Circulation
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Our aim was to describe the incidence and predictors of stroke in patients who have heart failure without atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ A small number of demographic and clinical variables identified a subset of patients who have heart failure without AF at a high risk of stroke.
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Postpartum venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially fatal and preventable event leading to substantial short- and long-term morbidity. We sought to evaluate whether the delivery of term newborns of low or high birth weight was associated with greater risks of VTE. ⋯ The delivery of a newborn with low birth weight is associated with a 3-fold increased risk of maternal postpartum VTE. This should be considered when assessing VTE risk at delivery.
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Sports-associated sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) occur mostly during middle age. We sought to determine the burden, characteristics, and outcomes of SCA during sports among middle-aged residents of a large US community. ⋯ Sports-associated SCA in middle age represents a relatively small proportion of the overall SCA burden, reinforcing the idea of the high-benefit, low-risk nature of sports activity. Especially in light of current population aging trends, our findings emphasize that targeted education could maximize both safety and acceptance of sports activity in the older athlete.
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Comparative Study
Regional variation in the incidence and outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States.
Regional variation in the incidence and outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is not well studied and may have important health and policy implications. ⋯ We observed significant regional variation in IHCA incidence, survival, and resource use in the United States. This variation was explained only partially by differences in patient and hospital characteristics. Further studies are needed to identify other potential factors responsible for these regional differences to improve outcomes after IHCA.