Search

The purpose of this study is to compare clinical assessment of congestion performed by a nurse to that performed by cardiologist and correlate them with NT-ProBNP levels. The nurses' role in heart failure has been strongly focused in therapeutic, educational and self-care interventions. The diagnostic performance of nurses in heart failure outpatients is not well explored. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is a cardiac marker that reflects elevated filling pressures. Cross-sectional contemporaneous study. Heart failure outpatients underwent a systematic clinical assessment of clinical congestion score performed by cardiologist and nurse during the same visit. Assessments were performed independently and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels obtained. The nurses' ability to classify patients in hemodynamic profile was compared to the cardiologist's. Eighty-nine assessments were performed in 63 patients with heart failure. The correlation of clinical congestion scores obtained by nurse with those obtained by cardiologist was r = 0·86; p < 0·001. The correlation of clinical congestion scores from nurse and cardiologist with levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were as follows: r = 0·45; p < 0·0001 and r = 0·51, respectively, p < 0·0001. Patients with clinical congestion score ≥3 had levels of NT-ProBNP significantly higher than those with clinical congestion score <3, in the assessment performed by the cardiologist (1866 SD 1151 vs. 757 SD 988 pg/ml; p < 0·0001) and by the nurse (1720 SD 1228 vs. 821 SD 914 pg/ml; p < 0·0001). The nurse and cardiologist had similar capacity in classifying patients in congested quadrants ( p = 0·027) or in dry quadrants ( p = 0·03), according to the levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the nurse and cardiologist to detect congestion was, respectively, 0·77 and 0·72. Our data suggests that nurses trained in heart failure may have a similar performance to that of the cardiologist for the clinical detection of congestion and assessment of the hemodynamic profile in patients with chronic heart failure. Considering that consistent clinical assessment can identify congested or hypovolemic patients with reasonable reliability, as well as patients with low or normal cardiac output, our results may help confirm nurses' capability in performing reliable clinical assessment in heart failure patients. While nurses' led heart failure programmes are usually focused on the management of patients, nurses' ability to perform accurate assessment would expand nurses' role in these programmes. As many institutions now focus on home visits by heart failure nurses, accurate assessment would benefit patients and improve their clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delays in diagnosing pulmonary invasive aspergillosis (IA), a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among heart transplant recipients (HTRs), may impact on successful treatment. The appropriate screening strategy for IA in these patients remains undefined, particularly in the setting of nosocomial outbreaks. We describe our experience employing chest computed tomography (CT) scans as a screening method for IA. In addition, we comment on antimicrobial prophylaxis in HTRs in the setting of an outbreak., Methods: Screening CT scans of the chest and serum galactomannan (GM) were performed in HTRs during an outbreak that followed the index case of IA. Abnormal CT findings prompted a diagnostic workup. Antimicrobial prophylaxis for new transplants recipients included intravenous micafungin while hospitalized, followed by outpatient inhaled amphotericin B for up to 3 months., Results: During a 10-month period, five cases of IA were identified among HTRs. Two additional asymptomatic patients were diagnosed with IA among 15 asymptomatic HTRs who underwent screening chest CT scans. Among the five cases of IA in HTRs, two of five (40%) had a partial response and the other three failed voriconazole therapy. Complete response to voriconazole therapy assessed at 12 weeks was achieved in these two asymptomatic HTRs diagnosed via screening CTs. Serum GM was positive only in one of the symptomatic cases. The negative predictive value of CT scans was 100% (95% confidence interval, 71.5%-100%)., Conclusions: In an outbreak setting, screening CT scans of the chest may aid in early detection of asymptomatic HTRs with IA and improve outcome., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Chronotropic incompetence (CI) in heart failure (HF) patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and activity sensors may vary according to exercise modality. We hypothesized that chronotropic response and exercise capacity differ when HF patients with CRT and heart rate (HR) adaptive pacing are exercised on cycloergometer versus treadmill., Methods and Results: This is a crossover study in which stable HF patients with CRT and HR-adaptive pacing triggered by activity sensors underwent maximal symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing on both a cycloergometer and treadmill. Adjusted percent of HR reserve (%HRR) was calculated as HRR/age-predicted HRR. CI was defined as ≤62% of age-predicted HRR. Among 16 patients (59 ± 10 years, ejection fraction 27 ± 12%, 87% on beta-blockers), prevalence of CI was high irrespective of exercise modality (87.5% on cycloergometer vs 62.5% on treadmill; P = .12). Chronotropic responses were better on the treadmill; %HRR was higher on a treadmill vs cycloergometer (61 ± 26% vs 22 ± 31%; P = .003). Peak oxygen consumption was increased by 24% on a treadmill vs cycloergometer (15.8 vs 12.7 mL/kg/min; P < .0001)., Conclusions: In HF patients with CRT and HR-adaptive pacing, treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise testing enhances chronotropic response, HRR, and peak oxygen consumption compared with a cycloergometer. These findings may have implications in exercise prescription and thresholds for advanced therapies such as heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In heart transplant recipients, human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) has been shown to inhibit endothelial and smooth muscle cells injury in vitro, suggesting protection against cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Although the expression of HLA-G is regulated by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), their association with CAV remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the association between recipient and donor HLA-G SNPs with CAV., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed DNA for HLA-G SNPs of 251 adult heart recipients, 196 of whom had their corresponding donors included. Severe CAV was defined as ISHLT Category 2 or 3. The association between donor-recipient genotypes and diagnosis of severe CAV over time was evaluated with parametric hazard regression models., Results: Recipient age was 48 ± 12 years, whereas donor age was 35 ± 14 years. Median follow-up was 5.0 years (range 1 day to 13.2 years). At 10 years after transplantation, freedom from severe CAV, retransplantation or death was 64%. In multivariable analysis adjusted for donor age, recipient weight and pre-transplant Class II antibodies, the presence of donor-recipient SNP -201 (CC-CC) matching was associated with an increased risk of severe CAV (hazard ratio 11.9; 95% confidence interval 4.3 to 32.9; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Matching of donor-recipient SNP -201 (CC-CC) was an independent risk factor for the diagnosis of severe CAV. HLA-G SNP genotypes may reveal a pathogenic pathway to be explored for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CAV., (Copyright © 2016 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Post transplantation, a major complication is the development of malignancies. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G is a molecule that inhibits the immune system and it is utilized by malignant cells to hide from the immune system. Expression of HLA-G from the donor and recipient cells in transplant patients is regulated by gene variations however, the association between genotype and cancer remains unknown. Our objective was to determine the association between genotype and outcome., Methods: Heart transplant recipients (251) and available corresponding donors (196) samples were genotyped for polymorphisms and the association of polymorphisms to outcome was evaluated with parametric hazard regression models., Results: Risk of cancer was 22% at 10years post-transplantation. The mean follow-up was of 4.9±3.6years. In a multivariable analysis, donor-recipient SNP 3187 matching was identified as a protective factor for cancer (hazard ratio 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.93; p=0.03). While coding region allele (haplotype 6) was identified as an independent risk factor (hazard ratio 3.7; 95% confidence interval 1.36-10.06; p=0.01)., Conclusion: In this investigation, we identified an association between cancer post-transplantation and HLA-G polymorphisms, which may reveal a pathway for potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cancer post-transplantation., (Copyright © 2016 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) presenting to the emergency department (ED) can be admitted to care settings of different intensity, where the intensive care unit (ICU) is the highest intensity, ward admission is intermediate intensity, and those discharged home are of lowest intensity. Despite the costs associated with higher-intensity care, little is known about disposition decisions and outcomes of HF patients treated in different care settings., Methods and Results: We identified predictors of ICU or ward admission and determined whether survival differs in patients admitted to higher-intensity versus lower-intensity care settings (ie, ICU vs ward, or ward vs ED-discharged). Among 9054 patients (median, 78 years; 51% men) presenting to an ED in Ontario, Canada, 1163 were ICU-admitted, 5240 ward-admitted, and 2651 were ED-discharged. Predictors of ICU (vs ward) admission included: use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% CI, 1.36-2.98), higher respiratory rate (OR, 1.10 per 5 breaths/min; 95% CI, 1.05-1.15), and lower oxygen saturation (OR, 0.90 per 5%; 95% CI, 0.86-0.94; all P<0.001). Predictors of ward-admitted versus ED-discharged were similar. Propensity-matched analysis comparing lower-risk ICU to ward-admitted patients demonstrated a nonsignificant trend at 100 days (relative risk [RR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.43-1.10; P=0.148). At 1 year, however, survival was higher among those initially admitted to ICU (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.94; P=0.022). There was no survival difference among low-risk ward-admitted versus ED-discharged patients., Conclusions: Respiratory factors were associated with admission to higher-intensity settings. There was no difference in early survival between some lower-risk patients admitted to higher-intensity units compared to those treated in lower-intensity settings., (© 2016 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.)

Background: Tricuspid annular (TA) dilation has been suggested as a more reliable marker of concomitant advanced right ventricular failure (RVF) than severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Our objective was to examine the impact of TA dilation on occurrence of RVF and in-hospital mortality following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant., Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing implantation of a continuous-flow LVAD implant were grouped according to the presence or absence of preoperative dilated TA. Clinical characteristics, hemodynamics, and short-term postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. RVF was defined as unplanned right ventricular assist device (RVAD) or postoperative use of inotropes for >14 days. Linear and logistic regressions were used to explore associations of TA with occurrence of RVF and duration of inotrope use., Results: We included 69 patients who had continuous-flow LVAD implanted between 2006 and 2013 (50 ± 13 years old; 69% males; 37% ischemic etiology; 69% bridge-to-transplant LVAD; 18% INTERMACS 1-2; 48% with significant TR). RVF occurred in nine cases, and overall in-hospital mortality rate was 14%. Tricuspid valve repair was performed in ten cases. Dilated TA (OR 4.86; 95% CI 1.05-22.33; p = 0.04) was associated with RVF. In an adjusted multivariable analysis, indexed TA was an independent predictor of increased days of inotrope use (0.8-day increase in inotrope use for every 1 mm/m2 increase; p = 0.04)., Conclusion: In this cohort, TA dilation was a predictor of RVF after LVAD implant. The potential benefit of concomitant TVR in selected patients with a dilated TA undergoing LVAD implantation remains to be determined., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Significant inter-individual variability on the effect of vitamin K to reverse overanticoagulation has been identified. Genetic polymorphisms of the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) gene might explain in part this variability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of VKORC1 -1639G>A and 3730G>A polymorphisms on the effect of oral vitamin K supplementation in overanticoagulated patients. We performed an interventional trial of oral vitamin K supplementation in over-anticoagulated outpatients (international normalized ratio [INR] ≥ 4). Subjects received vitamin K (2.5-5.0 mg) according to baseline INR and were genotyped by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). INR values were determined at 3, 6, 24 and 72 h after supplementation. We evaluated 33 outpatients, 61 % were males, with a mean age of 62 ± 12 years old. There was a significant decrease in INR values over time for both polymorphisms after oral vitamin K. At 3 h after supplementation, patients carrying the G allele for the -1639G>A polymorphism had a greater decrease in INR values compared to AA patients (p < 0.05 for difference among groups; p < 0.001 for time variation; p = 0.001 for time × group interaction), with differences of -1.01 for GG versus AA (p = 0.003) and -0.84 for GA versus AA (p = 0.024). Mean INR value at 24 h was 1.9 ± 0.6 and at 72 h was 2.1 ± 0.7, with no differences among genotypes. No significant interaction was identified between the 3730G>A polymorphism and vitamin K supplementation. Our study indicated that the VKORC1 -1639G>A polymorphism plays a role in the response to acute vitamin K supplementation in over-anticoagulated patients, with faster decrease of INR value in patients carrying the G allele.

Contemporaneous challenges in heart failure management include strategies to rationally use health economic resources and relative donor shortage to adequately offer electric devices (cardiac resynchronization therapy [CRT] and implantable cardioverter defibrillators [ICD]), ventricular assist devices (VADs) and heart transplant, respectively. These issues are particularly important in countries with middle-income rates and limited structured heart transplant centers, such as Brazil. Use of CRT and ICDs need to follow strict guidelines, further customized to public financial health conditions. Experience with VADs in is the early days in Brazil and will require extreme caution to allocate health public resources to develop VAD programs in highly selected centers. Chagas' disease is epidemiologically important in Brazil; outcomes of patients with Chagas' on electric devices are unclear while these patients fare better post-transplant than non-Chagas' patients. Thus, heart transplant remains an attractive option regarding both favorable outcomes and resource allocation for advanced heart failure patients in Brazil.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Management of HF involves accurate diagnosis and implementation of evidence-based treatment strategies. Costs related to the care of patients with HF have increased substantially over the past 2 decades, partly owing to new medications and diagnostic tests, increased rates of hospitalization, implantation of costly novel devices and, as the disease progresses, consideration for heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and end-of-life care. Not surprisingly, HF places a huge burden on health-care systems, and widespread implementation of all potentially beneficial therapies for HF could prove unrealistic for many, if not all, nations. Cost-effectiveness analyses can help to quantify the relationship between clinical outcomes and the economic implications of available therapies. This Review is a critical overview of cost-effectiveness studies on key areas of HF management, involving pharmacological and nonpharmacological clinical therapies, including device-based and surgical therapeutic strategies.

Background: Identification and clinical impact of preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on in-hospital outcomes in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) remain poorly defined., Objective: To describe clinical predictors and in-hospital outcomes of acute decompensated HF patients and preserved LVEF, and to develop a clinically-based predictive rule based on data acquired on admission., Methods: Consecutive admissions for HF (n=721) at a tertiary care hospital were followed up to discharge or death. More than 80 clinical variables were evaluated to identify predictors of preserved LVEF upon admission., Results: Preserved LVEF (>50%) was identified in 224 (31%) hospitalizations. Clinical predictors of preserved LVEF were age > 70 years old (p=0.04), female gender (p<0.001), non-ischemic etiology (p<0.001), atrial fibrillation or flutter (p=0.001), anemia (p=0.001), pulse pressure > 45 mmHg (p<0.01) and absence of EKG conduction abnormalities (p<0.001). A clinical score based on these variables was accurate to predict preserved LVEF upon hospital admission (area under ROC curve of 0.76). No significant differences were observed on in-hospital mortality or clinical complications according to quintiles of LVEF., Conclusion: Preserved LVEF is a prevalent and morbid condition among hospitalized HF patients. Simple clinical data obtained on admission might be useful for predicting preserved LVEF.

Decreased pulse pressure (PP) is associated with low cardiac output and increased mortality in heart failure (HF) inpatients. QRS width is a well-known prognostic factor in HF. The study purpose was to explore the mortality effect of combining PP and QRS width in HF outpatients. Initial sphygmomanometrically determined PP and QRS width on the first electrocardiograph in 327 consecutive patients at an HF clinic were recorded. According to PP > or = or <40 mm Hg and QRS width > or = or <120 ms, patients were classified into 4 groups. Study groups were analyzed for their effect on mortality using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Patients with PP <40 mm Hg had higher mortality (59% vs 45%; P=.015). QRS width > or =120 ms indicated a trend toward higher mortality (57% vs 48%; P=.067). Actuarial survival curves showed that group 4 (QRS width > or =120 ms and PP <40 mm Hg) had significant increased mortality risk in 3.5 years' mean follow-up. Group 4 had a mean survival time of 1124 days (SD=124) vs 2233 days (SD=285) in group 1 (QRS width <120 ms and PP > or =40 mm Hg) (P=.022). There was a linear association between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and study groups. PP and QRS width are readily available, inexpensive, and relevant clinical measures to help identify HF outpatients with significantly worse prognosis and decreased LVEF., (2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Advanced heart failure (HF) is becoming an increasingly challenging problem as more patients with this disease are living longer, yet experiencing its inexorable progression. Adding to this complex matter, there are different views on how to define advanced HF, whereby an acute decompensation episode does not necessarily indicate advanced disease. Several scores have been described aiming at a better prognostic performance across the HF spectrum. These include the Heart Failure Survival Score, the Seattle Heart Failure Model, the Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure predictive schemes, the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry regression tree discrimination, among others. Most scoring systems have been built based on outpatient populations or recently hospitalized HF subjects. The setting of advanced HF has not gained much attention as far as prognostication is concerned, and yet there lies potentially challenging decision-making situations where issues, such as heart transplantation, use of costly devices and end-of-life questions, are raised.

The hemodynamic profile of heart failure (HF) patients may be critical to their clinical outcome, whereby congestion emerges as a particularly important aspect to define therapeutic goals, optimize HF treatment, and determine prognosis. Accordingly, individualized HF management must include several strategies to detect congestion, which might easily be underestimated in chronic HF patients. Therefore, it is important to recognize the true reliability of traditional HF signs and symptoms. The contemporary understanding of HF has brought new value to some aspects of physical examination. Natriuretic peptides have emerged as potential new tools in the diagnosis of congestion in patients with HF, and echocardiography has gained renewed importance in HF management when it is used to investigate hemodynamic profile. The aim of this article is to review and integrate these 3 ways of assessing and monitoring HF patients: clinical findings, natriuretic peptides, and echocardiography.

Background: Scarce data are available to predict in-hospital mortality for decompensated heart failure (HF) in South American populations., Methods and Results: We evaluated 779 consecutive HF admissions defined by the Boston criteria in a tertiary care hospital. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine independent correlates of in-hospital mortality, derived from 83 potential predictors collected on hospital admission. A clinical score rule (HF Revised Score) was created using the regression coefficient estimates derived from multivariate modeling. During hospital stay, 77 (10%) deaths occurred and 6 clinical characteristics were independently associated with in-hospital mortality: presence of cancer (P < .001), systolic blood pressure < or =124 mm Hg (P < .001), serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL (P = .02), blood urea nitrogen >37 mg/dL (P = .03), serum sodium <136 mEq/L (P = .03), and age >70 years old (P = .03). Both the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry stratification algorithm and the proposed HF Revised Score performed adequately to predict in-hospital mortality ("c" statistics = 0.71 and 0.76, respectively). The newly proposed score, however, discriminated a very low-risk group (101 [13%]) in whom all patients were discharged home, representing patients admitted with none of the 6 predictors of risk., Conclusion: HF risk stratification can be accurately accomplished during the first day of admission with simple and easily obtained clinical variables.

Objective: To describe non-pharmacological management of patients admitted with heart failure (HF) in a teaching hospital., Methods: A cohort longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with HF according to the Boston score. Within the first 72 hours of admission, the nursing staff of the HF clinic conducted structured interviews and medical chart reviews., Results: Two hundred and eighty-three admissions of 239 patients (age = 64 +/- 15 years) were evaluated; approximately 50% of the patients were male and 37% had heart failure of ischemic etiology Non-pharmacological measures included salt restriction in 97%, urine output monitoring in 85%, fluid balance in 75%, weight monitoring in 61%, and fluid restriction in only 25% of the patients. However, they were often not carried out by the team in charge (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). Irregular use of prescribed drugs in the week prior to admission was 22% and 21% in non-readmitted and readmitted patients, respectively (p = 1.00). Readmitted patients (n = 38) had severe systolic dysfunction, more previous hospitalizations, and longer duration of HF symptoms, as compared to those non-readmitted; in addition they had better knowledge related to self-care (p values < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, only duration of symptoms remained as an independent predictor of re-admissions., Conclusion: Our data suggest that, even at a teaching hospital, important gaps exist between prescribing non-pharmacological measures for HF patients and their being carried out. Readmitted patients seem to have good understanding of their condition; this finding, however, is significantly associated with HF severity and time of onset.

Background: Few international studies prospectively compared evidence-based practices and health outcomes among congestive heart failure (CHF) cohorts from countries with different cultural and economic backgrounds., Methods: Patients consecutively admitted with congestive heart failure to tertiary care teaching hospitals in Brazil and in the United States (U.S.) were systematically evaluated using a structured data form. Follow-up data 3 months after discharge were obtained using chart review and telephone interviews., Results: U.S. patients were older (p < 0.01), had higher prevalence of ischemic etiology (p < 0.01) and less previous hospitalizations for congestive heart failure (p = 0.03) than Brazilian patients, but similar Charlson comorbidity scores (p = 0.54) and left ventricular (LV) function (p = 0.45). Prescription of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors at discharge was lower at the U.S. hospital (57% vs. 68%; p = 0.03), but beta-blockers prescription was higher (37% vs. 10%; p < 0.01). Length-of-stay was significantly shorter (5 [interquartile range, 3-9] vs. 11 [6-19] days; p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality was lower (2.4% vs. 13%; p < 0.001) in the U.S. cohort, but fewer clinical events within 3 months after discharge were observed in Brazilian patients (42% vs. 54%; p = 0.02). Combined clinical outcomes within 3 months, including overall mortality and hospital readmission, were similar between cohorts (57% vs. 55%; p = 0.80). In multivariate analysis, hospital site remained significantly associated with health outcomes., Conclusions: Medical practice and health-related outcomes were different between U.S. and Brazilian congestive heart failure patients. In order to improve management worldwide, potential factors (structural, cultural or disease-related) that might be associated with these differences need to be evaluated in future studies.

Background: Previous validation studies of congestive heart failure (CHF) signs and symptoms were performed in acute settings. Few data have supported the validity of CHF clinical findings during the chronic stages of the disease. This study was designed to evaluate the reliability and prognostic value of traditional signs and symptoms in stable CHF outpatients., Methods: Sixty CHF outpatients who underwent 102 simultaneous clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were prospectively examined. A clinical congestion score was built summing all grades of CHF signs and symptoms. Hemodynamic parameters were estimated according to previously validated echocardiography-based protocols. Major cardiac events were evaluated after 180 days., Results: Most CHF patients were male (67%), middle-aged (56+/-15 years) and in Specific Activity Scale functional classes I to II (70%). Isolated clinical findings demonstrated limited sensitivity and specificity to identify hemodynamic parameters. Absence of all signs of congestion, however, had a predictive value of 95% for a left atrial pressure less than 20 mmHg. Patients with no CHF signs or symptoms (score of 0) had significantly lower right (P<0.001) and left (P=0.03) atrial pressures compared with those with higher scores (scores of at least 5). In multivariate analysis, a congestion score of at least 3 (RR 4.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 17.4, P=0.02) and beta-blockers use (P=0.02) remained associated with future cardiac events., Conclusions: Although CHF signs and symptoms did not accurately identify hemodynamic parameters, combined data from history and physical examination provided meaningful information to guide clinical decisions and for prognostication.