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Aims: There is limited information on the association between left ventricular (LV) dimensions and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced LV ejection fraction (HFrEF) receiving recommended HF treatment. We investigated the association between LV dimensions and CV outcomes in HFrEF patients receiving recommended HF treatment. Methods and results: We investigated the association between LV echocardiographic dimensions and CV outcomes using conventional Cox models in 1138 HFrEF patients in sinus rhythm randomized to warfarin or aspirin treatment in the Warfarin vs. Aspirin in Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction (WARCEF) trial. LV enlargement, whether by diameter [LV end‐diastolic diameter index (LVEDDI) and LV end‐systolic diameter index (LVESDI)] or volume [LV end‐diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and LV end‐systolic volume index (LVESVI)], was independently associated with all‐cause death [LVEDDI: hazard ratio (HR) per cm/m2 1.53, LVESDI: HR per cm/m2 1.65, LVEDVI: HR per 10 mL/m2 1.07, and LVESVI: HR per 10 mL/m2 1.10; all P values < 0.001], CV death (HR 1.68, 1.79, 1.09, and 1.12, respectively; all P values < 0.001), and HF hospitalization (HR 1.59, 1.79, 1.06, and 1.08, respectively; all P values < 0.001). No association was observed with myocardial infarction or stroke. The associations were independent of LV ejection fraction values, and incremental to them. LV volumes conferred additional predictive value over LV diameters. Conclusions: Left ventricular enlargement is an independent predictor of CV events in patients with HFrEF and recommended HF treatment. LV dimensions should be considered in the risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Condoms are designed to bar transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but they sometimes fail. This paper explores the effect of experience with condoms on condom failure among gay men. Methods. Risk of condom failure (breakage or slippage) on a single occasion is estimated for four sexual acts reported over 12 months by a sample of gay New York City men (n = 741). The estimation procedure assumes that each episode in which a condom is used is an independent event. Evidence is offered to support this assumption. Results. Risk of condom failure in a single episode was fairly high, particularly in anal intercourse, for men who had engaged in each act only a few times in the previous year. It declined rapidly with experience (e.g., to below 1% for receptive anal intercourse after about 10 episodes in the previous year). Condoms failed less often in oral than anal sex, but estimated risk of failure also decreased with experience. Conclusions. Gay men should be especially cautious the first few times they use a condom; after moderate experience, however, they may expect a low risk of condom failure., Gay men should exercise caution the first few times they use condoms because failure is more likely to occur for the inexperienced user. While condoms are designed to prevent transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), they occasionally fail to do so. Condom use of 741 gay men in New York, NY were surveyed. The study found that the risk of failure was high, especially in anal sex, when the user was inexperienced in using condoms. Condom failure, breakage or slippage, risk on a single occasion is estimated for four sexual acts reported over a period of 12 months by a sample of gay New York City men.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of baseline 6 min walk test distance (6MWTD) on time to major cardiovascular (CV) events in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and its impact in clinically relevant subgroups. Methods and results: In the WARCEF (Warfarin versus Aspirin in Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction) trial, 6MWTD at baseline was available in 2102 HFrEF patients. Median follow‐up was 3.4 years. All‐cause death and heart failure hospitalization (HFH) exhibited a significant non‐linear relationship with 6MWTD (P = 0.023 and 0.032, respectively), whereas a significant association between 6MWTD and CV death was shown in a linear model [hazard ratio (HR) per 10 m increase, 0.989; P = 0.011]. In linear splines with the best cut‐off point at 200 m, the positive effect of a longer 6MWTD on all‐cause death and HFH was only observed for 6MWTD > 200 m (HR per 10 m increase, 0.987; P = 0.0036 and 0.986; P = 0.0022, respectively). The associations between 6MWTD and CV outcomes were consistent across clinical subgroups; for age, a significant relationship between 6MWTD and HFH was observed in patients ≥60 years (HR per 10 m increase, 0.98; P < 0.001), but not in patients <60 years (HR per 10 m increase, 1.00; P = 0.98; P = 0.02 for the interaction). Conclusions: In HFrEF, 6MWTD is independently associated with all‐cause death, CV death, and HFH. 6MWTD of 200 m is the best cut‐off point for predicting these adverse events. The prognostic impact of 6MWTD for HFH was only observed in older patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drug gavestinel may not benefit stroke patients, according to a study of 1,367 patients. This drug blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, which is believed to cause some of the brain damage during a stroke. This drug is one of several neuroprotective drugs that have been studied in efforts to minimize brain damage.

Background: Although high resting heart rate (RHR) is known to be associated with an increased risk of mortality and hospital admission in patients with heart failure, the relationship between RHR and ischemic stroke remains unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between RHR and ischemic stroke in patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm. Methods: We examined 2,060 patients with systolic heart failure in sinus rhythm from the Warfarin versus Aspirin in Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction trial. RHR was determined from baseline electrocardiogram, and was examined as both a continuous variable and a categorical variable using quartiles. Ischemic strokes were identified during follow-up and adjudicated by physician review. Results: During 3.5 ± 1.8 years of follow-up, 77 patients (5.3% from Kaplan-Meier [KM] curve) experienced an ischemic stroke. The highest incidence of ischemic stroke (21/503 [KM 6.9%]) was observed in the lowest RHR quartile (RHR <64 beats/min) compared to other groups; 22/573 (KM 5.3%) in 64-70 beats/min, 13/465 (KM 3.5%) in 71-79 beats/min, and 21/519 (KM 5.4%) in RHR >79 beats/min ( p = 0.693). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that RHR was significantly associated with ischemic stroke (hazard ratio per unit decrease: 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13, when RHR <64/ beats/min; p = 0.038), along with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions: In contrast to its beneficial effect on mortality and hospital re-admissions, lower RHR may increase the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with systolic heart failure in sinus rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]