The Journal of cardiovascular nursing
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Hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients experience high rehospitalization rates. Predicting early rehospitalization risk in HF patients may enable better decision making at time of hospital discharge. It is known that sex and ethnicity influence rehospitalization rates. Several measures easily and conveniently obtained before discharge are arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and distance walked during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). ⋯ Although there was no relation between SaO2 and rehospitalization risk, women had a greater risk of rehospitalization, were more frail, and were more often anemic. This study is novel because it establishes a link between sex, anemia, functional status, and rehospitalization risk in patients hospitalized for HF. More research is needed to better understand the influence of anemia, functional status, and sex in relation to rehospitalization risk.
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Cardiac arrest, as a result of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, is a common phenomenon, and the only treatment available is defibrillation. Currently, defibrillators deliver either a monophasic or biphasic shock, depending on the device used. ⋯ These guidelines created a platform to address misconceptions that exist in the practice setting with regard to the use of biphasic defibrillators. The purpose of this literature review was to highlight the issues related to the practical use of biphasic energy, including optimal energy selection and safety.
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Despite the importance of health-related quality of life (HRQL) as an outcome measure in chronic heart failure (CHF), instruments currently available have been developed by clinicians or researchers; none have been derived from the patient's perspective. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a patient-derived, disease-specific HRQL measure. ⋯ The CHAT comprises dimensions of HRQL identified by patients in the study population that may more appropriately reflect the concerns of patients. Further work is recommended to develop this tool for use as an HRQL measure in a CHF population.