Evaluation of frailty in geriatric patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac procedure: results of a prospective, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is an indicator of a decline in quality of life and functional capacity in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients. Currently, there is no standardized assessment tool for frailty used in CR. The aim of this study was to determine if the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is feasible for assessing frailty in CR. METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional study within the framework of the ongoing multicenter prehabilitation study "PRECOVERY". Patients ≥75 years undergoing CR after cardiac procedure (n=122) were recruited in four German inpatient CR facilities. Assessments included: CFS, Katz-Index, hand grip strength (HGS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and six-minute-walk test (6MWT). Outcomes were frailty (CFS≥4) and the correlation of frailty with assessments of functional capacity, activities of daily living and clinical parameters. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and correlations, using the spearman correlation coefficient and chi-square test to test for significance. RESULTS: Data from 101 patients (79.9±4.0 years; 63% male) were analyzed. The mean CFS score was 3.2±1.4; 41.6% were defined as frail (CFS≥4). The mean time required to assess the CFS was 0.20 minutes. The findings show that CFS correlates significantly (p<0.001) with the following factors: Katz-Index, HGS, SPPB-Score and 6MWT (r≤-0.575). In addition, CFS correlated with small to moderate effects with co-morbidities (r=0.250), as-needed medications and need for nursing assistance (r≤0.248). CONCLUSIONS: The CFS assessment can be performed in under one minute and it correlates significantly with assessments of functional capacity, activities of daily living and clinical parameters in the CR setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; http:// www. drks. de; DRKS00032256). Retrospectively registered on 13 July 2023.

Preoperative Delirium Risk Screening in Patients Undergoing a Cardiac Surgery: Results from the Prospective Observational FINDERI Study.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication of cardiac surgery that is associated with higher morbidity, longer hospital stay, cognitive decline, and mortality. Preoperative assessments may help to identify patients´ POD risk. However, a standardized screening assessment for POD risk has not been established. DESIGN: Prospective observational FINd DElirium RIsk factors (FINDERI) study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged ≥50 years undergoing cardiac surgery. MEASUREMENTS: The primary aim was to analyze the predictive value of the Delirium Risk Screening Questionnaire (DRSQ) prior to cardiac surgery. Secondary aims are to investigate cognitive, frailty, and geriatric assessments, and to use data-driven machine learning (ML) in predicting POD. Predictive properties were assessed using receiver operating characteristics analysis and multivariate approaches (regularized LASSO regression and decision trees). RESULTS: We analyzed a data set of 504 patients (68.3 ± 8.2 years, 21.4% women) who underwent cardiac surgery. The incidence of POD was 21%. The preoperatively administered DRSQ showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.68 (95% CI 0.62, 0.73), and the predictive OR was 1.25 (95% CI 1.15, 1.35, p <0.001). Using a ML approach, a three-rule decision tree prediction model including DRSQ (score>7), Trail Making Test B (time>118), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (score ≤ 22) was identified. The AUC of the three-rule decision tree on the training set was 0.69 (95% CI 0.63, 0.75) and 0.62 (95% CI 0.51, 0.73) on the validation set. CONCLUSION: Both the DRSQ and the three-rule decision tree might be helpful in predicting POD risk before cardiac surgery.

The prevalence and impact of sarcopenia in older cardiac patients undergoing inpatient cardiac rehabilitation - results from a prospective, observational cohort pre-study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sarcopenia and its impact in older patients undergoing inpatient cardiac rehabilitation (iCR) after cardiac procedure has been insufficiently studied. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and quantify the functional capacity of older sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients participating in iCR. METHODS: Prospective, observational cohort study within the framework of the ongoing multicenter prehabilitation study "PRECOVERY". A sample of 122 patients ≥75 years undergoing iCR after cardiac procedure were recruited in four German iCR facilities and followed up 3 months later by telephone. At iCR (baseline), the Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire was used to identify sarcopenic patients. In addition, Katz-Index, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), handgrip strength (HGS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) measured functional capacity and frailty at baseline. Outcomes were prevalence of sarcopenia and the correlation of sarcopenia to functional capacity and frailty at baseline as well as the SARC-F score at follow-up. The Wilcoxon test was applied for pre-post-test analysis. Correlation between sarcopenia and 6MWD, SPPB score and HGS was tested with the eta coefficient with one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Complete assessments were collected from 101 patients (79.9 ± 4.0 years; 63% male). At baseline, the mean SARC-F score was 2.7 ± 2.1; 35% with sarcopenia. Other baseline results were Katz-Index 5.7 ± 0.9, CFS 3.2 ± 1.4, HGS 24.9 ± 9.9 kg, SPPB score 7.5 ± 3.3 and 6MWD 288.8 ± 136.5 m. Compared to baseline, fewer patients were sarcopenic (23% versus 35%) at follow-up. In the subgroup of sarcopenic patients at baseline (n = 35), pre-post comparison resulted in a significant SARC-F improvement (p = 0.017). There was a significant correlation between sarcopenia measured by SARC-F and poor results in the assessments of functional capacity (p < 0.001; r > 0.546). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sarcopenia in older patients at iCR after cardiac procedure is high (35%) and remains high at follow-up (23%). Sarcopenia screening is important since the diagnosis of sarcopenia in these patients correlates significantly with poor functional capacity. The results indicate that these patients may benefit from prehabilitation aimed at improving perioperative outcomes, increasing functional capacity and mitigating adverse effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; http://www.drks.de ; DRKS00032256). Retrospectively registered on 13 July 2023.

Generalized anxiety is a predictor of impaired quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation: Findings from the prospective observational ARENA study.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), an increased risk of morbidity, and mortality. Traditional AF-related outcomes (e.g., AF recurrence) primarily demonstrate the physiological benefits of AF management but do not focus on the benefits experienced subjectively by the patient (i.e., patient-reported outcomes), which have been suggested as optimal endpoints in AF intervention studies. The aim of this study is to identify medical and psychological factors associated with impaired HRQoL at 1-year follow-up. METHODS: Using data from the prospective observational multicenter ARENA study in patients with AF, we analyzed associations between medical factors, anxiety, and HRQoL at 1-year follow-up assessed using 5-level EuroQoL-5D. RESULTS: In 1353 AF patients (mean age 71.4 ± 10.3 years, 33.8% female), none of the medical predictors (e.g., heart disease) or history of cardioversion were associated with HRQoL at the 1-year follow-up. Higher generalized anxiety (ß = -0.114, p < .001) but not cardiac anxiety (ß = -0.006, p = .809) at baseline predicted decreased HRQoL, independent of confounding variables and patients' medical status. Furthermore, the worsening of patients' generalized anxiety was associated with decreased HRQoL (ß = -0.091, p < .001). In contrast, the improvement of generalized anxiety over time predicted higher HRQoL (ß = 0.097, p < .001). Finally, the worsening of patients' cardiac anxiety over time was associated with decreased HRQoL (ß = -0.081, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the importance of anxiety as a predictor of future HRQoL in patients with AF. Additional studies to examine the impact of anxiety treatment on HRQoL in this population are needed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The investigators registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02978248) on November 30, 2016 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02978248.

Risk Stratification of QTc Prolongation in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Antipsychotics for the Management of Delirium Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Patients experiencing significant agitation or perceptual disturbances related to delirium in an intensive care setting may benefit from short-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication. Some antipsychotic medications may prolong the QTc interval, which increases the risk of potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. In this targeted review, we describe the evidence regarding the relationships between antipsychotic medications and QTc prolongation and practical methods for monitoring the QTc interval and mitigating arrhythmia risk. METHODS: Searches of PubMed and Cochrane Library were performed to identify studies, published before February 2023, investigating the relationships between antipsychotic medications and QTc prolongation or arrhythmias. RESULTS: Most antipsychotic medications commonly used for the management of delirium symptoms (eg, intravenous haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine) cause a moderate degree of QTc prolongation. Among other antipsychotics, those most likely to cause QTc prolongation are iloperidone and ziprasidone, while aripiprazole and lurasidone appear to have minimal risk for QTc prolongation. Genetic vulnerabilities, female sex, older age, pre-existing cardiovascular disease, electrolyte abnormalities, and non-psychiatric medications also increase the risk of QTc prolongation. For individuals at risk of QTc prolongation, it is essential to measure the QTc interval accurately and consistently and consider medication adjustments if needed. CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotic medications are one of many risk factors for QTc prolongation. When managing agitation related to delirium, it is imperative to assess an individual patient's risk for QTc prolongation and to choose a medication and monitoring strategy commensurate to the risks. In intensive care settings, we recommend regular ECG monitoring, using a linear regression formula to correct for heart rate. If substantial QTc prolongation (eg, QTc > 500 msec) is present, a change in pharmacologic treatment can be considered, though a particular medication may still be warranted if the risks of discontinuation (eg, extreme agitation, removal of invasive monitoring devices) outweigh the risks of arrhythmias. AIMS: This review aims to summarize the current literature on relationships between antipsychotic medications and QTc prolongation and to make practical clinical recommendations towards the approach of antipsychotic medication use for the management of delirium-related agitation and perceptual disturbances in intensive care settings.

Prehabilitation in older patients prior to elective cardiac procedures (PRECOVERY): study protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of rehabilitation after a cardiovascular procedure. Especially older and multimorbid patients benefit from rehabilitation after a cardiac procedure. Prehabilitation prior to cardiac procedures may also have positive effects on patients' pre- and postoperative outcomes. Results of a current meta-analysis show that prehabilitation prior to cardiac procedures can improve perioperative outcomes and alleviate adverse effects. Germany currently lacks a structured cardiac prehabilitation program for older patients, which is coordinated across healthcare sectors. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled, two-arm parallel group, assessor-blinded multicenter intervention trial (PRECOVERY), we will randomize 422 patients aged 75 years or older scheduled for an elective cardiac procedure (e.g., coronary artery bypass graft surgery or transcatheter aortic valve replacement). In PRECOVERY, patients randomized to the intervention group participate in a 2-week multimodal prehabilitation intervention conducted in selected cardiac-specific rehabilitation facilities. The multimodal prehabilitation includes seven modules: exercise therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive training, psychosocial intervention, disease-specific education, education with relatives, and nutritional intervention. Participants in the control group receive standard medical care. The co-primary outcomes are quality of life (QoL) and mortality after 12 months. QoL will be measured by the EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). A health economic evaluation using health insurance data will measure cost-effectiveness. A mixed-methods process evaluation will accompany the randomized, controlled trial to evaluate dose, reach, fidelity and adaptions of the intervention. DISCUSSION: In this study, we investigate whether a tailored prehabilitation program can improve long-term survival, QoL and functional capacity. Additionally, we will analyze whether the intervention is cost-effective. This is the largest cardiac prehabilitation trial targeting the wide implementation of a new form of care for geriatric cardiac patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; http://www.drks.de ; DRKS00030526). Registered on 30 January 2023.

[Update on the diagnosis and treatment of delirium]. / Neues in der Diagnostik und Therapie des Delirs.

Delirium is an acute confusional state with typically fluctuating disturbances of attention, cognition, and qualitative awareness. Its incidence depends on the patient group. In the development of delirium, predisposing factors such as age, frailty, multimorbidity, surgical interventions, and pre-existing dementia are of high clinical relevance. The diagnosis of delirium should be based on symptoms and validated screening methods (e.g., Confusion Assessment Method). As delirium is a direct physiological consequence of a medical condition, the potential underlying cause(s) should be diagnosed. Prevention and therapy are primarily multimodal, non-pharmacological treatments such as reorientation, early mobilization, and sleep improvement. If symptomatic pharmacological treatment is necessary (e.g., due to delirium-related agitation), careful drug selection should be made depending on the patient population and symptoms.

The impact of orthodontic-surgical treatment on facial expressions-a four-dimensional clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this clinical trial was to compare facial expressions (magnitude, shape change, time, and symmetry) before (T0) and after (T1) orthognathic surgery by implementing a novel method of four-dimensional (4D) motion capture analysis, known as videostereophotogrammetry, in orthodontics. METHODS: This prospective, single-centre, single-arm trial included a total of 26 adult patients (mean age 28.4 years; skeletal class II: n = 13, skeletal class III: n = 13) with indication for orthodontic-surgical treatment. Two reproducible facial expressions (maximum smile, lip purse) were captured at T0 and T1 by videostereophotogrammetry as 4D face scan. The magnitude, shape change, symmetry, and time of the facial movements were analysed. The motion changes were analysed in dependence of skeletal class and surgical movements. RESULTS: 4D motion capture analysis was feasible in all cases. The magnitude of the expression maximum smile increased from 15.24 to 17.27 mm (p = 0.002), while that of the expression lip purse decreased from 9.34 to 8.31 mm (p = 0.01). Shape change, symmetry, and time of the facial movements did not differ significantly pre- and postsurgical. The changes in facial movements following orthodontic-surgical treatment were observed independently of skeletal class and surgical movements. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic-surgical treatment not only affects static soft tissue but also soft tissue dynamics while smiling or lip pursing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To achieve comprehensive orthodontic treatment plans, the integration of facial dynamics via videostereophotogrammetry provides a promising approach in diagnostics. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00017206.

Depression Subtypes in Systolic Heart Failure: A Secondary Analysis From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is associated with an elevated risk of morbidity, mortality, hospitalization, and impaired quality of life. One potential contributor to these poor outcomes is depression. Yet the effectiveness of treatments for depression in patients with HF is mixed, perhaps due to the heterogeneity of depression. METHODS: This secondary analysis applied latent class analysis (LCA) to data from a clinical trial to classify patients with systolic HF and comorbid depression into LCA subtypes based on depression symptom severity, and then examined whether these subtypes predicted treatment response and mental and physical health outcomes at 12 months follow-up. RESULTS: In LCA of 629 participants (mean age 63.6 ± 12.9; 43% females), we identified 4 depression subtypes: mild (prevalence 53%), moderate (30%), moderately severe (12%), and severe (5%). The mild subtype was characterized primarily by somatic symptoms of depression (e.g., energy loss, sleep disturbance, poor appetite), while the remaining LCA subtypes additionally included nonsomatic symptoms of depression (e.g., depressed mood, anhedonia, worthlessness). At 12 months, LCA subtypes with more severe depressive symptoms reported significantly greater improvements in mental quality of life and depressive symptoms compared to the LCA mild subtype, but the incidence of cardiovascular- and noncardiovascular-related readmissions, and mortality was similar among all subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with depression and systolic heart failure those with the LCA mild depression subtype may not meet full criteria for major depressive disorder, given the overlap between HF and somatic symptoms of depression. We recommend requiring depressed mood or anhedonia as a necessary symptom for major depressive disorder in patients with HF.

Positive psychological well-being and clinical characteristics in IBS: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety) are known to contribute to the development and maintenance of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Less is known, however, about the role of positive psychological well-being (PPWB) in IBS. Accordingly, we completed a systematic review of the literature examining relationships between PPWB and clinical characteristics in IBS. METHOD: A systematic review using search terms related to PPWB and IBS from inception through July 28, 2022, was completed. Quality was assessed with the NIH Quality Assessment Tool. A narrative synthesis of findings, rather than meta-analysis, was completed due to study heterogeneity. RESULTS: 22 articles with a total of 4285 participants with IBS met inclusion criteria. Individuals with IBS had lower levels of PPWB (e.g., resilience, positive affect, self-efficacy, emotion regulation) compared to healthy populations, which in turn was associated with reduced physical and mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Limited exploration of potential biological mechanisms underlying these relationships has been described. CONCLUSIONS: PPWB is diminished in individuals with IBS compared to other populations, and greater PPWB is linked to superior physical, psychological, and HRQoL outcomes. Interventions to increase PPWB may have the potential to improve IBS-related outcomes. REGISTRATION: Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022304767.

Pharmacologic treatment of delirium symptoms: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted an updated, comprehensive, and contemporary systematic review to examine the efficacy of existing pharmacologic agents employed for management of delirium symptoms among hospitalized adults. METHODS: Searches of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to May 2021 were performed to identify studies investigating efficacy of pharmacologic agents for management of delirium. RESULTS: Of 11,424 articles obtained from searches, a total of 33 articles (N = 3030 participants) of randomized or non-randomized trials, in which pharmacologic treatment was compared to active comparator, placebo, or no treatment, met all criteria and were included in this review. Medications used for management of delirium symptoms included antipsychotic medications (N = 27), alpha-2 agonists (N = 5), benzodiazepines (N = 2), antidepressants (n = 1), acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (N = 2), melatonin (N = 2), opioids (N = 1), and antiemetics (N = 2). Despite somewhat mixed findings and a relative lack of high-quality trials, it appears that antipsychotic medications (e.g., haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, or quetiapine) and dexmedetomidine have the potential to improve delirium outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologic agents can reduce delirium symptoms (e.g., agitation) in some hospitalized patients. Additional double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are critically needed to investigate the efficacy of pharmacologic agents for diverse hospitalized populations (e.g., post-surgical patients, patients at the end-of-life, or in intensive care units).

Changes in treatment outcomes in patients undergoing an integrated psychosomatic inpatient treatment: Results from a cohort study.

Objective: In Germany, multimodal psychosomatic inpatient treatment can be initiated for patients with substantial mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, somatoform disorders) and comorbid physical disease. However, studies investigating changes in psychological and functional treatment outcomes, and predictors of long-term treatment effects in patients undergoing psychosomatic inpatient treatment are needed. Methods: This cohort study analyzed 160 patients aged ≥18 who were treated on an integrated psychosomatic inpatient unit at the University of Göttingen Medical Center. Its aim was to analyze changes in psychological and functional outcomes, and to identify predictors of long-term improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with comorbid mental and physical illness who were undergoing integrated inpatient psychosomatic treatment. Assessments were completed at admission, discharge, and 12- or 24-month follow-up. Outcomes included physical complaints [Giessen Subjective Complaints List (GBB-24)], psychological symptoms [Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)], and HRQoL [European Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D)]. Results: One-hundred sixty inpatients were included (mean age = 53.1 ± 12.6; 53.8% female). There were significant, medium- to large-sized improvements in psychological symptoms (BSI-Global Severity Index; d = -0.83, p < 0.001), physical symptom burden (d = -0.94, p < 0.001), and HRQoL (d = 0.65, p < 0.001) from admission to discharge, and significant, small- to medium-sized greater improvements in all psychological outcomes from admission to follow-up (BSI-GSI: d = -0.54, p < 0.001; GBB-24 total symptom burden: d = -0.39, p < 0.001; EQ-5D: d = 0.52, p < 0.001). Furthermore, better improvement in HRQoL during hospitalization (partial η2 = 0.386; p < 0.001) was associated with higher HRQoL at follow-up. Finally, intake of antidepressant at discharge was associated with impaired HRQoL at follow-up (η2 = 0.053; p = 0.03). Conclusion: There were significant short- and long-term improvements in psychological symptoms, physical complaints, and HRQoL after treatment on an integrated psychosomatic inpatient unit in patients with mental disorders and a comorbid physical disease.

Identification of risk factors for delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia after cardiac surgery (FINDERI-find delirium risk factors): a study protocol of a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is a common complication of cardiac surgery associated with higher morbidity, longer hospital stay, risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and mortality. Geriatric patients, patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and intensive care patients are at a high risk of developing postoperative delirium. Gold standard assessments or biomarkers to predict risk factors for delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery are not yet available. METHODS: The FINDERI trial (FINd DElirium RIsk factors) is a prospective, single-center, observational study. In total, 500 patients aged ≥ 50 years undergoing cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of the University of Göttingen Medical Center will be recruited. Our primary aim is to validate a delirium risk assessment in context of cardiac surgery. Our secondary aims are to identify specific preoperative and perioperative factors associated with delirium, cognitive decline, and accelerated dementia after cardiac surgery, and to identify blood-based biomarkers that predict the incidence of postoperative delirium, cognitive decline, or dementia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DISCUSSION: This prospective, observational study might help to identify patients at high risk for delirium prior to cardiac surgery, and to identify important biological mechanisms by which cardiac surgery is associated with delirium. The predictive value of a delirium screening questionnaire in cardiac surgery might be revealed. Finally, the identification of specific blood biomarkers might help to predict delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the IRB of the University of Göttingen Medical Center. The investigators registered this study in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; https://www.drks.de ) (DRKS00025095) on April 19th, 2021.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Positive Psychology Intervention in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Both positive (e.g., optimism, well-being) and negative (e.g., stress, depressive symptoms) psychological constructs are associated with cardiovascular health. Positive psychology interventions (PPIs), which involve the cultivation of well-being through systematic activities, have the potential to enhance positive constructs and reduce negative ones; however, there has been limited study of PPIs in individuals with coronary heart disease. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: This 3-arm, randomized controlled pilot trial investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week, group-based PPI, compared with group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy and treatment as usual, in patients with coronary heart disease. Assessments were completed at baseline, 9 weeks postintervention, and 15-week follow-up, and outcomes included C-reactive protein, happiness, optimism, psychological distress, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients with coronary heart disease were included (mean age = 57.6 ± 8.3; 13.1% female). Participants in the PPI group completed 6.8 (standard deviation 1.3) of 8 sessions (85%), and the majority of PPI (96%) participants completed ≥5 out of the 8 sessions. PPI exercises were rated as easy to complete and subjectively useful, and PPI participants reported a high likelihood of continuing them after the intervention. In preliminary efficacy analyses, there were no consistent treatment effects of the PPI on C-reactive protein levels compared with treatment as usual and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Finally, the PPI was associated with nonsignificant, small- to medium-sized greater improvements in psychological outcomes compared with treatment as usual and cognitive-behavioral therapy at 9 and 15 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals with coronary heart disease, a group-based PPI was feasible, well-accepted, and associated with preliminary, nonsignificant, small- to medium-sized improvements in mental health compared with treatment as usual and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Symptom Severity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Findings from the Observational ARENA Study.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), high symptom severity, and poor cardiovascular outcomes. Both clinical and psychological factors may contribute to symptom severity and HRQoL in AF. METHODS: Using data from the observational Atrial Fibrillation Rhine-Neckar Region (ARENA) trial, we identified medical and psychosocial factors associated with AF-related symptom severity using European Heart Rhythm Association symptom classification and HRQoL using 5-level EuroQoL- 5D. RESULTS: In 1218 AF patients (mean age 71.1 ± 10.5 years, 34.5% female), female sex (OR 3.7, p < 0.001), preexisting coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 1.7, p = 0.020), a history of cardioversion (OR 1.4, p = 0.041), cardiac anxiety (OR 1.2; p < 0.001), stress from noise (OR 1.4, p = 0.005), work-related stress (OR 1.3, p = 0.026), and sleep disturbance (OR 1.2, p = 0.016) were associated with higher AF-related symptom severity. CAD (ß = -0.23, p = 0.001), diabetes mellitus (ß = -0.25, p < 0.001), generalized anxiety (ß = -0.30, p < 0.001), cardiac anxiety (ß = -0.16, p < 0.001), financial stress (ß = -0.11, p < 0.001), and sleep disturbance (ß = 0.11, p < 0.001) were associated with impaired HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological characteristics, preexisting CAD, and diabetes may play an important role in the identification of individuals at highest risk for impaired HRQoL and high symptom severity in patients with AF.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of perioperative interventions in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: the randomized controlled I-COPE trial.

OBJECTIVES: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are exposed to multiple treatment-related stressors, which can impact coping and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this trial was to analyse the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multi-component intervention that combines psychological support and reduction of hospital-specific stressors on HRQoL, length of hospital and intensive care unit stay, self-efficacy, and plasma interleukin (IL)-6 and -8 levels in CABG patients. METHODS: This three-arm, randomized controlled, single-centre pilot trial assessed the Intervention for CABG to Optimize Patient Experience in 88 patients undergoing elective CABG. Standard medical care (SMC, n = 29) was compared with 2 intervention groups: (i) psychological interventions to optimize treatment expectations (IA group, n = 30) and (ii) multi-component intervention (IB group, n = 29) with psychological interventions plus an additional treatment package (light therapy, noise reduction, music, and if desired, 360° images delivered via virtual reality). RESULTS: The implementation of psychological interventions in routine medical treatment was feasible (91.5% of participants completed all intervention sessions). Both interventions were associated with significantly shorter hospital stay compared to SMC (IA/IB 9.8/9.3 days vs SMC 12.5 days). Self-efficacy expectations at post-surgery were significantly higher compared to SMC both in the IA group (P = 0.011) and marginally in the IB group (P = 0.051). However, there were no treatment effects of the interventions on HRQoL and plasma levels of IL-6 or IL-8 after CABG. CONCLUSIONS: A perioperative multi-component intervention may lead to shorter hospital stay and higher self-efficacy after CABG. Further studies are needed to determine its impact on HRQoL and inflammation. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Ethical approval (# 21/2/18) for the study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Göttingen Medical Center, and the trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00015309, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do).

Heart transplantation in the era of COVID-19 pandemic: delirium, post-transplant depression, and visitor restrictions; the role of liaison and inpatient psychosomatic treatment-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplant recipients show a high risk of developing major depression with an increased risk of post-transplant morbidity and mortality. Heart transplant specialists and patients face unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have enormous clinical implications such as the increased risk of COVID-19 as well as visitor restrictions with social isolation during the post-transplant inpatient treatment. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of a 64-year-old woman with end-stage heart failure caused by non-compaction cardiomyopathy who received an orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) without any intra-operative complications. Post-operatively, she showed acute psychotic symptoms in the intensive care unit (ICU) with improvement after switching intravenous tacrolimus treatment to an oral intake. Furthermore, the patient developed severe depressive symptoms with malnutrition and had a prolonged hospitalization. Standard medical care was complemented by intensive psychocardiological treatment to overcome the crisis. CONCLUSION: High complexity of the post-transplant management after OHT underlines the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork, involving heart transplant specialists and allied mental health professionals. This collaboration led to an excellent long-term result. Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital visitor policies may be scrutinized, carefully looking at the role of social isolation, post-operative experience in the ICU, and medical complications after OHT.

Is Optimism a Protective Factor for Cardiovascular Disease?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Does optimism contribute to superior cardiovascular health? We examined prospective studies investigating the connections between optimism and cardiovascular health and examining the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may mediate such connections. RECENT FINDINGS: Optimism, independent of sociodemographic, medical, and negative psychological factors, has been prospectively associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and lower rates of cardiac and all-cause mortality. The mechanisms by which optimism may prevent cardiovascular disease remain unclear, but one mechanism may be through health behaviors. Indeed, optimism has been linked with physical activity, healthy diet, and smoking cessation, all of which are associated with better cardiovascular health. Additional studies are needed to: (1) understand the relationships between more dynamic measures of optimism and health outcomes, (2) delineate the mechanisms underlying the relationships between optimism and cardiovascular health, and (3) assess the potential for interventions to modify optimism.

[Update Psychocardiology]. / Update Psychokardiologie.

Psychocardiological research has contributed a better understanding of mental health, psychosocial factors and quality of life of in patients with cardiovascular diseases. In this update of psychocardiology in 2021, stressful experiences in childhood and adolescence are found to increase the risk of type II diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease and stroke along the life course. Higher level of optimism, sense of purpose, and mindfulness can be possible protective factors for cardiovascular health. Summarizing the update of psychocardiological interventions, the effectiveness of team-based treatment ("blended collaborative care") in secondary prevention is currently being tested in Germany in the randomized, controlled TEACH multicenter trial of patients with coronary heart disease and distress. Interventions such as positive psychology and mindfulness training can lead to a significant reduction in anxiety, stress and depression in heart patients.