Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyACCF/AHA methodology for the development of quality measures for cardiovascular technology: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures.
Consistent with the growing national focus on healthcare quality, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have taken a leadership role over the past decade in developing measures of the quality of cardiovascular care by convening a joint ACCF/AHA Task Force on Performance Measures. The Task Force is charged with identifying the clinical topics appropriate for the development of performance measures and with assembling writing committees composed of clinical and methodological experts in collaboration with appropriate subspecialty societies. The Task Force has also created methodology documents that offer guidance in the development of process, outcome, composite, and efficiency measures. ⋯ Although the strength of evidence for appropriate use measures and structure/safety measures may not be as strong as that for formal performance measures, they are quality measures that are otherwise rigorously developed, reviewed, tested, and approved in the same manner as ACCF/AHA performance measures. The ultimate goal of the present document is to provide direction in defining and measuring the appropriate use-avoiding not only underuse but also overuse and misuse-and proper application of cardiovascular technology and to describe how such appropriate use measures and structure/safety measures might be developed for the purposes of quality improvement and public reporting. It is anticipated that this effort will help focus the national dialogue on the use of cardiovascular technology and away from the current concerns about volume and cost alone to a more holistic emphasis on value.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyGeriatric congenital heart disease: burden of disease and predictors of mortality.
The study sought to measure the prevalence, disease burden, and determinants of mortality in geriatric adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). ⋯ The prevalence of geriatric ACHD is substantial, although severe lesions remain uncommon. ACHD patients that live long enough acquire general medical comorbidities, which are the pre-eminent determinants of their mortality.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyRapid exclusion of acute myocardial infarction in patients with undetectable troponin using a high-sensitivity assay.
This paper sought to evaluate whether high sensitivity troponin (hs-cTnT) can immediately exclude acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at a novel 'rule out' cut-off. ⋯ Undetectable hs-cTnT at presentation has very high negative predictive value, which may be considered to rule out AMI, identifying patients at low risk of adverse events. Pending further validation, this strategy may reduce the need for serial testing and empirical treatment, enabling earlier reassurance for patients and fewer unnecessary evaluations and hospital admissions.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyIncreased heart failure risk in normal-weight people with metabolic syndrome compared with metabolically healthy obese individuals.
The purpose of this study was to assess whether the metabolically healthy obese phenotype is associated with lower heart failure (HF) risk compared with normal-weight individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). ⋯ In contrast to normal weight insulin-resistant individuals, metabolically healthy obese individuals show decreased HF risk in a 6-year follow-up study.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2011
Editorial CommentBotero's fat figures and the risk of heart failure.