Tag Archives: heart failure

New NT-proBNP test Roche Diagnostics has announced the launch of a new NT-proBNP+ test, which it says can give a result in under 15 minutes when tested on its cobas h232 near-patient testing meter. In addition, the test has an extended measuring range (60 – 9000pg/ml). The test can serve as an aid in the diagnosis of suspected heart failure, in the monitoring of compensated left ventricular dysfunction and in the risk stratification of patients with acute coronary symptoms. Recent recommendations of a consensus group (Br J Cardiol 2010;17:76-80) highlight the importance of B-type natriuretic peptide (NP) testing for heart failure. NP testi

According to Pfizer, an interim analysis of the trial showed that patients treated with eplerenone in addition to current standard of care experienced a significant reduction in risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalisation compared with those in the placebo arm of the trial.  The company says it is now working to ensure that all patients are informed of this decision, and an amendment to the protocol will be requested to allow all consenting patients to start treatment with eplerenone in an open-label extension of the study, after completing a close-out visit ending the double-blind, placebo-controlled phase.  Eplerenone is

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New pocket-sized visualisation tool This new pocket-sized visualisation tool provides ultrasound technology at the point-of-care. Similar in size to a mobile phone and weighing less than one pound, it can give high quality colour images enabling physicians to take a quick look inside the body and detect disease earlier. Vscan™ is marketed by GE Healthcare and has received the CE Mark by the European Union. Heart failure report published A comprehensive review of the quality of heart failure care in England Bridging the quality gap: heart failure, has been published by The Health Foundation. It highlights that prevention is key to imp

Introduction That renal and cardiac disease appear inseparable from an epidemiological perspective is unsurprising, since they share many risk factors, notably hypertension, diabetes and inflammation. To date, however, our focus on the disparate specialities of ‘cardiology’ and ‘nephrology’ has reinforced a perception of each system as separate. The Cardiorenal Forum (CRF) was established to challenge this perspective. The most recent meeting, last autumn, ‘Optimising care at the cardiorenal interface’ was organised by the Royal College of Physicians, the British Cardiovascular Society and the Renal Association, in association wit

We reviewed the use of DS1500 applications for state financial benefits for patients dying from cancer (n=54) and heart failure (n=24) in one primary care practice. There was a marked inequality in favour of those with cancer, both in terms of DS1500 application form usage (cancer 33% versus heart failure 0%), but also access to palliative care service referrals (cancer 54% versus heart failure 8%) and discussion in Gold Standards Framework practice meetings (cancer 61% versus heart failure 4%). There should be equal provision of a ‘gold standard’ of care for patients with terminal disease irrespective of aetiology. Background High-qualit

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Coffee consumption shows CHD benefits in women A meta-analysis of a number of cohorts studies published in the International Journal of Cardiology (2009;137:216-25) demonstrates that habitual coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women. Analysis of data from 21 cohort studies showed that moderate coffee consumption (of up to four cups of coffee per day) were associated with a 18% reduction in risk of CHD in women.  The investigators note that such an effect was unlikely to be caused by chance. Further benefits have been shown from a meta-analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medici

Introduction A large number of studies have documented a high rate of co-occurrence of psychiatric morbidity and chronic medical conditions, such as bronchial asthma, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.1,2Specifically, in heart failure (HF), psychiatric complications such as depression and anxiety are very common.3,4 In Africa, most especially Nigeria, HF is quite common with attendant high morbidity and mortality rates.5,6 Studies have shown that co-morbid psychiatric disorders delay recovery from HF, increasing length of hospital stay, with associated poorer prognosis and increased mortality.7,8 Despite the importance of co-morbid psy

GISSI-HF shows benefit for PUFA in heart failure Two new studies from the Italian GISSI group show that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) supplementation improves morbidity and mortality in those with symptomatic heart failure, but statins don’t have any benefit in the same type of patients. The results were presented during a hotline session at the Congress and published simultaneously in The Lancet (Lancet 2008; DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736[08]61239-8, and Lancet 2008;DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736[08]61240-4). Long-term administration of PUFA reduced all-cause mortality by 9%, which the investigators say was a modest effect, and they also cut