Search

AIMS: Fasting periods represent a significant challenge for glycaemic control in hospitalised patients. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of basal-bolus insulin therapy in managing glycaemia during fasting periods in hospitalised patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a post-hoc analysis of two prospective, uncontrolled interventional trials that applied electronic decision support system guided basal-bolus (meal-related and correction) insulin therapy. We searched for fasting periods (invasive or diagnostic procedures, medical condition) during inpatient stays. In a mixed-model analysis, patients' glucose levels and insulin doses on days with regular food intake were compared to days with fasting periods. RESULTS: Out of 249 patients, 115 patients (33.9% female, age 68.3±10.3 years, diabetes duration 15.1±10.9 years, BMI 30.1±5.4 kg/m2 , HbA1c 69±20 mmol/mol) had 194 days with fasting periods. Mean daily blood glucose was lower (Modelled difference (ModDiff): -0.5±0.2 mmol/L, p=0.006), and the proportion of glucose values within the target range (3.9-10.0 mmol/L) increased on days with fasting periods compared to days with regular food intake (ModDiff: +0.06±0.02, p=0.005). Glycaemic control on fasting days was driven by a reduction in daily bolus insulin doses (ModDiff: -11.0±0.9 IU, p

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a hemodynamically complex multisystem syndrome associated with persistently high morbidity and mortality. As CS is characterized by progressive failure to provide adequate systemic perfusion, supporting end-organ perfusion using mechanical circulatory support (MCS) seems intriguing. Since most patients with CS present in the catheterization laboratory, percutaneously implantable systems have the widest adoption in the field. We evaluated feasibility, outcomes, and complications after the introduction of a full-percutaneous program for both the Impella CP device and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (VA-ECMO).PREPARE CardShock (PRospective REgistry of PAtients in REfractory cardiogenic shock) is a prospective single-center registry, including 248 consecutive patients between May 2019 and April 2021, who underwent cardiac catheterization and displayed advanced cardiogenic shock. The median age was 70 (58-77) years and 28% were female. Sixty-five percent of the cases had cardiac arrest, of which 66% were out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A local standard operating procedure (SOP) indicating indications as well as relative and absolute contraindications for different means of MCS (Impella CP or VA-ECMO) was used to guide MCS use. The primary endpoint was in-hospital death and secondary endpoints were spontaneous myocardial infarction and major bleedings during the hospital stay.Overall mortality was 50.4% with a median survival of 2 (0-6) days. Significant independent predictors of mortality were cardiac arrest during the index event (odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.53 [1.43-4.51]; p = 0.001), age 65 years (OR: 2.05 [1.03-4.09]; p = 0.036]), pH 7.30 (OR: 2.69 [1.56-4.66]; p 0.001), and lactate levels 2 mmol/L (OR: 4.51 [2.37-8.65]; p 0.001).Conclusive SOPs assist target-orientated MCS use in CS. This study provides guidance on the implementation, validation, and modification of newly established MCS programs to aid centers that are establishing such programs.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is the predominant cardiotropic virus associated with dilated inflammatory cardiomyopathy (DCMi). Transcriptionally active cardiotropic B19V infection is clinically relevant and triggers adverse long-term mortality. During the study, we evaluated whether antiviral treatment with the nucleoside analogue telbivudine (LTD) is effective in suppressing transcriptional active B19V in endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) of B19V positive patients and improving clinical outcomes. Seventeen B19V-positive patients (13 male, mean age 45.7 ± 13.9 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37.7 ± 13.5%) with positive B19V DNA and transcriptional activity (B19V mRNA) in EMBs were treated with 600 mg/d LTD over a period of six months. Patients underwent EMBs before and after termination of the LTD treatment. B19V RNA copy numbers remained unchanged in 3/17 patients (non-responder) and declined or disappeared completely in the remaining 14/17 patients (responder) (p ≤ 0.0001). Notably, LVEF improvement was more significant in patients who reduced or lost B19V RNA (responder, p = 0.02) in contrast to non-responders (p = 0.7). In parallel, responder patients displayed statistically significant improvement in quality of life (QoL) questionnaires (p = 0.03) and dyspnea on exertion (p = 0.0006), reflecting an improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification (p = 0.001). Our findings demonstrated for the first time that suppression of B19V transcriptional activity by LTD treatment improved hemodynamic and clinical outcome significantly. Thus, the present study substantiates the clinical relevance of detecting B19V transcriptional activity of the myocardium.

The aim was to investigate the applicability of a clinical decision support system in a real-world inpatient setting for patients with type 2 diabetes on general hospital wards. A total of 150 patients with type 2 diabetes requiring subcutaneous insulin therapy were treated with basal-bolus insulin therapy guided by a decision support system (GlucoTab) providing automated workflow tasks and suggestions for insulin dosing to health care professionals. By using the system, a mean daily blood glucose (BG) of 159 ± 32 mg/dL was achieved. 68.8% of measurements were in the target range (70 to 93% and 91%, respectively). The decision support system facilitates safe and efficacious inpatient diabetes care by standardizing treatment workflow and providing decision support for basal-bolus insulin dosing.

Aims: The diagnostic approach to idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis (IGCM) is based on identifying various patterns of inflammatory cell infiltration and multinucleated giant cells (GCs) in histologic sections taken from endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs). The sampling error for detecting focally located GCs by histopathology is high, however. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of gene profiling as a new diagnostic method in clinical practice, namely in a large cohort of patients suffering from acute cardiac decompensation. Methods and Results: In this retrospective multicenter study, EMBs taken from n = 427 patients with clinically acute cardiac decompensation and suspected acute myocarditis were screened (mean age: 47.03 &plusmn, 15.69 years). In each patient, the EMBs were analyzed on the basis of histology, immunohistology, molecular virology, and gene-expression profiling. Out of the total of n = 427 patient samples examined, GCs could be detected in 26 cases (6.1%) by histology. An established myocardial gene profile consisting of 27 genes was revealed, this was narrowed down to a specified profile of five genes (CPT1, CCL20, CCR5, CCR6, TLR8) which serve to identify histologically proven IGCM with high specificity in 25 of the 26 patients (96.2%). Once this newly established profiling approach was applied to the remaining patient samples, an additional n = 31 patients (7.3%) could be identified as having IGCM without any histologic proof of myocardial GCs. In a subgroup analysis, patients diagnosed with IGCM using this gene profiling respond in a similar fashion to immunosuppressive therapy as patients diagnosed with IGCM by conventional histology alone. Conclusions: Myocardial gene-expression profiling is a promising new method in clinical practice, one which can predict IGCM even in the absence of any direct histologic proof of GCs in EMB sections. Gene profiling is of great clinical relevance in terms of a) overcoming the sampling error associated with purely histologic examinations and b) monitoring the effectiveness of therapy.

The majority of resuscitated patients present with underlying cardiac disease, and out of these myocardial infarction is most common. Immediate interventional treatment is recommended and routinely requires dual antiplatelet therapy including aspirin and a P2Y12-inhibitor. Therapeutic hypothermia or target temperature management is also recommended in these patients. Cardiogenic shock as well as reduced body temperature impacts platelet reactivity and its medical inhibition. The study aims to quantify aspirin- and P2Y12-mediated platelet inhibition in patients presenting with myocardial infarction and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Twenty-five resuscitated patients were enrolled in this prospective, observational, non-randomized single-centre study. These patients were compared to 77 matched controls from the ATLANTIS-ACS database of non-resuscitated patients with myocardial infarction. Platelet function testing was performed by light transmittance aggregometry. Aspirin reactivity was monitored by inducing platelet aggregation with collagen and arachidonic acid, respectively. P2Y12 inhibition was recorded by stimulation of platelet aggregation with adenosine diphosphate. To quantify the overall platelet response, thrombin receptor-activated peptide was used. Aspirin-mediated platelet reactivity decreased significantly in resuscitated patients during the first days and was significantly weaker on day 3 (collagen AUC 253.8 (122.7–352.2) vs. 109.0 (73.0–182.0); p = 0.022). P2Y12-mediated platelet inhibition was also impaired in resuscitated patients on day 3 (mean ADP AUC (IQR): CPR 172.1 (46.7−346.5) vs. control 43.9 (18.9–115.2); p

Patients in the latest stages of heart failure are severely compromised, with poor quality of life and frequent hospitalizations. Heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device implantation are viable options only for a minority, and intermittent or continuous infusions of positive inotropes may be needed as a bridge therapy or as a symptomatic approach. In these settings, levosimendan has potential advantages over conventional inotropes (catecholamines and phosphodiesterase inhibitors), such as sustained effects after initial infusion, synergy with beta-blockers, and no increase in oxygen consumption. Levosimendan has been suggested as a treatment that reduces re-hospitalization and improves quality of life. However, previous clinical studies of intermittent infusions of levosimendan were not powered to show statistical significance on key outcome parameters. A panel of 45 expert clinicians from 12 European countries met in Rome on November 24-25, 2016 to review the literature and envision an appropriately designed clinical trial addressing these needs. In the earlier FIGHT trial (daily subcutaneous injection of liraglutide in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction) a composite Global Rank Score was used as primary end-point where death, re-hospitalization, and change in N-terminalprohormone-brain natriuretic peptide level were considered in a hierarchical order. In the present study, we tested the same end-point post hoc in the PERSIST and LEVOREP trials on oral and repeated i.v. levosimendan, respectively, and demonstrated superiority of levosimendan treatment vs placebo. The use of the same composite end-point in a properly powered study on repetitive levosimendan in advanced heart failure is strongly advocated. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Background In chronic heart failure (CHF) NT-proBNP and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiography are standard diagnostic as well as follow-up markers and are known to correlate with prognosis. Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a more recent technique to quantify myocardial deformation as a measurement of left ventricular function with potential benefits over LVEF. Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to analyse the cross-sectional relationship between 2D speckle tracking-derived global longitudinal strain (GLS) and NT-proBNP plasma levels in a prospective cohort of ischemic and non-ischemic CHF patients. Methods We enrolled 205 patients with chronic heart failure. Major inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, stable disease with absence of unplanned hospitalization or change in medication or device therapy in the previous month or major surgery in the previous 3 months. CHF treatment had to be according to the recommendations of the ESC CHF guidelines 2016 and LVEF had to be below 50%. Patient history, physical examination and an extensive echocardiography exam were performed. Lab results included NT-proBNP. Manual longitudinal strain was calculated using EchoPAC (General Electric Medical Systems, Horten, Norway) by a single and blinded examiner. LVEF was measured using Simpson's biplane method. Results 205 patients included in the study. The baseline characteristics included mean age 65.0 years and 75% male. Mean GLS was −9.6% (SD ±4.5%) and median NT-proBNP 1269.5 (IQR 379.5–2759.5) ng/ml. The CHF aetiology was 70.0% ischemic vs 30.0% non-ischemic. There was a significant negative correlation between GLS and NT-proBNP (Pearson r=0.239, p=0.029), this was not significant for LVEF and NT-proBNP (Pearson r=0.149, p=0.228).In a multivariate regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, NYHA classification and HF aetiology, GLS remained significantly correlated with NT-proBNP (adjusted beta-coefficient= 0.289, p=0.011). Furthermore, in contrast to LVEF, GLS showed a significant correlation to NT-proBNP in patients with ischemic (Pearson r=0.266, p=0.049) as well as non-ischemic aetiology of heart failure (Pearson r=0.434, p=0.034). Conclusion Global longitudinal strain, not LVEF, was significantly correlated with NT-proBNP in patients with CHF, independently of age, sex, symptoms or heart failure aetiology. This shows that speckle-tracking might be superior to LVEF for the assessment of left ventricular function in CHF.

Glycemic goals of inpatients should consider the prevention of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. To achieve glycemic control in the hospital, guidelines recommend basal-bolus insulin therapy as the preferred method for treatment of persistent hyperglycemia and the use of clinical decision support systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy, safety and usability of the GlucoTab® decision support system in hospital routine care of non-critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes at 3 general wards of a university medical center. In total, 150 patients with type 2 diabetes requiring insulin therapy (56 female, age 68 ± 11 years, HbA1c 77 ± 24 mmol/mol, diabetes duration 15 ± 11 years, BMI 30 ± 6 kg/m2, length of hospital stay 9 ± 7 days) were treated with basal-bolus insulin therapy guided by GlucoTab®, a mobile decision support system providing automated workflow tasks and suggestions for insulin dosing to nurses and physicians. In total 4879 capillary blood glucose values (BG) were documented. By using the GlucoTab® system in routine care, a mean daily BG of 159 ± 32 mg/dl could be achieved. 68.8% of all BG measurements were in the acceptable range (70-93% and 91%, respectively). The study confirmed that the GlucoTab® system supports a safe, efficacious and user-friendly glycemic management of basal-bolus insulin therapy in hospital routine care. Further research will include decision support for alternative therapy types for patients with less stringent goals to prevent hypoglycemia in hospital routine care. Disclosure K.M. Lichtenegger: None. F. Aberer: None. A.C. Tuca: None. K. Donsa: Stock/Shareholder; Self; decide Clinical Software GmbH. B. Höll: Employee; Self; decide Clinical Software GmbH. L. Schaupp: None. J. Plank: None. P. Beck: Employee; Self; decide Clinical Software GmbH. Stock/Shareholder; Self; decide Clinical Software GmbH. F. Fruhwald: None. T.R. Pieber: Advisory Panel; Self; ADOCIA, Arecor Limited, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. J.K. Mader: Advisory Panel; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Prediktor Medical, Roche Diabetes Care, Sanofi. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Dexcom, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc. Stock/Shareholder; Self; decide Clinical Software GmbH. Funding Research Studio Austria "GlucoTab“ (844737)

Rationale: Remodeling and fibrosis of the right ventricle (RV) may cause RV dysfunction and poor survival in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Objectives: To investigate the consequences of RV fibrosis modulation and the accompanying cellular changes on RV function. Methods: Expression of fibrotic markers was assessed in the RV of patients with pulmonary hypertension, the murine pulmonary artery banding, and rat monocrotaline and Sugen5416/hypoxia models. Invasive hemodynamic and echocardiographic assessment was performed on galectin-3 knockout or inhibitor-treated mice. Measurements and Main Results: Established fibrosis was characterized by marked expression of galectin-3 and an enhanced number of proliferating RV fibroblasts. Galectin-3 genetic and pharmacologic inhibition or antifibrotic treatment with pirfenidone significantly diminished RV fibrosis progression in the pulmonary artery banding model, without improving RV functional parameters. RV fibrotic regions were populated with mesenchymal cells coexpressing vimentin and PDGFRα (platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α), but generally lacked αSMA (α-smooth muscle actin) positivity. Serum levels of galectin-3 were increased in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension but did not correlate with cardiac function. No changes of galectin-3 expression were observed in the lungs. Conclusions: We identified extrapulmonary galectin-3 as an important mediator that drives RV fibrosis in pulmonary hypertension through the expansion of PDGFRα/vimentin-expressing cardiac fibroblasts. However, interventions effectively targeting fibrosis lack significant beneficial effects on RV function.

The later stages of heart failure are characterized by a steady decline in quality of life. Clinical priorities should be to maintain functional capacity and quality of life. In the absence of sufficient organs for transplantation, options include left ventricular assist devices and inotropic support. Areas covered: We examined data published in the last two decades on the use of inotropes and inodilators in advanced heart failure. Expert commentary: In the literature, use of conventional inotropes, including adrenergic agonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors, appears to be suboptimal for achieving the clinical priorities of late-stage heart failure. Evidence suggests instead that the calcium-sensitizing inodilator levosimendan, administered intermittently, delivers improvements in functional capacity and quality of life and does so with no adverse impact on life expectancy. At a terminal or near-terminal stage of heart failure, the therapeutic philosophy should shift towards meeting patients' existential priorities rather than traditional heart failure-centric targets.

Summary The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is a temporary treatment option for patients with potentially reversible risk of sudden cardiac death. This case demonstrates a pitfall during WCD usage in a pacemaker-dependent patient as well as a possible solution allowing continuation of WCD therapy. Bipolar stimulation may lead to double counting of the WCD detection algorithm resulting in false alarm or inappropriate therapy.

A healthy woman with acute onset of pulmonary oedema and severely depressed left ventricular function underwent endomyocardial biopsy under the clinical suspicion of fulminant myocarditis. While awaiting the results of biopsy, the situation deteriorated to Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was implanted. Finally, immunohistochemistry in biopsy specimen corresponded to fulminant lymphocytic myocarditis, although active myocarditis was excluded. Furthermore, gene expression profiling identified giant cell myocarditis although multinuclear cells were absent. This prompted the start of immunosuppression with cortisone and cyclosporine. The patient fully recovered.

Dual antiplatelet therapy is the standard of care for patients with myocardial infarction (MI), who have been resuscitated and treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We compare the antiplatelet effect and bleeding risk of intravenous cangrelor to oral P2Y12-inhibitors in patients with MI receiving TH in a prospective comparison of two matched patient cohorts. Twenty-five patients within the CANGRELOR cohort were compared to 17 patients receiving oral P2Y12-inhibitors. CANGRELOR group (NCT03445546) and the ORAL P2Y12 Group (NCT02914795) were registered at clinicaltrials.gov. Platelet function testing was performed using light-transmittance aggregometry and monitored for 4 days. P2Y12-inhibition was stronger in CANGRELOR compared to ORAL P2Y12 (adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (area under the curve (AUC)) 26.0 (5.9&ndash, 71.6) vs. 160.9 (47.1&ndash, 193.7)) at day 1. This difference decreased over the following days as more patients were switched from CANGRELOR to oral P2Y12-inhibitor treatment. There was no difference in the effect of aspirin between the two groups. We did not observe significant differences with respect to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) or Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) classified bleedings, number of blood transfusions or drop in haemoglobin B (Hb) or hematocrit (Hct) over time. Cangrelor treatment is not only feasible and effective in resuscitated patients, but also inhibited platelet function more effectively than orally administered P2Y12-inhibitors without an increased event rate for bleeding.

Background: This study investigated the efficacy, safety, and usability of standardized glycemic management by a computerized decision support system for non-critically ill hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes on four different wards. Materials and Methods: In this open, noncontrolled intervention study, glycemic management of 99 patients with type 2 diabetes (62% acute admissions; 41 females; age, 67±11 years; hemoglobin A1c, 65±21 mmol/mol; body mass index, 30.4±6.5 kg/m2) on clinical wards (Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Plastic Surgery) of a tertiary-care hospital was guided by GlucoTab® (Joanneum Research GmbH [Graz, Austria] and Medical University of Graz [Graz, Austria]), a mobile decision support system providing automated workflow support and suggestions for insulin dosing to nurses and physicians. Results: Adherence to insulin dosing suggestions was high (96.5% bolus, 96.7% basal). The primary outcome measure, percentage of blood glucose (BG) measurements in the range of 70–140 mg/dL, occurred in 50.2±22.2% of all measurements. The overall mean BG level was 154±35 mg/dL. BG measurements in the ranges of 60–70 mg/dL, 40–60 mg/dL, and

Aims To evaluate the influence of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB)-proven intramyocardial inflammation on mortality in patients with cardiac transthyretin amyloid (ATTR) or amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. Methods and results We included 54 consecutive patients (mean age 68.83 ± 9.59 years; 45 men) with EMB-proven cardiac amyloidosis. We followed up patients from first diagnostic biopsy to as long as 36 months (mean 11.5 ± 12 months) and compared their outcome with information on all-cause mortality with or without proof of inflammation on EMB. Intramyocardial inflammation was assessed by quantitative immunohistology. Patients suffering from amyloidosis revealed a significant poor prognosis with proof of intramyocardial inflammation in contrast to those without inflammation (log-rank P = 0.019). Re-grouping of patients indicated AL amyloidosis to have a significant impact on all-cause mortality (log-rank P = 0.012). The detailed subgroup analysis showed that patients suffering from AL amyloidosis with intramyocardial inflammation have a significantly worse prognosis compared with AL amyloidosis without inflammation and ATTR with or without inflammation, respectively (log-rank P = 0.014, contingency Fisher's exact test, P = 0.008). Conclusion Our study reports for the first time a high incidence (48.1%) of intramyocardial inflammation in a series of patients with EMB-proven cardiac amyloidosis and could show that in patients with AL amyloidosis, intramyocardial inflammation correlated significantly with increased mortality. Our data have a direct clinical impact because one can hypothesize that additional immunomodulating/anti-inflammatory treatment regimens in patients with biopsy-proven inflammation of heart muscle tissue could be beneficial for patients suffering from cardiac AL amyloidosis.

Guidelines have been published for improving management of chronic heart failure (CHF). We examined the association between improved guideline adherence and risk for all-cause death in patients with stable systolic HF.Data on ambulatory patients (2006-2010) with CHF and reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) from the Austrian Heart Failure Registry (HIR Austria) were analysed. One-year clinical data and long-term follow-up data until all-cause death or data censoring were available for 1014 patients (age 65 [55-73], male 75%, NYHA class I 14%, NYHA II 56%, NYHA III/IV 30%). A guideline adherence indicator (GAI [0-100%]) was calculated for each patient at baseline and after 12 ± 3 months that considered indications and contraindications for ACE-I/ARB, beta blockers, and MRA. Patients were considered ΔGAI-positive if GAI improved to or remained at high levels (≥ 80%). ΔGAI50+ positivity was ascribed to patients achieving a dose of ≥ 50% of suggested target dose.Improvements in GAI and GAI50+ were associated with significant improvements in NYHA class and NT-proBNP (1728 [740-3636] to 970 [405-2348]) (p0.001). Improvements in GAI50+, but not GAI, were independently predictive of lower mortality risk (HR 0.55 [95% CI 0.34-0.87; p=0.01]) after adjustment for a large variety of baseline parameters and hospitalisation for heart failure during follow-up.Improvement in guideline adherence with particular emphasis on dose escalation is associated with a decrease in long-term mortality in ambulatory HF-REF subjects surviving one year after registration.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is an established treatment option for heart failure patients with electromechanical dyssynchrony. Between 2008 and 2010, the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) initiated the European CRT survey to describe the current practice and short-term clinical outcome associated with CRT implantations in 13 countries. One year follow-up data from 150 patients collected in 10 Austrian centres are presented in comparison to the total 1,969 patients enrolled throughout Europe. In most cases (n = 120), CRT-D devices were implanted, while CRT-P devices were used in only 23 %. After 12 ± 3 months, mortality and hospitalisation rates reached 10 and 37 %, respectively. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes improved significantly: NYHA I/II/III/IV were found before implantation in 2/20/71/7 % and after 1 year follow-up in 35/51/9/5 % of the patients, respectively. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 27 ± 8 % to 35 ± 10 %, left ventricular end-diastolic diameters were reduced from 65 ± 10 mm to 59 ± 5 mm. Median NT-proBNP was reduced from 1,886 to 997 pg/ml, QRS duration diminished from 158 ± 34 to 147 ± 27 ms. In conclusion, the Austrian data from the CRT survey confirms the efficacy of CRT in heart failure patients, but outlines that these patients still suffer from a high mortality and cardiovascular (CV) hospitalisation rate.

Heart failure is a common cardiac disease in elderly patients. After discharge, approximately 50% of all patients are readmitted to a hospital within six months. Recent studies show that home monitoring of heart failure patients can reduce the number of readmissions. Still, a large number of false positive alarms as well as underdiagnoses in other cases require more accurate alarm generation algorithms. New low-cost sensors for leg edema detection could be the missing link to help home monitoring to its breakthrough. We evaluated a 3D camera-based measurement setup in order to geometrically detect and quantify leg edemas. 3D images of legs were taken and geometric parameters were extracted semi-automatically from the images. Intra-subject variability for five healthy subjects was evaluated. Thereafter, correlation of 3D parameters with body weight and leg circumference was assessed during a clinical study at the Medical University of Graz. Strong correlation was found in between both reference values and instep height, while correlation in between curvature of the lower leg and references was very low. We conclude that 3D imaging might be a useful and cost-effective extension of home monitoring for heart failure patients, though further (prospective) studies are needed.

[Abstract] AIMS: The European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry (ESC-HF-LT-R) was set up with the aim of describing the clinical epidemiology and the 1-year outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) with the added intention of comparing differences between participating countries. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ESC-HF-LT-R is a prospective, observational registry contributed to by 211 cardiology centres in 21 European and/or Mediterranean countries, all being member countries of the ESC. Between May 2011 and April 2013 it collected data on 12 440 patients, 40.5% of them hospitalized with acute HF (AHF) and 59.5% outpatients with chronic HF (CHF). The all-cause 1-year mortality rate was 23.6% for AHF and 6.4% for CHF. The combined endpoint of mortality or HF hospitalization within 1 year had a rate of 36% for AHF and 14.5% for CHF. All-cause mortality rates in the different regions ranged from 21.6% to 36.5% in patients with AHF, and from 6.9% to 15.6% in those with CHF. These differences in mortality between regions are thought reflect differences in the characteristics and/or management of these patients. CONCLUSION: The ESC-HF-LT-R shows that 1-year all-cause mortality of patients with AHF is still high while the mortality of CHF is lower. This registry provides the opportunity to evaluate the management and outcomes of patients with HF and identify areas for improvement.

HINTERGRUND: Ein hoher Ruhepuls (70/min oder mehr) ist bei ischamischer Herzinsuffizienz ein Pradiktor fur eine eingeschrankte Prognose. Die Arbeitsgruppe Herzinsuffizienz der Osterreichischen Kardiologischen Gesellschaft betreibt seit Mai 2006 ein Register fur erstmalig zugewiesene Patienten, fur die auch ein Follow-up nach 12 ± 3 Monaten vorgesehen ist. Hier berichten wir erstmals die Daten einer Auswertung im Hinblick auf den prognostischen Wert eines erhohten Ruhepulses in diesem Kollektiv. METHODIK: Zwischen Mai 2006 und Oktober 2009 wurden insgesamt 1904 Patienten in das Register eingeschlossen. 1363 Patienten (72 %) waren im Sinusrhythmus. Kaplan–Meier Analyse und Cox-Regressionsanalyse wurden zur Bestimmung der Gesamt- sowie cardiovaskularen Mortalitat in der Hochpuls- (70 Schlage/min oder mehr) und Niedrigpulsgruppe verwendet. Patienten ohne dokumentiertes Follow-up (n = 166) wurden bei Letztkontakt zensiert. ERGEBNISSE: Bei Erstvorstellung hatten 793 Patienten (58 %) einen Ruhepuls von 70 oder mehr, 562 Patienten hatten einen Ruhepuls unter 70/min, bei 8 Patienten war keine Herzfrequenz dokumentiert. Die Gruppen waren hinsichtlich Alter, Geschlecht und cardiovaskularer Risikofaktoren vergleichbar, in der Hochpulsgruppe waren signifikant mehr aktive Raucher (23 vs 14 %; p = 0,001) und mehr valvulare Ursachen einer Herzinsuffizienz (3 vs 1 %; p = 0,012). Patienten in der Hochpulsgruppe hatten signifikant hohere mediane NT-pro-BNP-Werte (1470 pg/ml, IQR 499–4188 pg/ml) als Patienten in der Niedrigpulsgruppe (784 pg/ml, IQR 314–2162 pg/ml; p < 0,001). Die NYHA-Klassen III und IV waren in der Hochpulsgruppe haufiger anzutreffen als in der Niedrigpulsgruppe (32 vs 22 %; p < 0,001), eine stark reduzierte linksventrikulare Funktion (LV-EF ≤ 39 %) fand sich ebenfalls in der Hochpulsgruppe haufiger (71 vs 61 %; p < 0,001). In der Hochpulsgruppe wurden Betablocker seltener verabreicht (76 vs 86 %; p < 0,01), die Dosierungen waren aber vergleichbar mit der Niedrigpulsgruppe. 75 Patienten sind innerhalb von 3,5 Jahren verstorben, 38 davon an cardiovaskularen Ursachen. NYHA III und IV sowie ein Ruhepuls von 70/min oder mehr waren die besten Pradiktoren der Gesamtmortalitat, die besten Pradiktoren fur die cardiovaskulare Mortalitat waren NYHA III und IV. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG: Eine hohe NYHA-Klasse sowie ein hoher Ruhepuls sind die besten Pradiktoren fur eine schlechte Prognose bei chronischer Herzinsuffizienz.

Die kardiale Resynchronisationstherapie (CRT) hat sich in den letzten Jahren zu einer festen Therapiesaule in der Behandlung der chronischen Herzinsuffizienz etabliert. Richtig eingesetzt senkt diese sowohl Mortalitat als auch Morbiditat. Allerdings erfordern Patientenauswahl, Implantation und Nachsorge grose klinische Expertise. In den Jahren 2008–2010 wurde in 13 europaischen Staaten ein Register durchgefuhrt (European CRT-Survey der Europaischen Gesellschaft fur Kardiologie – ESC), an dem auch 10 osterreichische Zentren teilnahmen und Daten von 156 Patienten beisteuerten. Dies entspricht 6.4 % der insgesamt 2438 erfassten Patienten. Hierbei zeigte sich, dass nur ein Teil der Patienten eine Klasse I-Indikation fur eine CRT aufwiesen, wie diese in den grosen Studien CARE-HF und COMPANION untersucht worden ist. Noch vor Publikation der Studien MADIT-CRT und RAFT wurden in Osterreich wie auch europaweit 22 % der Patienten bereits bei milder Herzinsuffizienz implantiert. 29 % aller CRT-Implantationen waren "Aufrustungen" bereits bestehender Schrittmachersysteme (europaweit 26 %), um die deletaren Effekte einer konventionellen rechtsventrikularen Stimulation zu reduzieren. Mehr als ein Drittel (36 %) aller in Osterreich implantierten Patienten wiesen Vorhofflimmern auf (europaweit 23 %, p < 0,0001). Bei 18 % aller Patienten zeigte sich praoperativ keine LVEF < 35 % wie in den Richtlinien gefordert (europaweit 17 %). Der Anteil von biventrikularen Schrittmachern ohne Defibrillatorfunktion (CRT-P) betrug in Osterreich 23 % (europaweit 27 %). Hierzulande wurden signifikant haufiger Patienten mit nicht-ischamischer Kardiomyopathie implantiert (56 % versus 40 %, p < 0,0001). Der Frauenanteil betrug 25 % (europaweit 24 %). Im Gegensatz zu anderen europaischen Landern wird nur ein geringer Anteil der CRT-Implantationen von Kardiologen durchgefuhrt (Osterreich 29 % versus europaweit 89 %; p < 0,0001).

SummaryObjective: Telemonitoring of vital signs is an established option in treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). In order to allow for early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) which is highly prevalent in the CHF population telemonitoring programs should include electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. It was therefore the aim to extend our current home monitoring system based on mobile phones and Near Field Communication technology (NFC) to enable patients acquiring their ECG signals autonomously in an easy-to-use way.Methods: We prototypically developed a sensing device for the concurrent acquisition of blood pressure and ECG signals. The design of the device equipped with NFC technology and Bluetooth allowed for intuitive interaction with a mobile phone based patient terminal. This ECG monitoring system was evaluated in the course of a clinical pilot trial to assess the system’s technical feasibility, usability and patient’s adherence to twice daily usage.Results: 21 patients (4f, 54 ± 14 years) suffering from CHF were included in the study and were asked to transmit two ECG recordings per day via the telemonitoring system autonomously over a monitoring period of seven days. One patient dropped out from the study. 211 data sets were transmitted over a cumulative monitoring period of 140 days (overall adherence rate 82.2%). 55% and 8% of the transmitted ECG signals were sufficient for ventricular and atrial rhythm assessment, respectively.Conclusion: Although ECG signal quality has to be improved for better AF detection the developed communication design of joining Bluetooth and NFC technology in our telemonitoring system allows for ambulatory ECG acquisition with high adherence rates and system usability in heart failure patients.

In times of reduced mortality from myocardial infarction and ageing of the population, the number of patients suffering from chronic heart failure continues to rise. In spite of optimal cardiological treatment, many patients suffer from dyspnoea. The use of commonly used drugs in palliative care such as opioids for the relief of dyspnoea is uncommon in this group of patients. We conducted a limited systematic literature research in order to find out if there is evidence for the use of any systemic pharmacological substance for the symptomatic relief of dyspnoea in chronic heart failure patients. Three randomised controlled trials with opioids could be identified. The quality of the identified studies does not support the avoidance of the use of opioids in patients with chronic heart failure to relieve dyspnoea. But further studies are recommended to support the use of opioids in patients with chronic heart failure for relief of breathlessness to improve the quality of life of this growing population.

Objectives This study was designed to investigate whether selected baseline variables and early response markers predict the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on long-term mortality. Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy reduces long-term morbidity and mortality in patients with moderate or severe heart failure and markers of cardiac dyssynchrony, but not all patients respond to a similar extent. Methods In the CARE-HF (Cardiac Resynchronization in Heart Failure) study, 813 patients with heart failure and markers of cardiac dyssynchrony were randomly assigned to receive or not receive CRT in addition to pharmacological treatment and were followed for a median of 37.6 months. A model including assigned treatment, 15 pre-specified baseline variables, and 8 markers of response at 3 months was constructed to predict all-cause mortality. Results On multivariable analysis, plasma concentration of amino terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (univariate and multivariable model chi-square test: 105.0 and 48.4; both p Conclusions Patients who have more severe mitral regurgitation or persistently elevated amino terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide despite treatment for heart failure, including CRT, have a higher mortality. However, patients assigned to CRT had a lower mortality even after adjusting for variables measured before and 3 months after intervention. The effect of CRT on mortality cannot be usefully predicted using such information. (CARE-HF CArdiac Resynchronization in Heart Failure; NCT00170300 )

Aims The Cardiac Resynchronization-Heart Failure (CARE-HF) study demonstrated that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could reduce morbidity and mortality and improve cardiac function in patients with moderate or severe heart failure secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and markers of cardiac dyssynchrony. The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the effect of CRT on plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), a powerful marker of cardiac dysfunction and prognosis. Methods and results Blood samples were collected routinely at baseline and 3 and 18 months. Plasma was separated by cool centrifugation and stored at −70°C until transported to a central laboratory for analysis of NT-pro-BNP using a standard commercial assay. Cardiac function was assessed echocardiographically. At baseline, median plasma concentration of NT-pro-BNP was similar in patients assigned to CRT or medical therapy [1920 pg/mL (inter-quartile range (IQR) 744–4288) and 1809 pg/mL (IQR 719–3949), respectively]. The differences in medians between the CRT and medical therapy groups were highly significant at both 3 months (537 pg/mL; P < 0.0001) and 18 months of follow-up (567 pg/mL; P < 0.0001). These differences could not be accounted for by changes in pharmacological therapy or renal function but were associated with improvement in ventricular volumes and function. Conclusion CRT exerts an early and sustained reduction in NT-pro-BNP. This appears to reflect improvements in ventricular function. NT-pro-BNP may be a simple method for monitoring the effects of CRT.

Decision-support based medication adjustment in heart failure management. Prospective analysis of clinical decision support in fifteen patients that collected vital parameters and medication intake up to one year within a clinical trial. Correlation of event episodes and medication adjustments with respect to applied rule-sets and medication classes. 713 events were grouped to 195 event episodes. Physicians performed 86 medication adjustments. 30 of them were triggered by event episodes. 35% of all performed medication adjustments occurred between event episodes. 20% of all episodes triggered a medication adjustment. 15% of all episodes triggered the expected medication adjustment. Correlation between episodes and medication adjustment was low. Further analysis needs to be done, to evaluate reasons for low correlation and how the rule-set should be adapted to increase reliability.

The European Society of Cardiology guidelines for heart failure management are based on strong evidence that adherence to optimal medication is beneficial for heart failure patients. Telemonitoring with integrated clinical decision support enables physicians to adapt medication dose based on up to date vital parameters and reduces the number of hospital visits needed solely for up-titration of heart failure medication. Although keeping track of weight and blood pressure changes is recommended during unstable phases, e.g. post-discharge and during up-titration of medication, guidelines are rather vague regarding telehealth aspects. In this paper, we focus on the evaluation of a clinical decision support system for adaption of heart failure medication and for detecting early deteriorations through monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate and weight changes. This clinical decision support system is currently used in INTENSE-HF, a large scale telemonitoring trial with heart failure patients. The aim of this paper was to apply the decision support algorithm to an existing telemonitoring dataset, to assess the ability of the decision support concept to adhere to the guidelines and to discuss its limitations and potential improvements.

We tested the reliability, acceptability and feasibility of a home-monitoring system for cardiac patients. Each participant was equipped with a mobile phone, an automatic blood pressure device and a digital weight scale. In total, 20 patients (14 patients with chronic heart failure, six patients with hypertension; mean age 50 years, standard deviation [SD] 14) were monitored for 90 days each. They were asked to measure their blood pressure, pulse and body weight every day, and to transfer the data together with the dosage of medication to the telemonitoring server using wireless Internet technology in the mobile phone. The physician in charge received email alerts when reported data fell outside pre-defined limits. The patients' compliance with the system was high. During a cumulative monitoring period of 1735 days, there were 2040 data transfer sessions, a mean of 102 per patient (SD 43). The mean percentage of successful data transfers was 83% (SD 22). The stability of the telemonitoring system was 98%, meaning that patient data transfer was almost always possible. The accessibility of the secure web server for physicians was above 99%. The web-based home-monitoring system was reliable and easy to handle for both patients and health care professionals. It may be a useful tool for patients with heart failure as well as hypertensive patients.

Two female patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and a permanently implanted hemodynamic monitor changed treatment from inhaled iloprost to oral bosentan. The hemodynamic changes were seen very early after the first dose of bosentan and there was no need to re-establish inhaled iloprost.

The clinical role of magnetic resonance in diseases of the heart and great vessels is rapidly evolving. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has become an established non-invasive imaging modality for the assessment of various cardiac disorders, such as congenital heart disease, cardiac masses, cardiomyopathies, aortic and pericardial diseases. Moreover, due to its accuracy and reproducibility, CMR is currently considered the gold standard for quantification of ventricular volumes, function, and mass. Thus, this technique is ideally suited to assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions on ventricular hypertrophy and remodelling, which may allow a reduction in sample size to show clinically relevant effects. Comprehensive functional assessment is possible by CMR due to its capability to measure flow velocity and flow volume, which is a basic requirement to quantify lesion severity in valvular heart disease. Within the past years, major technical advances have considerably improved acquisition speed and image quality making CMR a useful tool for the evaluation of patients with ischaemic heart disease. Although the clinical robustness of coronary magnetic resonance angiography still needs improvement, CMR currently provides valuable information to detect reversible ischemia, myocardial infarction, and residual viability. In this review we will present in detail the well-established indications of CMR accompanied by an outlook on new applications that are likely to enter the clinical arena in the near future.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of taking bisoprolol (B), a highly beta(1)-selective adrenoceptor antagonist to that of a placebo (P) on maximal lactate steady state (MLSS), which reflects the transition from oxidative to partially anaerobic metabolism. Ten healthy male subjects [mean (SD) age 23 (3) years, height 181 (6) cm, body mass 76 (6) kg] randomly received oral P or B (5 mg x day(-1)) for 2 weeks using a double-blind crossover design. In the 2nd week, the subjects performed an incremental cycle ergometer test until exhaustion to determine the second blood lactate turn point (LTP(2)). At regular intervals of 24-48 h, the subjects performed 2-3 steady-state tests to determine the MLSS. During the incremental exercise, heart rate (HR) was significantly lower at rest (15 beats x min(-1)), at LTP(2) (23 beats x min(-1)) and at maximal power output (19 beats x min(-1)) when taking B compared to P. Oxygen pulse was significantly higher taking B and no significant differences were observed for any of the respiratory gas exchange measurements (RGEM) (oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, minute ventilation, respiratory exchange ratio), exercise intensity or blood lactate concentration (LA) at baseline, at LTP(2) and at maximal power output. During exercise at constant intensity, significant differences between B and P were found for HR [148 (12) compared to 176 (11) beats x min(-1)] and oxygen pulse [21.8 (1.9) compared to 19.2 (1.6) ml] at MLSS. No difference was found for exercise intensity [216 (18) compared to 218 (18) W], for RGEM, LA [5.3 (1.1) compared to 4.8 (1.5) mmol x l(-1)] and ratings of perceived exertion [18.1 (1.6) compared to 17.4 (1.7)] for B and P at MLSS. In both, the power output at LTP(2) was slightly higher than power output at MLSS (within an intensity step). Commonly measured cardiorespiratory and subjective variables determined during treatment with 5 mg bisoprolol can be used for testing cardiorespiratory fitness and for prescription of training intensity.

Symptoms of a post-traumatic stress disorder can follow Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. This vignette describes such a linkage and exemplifies the risk that these symptoms may remain undetected.After a skiing accident that had evoked existential fear of suffocation, a post-menopausal woman was diagnosed with Tako-tsubo syndrome and myocardial contusion. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder appeared 2 weeks after remission of the cardiomyopathy. Two months later, a psychological assessment was conducted during cardiac rehabilitation. A post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed and successfully treated by narrative exposure.This case report suggests that these patients should be informed during the initial hospital stay that post-traumatic stress symptoms could appear. It also suggests including a screening for post-traumatic stress disorder in the follow-up of these patients.

Background: Metoprolol is a beta1-selective beta-adrenergic antagonist while carvedilol is a non-selective beta-blocker with additional blockades of alpha1-adrenoceptors. Administration of metoprolol has been shown to cause up-regulation of beta-adrenoceptor density and to decrease nocturnal melatonin release, whereas carvedilol lacks these typical effects of beta-blocking drugs. Aims: To compare beta-blocking effects of metoprolol and carvedilol when applied orally in healthy subjects. Methods: We investigated the effects of single oral doses of clinically recommended amounts of metoprolol (50, 100 and 200 mg) and carvedilol (25, 50 and 100 mg) to those of a placebo in a randomised, double-blind, cross-over study in 12 healthy male volunteers. Two hours after oral administration of the drugs heart rate and blood pressure were measured at rest, after 10 min of exercise, and after 15 min of recovery. Results: Metoprolol tended to decrease heart rate during exercise (−21%, −25% and −24%) to a greater extent than carvedilol (−16%, −16% and −18%). At rest, increasing doses of metoprolol caused decreasing heart rates (62, 60 and 58 beats/min) whereas increasing doses of carvedilol caused increasing heart rates (62, 66 and 69 beats/min), 50 and 100 mg carvedilol failed to differ significantly from the placebo (71 beats/min). Conclusions: We conclude that clinically recommended doses of carvedilol cause a clinically relevant beta-blockade in humans predominantly during exercise where it appears to be slightly (although not significantly) less effective than metoprolol. On the other hand, the effects of carvedilol on heart rate at rest appear rather weak, particularly in subjects with a low sympathetic tone. This might be caused by a reflex increase on sympathetic drive secondary to peripheral vasodilation resulting from the alpha-blocking effects of the drug. These results might be helpful in explaining why carvedilol, in contrast to metoprolol, may fail to cause up-regulation of beta-adrenoceptor density and does not decrease nocturnal melatonin release. This, in turn, may be a reason for the weak side-effects of carvedilol resulting from the beta-blockade. In addition, our data might be of interest in the interpretation of the forthcoming results of the COMET trial, although it has to be emphasised that they were derived from healthy subjects and, therefore, cannot be directly extrapolated to patients with heart failure.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the left atrial (LAD), total ventricular end-diastolic (TEDD), end-systolic diameters (TESD), and left ventricular shortening fraction (SF) compared with heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) during exercise and recovery. Methods Healthy young male (N = 15) and female (N = 16) subjects performed an incremental cycle ergometer test in upright position, and three phases of energy supply were defined by means of blood lactate concentration (LA) and respiratory gas exchange variables (I: aerobic; II: aerobic-anaerobic transition; III: anaerobic). Subjects were required to rest their arms on a steering bar and to lean their upper body forward; two dimensional (2-D) echocardiograms were obtained over the left parasternal area at rest (R), at the end of each phase, immediately within 15 s post, and 6 min after exercise (6 min). By using VINGMED’s “Anatomical M-Mode,” it was possible to extract M-Mode Sweeps from stored 2-D-Loops and perform the M-Mode measurement. Results In contrast to the significant decrease in TEDD and TESD from III to 15 s up to resting values and the significant increase in SF from III to 15s, the moderate decrease in HR immediately post exercise (15 s) was not significant. The SBP showed a significantly decrease from III to 15s; in contrast to TEDD, TESD, and SF, the values at 15 s were comparable with the values at II. For LAD, significant increase during exercise and a decrease during recovery were observed. Sex-specific differences of changes in measured variables could not be found. Conclusion We concluded that post exercise measurement of left ventricular and atrial dimensions or SF were not valid to describe heart function at maximal exercise although immediately post exercise HR was near maximal level.

The aim of our study was to determine neopterin levels in patients with chronic and acute coronary syndromes.In chronic and acute coronary syndromes the release of different cytokines activates cellular defense. Infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages is detected in the vessel wall as well as in the myocardium. Neopterin, which is a by-product of the guanosine triphosphate-biopterin pathway, is a marker for those activated macrophages.We studied 123 subjects: 1) 21 consecutive patients (17 men, 4 women; mean age +/- SD 66 +/- 15 years, range 31 to 87) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI); 2) 62 consecutive patients (50 men, 12 women; mean age 61 +/- 8 years, range 43 to 81) with signs and symptoms of clinically stable coronary artery disease (CAD); and 3) 40 healthy blood donors (28 men, 12 women; mean age 35 +/- 13 years). Neopterin levels were determined with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.In patients with AMI before thrombolytic therapy, neopterin levels were significantly higher than levels in patients with CAD and control subjects (13.7 vs. 8.6 and vs. 6.8 nmol/liter, p0.0001). Values also differed significantly between patients with CAD and control subjects (p0.0001). Neopterin levels in patients with AMI were measured seven times during a 72-h period. Within-group comparison showed significant differences over this period (p0.00001). The lowest value (11.4 nmol/liter) was observed after 4 h and differed significantly from the initial value and values after 24 and 72 h (p0.05). After 72 h, neopterin increased to 14.9 nmol/liter, a value significantly different from all values other than the initial one. There was no correlation between neopterin and creatine kinase (CK); CK, MB isoenzyme; or lactate dehydrogenase as markers for the extent of the myocardial infarction during the observation period.Our data support the hypothesis of an activation of monocytes and macrophages in patients with an acute or chronic coronary syndrome. Neopterin as a marker for macrophage activation is significantly increased in patients with chronic CAD and more pronounced in patients with AMI shortly after the onset of symptoms.

The intake of prescribed medication presents a challenge, in particular for elderly people and in cases where a variety of medications have to be taken in accordance to a complex schedule. To support patients with this task, an mHealth-concept was developed and evaluated in the course of a clinical trial. The system used a multimodal user interface concept, i.e. both RFID tags and barcodes to identify and document the intake of medications. Results of the clinical study with 20 patients indicate that the multimodal mHealth concept utilizing barcode and RFID tags enabled easy-to-use medication management. Although further clinical evaluation is needed to assess whether such a tool can also enhance adherence, the system shows the potential for targeting the problem of medication management with mHealth methods.