2007, Volume 14, Issue 04, pages 181-244

2007, Volume 14, Issue 04, pages 181-244

Editorials Clinical articles News and views
Topics include:-
  • Living with heart failure – the patient’s perspective
  • Chronic kidney disease in primary care
  • Saving money or saving lives? Generic or intensive statin therapy
  • Commissioning echocardiography – opportunities and risks to patients

Editorials

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:189

Challenge and change for the BJC

Kim Fox, Terry McCormack, Philip Poole-Wilson, Henry Purcell

Abstract

Huge changes are underway within the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). A far-reaching programme of marketing-orientated changes has resulted in “the emergence of a new NHS where increasingly care is delivered by an ‘alphabet soup’ of agencies and public and private providers”. These changes have affected both primary and secondary care and they continue to impact on the practice of medicine.

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:190

REACHing for new heights in disease management

Deepak L Bhatt, P Gabriel Steg

Abstract

Atherothrombosis is the underlying pathology for most ischaemic events, including myocardial infarction, many forms of stroke, peripheral arterial insufficiency, and cardiovascular death, together with sudden cardiac death. As such, atherothrombosis represents a major healthcare concern throughout the world. Due to the increase in sedentary lifestyle and overeating, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes are all increasing in parallel, fuelling the atherothrombosis epidemic. It is likely, as the population ages and as urbanisation and industrialisation continue, that atherothrombosis will grow in prominence as a major public health problem.

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:191-92

Commissioning echocardiography: opportunities and risks to patients

Kevin F Fox on behalf of the British Society of Echocardiography

Abstract

Patients are waiting too long for echocardiography. A British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) survey shows that 62% of patients are waiting longer than four weeks and 23% more than 18 weeks.1 There is substantial under provision of services and those that do exist need to work more effectively. The government is focussing on diagnostic services, including echocardiography, with a number of programmes including the 18-week project and expanding commissioning of services beyond traditional providers.2 

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Clinical articles

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:207–12

Health-related quality of life from the perspective of patients with chronic heart failure

Karen Dunderdale, Gill Furze, David R Thompson, Stephen F Beer, Jeremy NV Miles

Abstract

The aims of treatment in chronic heart failure are to reduce symptoms, improve function and prolong life. Currently there is no patient-centred health-related quality of life measure in chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to explore health-related quality of life from the perspective of patients with chronic heart failure and to identify themes for inclusion in a patient-generated instrument. 

Semi-structured interviewing of patients with an objective diagnosis of chronic heart failure was undertaken. Analysis of the transcripts identified seven themes on health-related quality of life. These were: changes in physical ability, emotional state, self-awareness and self-perception, changes in relationships, symptoms, maintaining social/lifestyle status and cognitive aspects. 

Findings from this study will contribute to the development of a patient-led health-related quality of life measure for use in everyday practical care in a chronic heart failure population.

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:215-218

One-year data from the UK arm of the REACH Registry

Jonathan M Morrell, George C Kassianos

Abstract

Atherothrombosis is a leading cause of global mortality. It represents a significant public health issue in the UK and, as such, the UK Government has made it a healthcare priority. The global REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry aims to evaluate the long-term risk of atherothrombotic events in an at-risk population, to assess the importance of cross-risk and to define predictors of atherothrombotic events. REACH has recruited over 68,000 people in over 5,000 centres in 44 countries, of which 618 were from the UK.

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:221-28

Chronic kidney disease in primary care

Juliet Usher-Smith, Andy Young, Simon Chatfield, Mike Kirby

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and in February 2006 was added to the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for primary care in the UK. The QOF indicators apply to all patients with stage 3–5 CKD and include the production of a register of such patients, appropriate monitoring and treatment of hypertension and the prescription of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:229-33

Generic or intensive statin therapy: saving money or saving lives?

Rob Butler

Abstract

Over the last few years, there has been a gradual increase in the use of intensive statin therapy, ostensibly atorvastatin 80 mg for high-risk individuals, such as those who suffered a myocardial infarction or underwent revascularisation. First-World economies, such as the UK, with a significant state contribution healthcare funding, had mounting anxiety because of the expanding indications and therefore cost of intensive statin therapy. The perceived relative expense of this strategy provoked a swift, often unilateral, withdrawal of such regimens by commissioners.

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:234-6

Stent thrombosis and antiplatelet therapy: a review of 3,004 consecutive patients in a single centre

Nick Curzen, Geraint Morton, Alex Hobson, Iain Simpson, Alison Calver, Huon Gray, Keith D Dawkins

Abstract

Stent thrombosis (ST) is an uncommon but serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and is associated with the discontinuation of antiplatlet therapy. In a retrospective study of ST cases during a two-year period of the Wessex Regional Cardiac Unit, 3,004 (1,661 emergency and 1,343 elective) patients underwent PCI between November 2003 and October 2005. There were 25 episodes of ST occurring in 22 patients (overall incidence of ST is 0.83%). There were two (8%) cases of acute ST, eight (32%) of sub-acute ST and 15 (60%) of late or very late ST (five cases between six and 12 months and one case more than one year post-procedure). In the late and very late ST group only one patient was taking dual antiplatelet therapy.

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:237-41

Non-invasive cardiac imaging: current and emerging roles for multi-detector row computed tomography. Part 2

Edward D Nicol, Simon PG Padley

Abstract

The demand for non-invasive diagnostic imaging in cardiology increases with the advancing age of the population. Whilst exercise testing and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy have provided non-invasive functional assessment of coronary artery disease there has been little alternative to invasive coronary angiography for anatomical assessment of the coronary tree.

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:242-44

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure due to simvastatin and amiodarone

Haroon Siddique, Maria Mushkbar, Adrian Walker, John Scarpello

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis is an uncommon but potentially serious adverse reaction associated with the use of statins. Simvastatin is metabolised by cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 and amiodarone is an inhibitor of this enzyme. Concomitant use of these drugs, especially with high doses of simvastatinm may result in myopathy. Acute renal failure as a result of rhabdomyolysis due to this aetiology is rare with only a few cases reported previously. Here, we report a case of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure secondary to concomitant use of simvastatin and amiodarone.

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News and views

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September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:194-99

News from the 2007 Congress of the European Society of Cardiology

ADVANCE – lowering blood pressure reduces events in diabetes Death rates with drug-eluting stents worse in STEMI patients Women with ACS do worse with PCI EUROASPIRE: lifestyle...

September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:201-202

Back to the future: familial hypercholesterolaemia revisited

Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University hosted the 21st Annual Medical & Scientific Meeting and the Patients’ Workshop of H.E.A.R.T UK this summer. The theme was looking...

September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:203-04

Women and heart disease

Heart disease in women was the theme for the SHARP (Scottish Heart and Arterial Risk Prevention Group) Spring Symposium held earlier this year in...

September 2007 Br J Cardiol 2007;14:205–18

Things you always wanted to know about … the stethoscope

We continue our series in which Consultant Interventionist Dr Michael Norell takes a sideways look at life in the cath lab…and beyond. In this...