Nursing knowledge of the principles of self-care of heart failure in primary care: a multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses play an important part in the education of patients with HF. To prepare patients with HF for self-care maintenance behaviours, nurses must have knowledge of basic self-care maintenance principles. AIM STUDY: The aim of this study was to determine the degree of knowledge of primary care (PC) nurses on the principles of self-management of HF and variables associated with this. METHODOLOGY: This is an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out in 2014, in the city of Barcelona (Catalonia). Nurses' Knowledge of Heart Failure Education Principles questionnaire (NKHFEP) was used to assess the principles of HF self-care education. Instrument items assess knowledge of nurses on 5 themes: diet, liquids/weight, worsening signs or symptoms, medication and exercise. Factors related to adequate knowledge were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 216 PC nurses, who completed the questionnaire, the average score was 15.6 (SD: 2.2). Only 36 (16.7%) obtained an adequate level of knowledge and defined as a score ≥ 18 points. In multivariate logistic regression, nurse factors associated with an adequate knowledge of principles of self-care of HF were having achieved a PhD degree (OR: 36.4, 95% CI: 2.8-468.2, p = 0.006) and previous specific training in HF (OR: 19.8, 95% CI: 1.4-279.3, p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The degree of knowledge of PC nurses in the principles of self-care in HF was higher among nurses who had completed the doctorate and in nurses who had received specific training in HF.

Plasma levels of miRNA-1-3p are associated with subclinical atrial fibrillation in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Identifying biomarkers of subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) is of most interest in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CrS). We sought to evaluate the circulating microRNA (miRNA) profile of patients with CrS and AF compared with those in persistent sinus rhythm. METHODS: Among 64 consecutive patients with CrS under continuous monitoring by a predischarge insertable monitor, 18 patients (9 with AF and 9 in persistent sinus rhythm) were selected for high-throughput determination of 754 miRNAs. Nine patients with concomitant stroke and AF were also screened to improve the yield of miRNA selection. Differentially expressed miRNAs were replicated in an independent cohort (n=46). Biological markers were stratified by the median and included in logistic regression analyses to evaluate their association with AF at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Eight miRNAs were differentially expressed between patients with and without AF. In the replication cohort, miR-1-3p, a gene regulator involved in cardiac arrhythmogenesis, was the only miRNA to remain significantly higher in patients with CrS and AF vs those in sinus rhythm and showed a modest association with AF burden. High (= above the median) miR-1-3p plasma values, together with a low left atrial ejection fraction, were independently associated with the presence of AF at 6 and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, plasma levels of miR-1-3p were elevated in CrS patients with subsequent AF. Our results preliminarily suggest that miR-1-3p could be a novel biomarker that, together with clinical parameters, could help identify patients with CrS and a high risk of occult AF.

Improving ambulatory blood pressure monitoring knowledge in nurses and doctors: impact of a training intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is fundamental to diagnosing and monitoring arterial hypertension (HTN), yet it is not known how effective training could be in improving knowledge of ABPM. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate ABPM knowledge before and after a training activity. METHODOLOGY: A before-and-after intervention study of 116 professionals. Data was collected on age, sex, occupational category, work setting, and work experience. ABPM knowledge was determined by a questionnaire to evaluate expertise in understanding and interpreting ABPM results. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed that, pre-intervention, having more than 20 years' experience (odds ratio (OR): 5.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-33.9; p = 0.049) and being a doctor (OR: 5.7; 95% CI: 1.8-18.3; p = 0.004) were associated with greater ABPM knowledge. Training increased the number of professionals with adequate ABPM knowledge: 85.3% after training vs 26.7% before training. Training increased the questionnaire mean (SD) score by almost 3 (1.7) points: 9 (2.2) after training vs 6.3 (2.2) before training ( p < 0.05). Of the 116 professionals, 90.5% achieved a higher overall score after training. The impact of the intervention was greatest on women nurses older than 45 years and with more years of experience, employed in primary care, and with prior experience of ABPM. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of ABPM is deficient but can be easily improved by training that is most effective in primary care and among nurses.

[Prevalence and clinical course of patients in Spain with acute myocardial infarction and severely depressed ejection fraction who meet the criteria for automatic defibrillator implantation]. / Prevalencia y evolución en España de los pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio y fracción de eyección severamente deprimida, con criterios de implantacíon de desfibrilador automático.

The Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT)-II has broadened the indications for cardioverter defibrillator implantation. We present a retrospective study designed to estimate the number of patients in Spain eligible for an implantable defibrillator according to the MADIT-II criteria. From January 1999 to October 2002, 758 consecutive patients were admitted to our center with the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Sixty-seven had a left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 30% (mean, 23[5]) and were not eligible for revascularization. Excluding patients older than 80 years and patients with marked co-morbidity, 47 patients met the MADIT-II criteria for an implantable defibrillator. After a mean follow-up of 18 months, there were 20 deaths, 6 of which were considered sudden. In conclusion, application of the MADIT-II criteria for defibrillator implantation may benefit 6% of the patients with myocardial infarction in Spain. This proportion translates as 4110 defibrillator implantations.