European journal of preventive cardiology
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Undernourished patients treated in general surgery departments suffer from prolonged and complicated hospitalizations, and higher mortality rates compared with well nourished patients. Pivotal information regarding patients' nutritional status and its effect on clinical outcome is lacking for cardiac surgery patients. We investigated the prevalence of malnutrition risk and its association with 30-day hospital mortality and postoperative complications. ⋯ Malnutrition is prevalent in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, associated with higher postoperative mortality and morbidity. Preoperative MUST screening has emerged as highly relevant for enabling early diagnosis of patients at malnutrition risk, predicting postoperative mortality and morbidity, thus promoting well timed treatment. Prospective studies are needed to explore whether intervention can decrease malnutrition risk.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Statins reduce new-onset atrial fibrillation in a first-time myocardial infarction population: a nationwide propensity score-matched study.
To evaluate the effect of statins on reducing new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in a large real-world post-myocardial infarction (MI) population. Subsequently, to test if different statin doses, various types and compliance affected the incidence of new-onset AF post MI. ⋯ Statin therapy was significantly associated with less new-onset AF in a nationwide cohort of post-MI patients. Furthermore, statins showed a type-dependent effect in preventing new-onset AF. These results support the beneficial effect of statin therapy beyond lipid lowering in patients with MI and underline the importance of statin adherence and choice of statin type.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The effect of ramipril and telmisartan on serum potassium and its association with cardiovascular and renal events: results from the ONTARGET trial.
In the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Trial (ONTARGET), dual agent renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) did not reduce the risk of renal and cardiovascular outcomes compared with the single use of either agent. Dual therapy however increased the incidence of hyperkalemia. We examined risk factors for hyper- and hyokalemia and hypothesized that both would be associated with worse cardiovascular and renal outcomes. ⋯ With the precautions stipulated by the protocol of the ONTARGET trial, hypokalemia and hyperkalemia were infrequent events. Nevertheless, both high and low serum potassium were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and renal disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Use of a Multidrug Pill In Reducing cardiovascular Events (UMPIRE): rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial of a cardiovascular preventive polypill-based strategy in India and Europe.
The use of preventive medications in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease is conceptually straightforward, yet in practice the adoption of such measures is disappointingly low, plus there is wide international variation in preventive therapies. Several barriers might explain this shortfall and variation, but the simplicity and economy of a polypill-based strategy might overcome some barriers. The 'Use of a Multidrug Pill In Reducing cardiovascular Events' (UMPIRE) trial assesses whether a polypill strategy (by combining aspirin, a statin and two blood pressure lowering agents) would improve adherence to guideline-indicated therapies and would lower both blood pressure and cholesterol, in people with established cardiovascular disease. ⋯ Interpretation of the study data will be enhanced by health, economic and process-related evaluations. UMPIRE is registered with the European Clinical Trials database, as EudraCT: 2009-016278-34 and the Clinical Trials Registry, India as CTRI/2010/091/000250. The trial was part of the 'Single Pill Against Cardiovascular Events (SPACE)' collaboration, which encompasses the 'IMProving Adherence using Combination Therapy (IMPACT)' and 'Kanyini Guidelines Adherence with the Polypill (Kanyini-GAP)' trials.