BACKGROUNDThe optimal revascularization strategy in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with HFPEF.

METHODSFrom July 2003 through September 2005, a total of 920 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and HFPEF (ejection fraction ≥ 50%) underwent PCI (n = 350) or CABG (n = 570). We compared the groups with respect to the primary outcome of mortality, and the secondary outcomes of main adverse cardiac and cerebral vascular events (MACCE), including death, myocardial infarction, stroke and repeat revascularization, at a median follow-up of 543 days.

RESULTSIn-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the PCI group than in the CABG group (0.3% vs. 2.5%, adjusted P = 0.016). During follow-up, there was no significant difference in the two groups with regard to mortality rates (2.3% vs. 3.5%, adjusted P = 0.423). Patients receiving PCI had higher MACCE rates as compared with patients receiving CABG (13.4% vs. 4.0%, adjusted P < 0.001), mainly due to higher rate of repeat revascularization (adjusted P < 0.001). Independent predictors of mortality were age, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and chronic total occlusion.

CONCLUSIONAmong patients with CAD and HFPEF, PCI was shown to be as good as CABG with respect to the mortality rate, although there was a higher rate of repeat revascularization in patients undergoing PCI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; mortality ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; mortality ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in patients with advanced heart failure with left ventricular dysfunction. However, controversy remains regarding who would most benefit from CRT. We performed a meta-analysis, and meta-regression in an attempt to identify factors that determine the outcome after CRT. A total of 23 trials comprising 10,103 patients were selected for this meta-analysis. Our analysis revealed that CRT significantly reduced the risk of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure compared to control treatment. The odds ratio (OR) of all-cause death had a linear relationship with mean QRS duration (P=0.009). The benefit in survival was confined to patients with a QRS duration > or =145 ms (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99), while no benefit was shown among patients with a QRS duration of 130 ms (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.80-1.25) or less. Hospitalization for heart failure was shown to be significantly reduced in patients with a QRS duration > or =127 ms (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.60-0.98). This meta-regression analysis implies that patients with a QRS duration > or =150 ms would most benefit from CRT, and in those with a QRS duration <130 ms CRT implantation may be potentially harmful.
Bundle-Branch Block/physiopathology ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy/*methods ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Failure/mortality/physiopathology/*therapy ; Humans ; Myocardial Contraction/*physiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/mortality/physiopathology/*therapy

OBJECTIVESince continuous blood purification (CBP) has the effects of eliminating inflammatory mediators and improving organs function, CBP had been applied to treat non-renal diseases for nearly 10 years, but few studies have been conducted in children with sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), especially in China. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of CBP in treatment of children with severe sepsis and MODS.

METHODSTwenty-two children with severe sepsis and MODS admitted to our PICU from Aug. 2003 to Aug. 2005 were treated with continuous veno-venous hemodialysis filtration. Their heart rate, arterial blood pressure, doses of vasoactive agents, spontaneous respiratory rate, PO2/FiO2 and prognosis were investigated.

RESULTSCatheterization and CBP were carried out in all the 22 children. Continuous vein-vein hemodialysis filtration (CVVHDF) and pre-dilution were chosen. The duration of CBP was (64.4 +/- 34.5) h. All the children had tachycardia before CBP and the heart rate fell gradually to 45 +/- 13 bpm 4 h after CBP. Blood pressure (BP) was stable in 7 children without shock during CBP. Ten children with early shock could maintain normal BP during CBP, but the doses of vasoactive agents were tapered 1 to 5 h after beginning of CBP and use of these agents was discontinued at 2 to 8 h. BP was elevated by (25.2 +/- 10.7) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in 5 refractorily shocked children 4 h after CBP and returned to normal level 8 h later. The doses of the vasoactive drugs were reduced at 2 to 8 h and ended 4 to 16 h later, which was longer than that of children with early stage shock. The accelerated spontaneous respiratory rate was slowed down by 7 +/- 4 per minute 4 h later, PO2/FiO2 rose from (177.7 +/- 53.1) mmHg before CBP to (341.0 +/- 60.2) mmHg 4 h after CBP in children with respiratory failure and reached the normal value (5.3 +/- 2.1) h later. FiO2 declined to less than 50%. Pediatric critical illness score was 62.2 +/- 7.4 on admission and elevated to (86.6 +/- 9.0) 24 h later, which was a significant elevation as compared to that of children with sepsis who were not treated with CBP seen between Aug. 2001 and July 2003. The survival rate was 72.7% after CBP and the effective rate of the treatment was 90.9%, but was 36% in children who were not treated with CVVHDF.

CONCLUSIONCBP can effectively improve the vital organ's function of children with sepsis and MODS and raise their survival rate. Replacement fluid of modified Ports formula was useful for stability of serum potassium and sodium, but resulted in elevation of serum glucose, calcium, and osmolarity. The application of CBP in children with sepsis can lead to slight drop of blood pressure at the beginning and to bleeding during CBP.

Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemofiltration ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; etiology ; mortality ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Sepsis ; complications ; mortality ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the long-term effects and mortality of biventricular pacing therapy in patients with congestive heart failure.

METHODSTwenty-five patients, 18 men and 7 women, aged 34-75 [mean aged of (61.42 +/- 10.36)] years, with a cardiac function of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III (n = 10) or IV (n = 15) received biventricular pacing therapy from Mar. 2001 to Feb. 2005. The etiologies of heart failure were idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (16 cases), hypertensive heart disease (3 cases) and ischemic heart disease (6 cases). Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) was > 60 mm, Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was < 0.40 and QRS duration was > 130 ms in all the patients. Heart function parameters were repeatedly measured before and 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years after pacemaker implantation. Mortality was also determined. The average follow up period was (20.88 +/- 11.51) months.

RESULTS(1) Mortality: 5 patients died during follow-up (3 non-cardiac and 1 cardiac sudden death and 1 acute myocardial infarction). (2) The mean 6-min walking distance was increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 3 months to 3 years of follow-up. (3) NYHA class: The cardiac function of all patients improved significantly, with a reduction of mean NYHA class of more than one grade at 3 months to 3 years follow-up. (4) LVEDD: LVEDD reduced significantly (P < 0.05) at 3 months to 3 years follow-up. (5) LVEF: LVEF increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 3 months to 2 years follow-up. LVEF also improved at third year's follow-up, but the difference was not significant statistically.

CONCLUSIONSCardiac resynchronization, a pacemaker-based therapy for heart failure, may enhance quality of life and heart function and reverse LV remodeling. The long-term effects of treatment were stable, leading to the reduction of mortality from advanced heart failure.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Female ; Heart Failure ; mortality ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

INTRODUCTIONDevice therapy is efficacious in preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with reduced ejection fraction. However, few who need the device eventually opt to undergo implantation and even fewer reconsider their decisions after deliberation. This is due to many factors, including unresolved patient barriers. This study identified the factors that influenced patients' decision to decline implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation, and those that influenced patients who initially declined an implant to reconsider having one.

METHODSA single-centre survey was conducted among 240 patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and met the ICD implantation criteria, but had declined ICD implantation.

RESULTSParticipants who refused ICD implantation were mostly male (84%), Chinese (71%), married (72%), currently employed (54%), and had up to primary or secondary education (78%) and monthly income of < SGD 3,000 (51%). Those who were more likely to reconsider their decision were aware that SCD was a consequence of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, knowledgeable of the preventive role of ICDs, currently employed and aware that their doctor strongly recommended the implant. Based on multivariate analysis, knowledge of the role of ICDs for primary prophylaxis was the most important factor influencing patient decision.

CONCLUSIONThis study identified the demographic and social factors of patients who refused ICD therapy. Knowledge of the role of ICDs in preventing SCD was found to be the strongest marker for reconsidering ICD implantation. Measures to address this information gap may lead to higher rates of ICD implantation.

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; prevention & control ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Female ; Heart Failure ; mortality ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Primary Prevention ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Stroke Volume ; physiology ; Survival Rate ; trends

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This meta-analysis compared the effects of amlodipine besylate, a charged dihydropyridine-type calcium channel blocker (CCB), with other non-CCB antihypertensive therapies regarding the cardiovascular outcome. METHODS: Data from seven long-term outcome trials comparing the cardiovascular outcomes of an amlodipine-based regimen with other active regimens were pooled and analyzed. RESULTS: The risk of myocardial infarction was significantly decreased with an amlodipine-based regimen compared with a non-CCB-based regimen (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 0.99; p = 0.03). The risk of stroke was also significantly decreased (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.90; p < 0.00001). The risk of heart failure increased slightly with marginal significance for an amlodipine-based regimen compared with a non-CCB-based regimen (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.31; p = 0.08). However, when compared overall with beta-blockers and diuretics, amlodipine showed a comparable risk. Amlodipine-based regimens demonstrated a 10% risk reduction in overall cardiovascular events (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.99; p = 0.02) and total mortality (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91 to 0.99; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Amlodipine reduced the risk of total cardiovascular events as well as all-cause mortality compared with non-CCB-based regimens, indicating its benefit for high-risk cardiac patients.
Amlodipine/*therapeutic use ; Antihypertensive Agents/*therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure/*drug effects ; Calcium Channel Blockers/*therapeutic use ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Heart Failure/etiology/mortality/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy/mortality/physiopathology ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology/mortality/*prevention & control ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Stroke/etiology/mortality/*prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hyponatremia is a well-known risk factor for poor outcomes in Western studies of heart failure (HF) patients. We evaluated the predictive value of hyponatremia in hospitalized Asian HF patients. METHODS: The Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in the Relation with Serum Sodium Level in Asian Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure (the COAST) study enrolled hospitalized patients with systolic HF (ejection fraction < 45%) at eight centers in South Korea, Taiwan, and China. The relationship between admission sodium level and clinical outcomes was analyzed in 1,470 patients. RESULTS: The mean admission sodium level was 138 +/- 4.7 mmol/L, and 247 patients (16.8%) had hyponatremia defined as Na+ < 135 mmol/L. The 12-month mortality was higher in hyponatremic patients (27.9% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.001), and hyponatremia was an independent predictor of 12-month mortality (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 2.65). During hospital admission, 57% of hyponatremic patients showed improvement without improvement in their clinical outcomes (p = 0.620). The proportion of patients with optimal medical treatment was only 26.5% and 44.2% at admission and discharge, respectively, defined as the combined use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker and beta-blocker. Underuse of optimal medical treatment was more pronounced in hyponatremic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In hospitalized Asian HF patients, hyponatremia at admission is common and is an independent predictor of poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, hyponatremic patients receive less optimal medical treatment than their counterparts.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asia/epidemiology ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biomarkers/blood ; Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Guideline Adherence ; Healthcare Disparities ; Heart Failure/*diagnosis/drug therapy/ethnology/mortality/physiopathology ; *Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyponatremia/blood/*diagnosis/drug therapy/ethnology/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Sodium/*blood ; Stroke Volume ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome