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Biomedical subjects

Gregg C Fonarow

Publications and source records attributed to Gregg C Fonarow.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Pharmacologic therapies for acutely decompensated heart failure.

The management of acutely decompensated heart failure in the emergency medical setting poses a major clinical challenge. Acutely decompensated heart failure is characterized by hemodynamic abnormalities and neuroendocrine activation that contribute to heart failure symptoms, end-organ dysfunction, arrhythmias, and progressive cardiac failure. The therapeutic goals in patients presenting with acutely decompensated heart failure are to stabilize the patient, reverse acute hemodynamic abnormalities, rapidly reverse dyspnea and/or hypoxemia caused by pulmonary edema, and initiate treatments that will decrease disease progression and improve survival. Pharmacologic therapies to impact the hemodynamic abnormalities and symptoms in patients with acutely decompensated heart failure include diuretics, inotropic agents, vasodilators, and natriuretic peptides. In patients with acutely decompensated heart failure, it has recently been demonstrated that elevation in left ventricular filling pressure is the hemodynamic abnormality that most directly impacts heart failure symptoms and is highly predictive of increased risk of fatal decompensation and sudden death. Measures of systemic perfusion, arterial pressure, and vascular resistance have not been predictive of symptoms or clinical outcomes. An ideal agent for acute decompensated heart failure would be one that rapidly reduces pulmonary wedge pressure, results in balanced arterial and venous dilation, promotes natriuresis, lacks direct positive inotropic effects, and does not result in reflex neuroendocrine activation.

Cardiotonic Agents↗
PubMed2002

The role of in-hospital initiation of cardioprotective therapies to improve treatment rates and clinical outcomes.

Patients with heart failure face a very high risk of hospitalizations and mortality. Despite the compelling scientific evidence that beta-blockers reduce hospitalizations and mortality in patients with heart failure, this lifesaving therapy continues to be underutilized. A number of studies in a variety of clinical settings have documented that a significant proportion of patients with heart failure are not receiving treatment with this guideline-recommended, evidence-based therapy when guided by conventional care. A similar treatment gap has been documented for lipid-lowering therapy in patients with coronary heart disease. The demonstration that initiation of lipid-lowering and other cardioprotective medications prior to hospital discharge for atherosclerotic cardiovascular events results in a marked increase in treatment rates, improved long-term patient compliance, and better clinical outcomes has led to national guidelines being revised to endorse this approach as the standard of care. In-hospital initiation of beta-blocker therapy for heart failure could be reasonably expected to result in similar improvements in treatment rates and clinical outcomes. Recent data suggest that beta-blockers can be safely and effectively initiated in heart failure patients prior to hospital discharge, and that clinical outcomes are improved. Adopting in-hospital initiation of beta-blocker therapy as the standard of care for patients hospitalized with heart failure could dramatically improve treatment rates and thus substantially reduce the risk of future hospitalizations and prolong life in the large number of patients hospitalized each year.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2002

The impact of obesity on survival in patients with heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Obesity is an increasingly prevalent condition that has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, including increased risk of developing HF. Based on the associations of obesity with cardiac structural and hemodynamic alterations, as well as case reports of reversal of cardiomyopathy with weight loss, obesity has been presumed to have a deleterious effect in patients with HF. However, several recent studies have shown that in patients with established HF, obesity is not associated with increased mortality, but rather is associated with improved survival. Potential mechanisms for cardioprotection in obesity include a diminished activation of the neurohumoral system, an enhanced protection against endotoxin/inflammatory cytokines, and an increased nutritional and metabolic reserve. Further investigations into the relationship between obesity and the progression of HF are necessary. Ultimately, clinical trials are needed to provide definitive guidance to the management of obese and overweight HF patients.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Two-year follow-up of quality of life in patients referred for heart transplant.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of physical and mental health has become one of the ultimate tests of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with advanced heart failure. Little is known, however, about the comparative effects of surgical or medical treatment on the HRQOL of these chronically ill patients over time. METHODS: We examined 77 patients (74% of whom were male), aged 56.1 +/- 12.7 years who were referred for heart transplant evaluation at a single heart failure center to describe the effects of time and treatment status on changes in HRQOL scores (physical and mental health and depression) using the Short Form-12 and the Beck Depression Inventory at 2 time points during their illness trajectory. The 2 evaluations on average were 2 years apart (mean 24.5 +/- 2.8 months). All patients were evaluated at baseline, and 3 groups were identified at the time of the 2-year follow-up: transplant recipients (n = 17), transplant candidates (n = 13), and medically stable patients considered too well to receive a transplant (n = 47). Nonparametric statistics were used to analyze group differences in HRQOL scores. The significance level was set at a P value less than .05. RESULTS: Demographic and HRQOL scores were not significantly different among the 3 groups at baseline. During follow-up, physical health and depression scores significantly improved over time in all patients, but changes in mental health were minimal. Group comparisons showed that although all patients continued to have low HRQOL scores at the time of follow-up evaluation, medically stable patients had higher mental health scores and less depressive symptoms than their counterparts. CONCLUSION: Our results support the need for ongoing HRQOL assessment with an emphasis on timely recognition and treatment of psychologic distress throughout the heart failure illness trajectory. Heart transplant recipients and candidates equally need special attention and follow-up because they both seem to have emotional and psychologic repercussions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Compliance behaviors of elderly patients with advanced heart failure.

Although compliance behaviors of heart failure (HF) patients have become the focus of increasing scrutiny in the last decade, the prevalence of noncompliance among elderly patients with HF is poorly understood. We conducted this study to describe and compare the compliance behaviors of elderly patients (> or = 65 years) and younger patients (< 65 years) with HF on 6 prescribed activities: medical appointments, medications, diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and alcohol abstinence. Data from a sample of 140 older (50%) and younger (50%) HF patients matched for genderand disease severity were collected with the HF Compliance Questionnaire and analyzed via descriptive statistics, chi-square, paired t-tests, and Pearson correlations. We found that elderly patients were more compliant with diet (77% vs 65%, p = .001) and exercise (67% vs 55%, p = .021) than were their younger counterparts. There was no difference in the other health care behaviors. Of the 70 elderly patients, 51% reported some degree of difficulty complying with exercise while 37%, 24%, and 23% had difficulty following diet, keeping follow-up appointments, and taking medications, respectively. A smaller percentage of elders continued to smoke (9%) and drink alcohol (18%). Patients were asked why they had difficulty following their health care regimens; responses varied by prescribed activity. Lastly, we found inverse relationships between perceived difficulty following and compliance with all of the 6 behaviors measured (p < .001); as difficulty increased, compliance decreased. Strategies to help older patients minimize perceived difficulties associated with health care regimens may improve compliance and long-term morbidity and mortality from HF. Assumptions about older age being related to noncompliance appear invalid in patients with HF.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

hsCRP and HDL effects of statins trial (CHEST): rapid effect of statin therapy on C-reactive protein and high-density lipoprotein levels A clinical investigation.

Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are independently associated with increased coronary risk. This study assessed whether there were differences in the effects on CRP and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels among patients treated with three common statins. In a prospective, observational study, 80 dyslipidemic adults without evidence of cardiovascular disease were treated with 10 mg atorvastatin (A), 20 mg simvastatin (S), or 40 mg pravastatin (P) daily. CRP and lipid profiles were assayed before and after 12 weeks of therapy; in 21 patients, CRP levels were also measured after 1 and 4 weeks. The three treatment groups experienced comparable reductions in CRP (A: 33%, S: 42%, and P: 30%) and statistically insignificant changes in HDL cholesterol levels. CRP began to decrease after 1 week of treatment, and decreased further at 4 and 12 weeks of therapy. The change in the log-transformed CRP concentration correlated with the change in the log-transformed LDL cholesterol concentration. Subjects had similar baseline CRP levels, lipid profiles, and coronary risk factors. The authors conclude that at doses achieving similar reductions in LDL cholesterol, the three statins were associated with comparable decreases in CRP without significant changes in HDL cholesterol levels. The correlation between the reductions in CRP and LDL cholesterol differs from the findings of other published studies, and should prompt further investigation of the mechanism by which statins reduce CRP.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Decompensated heart failure: is there a role for the outpatient use of nesiritide?

Heart failure (HF) management has seen enormous advances in the past two decades, including publication of HF management guidelines targeted at further reduction of morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, the morbidity of HF has steadily increased and now represents one of the largest health care expenditures in this country. Because hospitalization for HF is most likely for patients with more advanced HF, they share a disproportionate burden of the hospitalization costs and will require treatment regimens beyond the current guidelines, if this burden is to be alleviated. In June 2004, a group of investigators who helped establish the natriuretic peptide treatment paradigm, met to discuss the potential role of nesiritide as an outpatient treatment option for patients with symptomatic HF who were at high risk for repeated admissions, a syndrome now described as "chronic decompensated HF." This report presents their considerations on the contribution of natriuretic peptide physiology to the amelioration of progressive left ventricular dysfunction, the therapeutic use of B-type natriuretic peptide, and its potential application to the outpatient management of acute and chronic decompensated HF. The use of outpatient IV nesiritide was considered a promising treatment option for symptomatic chronic decompensated HF patients that merits further investigation. Such an approach, once validated, should be integrated into an evidence-based HF disease management program.

Acute Disease↗