European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jul 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialUsefulness of telemedicine-based heart failure monitoring according to 'eHealth literacy' domains: Insights from the iCOR randomized controlled trial.
The potential positive effect of electronic health (eHealth)-based heart failure (HF) monitoring remains uncertain mainly in the 'low literacy' or 'computer or digital illiterate' patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a telemedicine (TM)-based managed care solution across literacy levels and information and communications technology (ICT) skills. ⋯ Non-invasive eHealth-based HF monitoring tools are effective compared to UC in preventing HF events in the early post-discharge period, regardless of two 'eHealth literacy' domains ('traditional and computer literacy').
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jul 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialBenefits of more intensive versus less intensive blood pressure control. Updated trial sequential analysis.
Outcome data from randomized trials which compared different blood pressure (BP) targets grew impressively after publication of recent trials. We conducted a cumulative updated trial sequential analysis of studies which compared a more versus less intensive BP control strategy, for a total of 60,870 randomized patients. The compared BP targets differed across the trials. ⋯ For cardiovascular death, the cumulative Z-curve of the sequential analysis touched the efficacy monitoring boundary, but did not cross it. In conclusion, data accrued from randomized trials conclusively demonstrate the superiority of a more intensive over a less intensive BP control strategy for the prevention of stroke, heart failure and myocardial infarction. Results also suggest a significant benefit, albeit not yet conclusive, of a more intensive over a less intensive strategy for prevention of cardiovascular death.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jul 2022
Echocardiographic markers of early alcoholic cardiomyopathy: Six-month longitudinal study in heavy drinking patients.
The development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is related to chronic excessive alcohol use. However, features of early-stage ACM are still unclear. We assessed echocardiographic characteristics of patients with alcohol dependence (DSM-IV criteria) during a six-month treatment period. ⋯ Altered E/e' ratio may characterize early-ACM before the occurrence of relevant echocardiographic alterations. The reduction of alcohol consumption could restore this alteration after six months.