[Sexual activity in women with cardiovascular disease: a literature review]. / Le problematiche sessuali nelle donne con malattie cardiovascolari: una revisione della letteratura.

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a complex condition that involves both psychological and organic domains, including the cardiovascular system, and has an impact on quality of life in more than one third of women. However, only few papers are available in the medical literature regarding FSD and its relation with cardiac diseases. In this review, we discuss the physiology of sexual intercourse in women, the pathophysiology of FSD, the sexual counseling to provide, and the therapeutic choices to minimize the negative impact of cardiovascular diseases on female sexual activity.

[Why do cardiologists disregard sexual health of their patients? A critical review]. / Perché i cardiologi trascurano la salute sessuale dei loro pazienti? Una revisione critica.

Sexual activity is an essential aspect of normal human function, well-being and quality of life. Sexual dysfunction is a common problem of increasing incidence in patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly younger and male, and continues over time in life, but these issues are not often discussed in daily practice both for a limited patient-physician relationship and clinicians' poor knowledge. Many studies suggest that the majority of patients and their partners have questions or concerns about their sexual health. Healthcare providers can help their patients if they are aware of the problem. Cardiologists need more knowledge and specific practical training in providing information on sexual concerns and sexual counseling to cardiac patients. This review aims at providing clinicians with most recent evidence about sexual dysfunction, and its management in patients with cardiac disease. Sexual couseling of cardiac patients is an important role for healthcare providers.

[Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: data from the Observatory of Cardiovascular Diseases in the province of Trieste (Italy)]. / La fibrillazione atriale non valvolare: dati dall'Osservatorio delle Malattie Cardiovascolari della provincia di Trieste.

BACKGROUND: Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is the most common arrhythmia in outpatients and is associated with increased mortality, thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. Although several international studies have evaluated its prognostic impact in the real world, Italian data are still lacking. Our aim was to define the prevalence, comorbidity, treatment and outcome in a population of "real-life" outpatients with NVAF. METHODS: From 2009 to 2013, 21 282 consecutive patients referred to the Cardiovascular Center of Trieste were enrolled in the study. NVAF was defined in the absence of moderate-to-severe valvular disease, valvular interventions, rheumatic heart disease. Events evaluated in the follow-up included mortality, hospitalizations, thromboembolism and hemorrhage. Clinical data and events were derived from the cardiac regional electronic patient records and the ICD-9 hospital discharge records. RESULTS: 3379 patients (15.8%) had NVAF (35.6% paroxysmal, 34.5% persistent, 29.9% permanent); compared to the general population these patients were older, predominantly male, with hypertension, diabetes and history of stroke/transient ischemic attack and heart failure. Oral anticoagulant therapy was prescribed in 54% of cases, above all in persistent or permanent forms, in patients with higher CHA2DS2-VASc score and younger age. The rate of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular hospitalization, thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events during follow-up was higher in patients with NVAF than in the general population. The use of oral anticoagulant therapy reduced the incidence of thromboembolic events. CHA2DS2-VASc score emerged as an independent predictor of thromboembolic events in patients with paroxysmal (35% higher risk), persistent (40% higher risk) and permanent atrial fibrillation (34% higher risk than patients without atrial fibrillation). CONCLUSIONS: In "real-life" outpatients NVAF is associated with older age, more comorbidities and increased cardiovascular events. CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores predict accurately the risk for thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. Oral anticoagulation reduces thromboembolic events, but its use is limited to just half of the patients.

Oral anticoagulation and VKORC1 polymorphism in patients with a mechanical heart prosthesis: a 6-year follow-up.

Therapy with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) effectively reduces the thrombosis risk in many clinical conditions. Genetic variants of vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC-1) are associated with increased VKA effect and bleeding risk. It is unknown whether these variants could also affect the long-term outcome in patients with high-dosage oral anticoagulation and/or more difficult adherence to the therapeutic INR range. Hundred and twenty-four patients with mechanical heart valve replacement assuming VKA were genotyped for VKORC-1 -1639G>A (Rs9923231) polymorphism. Hemorrhage, venous thrombosis and atherothrombotic events were retrospectively assessed for a 6-year period. Furthermore, stability of their INR in relationship with the VKORC-1 genotype was investigated day-by-day for 3 months. No differences were observed in hemorrhage and venous thrombosis events according to rs 9923231. GG genotype carriers (n = 41) had no atherothrombotic events, while 4 strokes, 4 TIA and 3 AMI were diagnosed in A carriers (n = 83; P = 0.0008). During the daily observation period, A allele carriers had lower VKA requirements (4.7, 3.7, 2.2 mg/day for GG/GA/AA genotype respectively; P = 0.00001), higher mean INR (2.7, 2.8, 2.9; P = 0.05) and a higher number of examinations above the therapeutic range than GG carriers (17 % vs. 0 % in GG genotype, P = 0.036). Conversely, patients with GG genotype had a more stable dosage of VKA (P = 0.006) and a higher percentage of examinations under the therapeutic range (51, 43 and 36 % in GG, GA and AA genotype, respectively, P = 0.040). In patients with high dosage VKA, VKORC-1 polymorphism is associated to a different warfarin dosage, anticoagulation level, time spent outside the therapeutic range and, in the long-term, a different incidence of atherothrombotic events.

[Nurse involvement in primary care: it is the key to improve the outcomes in primary and secondary prevention?]. / II coinvolgimento degli infermieri nelle cure primarie: un elemento chiave per la profilassi primaria e secondaria della cardiopatia ischemica? Un'ipotesi aperta alla discussione.

Difficulties in management of risk factors, lifestyle and medications adherence to achieve secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease were described. Many studies indicate that the benefit of cardiac rehabilitation therapy after acute coronary events is only partially maintained during the following year. Thereafter, new strategies of medical care are needed to improve the long-term outcomes in coronary patients. Nurse co-ordinated, multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitative programme could help patients to improve their lifestyle, to control their risk factors and to achieve their therapeutic goals for secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease.

[The challenge of improving evidence-based therapy adherence in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease: the next frontier of cardiac rehabilitation]. / Migliorare l'aderenza all'assunzione dei farmaci per la prevenzione secondaria della cardiopatia ischemica: la prossima frontiera della riabilitazione cardiovascolare.

Non-adherence to prescribed drug regimens is an increasing medical problem affecting physicians and patients and contribute to negative outcomes, such as the increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular events. Analysis of various patient populations shows that the choice of drug, its tolerability and the duration of treatment influence the non-adherence. Intervention is required toward patients and health-care providers to improve medication adherence. This review deals about the prevalence of non-adherence to therapy after medical and surgical cardiac event, the risk factors affecting non-adherence and the strategies to implement it. Interventions that may successfully improve adherence should include improved physician compliance with guidelines, patient education and patient reminders, frequent visits or telephone calls from staff, simplification of the patient's drug regimen by reducing the number of pills and daily doses. Since single interventions do not appear efficaceous, it is necessary to establish multiple interventions simultaneously addressing a number of barriers to adherence.

[Clinical practice: Ebstein's anomaly]. / Pratica clinica: l'anomalia di Ebstein.

Ebstein's anomaly is a rare malformation of the tricuspid valve that has anatomopathologic and clinical implications, accounting for < 1% of all cardiac malformations. Usually, the tricuspid valve has three leaflets and, if Ebstein's anomaly occurs, such leaflets are malformed: one-two leaflets are stuck to the wall of the heart so that they cannot move normally, furthermore other abnormalities can also coexist. Therefore, the awareness of the different anatomical, hemodynamic and clinical variables of Ebstein's anomaly is crucial to treat properly, surgically or not, such malformation. The present paper takes into account current natural history, diagnostic criteria and classification, echocardiographic features, and prognosis useful to the accurate recognition and management options of Ebstein's anomaly.

[Adherence to cardioprotective medications in coronary heart disease]. / Aderenza alla terapia cardioprotettiva nella cardiopatia ischemica.

Treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease relies on evidence-based medications such as beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers, aspirin and statins, which are considered cornerstones to control symptoms, improve quality of life, reduce future events, and prolong survival. In spite of the clear benefits of therapy, previous studies have shown differences between the large randomized populations and the "real world" about long-term treatment in terms of efficacy, tolerability, costs, side effects and drug interactions. Moreover, a different awareness of the patient's compliance has been highlighted in relation to the setting (hospital, family doctor, etc.). The analysis and assessment of the prescription and efficacy of therapy for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease represent one of the most important challenges for the healthcare system, because reliable data are necessary to verify usefulness and results of therapy, prescribed at discharge after an acute coronary syndrome and/or coronary artery bypass graft, but above all the actual application of treatments should be pursued in every clinical setting. The Cardiology School of the Trieste University has constituted a working group of cardiology students that during the year 2009 will enroll and follow for 1 year all patients with coronary artery disease discharged from the Cardiovascular Department and Emergency Unit of the University Hospital of Trieste to assess: (1) if evidence-based medicine for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease is applied in the Trieste area; (2) adherence to prescribed treatment; (3) factors that are associated with non-adherence and consequences of non-adherence.

[Lower is better: ENHANCE affair]. / Lower is better: la lezione del trial ENHANCE.

Ezetimibe lowers the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, being complementary to the effects of statin. To check its efficacy in lowering the carotid intima-media thickness, in 2002 a multicenter international trial called ENHANCE was started, in order to assess by ultrasound the regression of atherosclerotic plaques. The protocol tested the use of simvastatin 80 mg + placebo versus simvastatin 80 mg + ezetimibe 10 mg in 720 randomized patients. Both drugs were well tolerated. Combination therapy was associated with a larger reduction in LDL cholesterol, but there were no differences in the intima-media thickness measured at three sites in the carotid arteries, nor differences in cardiovascular events between the two groups in the trial. These results provoked disappointment of sponsors (Merck, Schering Plough) who, although the results of the trial were available since march 2007, delayed official communication of about 18 months. This led to speculations and rumors among media, American Government, cardiologic scientific associations, and consequences in the Ezetimibe market and at Wall Street. In particular, the American College of Cardiology didn't accept the communication of ENHANCE results to the Late Breaking Trial Session of the Chicago congress, diverting it to another secondary forum. In conclusion, the experience of the ENHANCE trial suggests to pharmaceutical companies, researchers, clinicians, scientific companies and media a deep meditation in order to avoid in the future similar problems in the management of results of medical research.

Thirty-nine-year survival with the Starr-edwards mitral valve prosthesis.

We report a case of a 57 year-old woman with Starr-Edwards model 6120 mitral valve replacement and Kay-Shiley bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement in 1968 at Niguarda Hospital in Milan. The mitral caged-ball has proved its excellent durability and its good hemodynamic performance in many patients, even if subject to high tendency to thrombosis. In literature there is no evidence of durability of this prosthesis longer than 35 years. Our patient after 39 years from mitral valve replacement lives a happy and fulfilling life (NYHA II), with no evidence of hemolysis, ball variance, symptomatic embolization or major bleeding.

[Disease management system in patients with chronic heart failure]. / Continuità assistenziale ospedale-territorio per il paziente con scompenso cardiaco cronico: una rivoluzione e una sfida nella cura ambulatoriale.

Healthcare managers are more and more interested in the role of general practitioners (GP) in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Continuing adjustments of the health organization are the old/new challenge in improving patient care. The European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend a disease-management program for heart failure (HF); moreover, observational studies and randomized controlled trials have reported better patient outcomes if patients are in charge of cardiologists rather than GPs or other physicians. Patients with chronic HF are often very old and affected by multiple comorbid conditions, by themselves associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, too many patients receive neither a correct diagnosis nor treatment until advanced disease occurs. New treatment approaches, some of them requiring the expertise of well-trained cardiologists, are ongoing to improve the clinical outcomes. The optimal management of patients with HF needs teamwork, i.e. GPs, cardiologists, nurses and caregivers, since a multidisciplinary program, only, can embody the best answer for outpatients with chronic HF. Currently, the Cardiovascular Center in Trieste is performing an experimental trial, so far never attempted before, in treating patients with chronic HF using a thorough approach with the full involvement of local cardiologists, GPs and nurses. Such approach is, at the same time, as well a challenge as an opportunity: a challenge because conventional clinical habits must be changed; an opportunity because patients can benefit from a proper whole care-group, aimed at prolonging life and reducing morbidity and symptoms.

[Remarks on angina pectoris]. / Considerazioni sull'angina pectoris.

In the first volume of the New England Journal of Medicine of 1812, J. Warren published a paper on the subject of angina pectoris, in which clearly emerge the difficulties facing the physicians of that time in trying to formulate a correct diagnosis and prescribe the right therapy. We thought it would be certainly of interest to offer our readers an Italian translation of this article, obviously with some stylistic modifications and supplemented with information coming from other historical scientific works. William Heberden in his report on " breast pain" was the first physician to use the term "angina" and the description of symptoms that he gave in 1772 is still today valid and correct.