Left atrial size and risk for all-cause mortality and ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the relation between left atrial size and outcome among patients referred for clinically indicated echocardiograms. Our aim was to assess the association of left atrial size with all-cause mortality and ischemic stroke in a large cohort of patients referred for echocardiography. METHODS: Left atrial diameter was measured in 52 639 patients aged 18 years or older (mean age 61.8 [standard deviation (SD) 16.3] years; 52.9% men) who underwent a first transthoracic echocardiogram for clinical reasons at our institution between April 1990 and March 2008. The outcomes were all-cause mortality and nonfatal ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Based on the criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography, 50.4% of the patients had no left atrial enlargement, whereas 24.5% had mild, 13.3% had moderate and 11.7% had severe left atrial enlargement. Over a mean follow-up period of 5.5 (SD 4.1) years, 12 527 patients died, and 2314 patients had a nonfatal ischemic stroke. Cumulative 10-year survival was 73.7% among patients with normal left atrial size, 62.5% among those with mild enlargement, 54.8% among those with moderate enlargement and 45% among those with severe enlargement (p < 0.001). After adjustment in multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, left atrial diameter remained a predictor of all-cause mortality in both sexes (hazard ratio [HR] per 1-cm increment in left atrial size 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.22, p < 0.001 in women, and HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.13, p < 0.001 in men) and of ischemic stroke in women (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14-1.37, p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: Left atrial diameter has a graded and independent association with all-cause mortality in both sexes and with ischemic stroke in women.

Clinical validation study of the SignCare Vital Signs Monitor of Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia / Estudio de validación clínica del monitor de signos vitales SignCare de la Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia

Abstract Introduction: In Colombia, due to the difficult access to health services and to geographic conditions, the implementation and innovation of telemedicine technological tools is a priority. Having a validated vital signs monitor (VSM) improves proper medical treatment and diagnosis. Objective: To design and perform clinical trials for the SignCare VSM. Materials and methods: A device for continuous monitoring of electrocardiography, respiration, oxygen saturation, temperature and noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) was designed. This device was validated in a laboratory in order to ensure a robust prototype, close to the level of commercial medical devices. Clinical trials were performed through a cross -section study with 98 patients, whose vital signs were measured using the SignCare monitor and a commercial monitor. These two measurements were compared using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the results obtained with the SignCare VSM and the commercial monitor. The highest correlations were found for the following items: heart rate by electrocardiogram (r=0.844), heart rate by oxymetry (r=0.821), body temperature (r=0.895), systolic blood pressure (r=0.780), and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.811). Conclusions: The SignCare device is as reliable as the commercial monitor in the qualitative detection of morphologic alterations of electrocardiogram records, as well as in breathing, temperature, oxygen saturation and blood pressure parameters, which makes it recommendable for clinical use in adult population.

Resumen Introducción. Debido a las dificultades geográficas y de acceso a los servicios de salud en Colombia, la implementación e innovación con herramientas de telemedicina se convierte en un tema prioritario; contar con un monitor de signos vitales validado favorece el tratamiento médico oportuno. Objetivos Diseñar y realizar la validación clínica del monitor de signos vitales SignCare. Materiales y métodos. Se diseñó un equipo para el monitoreo constante de las señales de electrocardiografía, respiración, saturación de oxígeno, temperatura y presión arterial no invasiva. El dispositivo fue validado en el laboratorio para asegurar un prototipo robusto a nivel de dispositivos médicos comerciales. La validación clínica se hizo mediante un estudio de corte transversal en 98 pacientes a los que se les realizaron mediciones con el monitor SignCare y con un monitor comercial. Se compararon estas dos mediciones mediante coeficientes de correlación de Pearson. Resultados. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a los resultados obtenidos con el monitor SignCare y con el monitor comercial. Las mayores correlaciones se presentaron en la frecuencia cardíaca por electrocardiograma (r=0.844), frecuencia cardíaca por oximetría (r=0.821), temperatura corporal (r=0.895), tensión arterial sistólica (r=0.780) y tensión arterial diastólica (0.811). Conclusiones. El monitor SignCare es tan confiable como el monitor comercial para la detección cualitativa de alteraciones morfológicas del registro electrocardiográfico, lo que hace posible su recomendación para uso clínico en población adulta.

Prognostic value of an exaggerated exercise blood pressure response in patients with diabetes mellitus and known or suspected coronary artery disease.

The prognostic value of an exaggerated exercise systolic blood pressure response (EESBPR) remains controversial. Our aim was to assess whether an EESBPR is associated with the long-term outcome in patients with diabetes mellitus and known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). From an initial population of 22,262 patients with known or suspected CAD who underwent treadmill exercise electrocardiography or exercise echocardiography at our institution, 2,591 patients with a history of diabetes mellitus were selected for the present study. EESBPR was defined as systolic blood pressure >220 mm Hg during exercise. The end points were all-cause mortality and hard events (ie, death or myocardial infarction). A total of 236 patients (9.1%) developed an EESBPR during the tests. During a mean follow-up of 6.5 +/- 3.9 years, 484 patients died and 646 experienced hard events. The 10-year mortality rate was 16.6% in patients with an EESBPR compared to 30.9% in those without an EESBPR (p <0.001). The 10-year hard event rate was also lower in patients with an EESBPR (23.2% vs 38.9% in patients without an EESBPR; p <0.001). On multivariate analysis, an EESBPR remained independently associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.78, p = 0.001) and hard events (hazard ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.41 to 0.79; p <0.001). These results remained consistent in the subgroup of patients without a known history of CAD. In conclusion, an EESBPR was associated with improved survival and a lower rate of death or myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus and known or suspected CAD.