The American journal of cardiology
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Predictors of development of diabetes mellitus in patients with coronary artery disease taking antihypertensive medications (findings from the INternational VErapamil SR-Trandolapril STudy [INVEST]).
Knowledge of predictors of diabetes mellitus (DM) development in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who use antihypertensive therapy could contribute to decreasing this adverse metabolic consequence. This is particularly relevant because the standard of care, beta blockers combined with diuretics, may contribute to adverse metabolic risk. The INternational VErapamil SR-trandolapril STudy compared a calcium antagonist-based (verapamil SR) and a beta-blocker-based (atenolol) strategy with trandolapril and/or hydrochlorothiazide added to control blood pressure (BP) in patients with CAD. ⋯ Characteristics associated with risk for newly diagnosed DM included United States residence, left ventricular hypertrophy, previous stroke/transient ischemic attack, Hispanic ethnicity, coronary revascularization, hypercholesterolemia, greater body mass index, and higher follow-up systolic BP. Addition of trandolapril to verapamil SR decreased DM risk and addition of hydrochlorothiazide to atenolol increased risk. In conclusion, clinical findings associated with more severe vascular disease and Hispanic ethnicity identify a group at high risk for developing DM, whereas lower on-treatment BP and treatment with verapamil SR-trandolapril attenuated this risk.
-
Although the adverse health consequences of obesity in the general population have been well documented, recent evidence suggests that obesity is associated with better outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Studies of patients with HF that specifically examined the impact of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes have suggested the existence of an "obesity paradox." However, closer examination of these studies raises important questions on the validity of the paradox. First, the diagnosis of HF in obese patients, particularly when made using clinical variables, may not be accurate; the obese patients in these studies may actually be "healthier" than their nonobese comparators. ⋯ Furthermore, few studies have specifically examined the more severely obese population (BMI >35 kg/m(2)) when assessing outcomes, and those that have suggest that severely obese patients may have worse outcomes than patients with normal weights or those who are mildly obese. Therefore, a "U-shaped" outcome curve according to BMI for patients with HF may actually exist, in which mortality is greatest in cachectic patients; lower in normal, overweight, and mildly obese patients; but higher again in more severely obese patients. Further prospective studies assessing the impact of more marked degrees of obesity on outcomes in patients with HF are needed to more conclusively determine whether the obesity paradox truly exists.
-
Although ventricular fibrillation (VF) out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurs primarily in the setting of severe ischemic heart disease (IHD), a significant proportion of events occurs in patients who do not have severe IHD. The relative effect of IHD on survival after VF OHCA is unknown. All residents of Rochester, Minnesota, who presented with a VF OHCA from November 1990 to December 2004, treated by emergency medical services, were included in the study. ⋯ In conclusion, compared with patients with non-IHD, those with IHD had similar short- and long-term survival rates. Long-term survival in patients with IHD was primarily influenced by other co-morbid conditions. Nonetheless, in patients with IHD, use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and statin therapy were associated with higher long-term survival rates.
-
Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), usually defined as an increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL (44.2 mumol/L), or a 25% increase from the baseline value 48 hours after the procedure, is a common and potentially serious complication of the use of iodinated contrast media in patients at risk of acute renal injury. It is an important cause of hospital-acquired renal failure, responsible for approximately 11% of cases. CIN may be difficult to distinguish from cholesterol embolization, another cause of postprocedure renal impairment. ⋯ A higher incidence of in-hospital and late cardiovascular events, as well as longer hospital stays, has been reported in patients developing CIN. In a small proportion of patients, CIN is severe enough to require dialysis, and these patients have a particularly poor prognosis. Many of the risk markers for CIN are also predictive of a worse prognosis.
-
This study evaluated the utility of atrioventricular (AV) optimization using Doppler echocardiography in patients who undergo cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). AV optimization in patients who undergo CRT is performed inconsistently, with few data supporting its utility. Data were collected from 215 patients in New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure (66% ischemic) who underwent AV optimization <30 days after implantation from 1999 to 2003. ⋯ There was no difference in mortality in patients with final AV delays of >140 ms. In conclusion, AV optimization in patients who underwent CRT resulted in final AV delay settings of >140 ms in 40% of patients. AV delay optimization based on Doppler echocardiographic determination of optimal diastolic filling is useful and safe in patients who undergo CRT.