European heart journal
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European heart journal · Dec 2011
Meta AnalysisSafety of clopidogrel being continued until the time of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a meta-analysis of 34 studies.
AIMS Guidelines suggest that patients should discontinue clopidogrel for 5 days prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) where possible. Those with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at elevated risk of further myocardial infarction (MI) and death without clopidogrel. This meta-analysis aims to determine the risk of CABG in ACS patients while continuing clopidogrel. ⋯ However, many patients have safely undergone CABG on clopidogrel and surgical expertise is growing. Multinational trials are required to fully determine the balance of ischaemia and bleeding. While results are awaited we suggest ACS patients requiring urgent CABG proceed with surgery without delay for a clopidogrel-free period.
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European heart journal · Jun 2011
Review Meta AnalysisSleep duration predicts cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.
Aims To assess the relationship between duration of sleep and morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and total cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods and results We performed a systematic search of publications using MEDLINE (1966-2009), EMBASE (from 1980), the Cochrane Library, and manual searches without language restrictions. Studies were included if they were prospective, follow-up >3 years, had duration of sleep at baseline, and incident cases of CHD, stroke, or CVD. ⋯ Short duration of sleep was associated with a greater risk of developing or dying of CHD (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.22-1.80, P < 0.0001), stroke (1.15, 1.00-1.31, P = 0.047), but not total CVD (1.03, 0.93-1.15, P = 0.52) with no evidence of publication bias (P = 0.95, P = 0.30, and P = 0.46, respectively). Long duration of sleep was also associated with a greater risk of CHD (1.38, 1.15-1.66, P = 0.0005), stroke (1.65, 1.45-1.87, P < 0.0001), and total CVD (1.41, 1.19-1.68, P < 0.0001) with no evidence of publication bias (P = 0.92, P = 0.96, and P = 0.79, respectively). Conclusion Both short and long duration of sleep are predictors, or markers, of cardiovascular outcomes.
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European heart journal · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Meta Analysis Comparative StudyPrimary angioplasty vs. fibrinolysis in very old patients with acute myocardial infarction: TRIANA (TRatamiento del Infarto Agudo de miocardio eN Ancianos) randomized trial and pooled analysis with previous studies.
To compare primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and fibrinolysis in very old patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in whom head-to-head comparisons between both strategies are scarce. ⋯ Primary PCI seems to be the best reperfusion therapy for STEMI even for the oldest patients. Early contemporary fibrinolytic therapy may be a safe alternative to pPCI in the elderly when this is not available.
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European heart journal · Sep 2009
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyPercutaneous left ventricular assist devices vs. intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation for treatment of cardiogenic shock: a meta-analysis of controlled trials.
Studies have compared safety and efficacy of percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation in patients with cardiogenic shock. We performed a meta-analysis of controlled trials to evaluate potential benefits of percutaneous LVAD on haemodynamics and 30-day survival. ⋯ Although percutaneous LVAD provides superior haemodynamic support in patients with cardiogenic shock compared with IABP, the use of these more powerful devices did not improve early survival. These results do not yet support percutaneous LVAD as first-choice approach in the mechanical management of cardiogenic shock.
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European heart journal · Mar 2009
Meta AnalysisBlood pressure reduction and renin-angiotensin system inhibition for prevention of congestive heart failure: a meta-analysis.
It is unclear whether prevention of congestive heart failure (CHF) by drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) occurs over and beyond the reduction in blood pressure (BP) achieved by these drugs. ⋯ BP reduction is beneficial for the prevention of CHF. Over and beyond BP reduction, the protective effect of ACEIs and ARBs is greater than that of CCBs.