Ethics and the law: is there common ground on informed consent for disparities in hospital outcomes?
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Aug 16;155(4):260-4
Authors: Housri N, Coombs M, Orandi BJ, Pawlik TM, Koniaris LG
The associati…

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Synopsis of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline for prevention of delirium.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jun 7;154(11):746-51
Authors: O’Mahony R, Murthy L, Akunne A, Young J,
Delirium is comm…

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Association of hospitalist care with medical utilization after discharge: evidence of cost shift from a cohort study.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Aug 2;155(3):152-9
Authors: Kuo YF, Goodwin JS
Background: Hospitalist care has…

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Diagnosis and Management of Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Clinical Practice Guideline Update from the American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory S…

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“July Effect”: Impact of the Academic Year-End Changeover on Patient Outcomes. A Systematic Review.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jul 11;
Authors: Young JQ, Ranji SR, Wachter RM, Lee CM, Niehaus B, Auerbach AD
Background: It is…

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Is Pocket Mobile Echocardiography the Next-Generation Stethoscope? A Cross-sectional Comparison of Rapidly Acquired Images With Standard Transthoracic Echocardiography.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jul 5;155(1):33-8
Authors: Liebo MJ,…

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Diagnostic performance of multidetector computed tomography for suspected acute appendicitis.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jun 21;154(12):789-96
Authors: Pickhardt PJ, Lawrence EM, Pooler BD, Bruce RJ
Background: Use of preope…

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Omalizumab in severe allergic asthma inadequately controlled with standard therapy: a randomized trial.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 May 3;154(9):573-82
Authors: Hanania NA, Alpan O, Hamilos DL, Condemi JJ, Reyes-Rivera I, Zhu J, Rose…

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Comparison of Inhaled Long-Acting {beta}-Agonist and Anticholinergic Effectiveness in Older Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cohort Study.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 May 3;154(9):583-92
Authors: Gershon A, Crox…

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Meta-analysis: Effect of Patient Self-testing and Self-management of Long-Term Anticoagulation on Major Clinical Outcomes.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Apr 5;154(7):472-82
Authors: Bloomfield HE, Krause A, Greer N, Taylor BC, Macdonal…

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Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Medications for Type 2 Diabetes: An Update Including New Drugs and 2-Drug Combinations.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Mar 14;
Authors: Bennett WL, Maruthur NM, Singh S, Segal JB, Wilson LM, Chatt…

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Early percutaneous tracheotomy versus prolonged intubation of mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery: a randomized trial.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Mar 15;154(6):373-83
Authors: Trouillet JL, Luyt CE, Guiguet M, Oua…

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What distinguishes top-performing hospitals in acute myocardial infarction mortality rates? A qualitative study.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Mar 15;154(6):384-90
Authors: Curry LA, Spatz E, Cherlin E, Thompson JW, Berg D, Ting HH, De…

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Meta-analysis: Diagnostic Performance of Low-Radiation-Dose Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Mar 15;154(6):413-20
Authors: von Ballmoos MW, Haring B, Juillerat P, Alkadhi H
Background: A n…

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Meta-analysis: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for Patients With Less Symptomatic Heart Failure.

Ann Intern Med. 2011 Feb 14;

Authors: Al-Majed NS, McAlister FA, Bakal JA, Ezekowitz JA

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced symptoms of heart failure. Purpose: To assess the benefits and harms of CRT in patients with advanced heart failure and those with less symptomatic disease. Data Sources: A search of electronic databases (1950 to December 2010), hand-searching of reference lists, and unpublished data from principal investigators. Searches were not limited to the English language. Study Selection: Randomized, controlled trials of CRT compared with usual care and right or left ventricular pacing in adults with heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.40 or less. Data Extraction: Two reviewers performed independent study selection, data abstraction, and quality assessment by using the Cochrane tool for assessing risk for bias. Data Synthesis: There were 9082 patients in 25 trials. In patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I and II symptoms, CRT reduced all-cause mortality (6 trials, 4572 participants; risk ratio [RR], 0.83 [95% CI, 0.72 to 0.96]) and heart failure hospitalizations (4 trials, 4349 participants; RR, 0.71 [CI, 0.57 to 0.87]) without improving functional outcomes or quality of life. In patients with NYHA class III or IV symptoms, CRT improved functional outcomes and reduced both all-cause mortality (19 trials, 4510 participants; RR, 0.78 [CI, 0.67 to 0.91]) and heart failure hospitalizations (11 trials, 2663 participants; RR, 0.65 [CI, 0.50 to 0.86]). The implant success rate was 94.4%; peri-implantation deaths occurred in 0.3% of trial participants, mechanical complications in 3.2%, lead problems in 6.2%, and infections in 1.4%. Limitation: Subgroup analyses were underpowered and lack data for persons with NYHA class I symptoms, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, or right bundle branch block. Conclusion: Cardiac resynchronization therapy is beneficial for patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, symptoms of heart failure, and prolonged QRS, regardless of NYHA class. Primary Funding Source: None.

PMID: 21320922 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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