Cardiology
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Survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) from ventricular fibrillation (VF) is poor and dependent on a rapid emergency response system. Improvements in emergent early response have resulted in a higher percentage of patients surviving to admission. However, the admission variables that predict both short- and long-term survival in a region with high discharge survival following OHCA require further study in order to identify survivors at subsequent highest risk. ⋯ A combined police/fire/EMS defibrillation program has resulted in an increase of patients surviving to hospital admission after OHCA. This study confirms the need to decrease call-to-shock times, which influence both in-hospital and long-term mortality. This study also identifies the novel demographic variables of digoxin and hypertension, which were also independent risk factors of increased in-hospital and long-term mortality. Identification of these variables may provide utility in identifying those at high-risk of subsequent mortality after resuscitation.
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Preclinical and limited clinical data suggest that statins decrease the progressive decline in renal function that occurs in patients with renal disease. Pooled analysis of data obtained from a population of hyperlipidemic patients enrolled in the rosuvastatin (Crestor) clinical development program permitted assessment of its effects on renal function both early and later in the course of treatment. Study participants were initially included in controlled clinical trials that evaluated the lipid-lowering efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin when compared with placebo or other lipid-lowering agents (i.e., atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, cholestyramine, fenofibrate or extended-release niacin). ⋯ No change in GFR was observed in the placebo group. Among patients who received long-term rosuvastatin treatment (> or =96 weeks), GFR was unchanged or tended to increase, rather than decrease, when compared with baseline irrespective of age, gender, hypertensive or diabetic status, level of renal function (GFR > or =60 vs. <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) at entry or urine dipstick protein status prior to or during the period of treatment. These findings suggest that rosuvastatin may arrest the progression of renal disease.
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Sudden cardiac arrest survivors have a high risk of suffering from recurrent arrhythmic events. Recent studies have shown that these patients have a significantly decreased mortality rate, if they are supplied with an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients with electrophysiologically guided antiarrhythmic drug therapy in comparison to patients with ICD. 204 consecutive survivors of sudden cardiac arrest were enrolled in this study. ⋯ A reduction of the mortality risk was observed in the ICD group by up to 61% (all-cause mortality), 52% (cardiac mortality) and 97.2% (arrhythmogenic mortality). In arrhythmic event survivors with ICD, arrhythmic and overall mortality rates are significantly lower compared to patients with an EPS-guided drug therapy. In the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death, ICD should be the first choice of antiarrhythmic therapy.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Human heart-type fatty acid-binding protein as an early diagnostic and prognostic marker in acute coronary syndrome.
Although heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) can be a marker of sarcolemmal injury due to acute myocardial ischemia, the diagnostic or prognostic value is not established in patients with acute chest pain. This multicenter prospective study aimed to determine the diagnostic and prognostic values of H-FABP in 133 patients presenting to an emergency room with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by comparing with those of conventional biomarkers. ⋯ Receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed that H-FABP was the most reliable for detection of ACS and that H-FABP had the greatest sensitivities for identification of patients requiring emergency hospitalization, coronary angiography, and interventional therapy within 7 days among the biomarkers. Thus, H-FABP can be an early diagnostic and prognostic biochemical marker, particularly within the first 6 h from the onset of chest symptoms, in patients with chest pain at an emergency department.
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Comparative Study
Assessment of decline in health-related quality of life among angina-free patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery generally decreases symptoms and improves quality of life, but for those patients without angina, prolongation of life takes precedence. We used the SF-36 to assess changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients who were angina free prior to CABG compared to those reporting angina. ⋯ The incidence of patients reporting a decline in physical function after CABG was greater in patients without angina preoperatively, even when adjusting for baseline score. Given the substantial risk of decreased physical functioning, employing interventions to maintain HRQOL in this population should be considered.