists was significantly associated with more HF hospitalizations when prescribed without concomitant beta blockade. Thus, background beta-blocker therapy appears to be protective against the potential harmful effects of alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonist therapy in patients with HF.
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Comparative Study
Prognostic value of hemoglobin A1C levels in patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation.
The optimal glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) target in diabetic patients is a subject of ongoing controversy that may be especially pertinent in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of preprocedural HbA1C levels in diabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation. From 2002 to 2007, a cohort of 952 consecutive diabetic patients underwent PCI with stent implantation in our center. ⋯ In contrast, HbA1C was not associated with patient outcome. In conclusion, this study suggests that HbA1C is not a predictor of cardiac events in diabetic patients with advanced coronary artery disease. These results could explain, at least in part, recent findings of randomized clinical trials that suggest the absence of benefit in macrovascular complications of a strict glycemia control.
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This study considered if N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is associated with increased risk for postoperative cardiac events in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. In addition, this report describes how levels of NT-proBNP are affected by noncardiac surgery. The study design was a prospective cohort study that enrolled 83 patients age > or =50 years with > or =1 risk factor for coronary artery disease having intermediate or high-risk noncardiac surgery. ⋯ After surgery, 64 of 72 patients (89%) had an increase in NT-proBNP from their preoperative level. In conclusion, this study determined there was a significant association between elevated preoperative NT-proBNP and occurrence of a postoperative cardiac event. In addition, increased NT-proBNP after noncardiac surgery is not uncommon even in the absence of clinically identifiable heart failure.
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Advances in the management of atherosclerosis risk factors have been dramatic in the previous 10 years. The goal of this study was to evaluate any decrease in age-adjusted incidence of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a very large database of inpatient admissions from 1988 to 2004. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to calculate the age-adjusted rate for STEMI from 1988 to 2004 retrospectively. ⋯ This decrease was similar across various races and genders. In conclusion, the incidence of STEMI was stable from 1988 to 1996, with a steady linear decrease to 1/2 by 2004. The cause of the steady decrease in STEMI rate most likely reflects the advancement in management of patients with atherosclerosis.
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Comparative Study
Feasibility and safety of prehospital administration of bivalirudin in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
The selective thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin with a provisional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) has been shown to be comparable to heparin plus GPI in the rates of ischemic events but to significantly reduce the risk of bleeding complications in patients with acute coronary syndromes. The aim of this preliminary study was to describe the feasibility and safety of a switch from prehospital administration of unfractionated heparin to bivalirudin in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients with STEMI treated with a 1-mg/kg bivalirudin bolus in the ambulance followed by infusion during angiography/primary percutaneous coronary intervention were compared with a STEMI control group (from the preceding year) treated with 10,000 U unfractionated heparin in the ambulance followed by in-hospital treatment with a GPI. ⋯ Bivalirudin was easy to administer in the prehospital setting and did not affect the prehospital run times. In conclusion, the results suggest that prehospital bivalirudin administration is as safe and effective as heparin in the treatment of patients with STEMI. Prehospital administration seemed to reduce the need for GPI.