scholarly journals Impact of residence altitude on readmission in patients with heart failure

Open Heart ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. e000865
Author(s):  
Makoto Saito ◽  
Manami Yamaoka ◽  
Mayuri Ohzawa ◽  
Emi Tominaga ◽  
Kayo Takahashi ◽  
...  

ObjectiveMountain districts normally have tougher geographic conditions than plain districts, which might worsen heart failure (HF) conditions in patients. Also, those places frequently are associated with social problems of ageing, underpopulation and fewer medical services, which might cause delay in detection of disease progression and require more admissions. We investigated the association of residence altitude with readmission in patients with HF.MethodsWe followed 452 patients with HF to determine all-cause readmissions over a median of 1.1 years. The altitude of patient residences, population, proportion of the elderly and number of hospitals or clinics in a minor administrative district (Cho-Aza district) located at the residences were examined using data from the 2010 census and Google Maps.ResultsAll-cause readmissions were observed in 269 (60%) patients. The altitude of ≥200  m was significantly associated with readmissions (HR, 1.49; 95 % CI 1.12 to 1.96; p=0.006) after adjustment for physical and haemodynamic parameters, left ventricular ejection fraction, brain natriuretic peptide and components of the established score for predicting readmission for HF. Altitude was significantly associated with ageing, underpopulation, fewer hospitals or clinics and lower temperature (all p<0.01), with an increased tendency for readmission during the winter season; however, it was not associated with patient clinical parameters.ConclusionsHigh altitude residence may be an important predictor for readmission in patients with HF. This relationship may be confounded by unfavourable sociogeographic conditions at higher altitudes.

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto A Smiseth ◽  
Anders Opdahl ◽  
Espen Boe ◽  
Helge Skulstad

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HF-PEF), sometimes named diastolic heart failure, is a common condition most frequently seen in the elderly and is associated with arterial hypertension and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Symptoms are attributed to a stiff left ventricle with compensatory elevation of filling pressure and reduced ability to increase stroke volume by the Frank-Starling mechanism. LV interaction with stiff arteries aggravates these problems. Prognosis is almost as severe as for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), in part reflecting co-morbidities. Before the diagnosis of HF-PEF is made, non-cardiac etiologies must be excluded. Due to the non-specific nature of heart failure symptoms, it is essential to search for objective evidence of diastolic dysfunction which, in the absence of invasive data, is done by echocardiography and demonstration of signs of elevated LV filling pressure, impaired LV relaxation, or increased LV diastolic stiffness. Antihypertensive treatment can effectively prevent HF-PEF. Treatment of HF-PEF is symptomatic, with similar drugs as in HF-REF.


2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Biagi ◽  
Luigi Abate ◽  
Massimo Alessandri ◽  
Salvatore Bocchini ◽  
Valerio Verdiani ◽  
...  

Background. There is uncertainty about the prevalence and clinical characteristics of heart failure (HF) patients with preserved systolic function (PRESYF). Aim. To analyze the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with PRESYF in an unselected cohort of subjects consecutively hospitalized for HF. Methods. The study cohort included 338 patients consecutively admitted for HF at 24 Internal Medicine units homogeneously settled in Tuscany area (Italy). We did not have any criteria for exclusion. All patients had an echocardiographic measure of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) within 72 hours from hospital admission. Patients with LVEF &gt; 50% were considered to have PRESYF. Results. The patients with PRESYF were 112 (33,1%), those with depressed systolic function (DESYF) 226 (66,9%). In the group PRESYF were prevalent female sex, hypertensive etiology, and elevated BMI. The distribution for classes of age shows a great frequency of PRESYF in the elderly. Conclusion. About one third of patients admitted for HF have a PRESYF. They are different compared to those with DESYF. A correct identification of this form of HF may be important in clinical practice for more targeted therapeutic options and for prognostic implications.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto A Smiseth ◽  
Anders Opdahl ◽  
Espen Boe ◽  
Helge Skulstad ◽  
◽  
...  

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HF-PEF), sometimes named diastolic heart failure, is a common condition most frequently seen in the elderly and is associated with arterial hypertension and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Symptoms are attributed to a stiff left ventricle with compensatory elevation of filling pressure and reduced ability to increase stroke volume by the Frank–Starling mechanism. LV interaction with stiff arteries aggravates these problems. Prognosis is almost as severe as for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), in part reflecting co-morbidities. Before the diagnosis of HF-PEF is made, non-cardiac aetiologies must be excluded. Due to the non-specific nature of heart failure symptoms, it is essential to search for objective evidence of diastolic dysfunction which, in the absence of invasive data, is done by echocardiography and demonstration of signs of elevated LV filling pressure, impaired LV relaxation or increased LV diastolic stiffness. Antihypertensive treatment can effectively prevent HF-PEF. Treatment of HF-PEF is symptomatic, with similar drugs as in HF-REF.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Chunbin ◽  
Wang Han ◽  
Cai Lin

Abstract. Vitamin D deficiency commonly occurs in chronic heart failure. Whether additional vitamin D supplementation can be beneficial to adults with chronic heart failure remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched on September 8, 2016. Seven randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of vitamin D on cardiovascular outcomes in adults with chronic heart failure, and comprised 592 patients, were included in the analysis. Compared to placebo, vitamin D, at doses ranging from 2,000 IU/day to 50,000 IU/week, could not improve left ventricular ejection fraction (Weighted mean difference, WMD = 3.31, 95% confidence interval, CL = −0.93 to 7.55, P < 0.001, I2 = 92.1%); it also exerts no beneficial effects on the 6 minute walk distance (WMD = 18.84, 95% CL = −24.85 to 62.52, P = 0.276, I2 = 22.4%) and natriuretic peptide (Standardized mean difference, SMD = −0.39, 95% confidence interval CL = −0.48 to 0.69, P < 0.001, I2 = 92.4%). However, a dose-response analysis from two studies demonstrated an improved left ventricular ejection fraction with vitamin D at a dose of 4,000 IU/day (WMD = 6.58, 95% confidence interval CL = −4.04 to 9.13, P = 0.134, I2 = 55.4%). The results showed that high dose vitamin D treatment could potentially benefit adults with chronic heart failure, but more randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this result.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Charlotte Eitel ◽  
Gerhard Hindricks ◽  
Christopher Piorkowski ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is an efficacious and cost-effective therapy in patients with highly symptomatic systolic heart failure and delayed ventricular conduction. Current guidelines recommend CRT as a class I indication for patients with sinus rhythm, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or ambulatory class IV, a QRS duration ≥120ms, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%, despite optimal pharmacological therapy. Recent trials resulted in an extension of current recommendations to patients with mild heart failure, patients with atrial fibrillation, and patients with an indication for permanent right ventricular pacing with the aim of morbidity reduction. The effectiveness of CRT in patients with narrow QRS, patients with end-stage heart failure and cardiogenic shock, and patients with an LVEF >35% still needs to be proved. This article reviews current evidence and clinical applications of CRT in heart failure and provides an outlook on future developments.


Author(s):  
С.А. Крыжановский ◽  
И.Б. Цорин ◽  
Е.О. Ионова ◽  
В.Н. Столярук ◽  
М.Б. Вититнова ◽  
...  

Цель исследования - разработка трансляционной модели хронической сердечной недостаточности (ХСН) у крыс, позволяющей, с одной стороны, изучить тонкие механизмы, лежащие в основе данной патологии, а с другой стороны, выявить новые биомишени для поиска и изучения механизма действия инновационных лекарственных средств. Методика. Использован комплекс эхокардиографических, морфологических, биохимических и молекулярно-биологических исследований, позволяющий оценивать и дифференцировать этапы формирования ХСН. Результаты. Динамические эхокардиографические исследования показали, что ХСН формируется через 90 дней после воспроизведения переднего трансмурального инфаркта миокарда. К этому времени у животных основной группы отмечается статистически значимое по сравнению со 2-ми сут. после воспроизведения экспериментального инфаркта миокарда снижение ФВ левого желудочка сердца (соответственно 55,9 ± 1,4 и 63,9 ± 1,6%, р = 0,0008). Снижение насосной функции сердца (на 13% по сравнению со 2-ми сут. после операции и на ~40% по сравнению с интактными животными) сопровождается увеличением КСР и КДР (соответственно с 2,49 ± 0,08 до 3,91 ± 0,17 мм, р = 0,0002, и с 3,56 ± 0,11 до 5,20 ± 0,19 мм, р = 0,0001), то есть к этому сроку развивается сердечная недостаточность. Результаты эхокардиографических исследований подтверждены данными морфометрии миокарда, продемонстрировавшими дилатацию правого и левого желудочков сердца. Параллельно проведенные гистологические исследования свидетельствуют о наличии патогномоничных для данной патологии изменений миокарда (постинфарктный кардиосклероз, компенсаторная гипертрофия кардиомиоцитов, очаги исчезновения поперечной исчерченности мышечных волокон и т.д.) и признаков венозного застоя в легких и печени. Биохимические исследования выявили значимое увеличение концентрации в плазме крови биохимического маркера ХСН - мозгового натрийуретического пептида. Данные молекулярно-биологических исследований позволяют говорить о наличии гиперактивности ренин-ангиотензин-альдостероновой и симпатоадреналовой систем, играющих ключевую роль в патогенезе ХСН. Заключение. Разработана трансляционная модель ХСН у крыс, воспроизводящая основные клинико-диагностические критерии этого заболевания. Показано наличие корреляции между морфометрическими, гистологическими, биохимическими и молекулярными маркерами прогрессирующей ХСН и эхокардиографическими диагностическими признаками, что позволяет использовать неинвазивный метод эхокардиографии, характеризующий состояние внутрисердечной гемодинамики, в качестве основного критерия оценки наличия/отсутствия данной патологии. Aim. Development of a translational model for chronic heart failure (CHF) in rats to identify new biotargets for finding and studying mechanisms of innovative drug effect in this disease. Methods. A set of echocardiographic, morphological, biochemical, and molecular methods was used to evaluate and differentiate stages of CHF development. Results. Dynamic echocardiographic studies showed that CHF developed in 90 days after anterior transmural myocardial infarction. By that time, left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased in animals of the main group compared with rats studied on day 2 after experimental myocardial infarction (55.9 ± 1.4% vs . 63.9 ± 1.6%, respectively, p<0.0008). The decrease in heart’s pumping function (by 13% compared with day 2 after infarction and by approximately 40% compared to intact animals) was associated with increased ESD and EDD (from 2.49 ± 0.08 to 3.91 ± 0.17 mm, p = 0.0002, and from 3.56 ± 0.11 to 5.20 ± 0.19 mm, respectively, p = 0.0001); therefore, heart failure developed by that time. The results of echocardiographic studies were confirmed by myocardial morphometry, which demonstrated dilatation of both right and left ventricles. Paralleled histological studies indicated presence of the changes pathognomonic for this myocardial pathology (postinfarction cardiosclerosis, compensatory hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, foci of disappeared transverse striation of muscle fibers, etc.) and signs of venous congestion in lungs and liver. Biochemical studies demonstrated a significant increase in plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide, a biochemical marker of CHF. Results of molecular studies suggested hyperactivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathoadrenal systems, which play a key role in the pathogenesis of CHF. Conclusions. A translational model of CHF in rats was developed, which reproduced major clinical and diagnostic criteria for this disease. Morphometric, histological, biochemical, and molecular markers for progressive CHF were correlated with echocardiographic diagnostic signs, which allows using this echocardiographic, noninvasive method characterizing the intracardiac hemodynamics as a major criterion for the presence / absence of this pathology.


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