American heart journal
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American heart journal · Aug 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyTemporal changes in the management and outcome of Canadian diabetic patients hospitalized for non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes.
There are limited data on the contemporary management and outcomes of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients with diabetes in the "real world." We sought to evaluate (1) the temporal changes in the medical and invasive management and (2) in-hospital outcome of NSTE-ACS patients with and without diabetes. ⋯ Over the last decade, NSTE-ACS patients with diabetes continue to be treated more conservatively, despite evidence that they would derive similar or even greater benefits from aggressive treatment. This underutilization of evidence-based therapies among diabetic patients with NSTE-ACS in the "real world" may partly explain their worse outcome.
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American heart journal · Aug 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA multicenter comparison of established and emerging cardiac biomarkers for the diagnostic evaluation of chest pain in the emergency department.
The aim of this study is to assess the role of novel biomarkers for the diagnostic evaluation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ⋯ Among emergency department patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS, neither ischemia modified albumin nor heart fatty acid binding protein detected or excluded ACS, whereas NT-proBNP, hsTnI, or FFAu added diagnostic information to cTnT. In the context of hsTnI results, FFAu measurement significantly reclassified both false negatives and false positives at baseline and in serial samples.
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American heart journal · Aug 2011
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyRelationship of aortic pulse wave velocity and baroreceptor reflex sensitivity to blood pressure control in patients with repaired coarctation of the aorta.
Increased aortic stiffness and reduced baroreceptor reflex sensitivity have been described independently after coarctation of the aorta (CoA) repair. This study sought to determine the relationship between these variables and blood pressure control in adolescents after early CoA repair. ⋯ Adolescents with hypertension after CoA repair have increased aortic PWV and a relative reduction in sBRS compared with normotensive CoA patients. Thus, failure of the baroreceptor reflex to compensate for increasing arterial stiffness may herald the onset of hypertension in these patients.
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American heart journal · Aug 2011
Comparative StudyPlasma vitamin C predicts incident heart failure in men and women in European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk prospective study.
Fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with lower risk for cardiovascular risk factors and disease, but data on heart failure are sparse and inconsistent. The association of plasma vitamin C, a biomarker reflecting fruit and vegetable intake, with heart failure has not been studied. ⋯ Plasma vitamin C, a biomarker reflecting fruit and vegetable intake, was inversely associated with the risk of heart failure in this healthy population. This observation should be regarded as hypothesis generating for further prospective trials aimed at examining the effect of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables for prevention of heart failure.
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American heart journal · Aug 2011
Comparative StudyReadmission rates for Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure and acute myocardial infarction.
Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the US population and have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors than non-Hispanic whites. However, little is known about whether elderly Hispanics have higher readmission rates for heart failure (HF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than whites and whether this is due to site of care. ⋯ Elderly Hispanic patients are more likely to be readmitted for HF and AMI than whites, partly due to the hospitals where they receive care. Our findings suggest that targeting the site of care and these high-risk patients themselves will be necessary to reduce disparities in readmissions for this growing group of patients.