Age-dependent changes in cardiac performance, motor function, QoL, and mental status in metoprolol-treated chronic heart failure patients

Clinical Decision-Making for Heart Failure in Kosovo: A Conjoint Analysis

BACKGROUND

Heart failure represents a life-threatening progressive condition. Early diagnosis and adherence to clinical guidelines are associated with improved outcomes for patients with heart failure. However, adherence to clinical guidelines remains limited in Kosovo.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical decision-making related to heart failure diagnosis by evaluating clinicians' preferences for clinical attributes.

METHOD

Conjoint analysis with 33 clinical scenarios with physicians employed in public hospitals in Kosovo.

SETTING

Two public hospitals in Kosovo that benefited from quality improvement intervention.

PARTICIPANTS

14 physicians (internists and cardiologists) in two hospitals in Kosovo.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the overall effect of clinical attributes on the decision for heart failure diagnosis.

RESULTS

When considering clinical signs, the likelihood of a heart failure diagnosis increased for ages between 60 to 69 years old (RRR, 1.88; CI 95%, 1.05-3.34) and a stable heart rate (RRR, 1.93; CI 95%, 1.05-3.55) and decreased for the presence of edema (RRR, 0.23; CI 95%, 0.15-0.36), orthopnea (RRR, 0.31; CI 95%, 0.20-0.48), and unusual fatigue (RRR, 0.61; CI 95%, 0.39-0.94). When considering clinical examination findings, the likelihood for heart failure diagnosis decreased for high jugular venous pressure (RRR, 0.49; CI 95%, 0.32-0.76), pleural effusion (RRR, 0.35; CI 95%, 0.23-0.54), hearing third heart sound, (RRR, 0.50; CI 95%, 0.33-0.77), heart murmur (RRR, 0.57; CI 95%, 0.37-0.88), troponin levels (RRR, 0.59; CI 95%, 0.38-0.91), and NTproBNP levels (RRR, 0.36; CI 95%, 0.24-0.56).

CONCLUSIONS

We often found odd and wide variations of clinical signs and examination results influencing the decision to diagnose a person with heart failure. It will be important to explore and understand these results better. The study findings are important for existing quality improvement support efforts and contribute to the standardization of clinical decision-making in the public hospitals in the country. This experience and this study can provide valuable impetus for further examination of these efforts and informing policy and development efforts in the standardization of care in the country.

Diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for myocardial fibrosis in patients with heart failure and its predictive value for prognosis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) for myocardial fibrosis (MF) in patients with heart failure (HF) and its predictive value for prognosis.

METHODS

A total of 180 patients with heart failure who were hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu City from September 2019 to May 2021 were selected and assigned to Group B (n=80) given levosimendan and Group A (n=100) given levosimendan combined with ivabradine hydrochloride. The cardiac function indicators (left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI). Myocardial fibrosis (MF)-related indicators (pyridinoline cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PIIINP), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and hyaluronic acid (HA), inflammatory factors (Hs-CRP and IL-8) were measured using ELISA. Quality of life (QoL) and physical recovery (6-min walking test (6MWT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and Barthel index) of the two groups were compared. The late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was used to analyze the occurrence of MF in patients. The patients were further divided into the LGE (+) group (cases) and LGE (-) group (cases). The changes of cardiac function indicators before treatment were analyzed, and their predictive value was analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with Group B, Group A showed a lower incidence of complications, and presented a higher LVEF level and lower levels of LVESV, LVESD, ICTP, PIIINP, CTGF, HA, LN, and inflammatory factors. The area under the curves of LVESV, LVESD, and LVEF in predicting MF were all >0.7.

CONCLUSION

Levosimendan combined with ivabradine hydrochloride can effectively alleviate MF in patients with MF, and CMRI has a good predictive value for MF in such patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

The application of whole-course nursing in patients undergoing emergency PCI and its impact on cardiac function

OBJECTIVE

To implement whole-course care in patients undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention and investigate its impact on cardiac function.

METHODS

This study included 88 acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. These patients were randomly divided into the control group (n=44, which underwent routine care) and the experimental group (n=44, which underwent whole-course care). The cardiac function, physiological states, quality of life, complications, and the patient satisfaction with the care were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Compared with before the surgery, the left ventricular ejection fractions and the cardiac output in both groups at discharge were increased, while the left ventricular end-systolic diameters and left ventricular end-diastolic diameters were decreased (all P<0.05). In addition, the changes in the experimental group were greater than they were in the control group (all P<0.05). The HAMA and HAMD scores in the two groups at discharge were decreased compared with before the surgeries, but the GQOLI-74 scores in all aspects were increased (all P<0.05). Similarly, the changes in the experimental group were greater than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group was lower than it was in the control group, and the satisfaction with care was higher than it was in the control group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The whole-course care of AMI patients undergoing PCI can significantly relieve their negative emotions, improve their cardiac function, increase their quality of life, and reduce their incidences of complications.

Effect of comprehensive nursing on the pain, anxiety and malnutrition of hepatitis B patients

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of comprehensive nursing on pain, anxiety and malnutrition of hepatitis B patients.

METHODS

Totally 100 cases of hepatitis B patients received treatment in our hospital from July 2017 to July 2018 were divided into a study group (64 cases) and a control group (36 cases) for comprehensive nursing and routine nursing. The liver function, nutritional indexes, cognition of relevant nursing knowledge, VAS score, HAMD and HAMA scores, QOL score, total effective rate and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the study group had lower liver function indexes and higher nutrition indexes, suggesting that the liver function of patients in the study group recovered better. Besides, the VAS score of the study group was lower, suggesting better pain relief in the study group. Moreover, the study group had higher scores of related nursing knowledge and lower scores of HAMD and HAMA, indicating that the nursing method in the study group was more effective in reducing depression and anxiety. Higher QOL score, higher total effective rate and lower incidence of adverse reactions of the study group revealed that the nursing mode adopted in this group was better for the recovery of patients.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive nursing can effectively alleviate the pain of hepatitis B patients, relieve their anxiety and other negative emotions, and improve their malnutrition.