American heart journal
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American heart journal · Jan 2008
Increased central aortic stiffness and left ventricular mass in normotensive young subjects after successful coarctation repair.
Hypertension occurs in 20% to 40% of survivors of anatomically successful repair of aortic coarctation (CoA). The aim of the present study was to examine the role of central aortic function in this setting. ⋯ Central aortic stiffness is markedly increased and associated with increased left ventricular mass in normotensive young subjects after successful early repair of CoA.
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American heart journal · Dec 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyC-reactive protein, bezafibrate, and recurrent coronary events in patients with chronic coronary heart disease.
Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are related to increased coronary risk in healthy subjects and in patients with acute coronary syndromes. The aims of the present study were to assess the following: (1) the association between CRP and subsequent coronary risk in patients with chronic coronary heart disease (CHD), (2) the effect of long-term bezafibrate treatment on CRP levels, and (3) to evaluate the consequences of change in CRP level over time on subsequent risk. ⋯ Baseline CRP and 2-year CRP levels were associated with subsequent risk of myocardial infarction and death in patients with chronic CHD. Bezafibrate did not reduce CRP levels as compared with placebo.
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American heart journal · Dec 2007
A framework for quality improvement: an analysis of factors responsible for improvement at hospitals participating in the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines (CRUSADE) quality improvement initiative.
Hospitals are under increasing pressure to improve their quality of care. However, a key question remains: how can hospitals best design and implement successful quality improvement (QI) programs? Hospitals currently employ a variety of QI initiatives but have little empirical evidence on which to base their quality efforts. ⋯ We identified several institutional factors associated with improved quality of care in the treatment of high-risk NSTE ACS. We hope that this evidence-based framework will help guide the development and implementation of future QI programs in order to improve the institutional quality of care for NSTE ACS.
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American heart journal · Dec 2007
In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, admission glucose level is a strong independent predictor for 1-year mortality in patients without a prior diagnosis of diabetes.
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). Despite PCI, mortality in CS is still approximately 50%. Admission glucose concentration is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with STEMI and is associated with the occurrence of CS. Whether admission glucose is also a predictor of mortality in CS patients treated with primary PCI is unexplored. We therefore assessed the relation between admission glucose concentration and 1-year mortality in patients with STEMI with CS without a prior diagnosis of diabetes on admission and treated with PCI. ⋯ In patients with STEMI with CS and without a prior diagnosis of diabetes undergoing primary PCI, admission glucose concentration is a very strong independent predictor for 1-year mortality. Further studies are warranted to determine whether concomitant glycometabolic regulation in patients with STEMI treated with PCI, particularly those with CS, will improve clinical outcome.