The American journal of cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Relation between previous angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use and in-hospital outcomes in acute coronary syndromes.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use in patients at high risk of coronary artery disease has been associated with a decrease in the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and death. However, it is unclear whether chronic use of these agents modifies the course and outcome of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study assessed the association between chronic use of ACE inhibitors and clinical outcomes in patients with ACS. ⋯ Patients receiving an ACE inhibitor before the ACS had a higher prevalence of diabetes (40.6% vs 21.2%, p <0.001), previous MI (51.8% vs 23.3%, p <0.001), heart failure (18.0% vs 6.9%), and higher GRACE scores at presentation (133 vs 124, p <0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated no significant association between previous ACE inhibitor use and death (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.15, confidence interval [CI] 0.90 to 1.49, p = 0.27), in-hospital re-MI (adjusted OR 0.99, CI 0.78 to 1.25, p = 0.91), or the composite end point of death/re-MI (adjusted OR 1.01, CI 0.84 to 1.20, p = 0.94). In conclusion, previous use of an ACE inhibitor is not independently associated with improved in-hospital outcomes after an ACS.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Analysis of circumferential and longitudinal left ventricular systolic function in patients with non-ischemic chronic heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (from the CARRY-IN-HFpEF study).
Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is implicitly attributed to diastolic dysfunction, often recognized in elderly patients with hypertension, diabetes, and renal dysfunction. In these patients, left ventricular circumferential and longitudinal shortening is often impaired despite normal ejection fraction. The aim of this prospective study was to analyze circumferential and longitudinal shortening and their relations in patients with nonischemic HFpEF. ⋯ Changes in S' within normal values corresponded to negligible variations in sc-MS, whereas the progressive decrease below 8.5 cm/s was associated with substantial decrease in sc-MS. In conclusion, circumferential and/or longitudinal systolic dysfunction is present in most patients with HFpEF. Circumferential shortening normalized by wall stress identifies more patients with concealed left ventricular systolic dysfunction than longitudinal shortening.