Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialRandomized trial of rate-control versus rhythm-control in persistent atrial fibrillation: the Strategies of Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (STAF) study.
This study was designed to compare two treatment strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF): rhythm-control (restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm) and rate-control (pharmacologic or invasive rate-control and anticoagulation). ⋯ The STAF pilot study showed no differences between the two treatment strategies in all end points except hospitalizations. These data suggest that there was no benefit in attempting rhythm-control in these patients with a high risk of arrhythmia recurrence. It remains unclear whether the results in the rhythm-control group would have been better if sinus rhythm had been maintained in a higher proportion of patients, as all but one end point occurred during AF.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. As it is strongly associated with known cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, OSA is an independent risk factor for hypertension and has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of congestive cardiac failure, pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, and atherosclerosis. Obesity is strongly linked to an increased risk of OSA, and weight loss can reduce the severity of OSA. ⋯ Long-term CPAP treatment studies have shown a reduction in nocturnal cardiac ischemic episodes and improvements in daytime blood pressure levels and left ventricular function. Despite the availability of effective therapy, OSA remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. A lack of physician awareness is one of the primary reasons for this deficit in diagnosis and treatment.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialTezosentan in patients with acute heart failure and acute coronary syndromes: results of the Randomized Intravenous TeZosentan Study (RITZ-4).
We sought to determine the effect of tezosentan in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ⋯ At the doses studied, tezosentan did not result in a significant improvement in the composite primary clinical end point in the RITZ-4 trial. Tezosentan did not demonstrate pro-ischemic effects in this population. Symptomatic hypotension may have resulted in an increased number of adverse events in the treatment group. Further studies with lower tezosentan doses are warranted.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2003
Comparative StudyOutcomes in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction: mortality, readmission, and functional decline.
We evaluated the six-month clinical trajectory of patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (EF), as the natural history of this condition has not been well established. We compared mortality, hospital readmission, and changes in functional status in patients with preserved versus depressed EF. ⋯ Heart failure with preserved EF confers a considerable burden on patients, with the risk of readmission, disability, and symptoms subsequent to hospital discharge, comparable to that of HF patients with depressed EF.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2003
Lack of association between Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity and aortic atherosclerotic plaques: a population-based transesophageal echocardiographic study.
The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity and aortic atherosclerotic plaques in the general population. ⋯ Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG antibody titers are not associated with the presence or severity of aortic atherosclerosis in the general population. These observations do not support a role for C pneumoniae infection in the initiation or progression of atherosclerosis.