American heart journal
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American heart journal · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison between oral antiarrhythmic drugs in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: the pilot study of prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (SPPAF), a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently occurs after cardiac surgical procedures, and beta-blockers, sotalol, and amiodarone may reduce the frequency of AF after open heart surgery. This pilot trial was designed to test whether each of the active oral drug regimens is superior to placebo for prevention of postoperative AF and whether there are differences in favor of 1 of the preventive strategies. ⋯ Oral active prophylaxis with either sotalol or amiodarone plus metoprolol may reduce the rate of AF after cardiac surgery in a population at high risk for postoperative AF. Treatment with metoprolol alone resulted in a trend to a lower risk for postoperative AF.
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American heart journal · Apr 2004
Recent and temporal trends (1975 to 1999) in the treatment, hospital, and long-term outcomes of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction: a population-based perspective.
Extremely limited population-based data are available describing recent and temporal trends in the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ⋯ The results of this community-wide study suggest encouraging hospital outcomes in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients hospitalized with AMI. Enhanced secondary prevention efforts remain needed to improve the hospital and long-term outcomes of patients with AMI, irrespective of race or ethnicity.
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American heart journal · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialThe Diabetic Postoperative Mortality and Morbidity (DIPOM) trial: rationale and design of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of metoprolol for patients with diabetes mellitus who are undergoing major noncardiac surgery.
Recent trials suggest that perioperative beta-blockade reduces the risk of cardiac events in patients with a risk of myocardial ischemia who are undergoing noncardiac surgery. Patients with diabetes mellitus are at a high-risk for postoperative cardiac morbidity and mortality. They may, therefore, benefit from perioperative beta-blockade. ⋯ The results of this study may have implications for reduction of perioperative and postoperative risk in patients with diabetes mellitus who are undergoing major noncardiac surgery.