20 research outputs found
Extent of Left Ventricular Scar Predicts Outcomes in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Patients With Significantly Reduced Systolic Function A Delayed Hyperenhancement Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study
ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to determine whether the extent of left ventricular scar, measured with delayed hyperenhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DHE-CMR), predicts survival in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).BackgroundPatients with ICM and reduced LVEF have poor survival. Such patients have a high myocardial scar burden. CMR is highly accurate in delineation of myocardial scar.MethodsWe studied 349 patients (76% men) with severe ICM (â„70% disease in â„1 epicardial coronary, and mean LVEF of 24%) that underwent DHE-CMR (Siemens 1.5-T scanner, Erlangen, Germany), between 2003 and 2006. Scar (quantified as percentage of myocardium) was defined on DHE-MR images as an intensity >2 standard deviations above the viable myocardium. Transmurality score was semiquantitatively recorded in a 17-segment model as: 0 = no scar, 1 = 1% to 25% scar, 2 = 26% to 50%, 3 = 51% to 75%, and 4 = >75%. The LVEF, demographic data, risk factors, need for cardiac transplantation (CTx), and all-cause mortality were recorded.ResultsThe mean age and follow-up were 65 ± 11 years and 2.6 ± 1.2 years (median 2.4 years [1.1, 3.5]), respectively. There were 56 events (51 deaths and 5 CTx). Mean scar percentage and transmurality score were higher in patients with events versus those without (39 ± 22 vs. 30 ± 20, p = 0.003, and 9.7 ± 5 vs. 7.8 ± 5, p = 0.004). On Cox proportional hazard survival analysis, quantified scar was greater than the median (30% of total myocardium), and female gender predicted events (relative risk 1.75 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.02 to 3.03] and relative risk 1.83 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.06 to 3.16], respectively, both p = 0.03).ConclusionsIn patients with ICM and severely reduced LVEF, a greater extent of myocardial scar, delineated by DHE-CMR is associated with increased mortality or the need for cardiac transplantation, potentially aiding further risk-stratification
The perceived effects of COVID-19 while living with a chronic illness
Introduction A diagnosis of chronic illness posed a serious threat to people during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. People with chronic illnesses were faced with increased mortality and reduced access to healthcare. Self-care is the process of maintaining health and managing a chronic illness. Nurses working in specialist services provide healthcare education to people with chronic illnesses. Access to these nurses was decreased during periods of the COVID-19 virus escalation due to the reconfiguration of services and redeployment of nurses. The purpose of the research was to learn from the experiences of people with a chronic illnesses in self-care behaviors and accessing altered healthcare services to inform future practices. Design A population survey design. Methods A mixed methods survey was designed, combining validated questionnaires and scales with open-ended questions. A convenience sample was utilized via using social media platforms. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. Content analysis was used to analyze open-ended responses. Results There were 147 responses, with approximately half reporting no changes in face-to-face healthcare contact, 41% reporting decreased contacts and 12% increased contacts. Non-face-to-face contacts were reduced by almost 9%, did not change by almost 60%, while 33% indicated an increase. Participants reported mixed perceptions in contact with healthcare providers during restrictions. In the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and the Self-Care of Chronic Illness scales, participants scored statistically lower scores than in previous studies. Participants indicated that public health restrictions negatively impacted their confidence, created challenges with re-engaging and that access to care was more difficult. Conclusion This research highlights the importance of providing continued support to people with chronic illness irrespective of other challenges to healthcare services. A structured approach to virtual self-care education is required. Clinical relevance This research concluded that the experience of access to one healthcare professional as opposed to diverse multidisciplinary input was similar for a number of chronic illnesses groups of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an altered dynamic of virtual contacts with healthcare providers and a lack of confidence interpreting what monitoring was required by people with a chronic illnesses due to a lack of preparedness for virtual healthcare delivery.Funding Agencies|IReL</p
A surveyâbased triage tool to identify patients potentially eligible for referral to an advanced heart failure centre
Abstract Aims Accurate prevalence data for ambulatory advanced heart failure (HF) in European countries remains limited. This study was designed to identify the population of patients potentially eligible for referral for assessment for advanced surgical HF therapies to a National advanced HF and cardiac transplant centre. Methods and results A survey comprising 13 potential clinical markers of advanced HF was developed, modified from the âI NEED HELPâ tool from the 2018 position statement of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, and distributed to all HF clinic services (secondary and tertiary units) nationwide. Each HF clinic unit was asked to complete the survey on consecutive patients over a 3Â month period fulfilling the following three criteria: (i) age 3Â months duration. As a comparison, the number of actual referrals to the advanced HF clinic were also audited over a 9Â month period. In all, 21 of 26 HF clinic units participated in the survey. Across the period of inclusion, 4950 allâcomer HF patients were seen across all sites. Of these, 375 (7.5%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were surveyed (74.4% male, median age 57Â years [IQR: 11Â years]). In total, 246 (66%) of the surveyed patients had â„1 potential markers for advanced HF, representing just under 5% of the total allâcomer HF population seen across the same time period. Of these, 67 patients (27%) had â„2, 48 (20%) had 3 and 40 (16%) had â„4 potential markers. The most frequently noted markers were â„1 HF hospitalization or unscheduled clinic review (56%), intolerance to reninâangiotensinâaldosterone system inhibitors due to hypotension or renal dysfunction (29%) and intolerance to betaâblockers due to hypotension (27%). Almost oneâquarter of patients reported NYHA Class III or IV symptoms. During the advanced HF clinic audit, the number of patients actually referred to the advanced HF clinic during the same time period was <5% of this potentially eligible cohort. Conclusions In this index prospective National survey, approximately 5% of an allâcomer routine HF clinic population and twoâthirds of a preâselected HF with reduced EF under 65Â years cohort were found to have at least one clinical or biochemical marker suggesting advanced or impending advanced HF. Almost oneâquarter of patients in this chronic outpatient âsnapshotâ population have NYHA IIIâIV symptoms. This simple oneâpage triage surveyâmodified from the âI NEED HELPâ toolâis useful to identify a population potentially eligible for referral to an advanced HF centre for assessment for advanced surgical therapies, thereby aiding resource and service planning
NT-proBNP/BNP ratio for prognostication in European Caucasian patients enrolled in a heart failure prevention programme
AIMS: Guidelines support the role of Bâtype natriuretic peptide (BNP) and aminoâterminal proâBNP (NTâproBNP) for risk stratification of patients in programmes to prevent heart failure (HF). Although biologically formed in a 1:1 ratio, the ratio of NTâproBNP to BNP exhibits wide interâindividual variability. A report on an Asian population suggests that molar NTâproBNP/BNP ratio is associated with incident HF. This study aims to determine whether routine, simultaneous evaluation of both BNP and NTâproBNP is warranted in a European, Caucasian population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We determined BNP and NTâproBNP levels for 782 Stage A/B HF patients in the STOPâHF programme. The clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical associates of molar NTâproBNP/BNP ratio were analysed. The primary endpoint was the adjusted association of baseline molar NTâproBNP/BNP ratio with newâonset HF and/or progression of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). We estimated the Câstatistic, integrated discrimination improvement, and the categoryâfree net reclassification improvement metric for the addition of molar NTâproBNP/BNP ratio to adjusted models. The median age was 66.6Â years [interquartile range (IQR) 59.5â73.1], 371 (47.4%) were female, and median molar NTâproBNP/BNP ratio was 1.91 (IQR 1.37â2.93). Estimated glomerular filtration rate, systolic blood pressure, left ventricular mass index, and heart rate were associated with NTâproBNP/BNP ratio in a linear regression model (all PÂ <Â 0.05). Over a median followâup period of 5Â years (IQR 3.4â6.8), 247 (31.5%) patients developed HF or progression of LVD. Logâtransformed NTâproBNP/BNP ratio is inversely associated with HF and LVD risk when adjusted for age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, vascular disease, obesity, heart rate, number of years of followâup, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and baseline NTâproBNP (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.55â0.91; PÂ =Â 0.008). However, molar NTâproBNP/BNP ratio did not increase the Câstatistic (Î â0.01) and net reclassification improvement (0.0035) for prediction of HF and LVD compared with NTâproBNP or BNP alone. Substitution of NTâproBNP for BNP in the multivariable model eliminated the association with HF and LVD risk. CONCLUSIONS: This study characterized, for the first time in a Caucasian Stage A/B HF population, the relationship between NTâproBNP/BNP ratio and biological factors and demonstrated an inverse relationship with the future development of HF and LVD. However, this study does not support routine simultaneous BNP and NTâproBNP measurement in HF prevention programmes amongst European, Caucasian patients