Optimizing heart failure pathways to enhance patient care: the Program to Optimize Heart Failure Patient Pathways (PRO-HF).

AIMS: Many European healthcare providers struggle to adopt multidisciplinary, integrated care pathways for people with heart failure (HF) as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology. PRO-HF (Program to Optimize Heart Failure Patient Pathways) was developed to help clinicians identify strengths, gaps, and shortcomings in their HF pathways and support tailored interventions to optimize pathways and enhance patient care. We report initial findings from baseline assessments of HF pathway characteristics and challenges from 10 hospitals in six European countries (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom). METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline assessments were holistic appraisals of full HF services to calibrate current status and development needs and assist management teams in prioritizing improvement projects. Assessments were performed using a comprehensive checklist of measures covering the HF patient journey from diagnosis to ongoing follow-up. These included a digital survey sent to full HF care teams and one-to-one interviews. The digital survey focused on four key areas (HF outpatient clinic; remote patient management; efficient device implantation and inpatient pathways; and network maximization) and 16 dimensions of excellence. Priority areas and themes for action identified in baseline assessments were (i) provision of HF specialist care; (ii) data capture and analysis; (iii) institutional care protocols; (iv) hospital-wide strategies; and (v) multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). Suboptimal specialist care of emergency inpatients was an issue at all hospitals and prioritized at 8/10. Availability and accessibility of data on patients, activities, and outcomes was an issue at all hospitals and prioritized by 4/10. A lack of clear protocols, templates, and tools for some HF activities created variability in patient care (e.g., HF specialist consultations, diagnostic testing, follow-up appointments, medications, and device eligibility) and inefficient use of clinician time. This made it difficult to initiate new technologies (e.g., remote patient monitoring) due to the risk of overburdening staff. MDTs were frequently understaffed. Multiple interventions were identified to address gaps and shortcomings that could be tailored to specific needs of individual hospitals (e.g., inpatient pathway optimization, creation/optimization of HF outpatient clinics, development of an HF performance dashboard, enhancement of protocol adherence, streamlining cardiac resynchronisation therapy pathways, and MDT coordination). CONCLUSIONS: PRO-HF provides a valuable opportunity to identify gaps and significant shortcomings in HF pathways in European hospitals. Preliminary findings from hospitals that have initiated suggested changes to address these challenges are encouraging, though longer-term follow-up from more hospitals is needed to confirm the impact of PRO-HF on HF pathway optimization and patient care.

Structural heart transcatheter interventions in orthotopic cardiac transplant and left ventricular assist devices recipients: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: The current incidence and outcomes of structural transcatheter procedures in heart transplant (HTx) recipients and left-ventricular assist devices (LVAD) carriers is unknown. AIMS: To provide insights on structural transcatheter procedures performed across HTx and LVAD patients in Spain. METHODS: Multicenter, ambispective, observational nationwide registry. RESULTS: Until May/2023, 36 percutaneous structural interventions were performed (78% for HTx and 22% for LVAD) widely varying among centers (0%-1.4% and 0%-25%, respectively). Percutaneous mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge (TEER) was the most common (n = 12, 33.3%), followed by trancatheter aortic valve replacement (n = 11, 30.5%), and tricuspid procedures (n = 9, 25%). Mitral TEER resulted in mild residual mitral regurgitation in all but one case, mean gradient was <5 mmHg in 75% of them at 1-year, with no mortality and 8.3% re-admission rate. Tricuspid TEER resulted in 100% none/mild residual regurgitation with a 1-year mortality and readmission rates of 22% and 28.5%, respectively. Finally, trancatheter aortic valve replacement procedures (n = 8 in LVADs due to aortic regurgitation and n = 3 in HTx), were successful in all cases with one prosthesis degeneration leading to severe aortic regurgitation at 1-year, 18.2% mortality rate and no re-admissions. Globally, major bleeding rates were 7.9% and 12.5%, thromboembolic events 3.7% and 12.5%, readmissions 37% and 25%, and mortality 22% and 25%, in HTx and LVADs respectively. No death was related to the implanted transcatheter device. CONCLUSIONS: Most centers with HTx/LVAD programs perform structural percutaneous procedures but with very inconsistent incidence. They were associated with good safety and efficacy, but larger studies are required to provide formal recommendations.

Déficit de calidad del Índice Nacional de Defunciones: lecciones aprendidas al estudiar la mortalidad de dos cohortes de admitidos a tratamiento por drogas / Quality deficits in the Spanish National Death Index: lessons learned from studying the mortality of two cohorts of people admitted to drug abuse treatment

Objetivos El uso sanitario del Índice Nacional de Defunciones (INDEF) está aumentando por su gratuidad y accesibilidad. Partiendo de hallazgos inesperados al cruzar dos cohortes de pacientes con el INDEF, se pretende valorar la calidad de la información de esta fuente. Métodos Los registros individuales de dos cohortes de tratados por drogas en Barcelona (n=19.974) y Madrid (n=17.557) se cruzaron con el INDEF y luego con el Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) para asignar el estado vital. Se obtuvieron la especificidad y la sensibilidad del INDEF en relación al INE, y estimaciones de la mortalidad con ambos sistemas. Se calculó también la subestimación de la mortalidad en el conjunto de España en el mismo periodo. Resultados Durante 1997-2008, en Madrid, la búsqueda independiente en el INDEF subestimó la mortalidad un 18,9% con respecto al INE. Una búsqueda individualizada posterior restringida a los muertos detectados en el INE pero no en el INDEF la redujo al 13,9%. En Barcelona, con búsqueda combinada (independiente más restringida), la subestimación fue del 3,3%. Durante 2001-2002 la subestimación con búsquedas combinadas llegó al 32,3% en Madrid y al 7,3% en Barcelona. La subestimación también se aprecia en el conjunto de la población española (1,8% en 1997-2008 y 9,3% en 2001-2002). Durante 1997-2008 la especificidad de las búsquedas independientes en el INDEF fue del 100%, pero su sensibilidad en Madrid fue sólo del 81%.ConclusionesLa calidad del INDEF es suficiente para muchos usos sanitarios, pero subestima la mortalidad con importantes variaciones temporoespaciales. Mejorar sus algoritmos de búsqueda, posibilitar tabulaciones on-line de los principales resultados, introducir controles de calidad y evaluarlo sistemáticamente, permitirían aumentar su calidad (AU)

Objective The use of the Spanish National Death Index (S-NDI) is increasing as it is free and easily accessible. Prompted by unexpected findings when linking two cohorts of patients with the S-NDI, this study was performed to evaluate the quality of mortality data from this source. Methods Individual records of two cohorts of persons admitted to drug abuse treatment in Barcelona (n=19,974) and Madrid (n=17,557) were linked with the S-NDI and then with the National Statistics Institute (NSI) to assign vital status. The sensitivity and specificity of the S-NDI in relation to the NSI and estimates of mortality with both systems were obtained. Underestimation of mortality by the S-NDI for the same period in the whole of Spain was also calculated. Results For Madrid, from 1997-2008, independent searches in the S-NDI underestimated mortality by 18.9% compared with the NSI. A subsequent individualized search limited to deaths detected by the NSI but not by the S-NDI reduced underestimation to 13.9%. For Barcelona, underestimation with a combined search (independent plus limited) was 3.3%. From 2001-2002, underestimation with combined searches reached 32.3% in Madrid and 7.3% in Barcelona. Underestimation was also seen in the general Spanish population (1.8% in 1997-2008 and 9.3% in 2001-2002). From 1997-2008, the specificity of independent searches in the S-NDI was 100%, but its sensitivity in Madrid was only 81%.ConclusionsThe quality of the S-NDI is good enough for many uses in the health sector, but this index underestimates mortality with substantial spatiotemporal variations. The quality of the S-NDI could be increased by improving its search algorithms, enabling on-line tabulations of the main results, and introducing quality controls and routine evaluations (AU)

La oferta de la prueba rápida del VIH en la calle dentro del ámbito universitario: ¿una estrategia prioritaria? / Street outreach rapid HIV testing in university settings: a priority strategy?

Objetivo Evaluar un programa que ofertaba la prueba del VIH en el medio universitario, analizando la prevalencia de la infección, las conductas de riesgo, los antecedentes de infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) y la realización de la prueba. Métodos En octubre-noviembre de 2008 y noviembre-diciembre de 2009, 1668 personas se realizaron la prueba rápida en un dispositivo móvil en campus universitarios de Madrid, Málaga y Salamanca, y cumplimentaron un breve cuestionario mientras esperaban el resultado. Resultados El 15,7% eran hombres que habían tenido relaciones sexuales con hombres, el 28,6% eran hombres exclusivamente heterosexuales y el 55,7% mujeres. El 73,3% eran menores de 25 años, el 8,5% habían nacido en el extranjero y sólo el 4% no tenía estudios secundarios. En los 12 meses previos, el 51% de los hombres heterosexuales, el 42% de las mujeres y el 6,3% de los hombres que habían tenido sexo con hombres tuvieron una pareja ocasional de distinto sexo sin haber usado siempre el preservativo. Un 41,5% de los hombres que habían tenido sexo con hombres refería este tipo de conducta con parejas masculinas. Al 24,7% de los hombres que habían tenido sexo con hombres, al 14,7% de las mujeres y al 5,6% de los hombres heterosexuales les habían diagnosticado alguna ITS. Se encontraron cuatro positivos, todos hombres que habían tenido sexo con hombres con prueba en los últimos 2 años, con una prevalencia entre ellos del 1,6% (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 0,43-3,95) y global del 0,2% (IC95%: 0,07-0,62).Conclusiones Pese a la alta frecuencia de prácticas de riesgo, la baja prevalencia de la infección y los antecedentes de la prueba hacen pensar que los campus universitarios no son una localización prioritaria para el desarrollo de estos programas, que tendrían un mayor impacto y más eficiencia en otras poblaciones más vulnerables (AU)

Objective To evaluate an HIV testing program in the university environment by analyzing the prevalence of infection, risk behaviors and history of sexually transmitted infections and by performing HIV tests. Methods During October-November of 2008 and November-December of 2009, 1668 persons received rapid HIV testing in a mobile unit located in university campuses in the cities of Madrid, Málaga and Salamanca (Spain). While waiting for the test results, participants completed a brief questionnaire. Results A total of 15.7% were men who had sex with men (MSM), 28.6% were exclusively heterosexual men (HTX), and 55.7% were women. Nearly three-quarters (73.3%) were under 25 years of age, 8.5% were born abroad and only 4% had no secondary education. Fifty-one percent of HTX, 42% of women and 6.3% of MSM had casual sexual partners in the past 12 months without always using a condom. This behavior was also reported by 41.5% of MSM with same sex partners. A sexually transmitted infection had previously been diagnosed in 24.7% of MSMs, 14.7% of women and 5.6% of HTX. Four positive results were found, all in MSM who had been tested in the previous 2 years. The prevalence was 1.6% (95% CI: 0.43-3.95) within this group, and 0.2% overall (95% CI: 0.07-0.62).Conclusions Despite the high frequency of risk behaviors, the low prevalence of HIV infection and the history of HIV testing suggest that university campuses are not a priority location to develop these programs, which would achieve greater impact and efficiency in more vulnerable populations (AU)

Población, SIDA y educación sexual: un enfoque integral / Population, AIDS and sexual education: a whole view

Se advierte que existe una relación indisoluble entre política de población, lucha contra el SIDA y educación sexual. Encontrandose que tenemos un problema de mala distribución poblacional con despoblamiento rural en vez de exceso de población. Se advierte además, sobre el peligro de una mala educación sexual que podría incrementar en vez de disminuir una conducta sexual riesgosa en los jovenes

Stent en la arteria coronaria derecha con origen anómalo en el seno de Valsalva izquierdo / Stenting of Right Coronary Artery Arising from the Left Sinus of Valsalva

Se relata la implantación de un stent en una larga lesión localizada en una arteria coronaria derecha dominante que tiene un origen anómalo en el seno de Valsalva izquierdo. El paciente no presenta ninguna otra patología cardíaca y fue remitido con el diagnóstico de angina progresiva, con ergometría positiva para cardiopatía isquémica. Se hace hincapié en la necesidad de conseguir una buena alineación del catéter-guía con el origen y curso inicial de la arteria, logrando así un soporte adecuado para la intervención programada (AU)

Obstrucción de la vena cava superior secundaria a micetoma por Norcadia brasiliensis / Superior vena cava obstruction secondary to mycetoma due to nocardia brasiliensis

Se informa el caso de un paciente de 26 años de edad con un micetoma en la región esternal producido por Nocardia brasiliensis, que fue resistente a diversos tratamientos, penetró a tejidos profundos y provocó mediastinitis que se manifestó clínicamente por un síndrome de obstrucción de la vena cava superiro, que se comprobó angiográficamente. No se han encontrado informes de otro caso estas características