Diabetes patients are at high risk of developing cardiovascular and renal complications. These conditions increase cardiovascular mortality as well as the development of end-stage renal disease. In this article, we will discuss the mechanisms behind the development of heart and renal disease in diabetic patients and how to evaluate these patients to aid in the early detection of these conditions and identify high-risk patients who may benefit from treatment with new glucose-lowering therapies.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Bradycardia ; etiology ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Carotid Artery, Common ; abnormalities ; Heart Block ; etiology ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; abnormalities ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; etiology ; Thromboembolism ; complications ; Torsades de Pointes ; etiology

INTRODUCTIONPeripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but life-threatening condition. We report 11 patients admitted to the National Heart Centre Singapore with a diagnosis of PPCM over a period of 14 months.

METHODSBaseline demographics, pregnancy history, haematology, serum biochemistry and echocardiographic findings of women admitted with a diagnosis of PPCM were analysed.

RESULTSThe incidence of PPCM was 0.89 per 1,000 live births in our cohort. 63.6% of the patients were Malay and 27.3% were Chinese. 45.5% of the patients were smokers and 45.5% had a history of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia. There was no maternal mortality. Mean left ventricular ejection fractions at diagnosis and at six months were 26.9% ± 9.1% and 51.9% ± 10.6%, respectively. Mean left ventricular internal diameters in end-diastole at diagnosis and at six months were 5.5 ± 0.5 cm and 5.1 ± 0.6 cm, respectively. All patients were treated successfully for the acute episode and all but one patient had returned to New York Heart Association functional class I status at six months.

CONCLUSIONPPCM remains a rare condition and appears to occur more commonly in Malay patients. Smoking and pregnancy-induced hypertension appear to be significant risk factors. While short-term outcome remains excellent, collaborative studies with other tertiary centres will help enhance our understanding of the long-term management of and clinical outcomes in these patients.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiology ; methods ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; diagnosis ; Pre-Eclampsia ; diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular ; Puerperal Disorders ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tertiary Care Centers

Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Catheter Ablation/adverse effects* ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/surgery* ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Treatment Outcome

Introduction: To determine the relationship between participation in supervised and unsupervised therapy, and predictors of participation in supervised therapy during the first post-stroke year. Materials & Methods: Design: Prospective longitudinal study with interviews at admission, discharge, one month, six months and one year after discharge. Setting: Two subacute inpatient rehabilitation units and the community after discharge in Singapore. Participants: 215 subacute non-aphasic stroke patients. Intervention: Participation rate in supervised therapy (at outpatient rehabilitation centres) and unsupervised therapy (at home) defined as proportion of time spent performing therapy as prescribed by the subacute hospital’s multidisciplinary rehabilitation team at discharge. Main Outcome Measure: Predictors of participation in supervised and unsupervised therapy. Results: Patients who participated in supervised therapy (i.e. at an outpatient rehabilitation centre) >25% of the time recommended were more likely to participate in unsupervised therapy (i.e. at home) >75% of the time recommended at one, six and 12 months (crude odds ratio, OR = 4.41 [95%CI:2.09–10.17], 4.45 [95%CI:2.17–9.12], 6.93 [95%CI:2.60–18.48] respectively). Greater participation in supervised therapy at one and six months independently predicted greater participation in supervised therapy at six (adjusted OR=11.64 [95%CI:4.52-29.97]) and twelve months (adjusted OR=76.46 [95%CI:12.52-466.98]) respectively. Caregiver availability at six months independently predicted poorer participation in supervised therapy at 12 months. Conclusion: Interventions to increase participation in supervised therapy in the first post-stroke year should focus on transition of care in the first month after discharge. Further studies are needed to understand why caregiver availability was associated with low participation in supervised therapy.