Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2011
Multicenter StudyMidregion prohormone adrenomedullin and prognosis in patients presenting with acute dyspnea: results from the BACH (Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure) trial.
The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic utility of midregion proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) in all patients, cardiac and noncardiac, presenting with acute shortness of breath. ⋯ MR-proADM identifies patients with high 90-day mortality and adds prognostic value to natriuretic peptides in patients presenting with acute shortness of breath. Serial measurement of this biomarker may also prove useful for monitoring, although further studies will be required. (Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure [BACH]; NCT00537628).
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyEffect of lenient versus strict rate control on cardiac remodeling in patients with atrial fibrillation data of the RACE II (RAte Control Efficacy in permanent atrial fibrillation II) study.
The aim of this study was to evaluate echocardiographic remodeling in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients treated with either lenient or strict rate control. ⋯ Female sex, not lenient rate control, seemed to be associated with significant adverse cardiac remodeling in patients with permanent AF such as those enrolled in the RACE II study. (RAte Control Efficacy in Permanent Atrial Fibrillation [RACE II]; NCT00392613).
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2011
Multicenter StudyAge- and sex-related differences in all-cause mortality risk based on coronary computed tomography angiography findings results from the International Multicenter CONFIRM (Coronary CT Angiography Evaluation for Clinical Outcomes: An International Multicenter Registry) of 23,854 patients without known coronary artery disease.
We examined mortality in relation to coronary artery disease (CAD) as assessed by ≥64-detector row coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). ⋯ Among individuals without known CAD, nonobstructive and obstructive CAD by CCTA are associated with higher rates of mortality, with risk profiles differing for age and sex. Importantly, absence of CAD is associated with a very favorable prognosis.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2011
Multicenter StudyPrevalence and characteristics of early repolarization in the CASPER registry: cardiac arrest survivors with preserved ejection fraction registry.
We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of early repolarization in patients in CASPER (Cardiac Arrest Survivors With Preserved Ejection Fraction Registry). ⋯ Early repolarization is present in a significant proportion of causally diagnosed and idiopathic VF. It is often intermittent and more pronounced in IVF patients. (Registry of Unexplained Cardiac Arrest; NCT00292032).
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2011
Multicenter StudyThe importance of consistent, high-quality acute myocardial infarction and heart failure care results from the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines Program.
This study examined the degree to which hospital performance for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure (HF) care processes are correlated. ⋯ Hospitals that had consistent, superior performance for both AMI and HF care had significantly lower risk-adjusted mortality than those with superior performance either alone or for neither measure. Whether a single scoring system to assess global, rather than condition-specific, quality of cardiovascular care would facilitate care quality improvement more consistently and would optimize patient outcomes merits further investigation.