Gender-specific predictors of early mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

BACKGROUND

Female gender is a risk factor for early mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Yet, the causes for this excess mortality in women have not been fully explained.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse gender differences in early mortality (30 days post surgery) after CABG and to identify variables explaining the association between female gender and excess mortality, taking into account preoperative clinical and psychosocial, surgical and postoperative risk factors.

METHODS

A total of 1,559 consecutive patients admitted to the German Heart Institute Berlin (2005-2008) for CABG were included in this prospective study. A comprehensive set of prespecified preoperative, surgical and postoperative risk factors were examined for their ability to explain the gender difference in early mortality.

RESULTS

Early mortality after CABG was higher in women than in men (6.9 vs. 2.4 %, HR 2.91, 95 % CI 1.70-4.96, P < 0.001). Women were older than men (+4.7 years, P < 0.001), had lower self-assessed preoperative physical functioning (-16 points on a scale from 0 to 100, P < 0.001), and had higher rates of postoperative low cardiac output syndromes (6.6 vs. 3.3 %, P = 0.01), respiratory insufficiency (9.4 vs. 5.3 %, P = 0.006) and resuscitation (5.2 vs. 1.8 %, P = 0.001). The combination of these factors explained 71 % of the gender difference in early mortality; age and physical functioning alone accounted for 61 %. Adjusting for these variables, HR for female gender was 1.36 (95 % CI 0.77-2.41, P = 0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Age, physical function and postoperative complications are key mediators of the overmortality of women after aortocoronary bypass surgery. Self-assessed physical functioning should be more seriously considered in preoperative risk assessment particularly in women.

Long-Term Effects of Transtheoretical Model-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Self-efficacy and Self-management in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes - Randomised Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Self-efficacy and self-management are fundamental factors for successful treatment of type 2 diabetes, but long-term studies are rare. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether the effects achieved in the context of a lifestyle intervention based on the transtheoretical model can be maintained by the patients in the long term.

METHOD

A two-arm randomised controlled trial examined whether long-term effects of self-efficacy, self-management, and HbA1c can be achieved by a lifestyle intervention of 12 months and persisted beyond the intervention. During the intervention, the intervention group (n = 86, mean age 59.7 years) was supported by a telephone coach and telemedical devices, while the control group (n = 65, mean age 58.8 years) received regular care. In the year after intervention, both groups received standard care.

RESULTS

The intervention group achieved significantly better self-management after 12 and 24 months (12M, 1.11 (0.81; 1.41) p < .000; 24M, 0.52 (0.19; 0.85) p = .002) as well as self-efficacy (12M, 1.18 (0.83; 1.52) p < .000; 24M, 0.76 (0.39; 1.13) p < .000) and HbA1c than the control group.

CONCLUSION

TTM-based lifestyle interventions show a long-term effect beyond the duration of the intervention in most areas, and behavioural changes can be sustained by patients.

Long-term effects of a telemedically-assisted lifestyle intervention on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes - A two-armed randomised controlled trial in Germany

Purpose

Diabetes is considered one of the fastest growing diseases worldwide. Especially in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, lifestyle interventions have proven to be effective. However, long-term studies in real-world contexts are rare, which is why further research is needed. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether effects achieved in the context of a long-term lifestyle intervention can be sustained by patients in the long term.

Methods

In a two-arm randomized trial we compared diabetes care as usual to a lifestyle intervention combining telemedically support and individual needs-based telephone coaching. The study included 151 patients with type 2 diabetes randomized to either the intervention or control group. Intervention Group (IG; N = 86, 80.2% male, mean age: 59.7) received telemedical devices and telephone coaching over a period of 12 months, Control Group (CG; N = 65, 83.1% male, mean age: 58,8) received care as usual. The primary outcome was chance in HbA1c. A follow-up survey was conducted after 24 months.

Results

The intervention group showed significantly better HbA1c- values compared to the control group at both 12 and 24 months (12 M: - 0.52 (-0.73; - 0.32), p < .000; 24 M: - 0.38 (-0.61; - 0.15), p = .001). The strongest change was seen in the first three months, with the best value obtained at 6 months and stable thereafter.

Conclusion

Combined telephone coaching with telemedicine support could lead to better long-term glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes. In the future, more long-term studies should be conducted in real-world settings and lifestyle interventions should be offered more widely.