Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

<p>Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.</p> <p>Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.</p> <p>Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.</p&gt

Fractional flow reserve for the prediction of cardiac events after coronary stent implantation: results of a multivariate analysis

Objective: To determine the prognostic value of fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements after coronary stent implantation including multiple clinical and angiographic parameters collected in one centre. Methods: 119 consecutive patients were enrolled who had a stent implanted with the use of a pressure wire as a guidewire. Patients were followed up for at least six months. Any death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularisation were considered major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for FFR and covariates. Results: Complete follow up data were available for all 119 patients. Pre-interventional FFR increased from 0.65 (0.15) to 0.94 (0.06) (p < 0.0001) after stent implantation. Eighteen MACE (15%) occurred during follow up including 15 (12.6%) target vessel revascularisations. Final FFR was significantly higher in patients without than in patients with an event (0.95 (0.05) v 0.88 (0.08), p  =  0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, only final FFR < 0.95 (OR 6.22, 95% CI 1.79 to 21.62, p  =  0.004) and reduced left ventricular function (OR 0.95, 95% CI 092 to 0.99, p  =  0.021) remained as significant independent predictors for MACE. Conclusion: These results including multiple parameters underline that FFR after coronary stenting is a strong and independent predictor for subsequent cardiac events after six months’ follow up