JACC. Heart failure
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JACC. Heart failure · Feb 2015
Multicenter StudyAdvance directives among hospitalized patients with heart failure.
The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and correlates of documented advance directives (ADs) among patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF). ⋯ In a diverse population of hospitalized patients with HF, most did not have a documented AD in the medical records. Although several factors were associated with a higher probability, major opportunities exist for all subgroups of patients with HF to improve documentation of ADs.
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JACC. Heart failure · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyComparative assessment of short-term adverse events in acute heart failure with cystatin C and other estimates of renal function: results from the ASCEND-HF trial.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive values of baseline and changes in cystatin C (CysC) and its derived equations for short-term adverse outcomes and the effect of nesiritide therapy on CysC in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). ⋯ Our findings confirmed the prognostic value of baseline CysC levels in the setting of ADHF. However, worsening renal function based on CysC rise was not predictive of adverse events. Nesiritide did not worsen renal function compared with placebo.
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JACC. Heart failure · Jan 2015
Multicenter StudyDelineating survival outcomes in children <10 kg bridged to transplant or recovery with the Berlin Heart EXCOR Ventricular Assist Device.
The goal of this study was to delineate outcomes of children weighing <10 kg supported with the Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (EXCOR Pediatric, Berlin Heart Inc., The Woodlands, Texas) and to identify factors that increased the risk of all-cause mortality in this population. ⋯ Overall results for children weighing <10 kg were inferior to those of their larger counterparts. This outcome was primarily influenced by congenital heart disease and presence of elevated pre-implant bilirubin levels. These factors should be taken into consideration at decision making because reasonable outcomes can be achieved in a select population of children weighing <10 kg.
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JACC. Heart failure · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyReduced risk for inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks with dual-chamber therapy compared with single-chamber therapy: results of the randomized OPTION study.
The OPTION (Optimal Anti-Tachycardia Therapy in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Patients Without Pacing Indications) trial sought to compare long-term rates of inappropriate shocks, mortality, and morbidity between dual-chamber and single-chamber settings in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) patients. ⋯ Therapy with dual-chamber settings for ICD discrimination combined with algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing was associated with reduced risk for inappropriate shock compared with single-chamber settings, without increases in mortality and morbidity. (Optimal Anti-Tachycardia Therapy in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator [ICD] Patients Without Pacing Indications [OPTION]; NCT00729703).
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JACC. Heart failure · Feb 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyPrognostic value of the physical examination in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation: insights from the AF-CHF trial (atrial fibrillation and chronic heart failure).
This study sought to assess the prognostic value of physical examination in a modern treated heart failure population. ⋯ In the modern era, congestive signs on the physical examination (i.e., peripheral edema, jugular venous distension, a third heart sound, and pulmonary rales) continue to provide important prognostic information in patients with congestive heart failure.