American heart journal
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American heart journal · Jul 2012
Fasting glucose levels within the high normal range predict cardiovascular outcome.
High-normal fasting plasma glucose (95-99 mg/dL 5.3−5.5 mmol/L) is independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk compared with low-normal FPG (< 80 mg/dL / 4.44 mmol/L).
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American heart journal · Jul 2012
The electrocardiographic features associated with cardiac amyloidosis of variant transthyretin isoleucine 122 type in Afro-Caribbean patients.
About 4% of African Americans possess the isoleucine 122 (V122I) variant of transthyretin, associated with cardiac amyloidosis beyond ages of 55 to 60 years. Transthyretin amyloidosis associated with variant V122I (ATTR V122I) is likely to be an important cause of heart failure in Afro-Caribbean populations, but the high prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and lack of awareness of this genetic disorder pose diagnostic hurdles. We report the electrocardiographic (ECG) features of ATTR V122I in the largest clinical series to date. ⋯ Electrocardiographic voltages meet the criteria for LVH in one quarter of patients with ATTR V122I cardiac amyloidosis. The widely held belief that cardiac amyloidosis is associated with low-voltage complexes is likely to contribute to underdiagnosis of ATTR V122I. First-degree heart block is common at diagnosis and identifies patients at high risk for subsequent pacing requirement.
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American heart journal · Jul 2012
Multicenter StudyThe impact of peripheral arterial disease on early outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: results from the German Transcatheter Aortic Valve Interventions Registry.
A significant proportion of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have concomitant peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which plays a crucial role in the preinterventional selection process of determining an optimal vascular access site. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of PAD on clinical outcome after TAVI in a real-world setting. ⋯ In this real-world TAVI Registry, PAD was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with percutaneous and surgical TAVI, including vascular complications. Assessment of PAD should play a crucial role in the preinterventional selection process, regardless of the access strategy.
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American heart journal · Jul 2012
The impact of achieving perfect care in acute coronary syndrome: the role of computer assisted decision support.
Attainment of every performance measure or perfect care (PC) is used as a tool for measuring hospital quality of care. We sought to describe the effect of achieving PC on subsequent outcomes in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to determine whether computerized physician order entry enabled with decision support (CPOE-DS) would enhance the likelihood of achieving PC and improvements in clinical outcomes. ⋯ Achievement of PC is a valid measure of quality of care in the hospitalized ACS patient and is associated with improved survival. CPOE-DS is feasible in the care process for ACS and can increase attainment of PC.
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American heart journal · Jul 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCardiovascular safety of febuxostat and allopurinol in patients with gout and cardiovascular comorbidities.
Comprehensive safety evaluation of new drugs for noncardiac indications is needed in the area of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, particularly in populations with high CV risk such as gout. Febuxostat is a potent nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase approved for the treatment of gout. Long-term CV safety of febuxostat is being established in a randomized, allopurinol-controlled clinical study in patients with gout who have increased CV risk using an analytical approach that provides 90% power to meet a noninferiority margin of 1.3 for the hazard ratio (HR) (febuxostat relative to allopurinol). ⋯ Interim analyses will be conducted when approximately 25%, 50%, and 75% of events have occurred. At each analysis, if the upper 1-sided confidence limit of the HR is <1.3, the study will be stopped, and the noninferiority of febuxostat relative to allopurinol with regard to CV risk will be declared. The CARES trial will define the CV safety profile of febuxostat and allopurinol in gout patients at high risk for CV events.