RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Anemia is an important determinant of heart failure and death after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The frequency of anemia and its impact on these outcomes across the range of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), however, have not been defined. METHODS: This is a cohort study of 2310 patients with ACS stratified by quartiles of admission hemoglobin concentration [Hb]): Q1, <12.5 g/dL; Q2, 12.5-13.6 g/dL; Q3, 13.7-14.7 g/dL; Q4, >14.7 g/dL. RESULTS: There were 29.7% of women and 23.2% of men who were anemic. Rates of STEMI increased across [Hb] quartile groups from 25.0% (Q1) to 35.5% (Q4) as rates of unstable angina decreased from 52.0% (Q1) to 40.7% (Q4) (P < .0005). Despite this, rates of left ventricular failure (LVF) were inversely related to [Hb] in all diagnostic groups, patients with unstable angina (Q1, 14.2%; Q4, 4.4%; P < .0005) showing a similar trend to patients with non-STEMI (Q1, 26.8%; Q4, 10.4%; P < .0005) and STEMI (Q1, 33.8%; Q4, 20.6%; P < .0005). The age-adjusted odds of LVF in Q4 compared with Q1 were 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.90). Inhospital cardiac mortality was 3.0% and was not influenced by [Hb]. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is a common comorbidity in patients presenting with ACS, and it is a powerful independent determinant of LVF. The association with LVF occurs not only in STEMI but also in less severe diagnostic groups.
Assuntos
Baixo Débito Cardíaco/etiologia , Doenças Cardiovasculares/sangue , Doenças Cardiovasculares/complicações , Hemoglobinas/metabolismo , Doença Aguda , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anemia/complicações , Angina Instável/sangue , Angina Instável/complicações , Doenças Cardiovasculares/mortalidade , Estudos de Coortes , Eletrocardiografia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infarto do Miocárdio/sangue , Infarto do Miocárdio/complicações , Infarto do Miocárdio/diagnóstico , Concentração Osmolar , Estudos Prospectivos , Síndrome , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda/etiologiaRESUMO
Thrombolytic therapy reduces mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and left bundle branch block (LBBB). The difficulty in accurately diagnosing AMI in patients with LBBB, however, might result in their undertreatment. Among 3,890 patients hospitalized with chest pain, 241 (6.2%) had LBBB at presentation. The only variable independently associated with AMI among patients with LBBB was in-hospital left ventricular failure (odds ratio [OR]: 4.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.95-9.57, p < 0.0005). Only 16 (29%) of the LBBB patients with AMI received thrombolytic therapy compared with 583 (78%) of the 747 patients with ST-elevation AMI (p < 0.0005). A further 19 (10%) LBBB patients without AMI also received thrombolysis. Difficulty in making an accurate early diagnosis in patients with LBBB ensures that the majority of those with AMI fail to receive thrombolytic therapy while others without AMI are treated inappropriately. Improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are needed for patients with acute coronary syndromes and LBBB.
Assuntos
Bloqueio de Ramo/tratamento farmacológico , Fibrinolíticos/uso terapêutico , Infarto do Miocárdio/tratamento farmacológico , Terapia Trombolítica/estatística & dados numéricos , Idoso , Intervalos de Confiança , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Razão de Chances , Estudos Prospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
AIMS: To determine the clinical utility of 24 hour Holter monitoring by measuring the frequency of candidate arrhythmias recorded during the investigation of palpitations and altered consciousness. METHODS: Of 9,729 Holter recordings, reports were available in 8,973 (92.2%) performed in the 7394 patients who comprise the study group. The mean age of the study group was 66 +/- 19 years and 56.4% were women. RESULTS: The most common indications were altered consciousness (41.7%) and palpitations (36.2%). Among patients with palpitations and sinus rhythm (n=2688), recordings were normal in 2247 (83.6%). Abnormalities included paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF, 6.6%), narrow complex tachycardia (NCT, 2.8%) nonsustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT/VT, 2.6%). Among patients with altered consciousness (n=3075), recordings were normal in 2589 (84.2%). Abnormalities included PAF (9.5%), NCT (2.6%), NSV/VT (0.2%), pause >2.8s (2.2%) and high degree AV block (1.3%). The diagnostic yield of Holter monitoring was particularly low in patients aged < or =50 years, of whom 93.1% had palpitations and 95.3% had altered consciousness had normal recordings. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic utility of Holter monitoring in patients being investigated for palpitations and altered consciousness is very limited, particularly in young patients for whom alternative diagnostic methods should be considered.