The clinical handover, which is associated with the observation of the changes in patients′ status and the implementation of nursing process, plays a vital role in critical care. Also, the quality of clinical hand-over has a far-reaching impact on patient safety due to the complicate condition of critical patients. Over the past few years, lots of studies have focused on the many aspects of clinical handover such as the contents of clinical handover, the standard procedure of clinical handover so as to reduce the risks associated with the unsystematic clinical handover.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of conventional diuretic therapy versus Tolvaptan in elderly chronic heart failure patients combined with mild to moderate renal insufficiency with hyponatremia, in order to provide clinical evidence for the treatment of heart failure in the elderly.Methods:This was a randomized control trial.A total of 88 elderly chronic heart failure patients combined with mild to moderate renal insufficiency with hyponatremia were randomly divided into the control group(n=46)and the experimental group(n=42). Once enrolled both groups stopped taking oral loop diuretics.In addition to routine treatment, the control group was treated with furosemide 40 mg once a day, while the experimental group was treated with Tolvaptan 15 mg once a day.The rate of effectiveness in relieving heart failure, the diuretic effects and improvement in heart and kidney function were monitored, and changes in serum potassium and sodium levels and the incidences of thirst and other adverse events were compared between the two groups.Results:The effectiveness rate on heart failure was higher in the experimental group than in the control group(85.7% or 36/42 vs.65.2% or 30/46, χ2=17.855, P<0.001). After treatment, greater changes in average 24-hour urine volume from baseline(787.4±219.6 ml vs.388.6±179.6 ml, t=322.588, P<0.001), more weight loss(-2.4±2.1 kg vs.-1.7±1.6 kg, t=6.942, P=0.009), smaller changes in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)from baseline(-897.6±432.1 ng/L vs.-578.4±476.9 ng/L, t=539.400, P<0.001), greater changes in left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)from baseline(6.5±5.6 % vs.1.5±5.7 %, t=3.966, P=0.048), smaller changes in serum creatinine from baseline(-8.6±12.4 μmol/L vs.9.6±11.3 μmol/L, t=87.161, P<0.001), and greater changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)from baseline(1.4±1.8 ml·min -1·1.73m -2vs.-4.1±5.6 ml·min -1·1.73m -2, t=63.856, P<0.001)and in serum sodium from baseline(6.2±2.1 mmol/L vs.1.4±1.9 mmol/L, t=234.065, P<0.001)were observed in the experimental group than in the control group.There was no significant difference in the incidences of thirst, dry mouth and other adverse events between the two groups(16.7% or 7/42 vs.10.9% or 5/46, χ2=0.626, P=0.429). Conclusions:Tolvaptan can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and cardiac function and correct hyponatremia in elderly chronic heart failure patients combined with mild to moderate renal insufficiency, with a good safety profile.

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Tolvaptan on refractory heart failure in patients aged 75 years and older.Methods:This was a randomized controlled trial.A total of 68 patients with refractory heart failure aged 75 years and older were divided into the control group(n=38)and the experimental group(n=30)by randomly generated numbers.Patients in the control group were given levosimendan and recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide intravenously plus routine treatments such as diuresis and electrolyte correction.In the experimental group, 30 patients were given a single dose of 15 mg Tolvaptan per day in addition to what was received by the control group.The effects on heart failure were compared between the two groups 1 week after treatment.Changes in rehospitalization rate, emergency intervention frequency and mortality rate were recorded after a 3-month follow-up.Results:Clinical symptoms of heart failure were alleviated in both the experimental and control groups after treatment.Improvements in 24-h urine volume, body weight and 6-minute walking distance were more significant in the experimental group than in the control group after treatment[(1 470.5±200.6)ml vs.(972.5±201.7)ml, (-6.4±2.1)kg vs.(-2.8±1.9)kg, (189.3±13.7)m vs.(151.3±12.5)m, P<0.05]. Changes in serum sodium levels and improvement of LVEF were greater and reduction of N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)levels was more significant in the experimental group than in the control group after treatment[(5.2±2.1)μmol/L vs.(-1.1±2.4)μmol/L, (10.1±4.1)% vs.(7.0±4.0)%, (-6 670±1 815.7)ng/L vs.(-5 025.3±1 876.7)ng/L, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups( P>0.05). The experimental group had shorter hospital stays, while the rehospitalization rate, emergency intervention times and mortality had no significant difference between the two groups during the follow-up period( P>0.05). Conclusions:Addition of Tolvaptan to treatment can increase urine volume, improve cardiac function, correct hyponatremia and shorten the length of hospitalization in refractory heart failure patients aged 75 years and older with good safety and has no significant impact on renal function.

Objective: To investigate the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)on treatment outcomes of chronic heart failure(CHF)complicated with emotional disorders in the elderly. Methods: A total of 216 CHF patients with emotional disorders at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital were recruited from September 2017 to March 2019 and were randomly divided into a CGA group and a control group with 108 cases in each group.The control group was given standard drug treatment and psychological counseling, whereas individualized treatment was given to participants in the CGA group in compliance with CGA guidelines.The clinical effects after intervention for 8 weeks in the two groups were examined, using measures such as Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression(HAMD)-24, Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)-14, amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), the 6 minute walk test(6MWT)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF). The changes of cognitive status, nutritional status, fall risk and other indicators in patients were comprehensively assessed and statistically analyzed. Results: Compared with pre-treatment data, 8 weeks of treatment for both the control group and the CGA group resulted in decreased HAMD-24 scores(Control group: 31.78±9.08, 23.69±10.16; CGA group: 32.09±8.98, 15.35±7.91; P<0.05), HAMA-14 scores(Control group: 22.38±7.09, 15.28±6.54; CGA group: 21.99±8.12, 10.48±6.82; P<0.05)and NT-proBNP levels[Control group: (4672±392)ng/L, (3279±282)ng/L; CGA group: (4861±378)ng/L, (2387±215)ng/L; P<0.05], and increased LVEF(%)[Control group(34.5±6.2)%, (39.8±7.5)%; CGA group(35.1±3.9)%, (42.5±6.1)%; P<0.05]and 6MWT scores[Control group(298±79±7.5)m, (358±102)m; CGA group(305±98)m, (402±178)m; P<0.05], with more marked changes in all the measures in the CGA group than in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusions The early application of CGA can improve the condition and prognosis in elderly heart failure patients complicated with emotional disorders.

Objective:To investigate the influence of frailty on post-treatment outcomes in elderly heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction treated with Sacubitril/Valsartan.Methods:The 231 heart failure patients aged 60 years or over with reduced ejection fraction were enrolled from October 2017 to October 2018 in Department of Geriatric Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital.Patients were divided into the frailty group(n=116)and the control group(n=115). Frailty diagnosis was made by five indexes suggested by LP Fried.Both groups were treated with sacubitril/valsartan(49/51 mg)for 1 year.The left ventricular ejection(LVEF), estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and other clinical and laboratory indexes were detected before and after treatment and compared between the frailty group and the control group.Results:16 subjects in the frailty group and 11 subjects in the control group dropped out of the study.The frailty group versus the control group showed a higher mortality rate of cardiovascular causes(13.0% or 13/100 vs.6.7% or 7/104, χ2=6.437, P=0.027), a higher first re-hospitalization rate(18.0% or 18/100 vs.11.5% or 12/104, χ2=4.458, P=0.043)and a higher all-cause mortality(16.0% or 16/100 vs.8.6% or 9/104, χ2=3.875, P=0.039). In the frailty group, levels of serum NT-proBNP and creatinine were higher and eGFR was lower after treatment than before treatment[(2 253±144) ng/L vs.(2 094±136) ng/L, (137±24) μmol/L vs.(125±23) μmol/L, (49.2±5.9) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2vs.(56.7±6.3) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2, t=3.674, 2.893 and 2.068, P=0.017, 0.026 and 0.029]. In the control group, serum NT-proBNP levels were lower after treatment than before treatment[(1 828±123) ng/L vs.(1 945±128) ng/L, t=1.896, P=0.043], while serum creatinine levels[(120±22) μmol/L vs.(117±19) μmol/L, t=2.099, P=0.650]and eGFR[(59.8±6.5) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2vs.(61.6±6.8) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2, t=2.444, P=0.173]had no significant difference between post-treatment and pre-treatment. Conclusions:Frailty has adverse affects on the mortality, re-hospitalization rate and renal function in elderly heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction treated with Sacubitril/Valsartan.