2009 June 26

ACCF/ASNC/ACR/AHA/ASE/SCCT/SCMR/SNM 2009 Appropriate Use Criteria for Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the American College of Radiology, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Echocardiography, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and the Society of Nuclear Medicine. Endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Jun 262009

ACCF/ASNC/ACR/AHA/ASE/SCCT/SCMR/SNM 2009 Appropriate Use Criteria for Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the American College of Radiology, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Echocardiography, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and the Society of Nuclear Medicine. Endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009 Jun 9;53(23):2201-29

Authors: Hendel RC, Berman DS, Di Carli MF, Heidenreich PA, Henkin RE, Pellikka PA, Pohost GM, Williams KA, , , , , , , , ,

PMID: 19497454 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Link to Article at PubMed

Medication interventions for fall prevention in the older adult.

J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) Start a Discussion »

Jun 262009

Medication interventions for fall prevention in the older adult.

J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2009 May-Jun;49(3):e70-82; quiz e83-4

Authors: Cooper JW, Burfield AH

OBJECTIVE: To review fall epidemiology, risk factors, assessments and intervention methods, and outcomes in order to provide guidance to pharmacists. DATA SOURCES: Recently published articles listed in Medline and resources on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website (www.ahrq.gov) identified using the search terms falls, medications and falls, fall risk factors, and falls interventions and outcomes; personal data in preparation for publication consideration by the authors; and bibliographies from gathered articles. DATA SYNTHESIS: Falls may result from multiple risk factors that should be considered to both prevent falls and intervene when a fall has occurred. Careful consideration of the total psychoactive drug load, especially psychotropic drugs, and well-planned recommendations for tapering, discontinuing, and/or replacing drugs implicated in increasing fall risk are presented. A fall risk assessment method that incorporates fall history and risk factors, current disease states and conditions, and medications that may increase fall risk is provided. Two cases with interventions and outcomes are detailed. Because anemia may increase fall risk, adequate assessment of the cause(s) of anemia and conservative recommendations to correct it may decrease fall risk. Adequate vitamin D and calcium intake also may be essential to both decrease falls and fall-related fracture risk. Suggested alternatives and tapering for drugs implicated in increasing falls are considered. Osteoporosis risk assessment is a further area requiring delineation for possible pharmacist assistance to the patient and prescriber to reduce the risk of both fall-related and nontrauma fractures. Interventions to change medications may reduce falls by up to 70%. Additional fall-related resources on the Internet are provided. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists can play an important role by identifying patients who may have fall risk factors and history and by providing information for drug changes that may reduce fall risk.

PMID: 19443314 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Link to Article at PubMed

Diagnosis and management of asthma in older adults.

J Am Geriatr Soc Start a Discussion »

Jun 262009

Diagnosis and management of asthma in older adults.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009 May;57(5):901-9

Authors: Chotirmall SH, Watts M, Branagan P, Donegan CF, Moore A, McElvaney NG

Despite comprehensive guidelines established by the European Global Initiative for Asthma and the U.S. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program on the diagnosis and management of asthma, its mortality in older adults continues to rise. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems contribute to older patients being inadequately treated. The diagnosis of asthma rests on the history and characteristic pulmonary function testing (PFT) with the demonstration of reversible airway obstruction, but there are unique problems in performing this test in older patients and in its interpretation. This review aims to address the difficulties in performing and interpreting PFT in older patients because of the effects of age-related changes in lung function on respiratory physiology. The concept of "airway remodeling" resulting in "fixed obstructive" PFT and the relevance of atopy in older people with asthma are assessed. There are certain therapeutic issues unique to older patients with asthma, including the increased probability of adverse effects in the setting of multiple comorbidities and issues surrounding effective drug delivery. The use of beta 2-agonist, anticholinergic, corticosteroid, and anti-immunoglobulin E treatments are discussed in the context of these therapeutic issues.

PMID: 19484848 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Link to Article at PubMed

In-hospital case fatality rates for acute myocardial infarction in Romania.

CMAJ Start a Discussion »

Jun 262009

In-hospital case fatality rates for acute myocardial infarction in Romania.

CMAJ. 2009 Jun 9;180(12):1207-13

Authors: Tatu-Chitoiu G, Cinteza M, Dorobantu M, Udeanu M, Manfrini O, Pizzi C, Vintila M, Ionescu DD, Craiu E, Burghina D, Bugiardini R

BACKGROUND: We describe the clinical characteristics, treatments and in-hospital case-fatality rates in an unselected population of patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: From January 2000 to June 2007, we tracked consecutive patients who were admitted to 7 tertiary referral and 21 county hospitals in Romania for medical treatment of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction. These patients were enrolled in the Romanian Registry for ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. For this prospective study, we collected data on demographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, various aspects of treatment for myocardial infarction, and in-hospital death. RESULTS: The 9186 patients in the study group had a mean age of 63.8 years. The median time from onset of symptoms to thrombolysis was 230 (interquartile range 120-510) minutes. Of the 9186 patients, 4986 (54.3%) had hypertension, 1974 (21.5%) had diabetes mellitus, 3545 (38.6%) had lipid disorders and 4653 (50.7%) were smokers. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12.7% (1170 deaths). The study group consisted of 2893 women and 6293 men. The women were older than the men and had higher rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus but were less likely to be smokers. A smaller proportion of women than men presented within 2 hours after onset of symptoms (23.1% v. 34.4%, p < 0.001). Smaller proportions of women received thrombolytics (40.8% v. 53.5%, p < 0.001), anticoagulants (93.4% v. 95.2%; p = 0.001), antiplatelet agents (88.3% v. 91.2%, p < 0.001) and primary percutaneous coronary interventions (1.5% v. 2.2%, p = 0.030). The risk of in-hospital death was greater for women, even after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.56; p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: The rates of reperfusion therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction were low, and in-hospital case-fatality rates were high in this study. Excess in-hospital mortality was more pronounced among women.

PMID: 19506280 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Link to Article at PubMed

AVP receptor antagonists in patients with CHF.

Heart Fail Rev Start a Discussion »

Jun 262009

AVP receptor antagonists in patients with CHF.

Heart Fail Rev. 2009 Jun;14(2):83-6

Authors: Kumar SK, Mather PJ

In the Adhere (Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Registry) National Registry, hyponatremia (serum sodium <130 mEq/l) at clinical presentation was noted in 5% of patients with HF. The enhanced release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) can lead to hyponatremia by binding to the V2 receptor results in free-water retention and hyponatremia. Given the central role of AVP in causing hyponatremia in patients with congestive heart failure, decreasing vasopressin activity has been a therapeutic focus. With no current therapy to decrease production of AVP, attention was turned to decreasing the effect of AVP by blocking the receptor.

PMID: 18766439 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Link to Article at PubMed

Beta-blockade with nebivolol in elderly heart failure patients with impaired and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: Data From SENIORS (Study of Effects of Nebivolol Intervention on Outcomes and Rehospitalization in Seniors With Heart Failure).

J Am Coll Cardiol Start a Discussion »

Jun 262009

Beta-blockade with nebivolol in elderly heart failure patients with impaired and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: Data From SENIORS (Study of Effects of Nebivolol Intervention on Outcomes and Rehospitalization in Seniors With Heart Failure).

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009 Jun 9;53(23):2150-8

Authors: van Veldhuisen DJ, Cohen-Solal A, Böhm M, Anker SD, Babalis D, Roughton M, Coats AJ, Poole-Wilson PA, Flather MD,

OBJECTIVES: In this pre-specified subanalysis of the SENIORS (Study of Effects of Nebivolol Intervention on Outcomes and Rehospitalization in Seniors With Heart Failure) trial, which examined the effects of nebivolol in elderly heart failure (HF) patients, we explored the effects of left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) on outcomes, including the subgroups impaired EF (< or =35%) and preserved EF (>35%). BACKGROUND: Beta-blockers are established drugs in patients with HF and impaired EF, but their value in preserved EF is unclear. METHODS: We studied 2,111 patients; 1,359 (64%) had impaired (< or =35%) EF (mean 28.7%) and 752 (36%) had preserved (>35%) EF (mean 49.2%). The effect of nebivolol was investigated in these 2 groups, and it was compared to explore the interaction of EF with outcome. Follow-up was 21 months; the primary end point was all-cause mortality or cardiovascular hospitalizations. RESULTS: Patients with preserved EF were more often women (49.9% vs. 29.8%) and had less advanced HF, more hypertension, and fewer prior myocardial infarctions (all p < 0.001). During follow-up, the primary end point occurred in 465 patients (34.2%) with impaired EF and in 235 patients (31.2%) with preserved EF. The effect of nebivolol on the primary end point (hazard ratio [HR] of nebivolol vs. placebo) was 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.72 to 1.04) in patients with impaired EF and 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.63 to 1.04) in preserved EF (p = 0.720 for subgroup interaction). Effects on all secondary end points were similar between groups (HR for all-cause mortality 0.84 and 0.91, respectively), and no p value for interaction was <0.48. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of beta-blockade with nebivolol in elderly patients with HF in this study was similar in those with preserved and impaired EF.

PMID: 19497441 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Link to Article at PubMed

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