84 research outputs found
Iron Status and Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Ferric Carboxymaltose Treatment in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Background and Aims:We analyzed iron deficiency and the therapeutic response following intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in a large single-center inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort. Methods: 250 IBD patients were retrospectively analyzed for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. A subgroup was analyzed regarding efficacy and side effects of iron supplementation with ferric carboxymaltose. Results: In the cohort (n = 250), 54.4% of the patients had serum iron levels 60 mu g/dl, 61.6% had ferritin >100 ng/ml, and 90.7% reached Hb >12/13 g/dl at follow-up (p < 0.0001 for all parameters vs. pretreatment values). The most frequent adverse event was a transient increase of liver enzymes with male gender as risk factor (p = 0.008, OR 8.62, 95% CI 1.74-41.66). Conclusions: Iron deficiency and anemia are frequent in IBD patients. Treatment with ferric carboxymaltose is efficious, safe and well tolerated in iron-deficient IBD patients. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base
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Markers of Decongestion, Dyspnea Relief, and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure
Background
Congestion is a primary driver of symptoms in patients with acute heart failure (AHF), and relief of congestion is a critical goal of therapy. Monitoring of response to therapy through the assessment of daily weights and net fluid loss is the current standard of care, yet the relationship between commonly used markers of decongestion and both patient reported symptom relief and clinical outcomes are unknown.
Methods and Results
We performed a retrospective analysis of the randomized clinical trial -Diuretic Optimization Strategy Evaluation in Acute Heart Failure (DOSE-AHF), enrolling patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We assessed the relationship between 3 markers of decongestion at 72 hoursâweight loss, net fluid loss and % reduction in serum NT-proBNP levelâand relief of symptoms as defined by the dyspnea visual analog scale area under the curve (VAS AUC). We also determined the relationship between each marker of decongestion and 60-day clinical outcomes defined as time to death, first re-hospitalization or ER visit. Mean age was 66 years, mean EF was 35% and 27% had EF â„50%. Of the 3 measures of decongestion assessed, only % reduction in NT-proBNP was significantly associated with symptom relief (r=0.13, P = 0.04). There was no correlation between either weight loss or net fluid loss and symptom relief, (r=0.04, P=0.54 and r=0.07, P=0.27, respectively). Favorable changes in each of the 3 markers of decongestion were associated with improvement in time to death, re-hospitalization or ED visit at 60 days [weight: HR 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.85, 0.97) per 4 lbs. weight lost; fluid HR 0.94 (0.90, 0.99) per 1000mL fluid loss; NT-proBNP HR 0.95 (0.91, 0.99) per 10% reduction]. These associations were unchanged after multivariable adjustment with the exception that % reduction in NT-proBNP was no longer a significant predictor (HR 0.97; 0.93, 1.02). Patients with 2 or 3 markers of decongestion (above the median value for each marker) had improved clinical outcomes versus those with 0 or 1 marker above the median value (39.0% versus 53.8%; P=0.03).
Conclusions
Weight loss, fluid loss and NT-proBNP reduction at 72 hours are poorly correlated with dyspnea relief. However, favorable improvements in each of the 3 markers were associated with improved clinical outcomes at 60 days. These data suggest the need for ongoing research to understand the relationships between symptom relief, congestion, and outcomes in patients with ADHF
Patients' satisfaction with information at discharge
Background: Adequate patient knowledge and engagement with their condition and its management can reduce re-hospitalisations and improve outcomes after acute admission for circulatory system disease. Aim: To evaluate the perceptions of cardio- or cerebrovascular patients of their satisfaction with discharge processes and to determine if this differs by demographic groups. Methods: A sample of 536 eligible public hospital inpatients was extracted from a consumer experience surveillance system. Questions relating to the discharge process were analysed using descriptive statistics to compare patient satisfaction levels against demographic variables. Results: Dissatisfaction rates were highest within the âWritten information providedâ (37.8%) and âDanger signals communicatedâ (34.7%) categories. Women and people aged â„80 were more likely to express dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Although respondents were largely satisfied, there are important differences in the characteristics of those that were dissatisfied. The communication of important discharge information to older people and women was less likely to meet their perceived needs
Effect of nesiritide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.
BACKGROUND: Nesiritide is approved in the United States for early relief of
dyspnea in patients with acute heart failure. Previous meta-analyses have raised
questions regarding renal toxicity and the mortality associated with this agent.
METHODS: We randomly assigned 7141 patients who were hospitalized with acute
heart failure to receive either nesiritide or placebo for 24 to 168 hours in
addition to standard care. Coprimary end points were the change in dyspnea at 6
and 24 hours, as measured on a 7-point Likert scale, and the composite end point
of rehospitalization for heart failure or death within 30 days.
RESULTS: Patients randomly assigned to nesiritide, as compared with those
assigned to placebo, more frequently reported markedly or moderately improved
dyspnea at 6 hours (44.5% vs. 42.1%, P=0.03) and 24 hours (68.2% vs. 66.1%,
P=0.007), but the prespecified level for significance (Pâ€0.005 for both
assessments or Pâ€0.0025 for either) was not met. The rate of rehospitalization
for heart failure or death from any cause within 30 days was 9.4% in the
nesiritide group versus 10.1% in the placebo group (absolute difference, -0.7
percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.1 to 0.7; P=0.31). There were
no significant differences in rates of death from any cause at 30 days (3.6% with
nesiritide vs. 4.0% with placebo; absolute difference, -0.4 percentage points;
95% CI, -1.3 to 0.5) or rates of worsening renal function, defined by more than a
25% decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (31.4% vs. 29.5%; odds
ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.21; P=0.11).
CONCLUSIONS: Nesiritide was not associated with an increase or a decrease in the
rate of death and rehospitalization and had a small, nonsignificant effect on
dyspnea when used in combination with other therapies. It was not associated with
a worsening of renal function, but it was associated with an increase in rates of
hypotension. On the basis of these results, nesiritide cannot be recommended for
routine use in the broad population of patients with acute heart failure. (Funded
by Scios; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00475852.
Apparent temperature and acute myocardial infarction hospital admissions in Copenhagen, Denmark: a case-crossover study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The influence of temperature on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been investigated as extensively as the effects of broader outcomes of morbidity and mortality. Sixteen studies reported inconsistent results and two considered confounding by air pollution. We addressed some of the methodological limitations of the previous studies in this study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is the first study of the association between the daily 3-hour maximum apparent temperature (Tapp<sub>max</sub>) and AMI hospital admissions in Copenhagen. The study period covered 1 January 1999-31 December 2006, stratified in warm (April - September) and cold (October - March) periods. A case-crossover epidemiology study design was applied. Models were adjusted for public holidays and influenza, confounding by PM<sub>10</sub>, NO<sub>2 </sub>and CO was investigated, the lag and non-linear effects of Tapp<sub>max </sub>was examined, effect modification by age, sex and SES was explored, and the results of the case-crossover models were compared to those of the generalised additive Poisson time-series and generalised estimating equation models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>14 456 AMI hospital admissions (12 995 people) occurred during the study period. For an inter-quartile range (6 or 7°C) increase in the 5-day cumulative average of Tapp<sub>max</sub>, a 4% (95% CI:-2%; 10%) and 9% (95% CI: 3%; 14%) decrease in the AMI admission rate was observed in the warm and cold periods, respectively. The 19-65 year old group, men and highest SES group seemed to be more susceptible in the cold period.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>An increase in Tapp<sub>max </sub>is associated with a decrease in AMI admissions during the colder months.</p
Effect of nesiritide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure
Background Nesiritide is approved in the United States for early relief of dyspnea in patients with acute heart failure. Previous meta-analyses have raised questions regarding renal toxicity and the mortality associated with this agent. Methods We randomly assigned 7141 patients who were hospitalized with acute heart failure to receive either nesiritide or placebo for 24 to 168 hours in addition to standard care. Coprimary end points were the change in dyspnea at 6 and 24 hours, as measured on a 7-point Likert scale, and the composite end point of rehospitalization for heart failure or death within 30 days. Results Patients randomly assigned to nesiritide, as compared with those assigned to placebo, more frequently reported markedly or moderately improved dyspnea at 6 hours (44.5% vs. 42.1%, P = 0.03) and 24 hours (68.2% vs. 66.1%, P = 0.007), but the prespecified level for significance (Pâ€0.005 for both assessments or Pâ€0.0025 for either) was not met. The rate of rehospitalization for heart failure or death from any cause within 30 days was 9.4% in the nesiritide group versus 10.1% in the placebo group (absolute difference, â0.7 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], â2.1 to 0.7; P = 0.31). There were no significant differences in rates of death from any cause at 30 days (3.6% with nesiritide vs. 4.0% with placebo; absolute difference, â0.4 percentage points; 95% CI, â1.3 to 0.5) or rates of worsening renal function, defined by more than a 25% decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (31.4% vs. 29.5%; odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.21; P = 0.11). Conclusions Nesiritide was not associated with an increase or a decrease in the rate of death and rehospitalization and had a small, nonsignificant effect on dyspnea when used in combination with other therapies. It was not associated with a worsening of renal function, but it was associated with an increase in rates of hypotension. On the basis of these results, nesiritide cannot be recommended for routine use in the broad population of patients with acute heart failure. (Funded by Scios; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00475852.
Assessing Risk and Preventing 30-Day Readmissions in Decompensated Heart Failure: Opportunity to Intervene?
Effect of sitagliptin on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes
BACKGROUND: Data are lacking on the long-term effect on cardiovascular events of adding sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, to usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind study, we assigned 14,671 patients to add either sitagliptin or placebo to their existing therapy. Open-label use of antihyperglycemic therapy was encouraged as required, aimed at reaching individually appropriate glycemic targets in all patients. To determine whether sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo, we used a relative risk of 1.3 as the marginal upper boundary. The primary cardiovascular outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.0 years, there was a small difference in glycated hemoglobin levels (least-squares mean difference for sitagliptin vs. placebo, -0.29 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.32 to -0.27). Overall, the primary outcome occurred in 839 patients in the sitagliptin group (11.4%; 4.06 per 100 person-years) and 851 patients in the placebo group (11.6%; 4.17 per 100 person-years). Sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo for the primary composite cardiovascular outcome (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.09; P<0.001). Rates of hospitalization for heart failure did not differ between the two groups (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.20; P = 0.98). There were no significant between-group differences in rates of acute pancreatitis (P = 0.07) or pancreatic cancer (P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, adding sitagliptin to usual care did not appear to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, hospitalization for heart failure, or other adverse events
The effect of secondary inorganic aerosols, soot and the geographical origin of air mass on acute myocardial infarction hospitalisations in Gothenburg, Sweden during 1985â2010: a case-crossover study
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