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Effects of enalapril on heart rate variability in patients with congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is characterized by sympathetic activation and parasympathetic withdrawal, and the magnitude of sympathoneural activation is associated with adverse outcome. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy has been shown to reduce mortality and improve prognosis in patients with CHF, but whether this therapy improves cardiac autonomic control is not well known. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examines the effects of enalapril on autonomic control in 12 patients with mild to moderate CHF by heart rate variability analysis. Compared with placebo, enalapril increased the SD of all normal RR intervals (SDNN) from 39 +/- 13 to 48 +/- 15 ms (p < 0.01), the SD of the average RR intervals for all 5-minute segments from 33 +/- 12 to 42 +/- 15 ms (p < 0.01), and the mean of the SDs of all RR intervals for all 5-minute segments (SDNN index) from 19 +/- 5 to 23 +/- 6 ms (p < 0.01). The root-mean-square successive differences and the percent differences between adjacent RR intervals > 50 ms were also increased from 17 +/- 8 to 21 +/- 8 ms (p < 0.01) and from 1.1 +/- 2.1 to 2.8 +/- 2.9% (p < 0.05). In addition, total, low-frequency, and high-frequency power were increased from 560 +/- 349 to 786 +/- 504 ms2/Hz (p < 0.01), from 125 +/- 107 to 179 +/- 135 ms2/Hz (p < 0.01), and from 46 +/- 32 to 94 +/- 78 ms2/Hz (p < 0.01), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗

Effect of improved disease management strategies on hospital length of stay in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) afflicts more than 4.6 million people in the United States and increases at a rate of 400,000 newly diagnosed patients per year. With more than 1.5 million hospital admissions per year attributed to CHF, it is the number one cause of hospitalization. Hospital length of stay (LOS) is one key determinant of greater hospital costs and has been the focus in some economic studies of CHF patients. In the present study, the potential economic benefits for hospitals from the implementation of improved disease-specific management programs in the treatment of CHF have been quantified in terms of LOS. We estimated the potential effects of disease management on LOS as a residual variation across hospitals, controlling for the effects of patient-specific characteristics, including severity of disease, health status, insurance status, and comorbidities. The study entry criteria and random sample selection yielded 5242 records for analysis. The average LOS was 7.1 days. The fixed effects or disease management practices across hospitals contribute to the explanatory power of the model by 4%. The 104 hospital-specific fixed effects measuring the potential impact of the differences in disease management relative to the reference hospital had values ranging from-3.41 to 4.33 days, for a total spread of 7.74 days, even after controlling for all other factors. The analysis suggests that the potential gain in profits for hospitals reimbursed on a per-case basis may be substantial, if disease management strategies practiced by those hospitals that lie to the left of the mean LOS were used by those that lie to the right of the mean LOS.

Aged↗

Doxazosin and congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most devastating cardiac sequella of long-standing hypertension. Recent data from the Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) have shown the risk of CHF to be twice as high with doxazosin than with chlorthalidone. Although some questions remain regarding the diagnosis and mortality of CHF in the doxazosin arm and regarding the risk of dying from malignancy in the diuretic arm of ALLHAT, drugs used to treat hypertension should lower the CHF risk. Therefore, until ironclad safety data are provided, doxazosin, and probably all alpha-blockers, should no longer be used as first-line antihypertensive therapy.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Understanding B-type natriuretic peptide and its role in diagnosing and monitoring congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by dysfunction of the left, right, or both ventricles, which results in the impairment of the heart's ability to circulate blood at a rate sufficient to maintain the metabolic needs of peripheral tissues and various organs. Owing to the drastic increase in cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and improved survival rate after acute myocardial infarction and subsequent development of CHF in the last quarter of a century, CHF has become a major and increasing cause of death and disability in the United States. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms are nonspecific for CHF Also, routine laboratory values, electrocardiograms, and X-rays are not always accurate enough to make the appropriate diagnosis. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new biomarker, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), for the purpose of diagnosing and assessing severity of CHE BNP is synthesized, stored, and released primarily by the ventricular myocardium in response to volume expansion and pressure overload. The use of SNP, along with other diagnostic tools, can enable care providers to facilitate and optimize care of heart failure patients in a variety of clinical settings. Emerging clinical data will help further refine biomarker-guided therapeutic and monitoring strategies involving BNP.

Acute Disease↗

Survival of elderly men with congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common discharge diagnosis for elderly patients. The survival of elderly (age greater than or equal to 75 years) patients with CHF has not recently been reported, especially with reference to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A patient database was searched for the diagnosis of CHF and then screened for age greater than or equal to 75, Framingham Criteria for CHF and an LVEF evaluation. Ninety-four men fitted all criteria, including a minimum potential follow-up of 3 years. Life-table analysis was employed to compare their survival experience to an expected survival based on a sex- and age-equivalent subset of the 1980 Census data. Causes of death were determined from autopsy, medical records or death certificates. Mean age at onset of CHF was 82.5. Forty-three per cent had an LVEF greater than or equal to 0.45. There was no difference in the prevalence of potential aetiologies between those with LVEF greater than or equal to 0.45 versus LVEF less than 0.45. Life-table analysis revealed that CHF patients had a worse survival than controls for the first 5 years after diagnosis, attributable primarily to a high first-year mortality (28%) for the CHF group. There was no difference in survival between the LVEF greater than or equal to 0.45 and LVEF less than 0.45 groups.

Aged↗

Survival associated with two sets of diagnostic criteria for congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) definitions vary across epidemiologic studies. The Framingham Heart Study criteria include CHF signs and symptoms assessed by a physician panel. In the Cardiovascular Health Study, a committee of physicians adjudicated CHF diagnoses, confirmed by signs, symptoms, clinical tests, and/or medical therapy. The authors used data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort study of 5,888 elderly US adults, to compare CHF incidence and survival patterns following onset of CHF as defined by Framingham and/or Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. They constructed an inception cohort of nonfatal, hospitalized CHF patients. Of 875 participants who had qualifying CHF hospitalizations between 1989 and 2000, 54% experienced a first CHF event that fulfilled both sets of diagnostic criteria (concordant), 31% fulfilled only the Framingham criteria (Framingham only), and 15% fulfilled only the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria (Cardiovascular Health Study only). No significant survival difference was found between the Framingham-only group (hazard ratio = 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.71, 1.07) or the Cardiovascular Health Study-only group (hazard ratio = 0.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.68, 1.15) and the concordant group (referent). Compared with Cardiovascular Health Study central adjudication, Framingham criteria for CHF identified a larger group of participants with incident CHF, but all-cause mortality rates were similar across these diagnostic classifications.

Aged↗

The impact of B-type natriuretic peptide levels on the diagnoses and management of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure poses significant challenges to physicians with both diagnosis and management. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is synthesized in the cardiac ventricles. It correlates with ventricular function, NYHA classification, and prognosis. It is extremely useful in the emergency department in patients presenting with acute dyspnea. It has a particularly strong negative predictive value. In addition, it should be important in screening patients for heart diease, either for those who are at high risk (chemotherapy, diabetes) or as a possible screen before echocardiography. In the future, BNP may be used to modulate treatment of patients in the decompensated setting as well as in titrating outpatient therapy.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗

Advanced practice nursing for congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is an enormous burden on society and the health care system. The role of the advanced practice nurse (APN) in CHF is multifaceted and combines inpatient, outpatient, and community patient care skills. Case management and quality management have been traditional focuses, with a high level of practice impact on patient care. Outcomes management in the APN role for CHF care is the future for measurable outcomes and maximum impact on organizational values. Because outcomes management is an evolving field for the APN, focus on a chronic disease such as CHF is a very valuable tool for implementation.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

The role of noninvasive ventilation: CPAP and BiPAP in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common cause of respiratory failure for which patients seek emergency care. Mechanical ventilation is commonly used in the treatment for severe CHF. Studies have shown that noninvasive ventilation (NIV) methods, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), are effective in treating CHF and have fewer complications than endotracheal intubation. The use of NIV in the treatment of CHF has been shown to increase oxygenation, improve hemodynamic stability, and decrease the need for intubation. When NIV is chosen for a patient in CHF, the critical care nurse needs to be vigilant in assessing and monitoring these patients, especially those in severe CHF. This article evaluates the differences between the 2 types of NIV, the controversies that may exist, practice issues for the critical care nurse, and any financial considerations.

Acute Disease↗

Enalapril in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome affecting 1% of the U.S. population. The basic dysfunction, a lack of sufficient blood flow to the periphery, triggers reflex neurohumoral mechanisms that cause systemic vasoconstriction and sodium and water retention as the body attempts to protect vital organs. This, in turn, results in additional work for the failing heart and further deterioration. Vasodilators, in general, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, in particular, interrupt this pathophysiology and improve hemodynamics. Enalapril, a long-acting ACE inhibitor, has been demonstrated to improve New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index, maximum oxygen uptake, and exercise tolerance in CHF patients. Data from a recent trial provide evidence that a group of patients with severe CHF who were treated with enalapril showed reduced heart size, reduced need for other heart-failure medication, and reduced mortality.

Captopril↗

Endothelin mediates the altered renal hemodynamics associated with experimental congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is commonly associated with renal dysfunction. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the role of endothelin in the renal dysfunction of experimental CHF by using tezosentan, a potent dual endothelin receptor antagonist. Rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation. Cardiac and renal hemodynamics were assessed after 3-5 weeks, when CHF had developed. Compared with control rats, CHF rats had significantly higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), lower mean arterial pressure, and reduced dP/dt(max). CHF rats had severe renal vasoconstriction, as assessed by increased renal vascular resistance (RVR, p < 0.001), decreased renal plasma flow (RPF, p < 0.001), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR, p < 0.001). Filtration fraction rose (p < 0.001). Urine flow rate and sodium excretion were markedly lower. Acute administration of tezosentan induced a marked decrease in LVEDP without change of dP/dt(max) and heart rate. Tezosentan decreased RVR (-43%, p < 0.001) and increased RPF and GFR. Filtration fraction decreased slightly. Tezosentan also increased urine flow rate and sodium excretion. These findings demonstrate that endothelin at least partly mediates the altered renal hemodynamics associated with experimental CHF. Dual endothelin receptor blockade could be useful for the improvement of both cardiac and renal function in CHF.

Animals↗

Assessing the efficacy of a clinical pathway in the management of older patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common cause for hospitalization in older patients, and the prevalence of this condition is expected to rise as the population ages. The high cost of care has resulted in an increased emphasis on cost-effective approaches in patient management. One way to achieve this is the use of clinical pathways. This article compares outcomes in a group of older hospitalized patients managed on a CHF pathway with those of a historical cohort managed in the traditional manner. The patients on the pathway had significant reductions in length of stay and cost of care as well as more effective delivery of processes of care. Mortality rates were unchanged, at 3.5%. However, readmission rates showed a significant increase, from 9.25% to 13.5%, for patients on the pathway.

Aged↗

The autonomic nervous system in congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by striking abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system. The mechanisms and biological importance of these disturbances are not clearly defined. Nonetheless, it is possible that autonomic disturbances play an important role in the pathophysiology and prognosis of heart failure, and therefore drugs that alter autonomic function may provide additional therapeutic options in the management of this syndrome.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Cardiac atrial natriuretic factor during evolution of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a pathophysiological condition associated with increased plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), a peptide hormone of cardiac origin that participates in the homeostatic control of intravascular volume and vascular tone. Atrial myocytes serve as the principal source of ANF under physiological conditions, although recent studies have demonstrated that ventricular myocardium may also synthesize ANF in models of CHF associated with ventricular hypertrophy. The current study was designed to investigate the roles of atrial and ventricular myocardium to synthesize, store, and release ANF during the evolution of tachycardia-induced CHF in the dog. The present study demonstrates a persistent elevation of plasma ANF during the evolution of CHF. In acute CHF (3 h), plasma ANF increased independent of cardiac ANF synthesis. In chronic CHF (15 and 30 days), plasma ANF is maintained by an increase in atrial synthesis and release of the peptide, without recruitment of ventricular ANF synthesis. The present study demonstrates that in acute CHF the increase in plasma ANF is regulated by release of stored peptide, and in chronic CHF the persistent elevation of plasma ANF is maintained by an increase in atrial synthesis of ANF.

Animals↗

Comparison of norepinephrine and isoproterenol clearance in congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is accompanied by increased sympathetic nervous activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that plasma norepinephrine (NE), a marker of sympathetic nervous activity, is elevated in CHF due to increased NE spillover into the circulation and decreased NE clearance. In this study we compared the clearance of NE and isoproterenol (ISO) in eight CHF subjects (plasma NE 601 +/- 133 pg/ml), and in nine controls (plasma NE 285 +/- 53 pg/ml) by using steady-state infusions of tritiated NE ([3H]NE) and tritiated ISO ([3H]ISO). Because ISO is not a substrate of neuronal reuptake but is removed from the circulation in a way that is similar to NE after neuronal reuptake blockade with desipramine, ISO clearance may permit a gross estimation of non-neuronal uptake of circulating NE. The NE clearance was lower in CHF than in the control group (CHF 1.25 +/- 0.13, controls 2.04 +/- 0.22 l.min-1.m-2; P = 0.009). The ISO clearance was reduced similarly in CHF (CHF 0.90 +/- 0.09, controls 1.59 +/- 0.12 l.min-1.m-2; P less than 0.001). Because the ratio of ISO to NE clearance was similar in both groups, our findings suggest that a low cardiac output in CHF decreases the availability of circulating catecholamines to tissue elimination sites.

Aged↗

Evidence for structural alterations in resistance arteries of patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is characterized by an increase in total peripheral resistance. It was the specific aim of this study to investigate whether structural factors participate in the increased peripheral resistance that can be observed in severe heart failure. We determined forearm vascular resistance (FVR) at rest and after 10 min ischemia (Rmin; mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml) using venous occlusion plethysmography. Rmin was studied since it is largely dependent on the structural characteristics of resistance arteries. 24 patients with CHF [71.5 +/- 2.3 years; New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I-IV] with no history of arterial hypertension and casual arterial blood pressure < 140/90 mm Hg and 24 normotensive healthy control subjects (52.5 +/- 4.1 years) were included in our study. The patients were subdivided into those with 'mild' (NYHA class I and II; n = 10) and 'severe' (NYHA class III and IV; n = 14) heart failure. There were no significant differences between the two groups for echocardiographically determined ejection fraction and mean arterial blood pressure. Resting FVR averaged 40.5 +/- 4.4 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml in control subjects and was 43.6 +/- 7.9 (nonsignificant vs. control) and 51.0 +/- 5 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml (p < 0.05 vs. control) in patients with mild and severe CHF, respectively. No significant correlation between age and Rmin could be demonstrated in either the patient or the control group. Furthermore, Rmin did not differ between patients with mild CHF and control subjects. However, Rmin was significantly elevated in patients with severe CHF (5.7 +/- 0.39 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml) as compared to patients with mild CHF (4.0 +/- 0.39 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml; p < 0.05) and controls (4.5 +/- 0.26 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml; p < 0.05). In conclusion, our study supports the concept that structural alterations contribute to the increased peripheral resistance in patients with heart failure. These changes are correlated with the severity of clinical symptoms.

Adult↗

Skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase gene expression in congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure leads to skeletal muscle abnormalities, one of which is a prolongation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ flux. The purpose of this study was to determine whether skeletal muscle of spontaneous hypertensive and heart failure rats have alterations in the expression of the sarcoplasmic (or endoplasmic) reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) gene. Northern analysis revealed that SERCA1, the predominant skeletal muscle isoform, was decreased by 45%, 43%, and 58% in the tibialis anterior, plantaris, and diaphragm muscles, respectively. Ribonuclease protection assay showed that the decrease was due to the adult isoform, SERCA1a, with minor changes in the alternatively spliced neonatal isoform, SERCA1b. There was no change in SERCA1 mRNA levels in gastrocnemius muscles. No change was found in SERCA2a (cardiac/slow skeletal isoform) mRNA or protein levels or in SERCA2b (smooth muscle isoform), dihydropyridine receptor, or alpha-actin mRNA levels in diaphragm muscle. Northern blot and ribonuclease protection assays showed that SERCA2a decreased 61% in the heart while the alternatively spliced isoform, SERCA2b, decreased 27%. Western analysis of the tibialis anterior, diaphragm, and gastrocnemius muscles showed a decrease in SERCA1 protein levels by 46%, 64%, and 42%, respectively, whereas sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, a functional correlate of SERCA expression, was decreased by 38%, 38%, and 40% in the same muscles, SERCA2 protein expression decreased by 36% in the failing heart. Decreases in both mRNA and protein suggest pretranslational control of SERCA1 expression, whereas the lack of decreased SERCA1 mRNA in gastrocnemius muscle suggests translational regulation. The decreased SERCA1 protein expression in all muscles studied probably contributes to contractile abnormalities related to excitation-contraction coupling function in heart failure.

Animals↗

The digital circulation in congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical entity which is still little understood pathophysiologically. Unless it is in the intractable state it responds well to therapy. It has been known for many years that the peripheral circulation can be dramatically altered when CHF is progressively and rapidly developing and worsening. As compensation develops, these changes gradually return to normal. We have long been studying the digital circulation of patients with CHF and have been impressed with the changes in the behavior of the peripheral blood vessels in these patients.

Air Conditioning↗