Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2006
Impact of hospital volume on racial disparities in cardiovascular procedure mortality.
We assessed use of low-volume hospitals by race and ethnicity for major cardiovascular procedures and determined whether hospital volume is an important factor explaining racial and ethnic differences in post-procedure mortality. ⋯ Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to receive cardiovascular procedures in low-volume hospitals, but hospital volume did not explain a large proportion of racial differences in post-procedure mortality. Additional research is needed to determine why black patients have increased mortality after cardiovascular procedures and how these mortality rates can be reduced.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2006
Prolonged QTc interval and risk of sudden cardiac death in a population of older adults.
This study sought to investigate whether prolongation of the heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death in the general population. ⋯ Abnormal QTc prolongation on the electrocardiogram should be viewed as an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death.
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We studied the acute effect of caffeine on myocardial blood flow (MBF) at rest and exercise in healthy volunteers at normoxia and during acute exposure to simulated altitude. ⋯ In healthy volunteers, a caffeine dose corresponding to two cups of coffee (200 mg) significantly decreased exercise-induced MFR at normoxia and was even more pronounced during exposure to altitude.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialAtorvastatin improves left ventricular systolic function and serum markers of inflammation in nonischemic heart failure.
This study examined the effect of statin therapy on vascular markers of inflammation and echocardiographic findings in patients with nonischemic forms of cardiomyopathy. ⋯ The use of atorvastatin in patients with nonischemic HF improves LVEF and attenuates adverse LV remodeling. The effects on soluble levels of several inflammatory markers with atorvastatin suggest, in part, mechanisms by which statins might exert their beneficial effects in nonischemic HF.