Multidisciplinary Team Approach to Addressing Child Sexual Abuse at Nemours Children's Health, Delaware.

In 2019, 4.4 million referrals of maltreatment were made that affected approximately 7.9 million children. It was estimated that 9.3% of the referrals were related to child sexual abuse (CSA). To prevent negative psychosocial and health-related outcomes associated with CSA, CSA survivors often participate in a forensic interview, medical and behavioral health assessments, and behavioral health treatment while navigating other life disruptions or changing family dynamics precipitated by the CSA (e.g., change in custody or household, lack of contact with preparator, etc.). The assessment and treatment of pediatric survivors of CSA by multidisciplinary teams (MDT) can enhance families' engagement and participation with the legal process, medical evaluation, and behavioral health services. This paper explores the Nemours Children's Health, Delaware MDT's approach to assessing and treating CSA, explores benefits and barriers associated with the current model, and discusses public health implications of a MDT approach to addressing CSA.

Marked improvement of heart failure upon adequate titration of continuous positive airway pressure in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is frequently present in heart failure (HF), and it may take the form of obstructive (OSA) and central (CSA) sleep apnea. The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with OSA and HF is associated with an improved neuroendocrine profile and cardiac function. The degree of upper airway obstruction and the airway closing pressure (and the PAP pressure used to relieve it) may all be highly variable in a setting of uncontrolled HF, mostly due to variable airway oedema. We present a case of a man with HF whose cardiac symptoms radically improved after adequate treatment of his OSA with an auto-adjusting PAP device.

Beta blockade in the post-myocardial infarction setting: pharmacologic rationale and clinical evidence.

The use of beta blockers reduces the risk of arrhythmias, reinfarction, and heart failure in both the immediate and long-term periods after a myocardial infarction. Every patient should be prescribed a beta blocker after a myocardial infarction unless there is a strong contraindication to therapy. Despite compelling evidence and recommendations, beta blockers remain an underutilized therapy in the post-myocardial infarction period. Evidence-based recommendations for the choice of agent and the practical implementation of beta blockers are reviewed.

Health status identifies heart failure outpatients at risk for hospitalization or death.

OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that one health status measure, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), provides prognostic information independent of other clinical data in outpatients with heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Health status measures are used to describe a patient's clinical condition and have been shown to predict mortality in some populations. Their prognostic value may be particularly useful among patients with HF for identifying candidates for disease management in whom increased care may reduce hospitalizations and prevent death. METHODS: We evaluated 505 HF patients from 13 outpatient clinics who had an ejection fraction <40% using the KCCQ summary score. Proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between the KCCQ summary score (range, 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better health status) and the primary outcome of death or HF admission, adjusting for baseline patient characteristics, 6-min walk distance, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). RESULTS: The mean age was 61 years, 76% of patients were male, 51% had an ischemic HF etiology, and 5% were New York Heart Association functional class IV. At 12 months, among the 9% of patients with a KCCQ score <25, 37% had been admitted for HF and 20% had died, compared with 7% (HF admissions) and 5% (death) of those with a KCCQ score > or =75 (33% of patients, p < 0.0001 for both comparisons). In sequential multivariable models adjusting for clinical variables, 6-min walk, and BNP levels, the KCCQ score remained significantly associated with survival free of HF hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: A low KCCQ score is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in outpatients with HF.

The effect of neurohormonal antagonists in reducing heart failure hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVE: Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem facing the US and studies suggest that the incidence of this condition will rise significantly over the next 10 years. Limiting the incidence or duration of HF hospitalizations would, therefore, have a major impact on healthcare costs. The purpose of this review is to establish and discuss the proposed neurohormonal mechanisms by which HF can occur along with pharmacologic treatments designed to antagonize these pathological states in order to aid in the reduction of HF hospitalization. METHODS: A Medline search (to December 200) was performed to compile published literature and assess numerous large-scale studies regarding the use of neurohormonal antagonists in the treatment of HF. In addition, evaluation of statistics and figures from various organizations dedicated to the improvement of HF care was utilized as aids in understanding the impact of these therapies on hospitalization and healthcare. RESULTS: Heart failure is the most costly cardiovascular disease in the United States, with an estimated annual expenditure in excess of $20 billion. The frequency and duration of HF-associated hospitalizations are the key contributors to this pronounced economic burden. Use of pharmacologic interventions designed to specifically antagonize the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the adrenergic system has had a significant impact on limiting hospitalization with regard to HF. However, the ever burdensome level of re-hospitalization rates for these patients is still problematic and appears to be based on a disconnect between established procedures to effectively treat these patients and the inability to accurately measure performance standards by managed care organization and hospital accreditation bodies. As a consequence, these antagonists, beta-blockers in particular, are still underutilized in the treatment of HF. Studies have shown that many of these hospitalizations could have been avoided had healthcare providers followed effective HF management programs. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence supports the benefits of neurohormonal blockade in decreasing hospital admissions due to HF. Appropriate use of these agents plus agreed-upon guidelines for treatment can continue to significantly decrease total HF-related hospitalizations and costs. Inclusion of beta-blockers as a performance measure in quality-of-care HF indicators should be considered as an important instrument to increase their utilization and to improve overall HF care.

Early initiation of beta blockade in heart failure: issues and evidence.

Despite clinical trials demonstrating that inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems can reduce the mortality and morbidity risk associated with heart failure, these drugs have remained underutilized in general clinical practice. In particular, many patients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction fail to receive beta blockers, although this class of drugs, as well as other antihypertensive agents such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, are recommended as part of routine heart failure therapy by national expert consensus guidelines. In-hospital initiation of beta-blocker therapy may improve long-term utilization by physicians and compliance by patients through obviating many of the misperceived dangers associated with beta blockade. The following review of the clinical trial data from the Randomized Evaluation of Strategies for Left Ventricular Dysfunction (RESOLVD) trial, the Metoprolol Controlled-Release Randomized Intervention Trial in Heart Failure (MERIT-HF), the Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study II (CIBIS-II), the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival (COPERNICUS) trial, and the Initiation Management Predischarge Process for Assessment of Carvedilol Therapy for Heart Failure (IMPACT-HF) trial on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of beta blockers indicates that early initiation can be safely achieved and can improve patient outcomes.

Remote titration of carvedilol for heart failure patients by advanced practice nurses.

BACKGROUND: beta-blockers (BB) in the treatment of heart failure (HF) are frequently underprescribed and underdosed, perhaps because of recommendations for office visits at each dose change. In previous work, we demonstrated the feasibility of remote telephonically assisted BB titration and found favorable effects on morbidity, time to target dose, and low withdrawal rates. In the current expanded evaluation, we reasoned that a structured remote telephonic titration protocol would achieve outcomes comparable to US Carvedilol Trials in regard to optimal dose, titration time, and morbidity. METHODS: Seventy HF patients were initiated on BB therapy (carvedilol). Before therapy, patients were instructed on BB side effects, pulse taking, and weight monitoring. Patients reported weights, vital signs, and symptoms 3 times per week by phone. Advanced practice nurses counseled, educated, and reminded patients to increase their dose every 2 weeks until target doses were reached. RESULTS: A total of 96% reached a therapeutic dose (6.25 mg twice daily). Moreover, 71% of patients reached target doses of 25 mg twice weekly in approximately 8 weeks. No HF hospitalizations occurred during remote titration. CONCLUSIONS: The use of advanced practice nurses, titration protocols, and telemanagement technologies may improve the number of HF patients initiated and treated with appropriate doses of BB.

Racial differences in patients' potassium concentrations during spironolactone therapy for heart failure.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the effects of spironolactone on potassium homeostasis vary by race by comparing serum potassium concentrations and potassium supplement use in African-American and Caucasian patients receiving spironolactone for heart failure. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. SETTING: Two heart failure centers. PATIENTS: Fifty African-American and 67 Caucasian patients with heart failure who were receiving a stable dosage of spironolactone in addition to standard heart failure therapy with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Medical records of eligible patients were reviewed by pharmacists and physicians who specialize in heart failure management. No significant differences were observed in diuretic therapy or renal function between racial groups; however, African-Americans were receiving higher doses of ACE inhibitors. African-Americans had lower serum potassium concentrations (4.2 +/- 0.4 vs 4.5 +/- 0.5 mEq/L, p<0.01) and a higher prevalence of potassium supplementation (48% vs 15%, p<0.01). In a subset of patients, spironolactone therapy was associated with a 2-fold greater increase in serum potassium concentration and a 3-fold greater reduction in potassium supplement use among Caucasians than African-Americans. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a large percentage of patients with heart failure, particularly African-Americans, still require potassium supplementation despite treatment with spironolactone and standard vasodilator therapy.

Telemanagement of heart failure: a diuretic treatment algorithm for advanced practice nurses.

Thirty-three percent of patients with heart failure (HF) are readmitted to the hospital with worsening disease within 90 days of discharge. Acute decompensation accounts for nearly 50% of these admissions because of nonadherence with diet guidelines, medication regimens, or both. One way to promote adherence is through a disease management approach that can prevent HF decompensation by providing aggressive follow-up care. Within such an approach, advanced practice nurses can use a decision algorithm to implement pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. This article presents a diuretic treatment algorithm for advanced practice nurses as part of a telemanagement program. Preliminary data from the implementation of such an algorithm within an established HF program shows a decrease in hospitalizations rates and cost of care. In addition, the algorithm helps define the scope of advanced practice nursing and promotes consistency across health care sites.