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Association Class (association + class)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Kinds of Association Class

  • heart association class
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  • new york heart association class
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  • york heart association class
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    Terms modified by Association Class

  • association class i
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    Selected Abstracts

    Heart Failure and Diabetes: Collateral Benefit of Chronic Disease Management

    CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 3 2006
    Molly G. Ware MD
    To test the hypothesis that a focus on heart failure (HF) care may be associated with inadequate diabetes care, the authors screened 78 patients (aged 64±11 years; 69% male) with diabetes enrolled in an HF disease management program for diabetes care as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Ninety-five percent of patients had hemoglobin A1c levels measured within 12 months, and 71% monitored their glucose at least once daily. Most patients received counseling regarding diabetic diet and exercise, and approximately 80% reported receiving regular eye and foot examinations. Mean hemoglobin A1c level was 7.8±1.9%. There was no relationship between hemoglobin A1c levels and New York Heart Association class or history of HF hospitalizations. Contrary to the authors' hypothesis, patients in an HF disease management program demonstrated levels of diabetic care close to ADA goals. "Collateral benefit" of HF disease management may contribute to improved patient outcomes in diabetic patients with HF. [source]

    Psychiatric morbidity and the presence and absence of angiographic coronary disease in patients with chest pain

    ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2001
    M. Valkamo
    Objective: ,To assess psychiatric morbidity in coronary angiogram patients. Method: ,A psychiatric assessment of 200 consecutive chest-pain patients was performed the day before coronary angiography in a double-blind study design. The sample included 132 men (mean age 57.2 years, SD 9.5) and 68 women (mean age 59.8 years, SD 8.9). A Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R was used to obtain psychiatric diagnosis. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and a four-item Life Satisfaction Scale were used to assess mental symptoms. A coronary angiography with obstruction of a coronary artery by more than 50% was considered to indicate angiographic coronary disease. Results: ,Mental disorders were found in 28% (95% CI 14,41) of the patients with normal angiographic findings (n=47) and in 24% (95% CI 17 , 30) of the patients with angiographic coronary disease (n=153). Furthermore, no difference was found between these two groups in other rating scales assessing mental symptoms even when adjusted for the New York Heart Association class, duration of chest-pain symptoms or exercise capacity. Conclusion: ,Psychiatric morbidity may not be associated with angiographic findings in patients with chest pain. [source]

    IS THERE STILL A ROLE FOR THE CLASSICAL COX-MAZE III?

    ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 5 2006
    Cheng-Hon Yap
    Background: The incidence of surgery for atrial fibrillation (AF) is rising, paralleled by an increase in the types of lesion sets and energy sources used. These alternate energy sources have simplified the surgery at the expense of increased cost of consumables. The classical Cox-Maze III is the gold standard therapy with a proven efficacy in curing AF. Our complete experience with this procedure is presented. Methods: All 28 patients undergoing the classical Cox-Maze III procedure at our institution underwent preoperative assessment and were followed prospectively. Results: Twenty-eight patients underwent the Cox-Maze III procedure between January 2001 and May 2003. Their mean age was 65 years (range, 44,80 years). Twenty-five patients had concomitant cardiac procedures. Mean duration of AF was 8.3 years. Permanent AF was present in 82%. Mean follow-up time was 15 ± 8 months (range, 4,30 months). There were no perioperative or late deaths, or thromboembolic events. Sixty-one per cent had early (<3 months) atrial arrhythmia. Freedom from AF at most recent clinical follow up was 93%. Freedom from late atrial arrhythmia was 82%. Freedom from late AF or atrial flutter by pacemaker interrogation or Holter assessment was 77%. Anti-arrhythmic medication use was reduced. New York Heart Association class improved from an average of 2.8 preoperatively to 1.3 postoperatively. Conclusion: The result of the present study shows the safety and efficacy of the classical Cox-Maze III procedure. With the advantage of proven long-term efficacy, demonstrable safety and avoidance of costly technology, the Cox-Maze III should not be discounted as a treatment option in patients because of its perceived complexity. [source]

    Plasma Exchange Before Surgery for Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

    ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 6 2008
    Rajko Radovancevic
    Abstract:, Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation in end-stage heart failure patients is frequently associated with hemorrhagic complications requiring reoperation. The preoperative coagulopathic profile includes prolonged prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and bleeding time; platelet dysfunction; decreased coagulation factor activity; and increased inflammatory markers. We compare outcomes in LVAD patients treated with preoperative plasma exchange with concurrent, nonrandomized control patients. We reviewed data from 68 consecutive elective patients who received LVADs at our institution. Thirty-five received LVADs after preoperative plasma exchange (replacement of one plasma volume of fresh frozen plasma), and 33 received LVADs without plasma exchange. Groups were comparable in age, sex, body weight, New York Heart Association class, intra-aortic balloon pump insertion, cardiac index, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, creatinine, total bilirubin, hemoglobin levels, PT, international normalized ratio, PTT, and platelet count. Early mortality was lower in the plasma exchange group (0% [0/35] vs. 18% [6/33], P = 0.026), and postoperative chest tube drainage decreased by 33% (P = not significant). Blood transfusion requirements were similar.Perioperative mortality decreased in patients treated with plasma exchange before LVAD implantation. [source]

    Need for hospice and palliative care services in patients with end-stage heart failure treated with intermittent infusion of inotropes

    CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
    Angel López-Candales M.D. FACC
    Abstract Background: Hospice and palliative care programs to relieve suffering and optimize management of terminally ill patients have grown rapidly in the United States. However, there are no data on the need for these services among patients with end-stage heart failure receiving intermittent infusion of intravenous inotropes. Hypothesis: The need for hospice and palliative care programs among patients in end-stage heart failure who receive intermittent infusion of inotropes is investigated. Methods: The study included all stable patients with refractory heart failure symptoms treated with inotropes in our outpatient unit. A total of 73 patients (65 ± 12years; left ventricular ejection fraction 22 ± 9%; New York Heart Association class 3.6 ± 0.4) were seen during a 49-month period. Of these, 3 5 patients (48%) met hospice or palliative care evaluation criteria upon referral but were offered, and accepted, the alternative of parenteral inotropes. In all, 1,737 individual outpatient treatment sessions were given, with a mean of 24 ± 19 sessions per patient (range 5 to 118 sessions), representing a minimum of 9,948 h of inotrope therapy. Results: A total of 18 (25%) patients died, 6 (8%) patients were withdrawn from the program (3 by their primary physicians and 3 because of significant travel limitations); 4 (5%) patients required continuous intravenous home therapy; and 44 (61%) patients were discharged with significant improvement in their heart failure symptoms. Only 7 of the 18 patients who died had received hospice or palliative care intervention, mainly for the sake of comfort and to ease the transition among family members. The rest of the patients were comfortable and had accepted the natural evolution of their disease; they were not interested in or did not require hospice or palliative care intervention. Of the patients discharged from the outpatient cardiac infusion unit, the interval free of heart failure symptoms after the final infusion treatment ranged from 201 to 489 days, with no need for hospitalization or emergency room visits. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that intermittent infusion of intravenous inotropes can be safely administered and can improve symptoms in a significant number of patients, probably by slowing the natural progression of heart failure. Although the full clinical impact of inotrope therapy in an outpatient setting has not been fully defined, other nonhemodynamic-related benefits should be sought and investigated. Our results suggest that intermittent infusion of intravenous inotropes is one of the prominent variables that requires particular attention. In our experience, the institution of intermittent infusions of intravenous inotropes can, in fact, modify end-stage heart failure symptoms that, in most patients, are currently perceived to lead to a terminal event. Thus, appropriate use of intermittent infusion of intravenous inotropes may not only improve functional class and symptoms in a significant number of patients identified as terminal by their poor response to conventional therapy, but it may also facilitate better utilization of hospice and palliative care resources among patients with end-stage heart failure. Furthermore, the need for hospice and palliative care in patients with heart failure should be revisited in view of adjuvant treatment options such as intermittent infusion of intravenous inotropes. [source]