American heart journal
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American heart journal · Nov 2012
Comparative StudyEffect of older age on diagnostic and prognostic performance of high-sensitivity troponin T in patients presenting to an emergency department.
The effect of age on diagnostic and prognostic performance of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) has not been addressed adequately, so far. ⋯ Elevated hs-cTnT is more common in the elderly due to higher prevalence of non-ACS conditions and significantly impairs diagnostic performance in discriminating non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
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American heart journal · Nov 2012
Troponin T is a better predictor than creatine kinase-MB of long-term mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Elevations of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) have an uncertain long-term prognostic value after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We aimed to test the hypothesis that CK-MB and cTnT are predictors of long-term survival after CABG and to assess which of these 2 biomarkers is the better predictor. ⋯ Both CK-MB and cTnT are predictors of mortality after CABG surgery; however, our data suggest that cTnT is a better predictor of long-term mortality after CABG surgery than CK-MB.
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American heart journal · Nov 2012
De Facto regionalization of care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Florida, 2001-2009.
ACC/AHA guidelines recommend STEMI patients receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at high volume hospitals performing ≥400 procedures/year. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the organization and implementation of care for STEMI patients in Florida. We assessed trends and predictors of STEMI patients first hospitalized at high PCI volume hospitals in Florida from 2001-2009. ⋯ Through the efforts of local coalitions throughout Florida, by 2009 almost 90% of Florida STEMI patients were first admitted to high PCI volume hospitals. Greater hospital competition may explain lower admission rates to high PCI volume hospitals in major metropolitan counties. The age and gender disadvantage we observed requires further research to determine potential causes.
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American heart journal · Oct 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyStudy design for the "effect of METOprolol in CARDioproteCtioN during an acute myocardial InfarCtion" (METOCARD-CNIC): a randomized, controlled parallel-group, observer-blinded clinical trial of early pre-reperfusion metoprolol administration in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
Infarct size predicts post-infarction mortality. Oral β-blockade within 24 hours of a ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a class-IA indication, however early intravenous (IV) β-blockers initiation is not encouraged. In recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based experimental studies, the β(1)-blocker metoprolol has been shown to reduce infarct size only when administered before coronary reperfusion. To date, there is not a single trial comparing the pre- vs. post-reperfusion β-blocker initiation in STEMI. ⋯ The METOCARD-CNIC trial is testing the hypothesis that the early initiation of IV metoprolol pre-reperfusion reduces infarct size in comparison to initiation of oral metoprolol post-reperfusion. Given the implications of infarct size reduction in STEMI, if positive, this trial might evidence that a refined use of an approved inexpensive drug can improve outcomes of patients with STEMI.
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American heart journal · Oct 2012
A 2-hour thrombolysis in myocardial infarction score outperforms other risk stratification tools in patients presenting with possible acute coronary syndromes: comparison of chest pain risk stratification tools.
Accelerated diagnostic pathways for risk stratification of patients presenting to the emergency department with potential acute coronary syndromes may identify very-low-risk patients safe for early discharge to outpatient care. ⋯ In this relatively high-risk population, a 2-hour TIMI score safely identified significant numbers of patients suitable for early discharge to outpatient care.