ee front matter & 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserv bcm.2006.01.037 from Willenheimer R, van Veldhuisen DJ, Silke B on survival and hospitalization of initiating hronic heart failure with bisoprolol followed by mpared with the opposite sequence: results of Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study (CIBIS) III. 5; 112(16): 2426–35. ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 35%, who had not received ACE inhibitors, betablockers, or angiotensin receptor blockers for more than seven days within three months. Mean age 72 years; 32% were women.
ee front matter & 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve bcm.2006.04.035 from McInnes G, Burke TA, Carides G. Costf losartan-based therapy in patients with hypert ventricular hypertrophy: a UK-based economic he Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction (LIFE) study. J Hum Hypertens 2006; 20(1): 51–8. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for losartan versus atenolol in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy was £2130 per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained. This increased to £11,352 per QALY gained when the costs of stroke beyond the first 5 years were excluded.
The CLARICOR trial assessed whether the macrolide clarithromycin affects mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in people with stable coronary heart disease. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina pectoris during three year follow up. The secondary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina pectoris.
People receiving epsilon-aminocaproic acid had significantly lower postoperative thoracic-drainage volume (649ml at 24 hours versus 940ml in placebo group, p 1⁄4 0:003). There were no significant differences between groups in the percentage of people requiring donor red blood cell transfusions (24% epsilon-aminocaproic acid vs 18% controls, p 1⁄4 0:62) or in the number of units of donor red blood cells transfused.
This meta-analysis included eight placebo-controlled trials with 63,695 participants. The authors searched for randomised trials published between 1980 and 2004. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to compare placebo or usual care with either pravastatin (5 trials), simvastatin (2 trials), or atorvastatin (3 trials) for long-term prevention of cardiovascular events; include cardiovascular diseases or death as an outcome; include at least 1000 participants; and have at least one year of follow up.
Nurse-led interventions including education, support, and exercise can improve health-related quality of life. Studies suggest that sleep deprivation and depression may impact on quality of life, but further research is needed. There is insufficient evidence about the effects of educational interventions and exercise on health-related quality of life. Authors’ conclusions Heart failure symptoms reduce quality of life, but some nurse-led interventions may improve quality of life. The authors concluded that individual characteristics such as age, gender, and ethnicity may influence people’s self reported quality of life and that interventions should be adapted to each individual.
People receiving amiodarone had a lower incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias compared to controls (16.1% vs. 29.5%, hazard ratio 0.52, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.69, po0.001). This trend was sustained in people younger than 65 years, in people older than 65 years, in people who had CABG surgery alone, in people who had valve replacement or repair with or without CABG, in people who received preoperative beta-blockers, and in people who did not receive preoperative beta-blockers. People receiving amiodarone were more likely than controls to have their dosage reduced (11.4% vs 5.3%, p 1⁄4 0.008). There were no significant differences between groups in serious postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, readmission within six months, or one-year mortality.
