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IntroductionMineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) reduce mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but are largely underused. We evaluated the frequency, motives, predictors and outcomes of MRA discontinuation in a real-world heart failure population.Methods and resultsThis was a single-centre, retrospective cohort study where medical record-based data were collected on patients with HFrEF between 2010 and 2018. In the final analysis, 572 patients were included that comprised the continued MRA group (n=275) and the discontinued MRA group (n=297). Patients that discontinued MRA were older, had a higher comorbidity index and a lower index estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Predictors of MRA discontinuations were increased S-potassium, lower eGFR, lower systolic blood pressure, higher frequency of comorbidities and a higher left ventricular ejection fraction. The most common reason for MRA discontinuation was renal dysfunction (n=97, 33%) with 59% of these having an eGFR 2, and elevated S-potassium (n=71, 24%) with 32% of these having an S-potassium >5.5 mmol/L. Discontinuation of MRA increased the adjusted risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.07 to 2.05; p=0.019).ConclusionsHalf of all patients with HFrEF initiated on MRA discontinued the treatment. A substantial number of patients discontinued MRA without meeting the guideline-recommended levels of eGFR and S-potassium where mild to moderate hyperkalaemia seems to be the most decisive predictor. Further, MRA discontinuation was associated with increased adjusted risk of all-cause mortality.

Aims Impaired renal function is a major contributor to the low proportion of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) treatment in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Our aims were to investigate the impact of MRA treatment on all-cause mortality and worsening renal function (WRF) in patients with HFrEF and moderately impaired renal function. Methods Retrospective data between 2010–2018 on HFrEF patients from a single-centre hospital with estimated glomerular renal function (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were analysed. WRF was defined as a decline of by eGFR ≥ 20%. Results 416 patients were included, 131 patients on MRA and 285 without MRA, mean age was 77 years (SD ± 9) and 82 years (SD ± 9), respectively. Median follow-up was 2 years. 128 patients (32%) experienced WRF, 25% in the MRA group and 30% in patients without MRA (p = 0.293). In multivariable analysis, hospitalization for heart failure and systolic blood pressure were associated with WRF (p = 0.015 and p = Conclusion In this cohort of elderly HFrEF patients with moderately impaired renal function, MRA did not increase risk for WRF or all-cause mortality.

New guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTEMI-ACS) stress the importance of more individualized diagnostics and therapy based on the patients' initial risk profile balancing risk of ischemia with risk of bleeding. In this commentary, the Working Group on Coronary Artery Disease of the Swedish Society of Cardiology points out what is new in the 2020 NSTEMI guidelines.

Background When novel treatments prove to be better than conventional therapy there is a need for effective introduction, both for cost-effectiveness and to minimize patient suffering. Effective implementation is a challenge in patients with chronic diseases who may be treated both in primary care and/or specialist clinics. Studies have shown that introduction is often unnecessary delayed. Our aims were to develop a model for systematic introduction and to test the feasibility of this model on a new treatment of a chronic disease. We also investigated how such an approach would be received by the patients. Methods The systematic introduction approach is a seven step procedure; Step 1 - define a few main criteria for the specific therapy, Step 2 – primary scan patients with the one or two main criteria using computerised medical records, databases or clinical registries, Step 3 – identify patients applying the other predefined criteria, Step 4 - evaluate if any examinations or laboratory test updates are required, Step 5 - summon identified patients to the clinic with an information letter, Step 6 – discuss treatment with the patient and prescribe to appropriate patients, Step 7 – follow-up on initiated therapy and evaluate the applied process. The model was tested in a case study during introduction of the new drug sacubitril-valsartan in a heart failure population. Patient experiences with the approach were investigated in an interview study with general inductive approach using qualitative content analysis. Results By applying the systematic introduction approach in the case study, 76 out of 1924 patients were identified to be eligible for sacubitril-valsartan and summoned to the clinic to discuss treatment. The content analysis resulted in three final categories of how the model was received by the patients; A good approach , Role of the information letter , and Trust in care . Conclusions The systematic introduction approach ensures that strict criteria are used in the selection process and that a treatment can be implemented in eligible patients within a specified population with limited resources and time. The model was effective in our case study and maintained the patient’s confidence in health care.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the eligibility of the Prospective Comparison of Angiotensin Receptor–Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI) with ACE inhibitor to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and ...

Aims: Glomerular filtration rate is an important factor in management of heart failure (HF). Our objective was to validate eight creatinine-based equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in an HF population against measured glomerular filtration rate. Methods and results: One hundred forty-six HF patients (mean age 68 +/- 13 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 45% +/- 15) within a single-centre hospital that underwent Cr-51-EDTA clearance between 2010 and 2018 were included in this retrospective study. eGFR was estimated by means of Cockcroft-Gault ideal and actual weight, the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD), simplified MDRD with isotope dilution mass spectroscopy traceable calibration, the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration, revised Lund-Malmo, full age spectrum, and the Berlin Initiative Study 1. Mean measured glomerular filtration rate was 42 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) had the highest precision for MDRD (r = 0.9), followed by revised Lund-Malmo (r = 0.88). All equations except MDRD (mean difference -4.8%) resulted in an overestimation of the renal function. The accuracy was below 75% for all equations except MDRD. Conclusions: None of the exclusively creatinine-based methods was accurate in predicting eGFR in HF patients. Our findings suggest that more accurate methods are needed for determining eGFR in patients with HF.

Purpose The aims of this study were to examine sex differences in a heart failure population with regards to treatment and patient characteristics and to investigate the impact of sex on achieved doses of heart failure medications. Methods and results A total of 1924 patients with heart failure in a regional hospital were analysed, 622 patients had ejection fraction ≤ 40% of which 30% were women. In patients with reduced ejection fraction, women were older (79 ± 11 vs. 74 ± 12 years, P < 0.001), had lower body weight (70 ± 17 vs. 86 ± 18 kg, P < 0.001), lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (49 ± 24 vs. 71 ± 30 ml/min, P < 0.001) and received lower doses of heart failure medications than men. Multivariable linear regression on patients with reduced ejection fraction showed that sex was not associated with achieved dose of any heart failure medication. For angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers associated factors were eGFR, systolic blood pressure, age, ejection fraction, and heart rate. For beta-blockers associated factors were body weight, atrial fibrillation and age. For mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists associated factors were eGFR, serum potassium, age, systolic blood pressure, ejection fraction and heart rate. Conclusion Women with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction were prescribed lower doses of heart failure medications, were older, had worse renal function, and lower body weight than men. Sex was not independently associated with achieved doses of heart failure medications, instead age, renal function and body weight explained the differences in treatment.

Aim. Sacubitril-valsartan has proven beneficial in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Guidelines recommend initiating half-dose sacubitril-valsartan before up-titration even to patients already on target dose angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). To reduce the number of titration steps needed in order to simplify for the patient as well as the clinic, we aimed to investigate the safety and tolerability of switching patients on target dose ACE inhibitors or ARBs directly to maximum-dose sacubitril-valsartan. Methods. This prospective cohort study was conducted between April 2016 and November 2017. A total of 66 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction already on guideline-recommended target dose ACE inhibitors or ARBs (equivalent to enalapril 10 mg twice daily) were switched to maximum-dose sacubitril-valsartan (200 mg twice daily). The patients were followed for twelve months. Results. Patients had a mean age of 72 ± 10 years, mean systolic blood pressure of 121 ± 17 mmHg, and 92% were male. At 12-month follow-up, nine patients (14%) had discontinued sacubitril-valsartan, four patients (6%) had a dose reduction, and 17 patients (26%) had developed symptomatic hypotension. No angioedema occurred within the 12-month follow-up and there were no hospitalizations or emergency room visits within the first 14 days. Conclusions. Switching directly from target dose ACE inhibitors or ARBs to maximum-dose sacubitril-valsartan was safe and generally well tolerated.

This report summarizes some of the most important changes and new recommendations from the ESC ST-elevation myocardial infarction and double antiplatelet therapy guidelines for 2017, which are of interest for physicians managing patients with coronary artery disease.

AIM: Previous studies and national assessments indicate an undertreatment of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study aimed to investigate why MRA is not used to full extent. METHODS: A complete community-based heart failure population was studied. Several variables were collected, and medical records were scrutinized to identify reasons for not prescribing MRA. RESULTS: Of 2029 patients, 812 had EF ≤40%. Five hundred and fifty-three patients (68%) tried MRA at some point but 184 of these (33%) discontinued therapy. There were 259 patients that never tried MRA with 177 with a listed explanation or contraindication. Eighty-two patients, 10% of the total HFrEF population, had no clear contraindications. They were older and had less HF hospitalizations compared to patients on MRA (P 30 mL/min. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons why MRA are underutilized were mainly because of contraindications. However, the data suggest that physicians are overly cautious about moderately reduced kidney function. There seems to be a 10%-18% avoidable undertreatment with MRA, especially for elderly patients that are admitted to the hospital for other reasons than heart failure. This suggests that patients with heart failure would benefit from routine follow-up at a cardiology clinic.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression among very old individuals with dementia compared to those without dementia and to examine if there were any differences regarding associated factors between people with or without depression in these conditions.Methods: In a population-based study in Sweden, 363 participants aged 85 years and above, were evaluated for depression and dementia.Results: The prevalence of depression was significantly higher among the people with dementia than without dementia, 43% vs. 24% (p < 0.001). Approximately 2/3 of the depressed in both groups used antidepressants and of those, approximately 50% had responded. Depression in the group without dementia was, among other factors, associated with higher total number of medication, the use of significant more analgesics and benzodiazepines, loneliness, inability of going outside and recent loss of child. The loss of a child was the only factor that was independently associated with depression in those with dementia.Conclusions: The present study confirms that in the very old, depression is more common among people with dementia than without dementia. A large proportion, both with and without dementia, are under-diagnosed and untreated, and in addition many subjects in both groups studied were non-responders to treatment. Many of the factors associated with depression among people without dementia in this study were not associated with depression among those with dementia, thus supporting the theory that the spectrum of associated factors for depression in dementia seems to be different from that for depression in people without dementia.

Background: Dementia and depression are common in advanced age, and often co-exist. There are indications of a decreased prevalence of depressive symptoms among old people in recent years, supposedly because of the manifold increase in antidepressant treatment. Whether the prevalence of depressive symptoms has decreased among people in different stages of dementia disorders has not yet been investigated.Methods: A comparison was undertaken of two cross-sectional studies, conducted in 1982 and 2000, comprising 6864 participants living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS), and the cognitive score was measured with Gottfries’ cognitive scale. Drug data were obtained from prescription records.Results: There was a significant decrease in depressive symptom score between 1982 and 2000 in all cognitive function groups except for the group with moderate cognitive impairment. Antidepressant drug use increased in all cognitive function groups.Conclusion: The prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased between 1982 and 2000, in all levels of cognitive impairment except moderate cognitive impairment. This might possibly be explained by the depressive symptoms having different etiologies in different stages of a dementia disorder, which in turn might not be equally susceptible to antidepressant treatment.

The aim was to compare an urban and a rural old population regarding depression.A population-based, cross-sectional study in five depopulated areas and one expanding urban city in northern Sweden. Participants aged 85 and above were evaluated for depression. Data were collected from structured interviews and assessments and from relatives, caregivers and medical charts. Depression was screened for using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) and evaluated by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).In total, 29% of the 363 participants were depressed (34% in the rural municipality and 27% in the urban municipality). Fifty-one percent versus 69% were receiving treatment with antidepressants. In the rural areas, those with depression were less frequently treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications (36% versus 65%; p = 0.004), instead there were participants treated with Tri Cyclic Antidepressant's (TCA's) (10%, versus 0%; p = 0.0018). A larger proportion of the participants in the urban sample had responded to treatment (59% versus 27%; p = 0.175).Depression in old age appears to be a common cause of emotional suffering among the oldest old. In the rural areas, depression was more often inadequately treated and it was also treated with inappropriate medications.

Emotional suffering in old age is largely caused by various psychiatric conditions, of which depression is the most common. Depression is associated with a decline in both well-being and daily functioning and reduces both morale and social capacity among the very old, which may produce high health and social costs for society. The overall aim of the thesis was to study the prevalence of depression among the very old, to identify factors associated with depression and to evaluate the prognosis of depression among the very old. In total, 363 people were evaluated for depression, 242 from an urban municipality in the year 2000 and 121 from five rural municipalities in 2002. In 2005, those still alive in the urban municipality were asked to participate again, and were therefore re-evaluated. The prevalence of depression was 27% in the urban municipality, 34% in the rural municipalities and 29% in the total sample. Of those depressed, about 67% were receiving antidepressive treatment, and of those, approximately 50% had responded to treatment. In the rural municipality, the depressed were less often treated with Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor medications, receiving instead Tri-Cyclic Antidepressants. In the rural municipalities, only 38% of the depressed had responded to treatment. A higher proportion of women were diagnosed as depressed, 33% vs. 19%, p=0.006, although the response rate was the same for men and women. Depression was twice as common among those with dementia, 44% vs. 23%. There were discrepancies concerning associated factors between the depressed participants with dementia and those without. Experiencing the death of a child during the preceding ten years was associated with depression and independently associated with depression among men and participants with dementia. In all the studies, the depressed were less often able to go outside independently and to visit others. They also received fewer visits from others and often experienced loneliness. The great majority of those who were depressed in 2000 died during the subsequent five years, only 13 out of 65, 22%, were still alive in 2005, compared to 41% of those who were not depressed, p=0.003. Of 13 who survived, only two had recovered. Twenty-four out of 70 non-depressed people, 34%, had developed depression during the five years (2000-2005), and the total prevalence in year 2005 was 42% (35 out of 83 participants). Ten out of the 24 who had developed depression were prescribed antidepressants. Of those ten, four were regarded as responders. In the group with persistent depression, nine out of eleven were receiving antidepressants and 67% were responders. In conclusion, a large proportion of the very old suffer from under-diagnosed and undertreated depression. The response rate to treatment seems to be low, and the quality of treatment and follow-up also seems to be poor. The mortality rate among the depressed was high. The spectrum of factors associated with depression in people with dementia is different from that associated with depression among non-demented. Depression among the very old clearly emerges as a common and serious public health problem, with probably the most serious impact on quality of life. More efforts have to be made to improve the quality of assessments, treatment and research regarding depression among the very old.