Prognostic role of renal replacement therapy among hospitalized patients with heart failure in the Brazilian national public health system.

Introduction: Data on patients hospitalized with acute heart failure in Brazil scarce. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, retrospective, records-based study using data retrieved from a large public database of heart failure admissions to any hospital from the Brazilian National Public Health System (SUS) (SUS Hospital Information System [SIHSUS] registry) to determine the in-hospital all-cause mortality rate, in-hospital renal replacement therapy rate and its association with outcome. Results: In total, 910,128 hospitalizations due to heart failure were identified in the SIHSUS registry between April 2017 and August 2021, of which 106,383 (11.7%) resulted in in-hospital death. Renal replacement therapy (required by 8,179 non-survivors [7.7%] and 11,496 survivors [1.4%, p < 0.001]) was associated with a 56% increase in the risk of death in the univariate regression model (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.52 -1.59), a more than threefold increase of the duration of hospitalization, and a 45% or greater increase of cost per day. All forms of renal replacement therapy remained independently associated with in-hospital mortality in multivariable analysis (intermittent hemodialysis: HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.60 -1.69; continuous hemodialysis: HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.42 -1.63; peritoneal dialysis: HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.20 -1.88). Discussion: The in-hospital mortality rate of 11.7% observed among patients with acute heart failure admitted to Brazilian public hospitals was alarmingly high, exceeding that of patients admitted to North American and European institutions. This is the first report to quantify the rate of renal replacement therapy in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure in Brazil.

Evolocumab on top of empagliflozin improves endothelial function of individuals with diabetes: randomized active-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve endothelial dysfunction and reduce cardiovascular events in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9i) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. Whether the addition of PCSK9i to SGLT2i treatment adds benefits is not known. OBJECTIVES: To assess the PCSK9-i effect on the endothelial function of T2D individuals under treatment with SGLT2-i. METHODS: Individuals with T2D were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a 16-week treatment with either empagliflozin (E) or empagliflozin plus evolocumab (EE). The primary endpoint was post-treatment change from baseline in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) at 1-min. Secondary outcomes included changes in plasma levels of nitric oxide metabolites and isoprostane. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients were enrolled, the mean age was 58 years, and 71% were men. The median post-treatment change in FMD at 1-min was 2.7% (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.9%) and 0.4% (IQR: 0.9%) in the EE and E groups, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a greater increase in plasma levels of nitrate [5.9 (16.5) vs. 2.6 (11.8); p = 0.001] and nitrite [0.14 (0.72) vs. 0.02 (0.74); p = 0.025] in the EE group than in the E group, respectively. Isoprostane reduction was more pronounced in the EE group when compared to the E group [-1.7 (5.9) vs. -1.1 (5.3); p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with T2D, the addition of evolocumab on top of empagliflozin improves endothelial function.

Cardiac magnetic resonance assessment of right ventricular remodeling after anthracycline therapy.

There are limited data on the effects of anthracyclines on right ventricular (RV) structure, function, and tissue characteristics. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of anthracyclines on the RV using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). This was a post-hoc analysis of a prospective study of 27 breast cancer (BC) patients (51.8 ± 8.9 years) using CMR prior, and up to 3-times after anthracyclines (240 mg/m2) to measure RV volumes and mass, RV extracellular volume (ECV) and cardiomyocyte mass (CM). Before anthracyclines, LVEF (69.4 ± 3.6%) and RVEF (55.6 ± 9%) were normal. The median follow-up after anthracyclines was 399 days (IQR 310-517). The RVEF reached its nadir (46.3 ± 6.8%) after 9-months (P < 0.001). RV mass-index and RV CM decreased to 13 ± 2.8 g/m2 and 8.13 ± 2 g/m2, respectively, at 16-months after anthracyclines. The RV ECV expanded from 0.26 ± 0.07 by 0.14 (53%) to 0.40 ± 0.1 (P < 0.001). The RV ECV expansion correlated with a decrease in RV mass-index (r = -0.46; P < 0.001) and the increase in CK-MB. An RV ESV index at baseline above its median predicted an increased risk of LV dysfunction post-anthracyclines. In BC patients treated with anthracyclines, RV atrophy, systolic dysfunction, and a parallel increase of diffuse interstitial fibrosis indicate a cardiotoxic response on a similar scale as previously seen in the systemic left ventricle.

Glucose-lowering Drugs and Hospitalization for Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Additive-effects Network Meta-analysis With More Than 500 000 Patient-years.

BACKGROUND: Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) prevent hospitalization resulting from heart failure (HHF). However, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus use multiple antihyperglycemic drugs to achieve glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) targets. In these drug combinations, the risk of HHF is unpredictable and so is the parallel effect of glucose-lowering. PURPOSE: To examine the impact of antihyperglycemic drugs and their association on HHF. DATA SOURCES: Forty randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting HHF. STUDY SELECTION: Published RCTs were the data source. DATA EXTRACTION: Incidence rates of HHF. DATA SYNTHESIS: Random additive-effects network meta-analysis showed that metformin (P = 0.55), sulfonylureas (P = 0.51), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor-agonist (P = 0.16), and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4is; P = 0.54) were neutral on the risk of HHF. SGLT2is and SGLT2is + DPP4is reduced the risk of HHF with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.60-0.76; P < 0.0001) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60-0.81; P < 0.0001), respectively. Increased risk of HHF was associated with thiazolidinediones (TZDs) as monotherapy or in combination with DPP4is (HR: 1.45; 95% CI, 1.18-1.78; P = 0.0004) and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.18-1.88; P = 0.0008), respectively. Regardless of the therapy, a 1% reduction in HbA1c reduced the risk of HHF by 31.3% (95% CI, 9-48; P = 0.009). LIMITATIONS: There are no data to verify drug combinations available for clinical use and to discriminate the effect of drugs within each of the therapeutic classes. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of HHF is reduced by SGLT2is as monotherapy or in combination with DPP4is and increased by TZDs as monotherapy or in combination. Glucose-lowering provides an additive effect of reducing HHF.

Impact of emergency short-stay unit opening on in-hospital global and cardiology indicators.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Emergency short-stay unit (SSU) alleviates emergency department (ED) overcrowding, but may affect in-hospital indicators. Cardiology patients comprise a substantial part of patients admitted at SSU. This study evaluated whether SSU opening differentially modified in-hospital indicators at a whole general hospital and at its cardiology division (CARD). METHODS: We retrospectively analysed indicators based on 859 686 ED visits, and 171 547 hospital admissions, including 12 110 CARD admissions, from 2007 to 2018 at a general tertiary hospital, and compared global ED indicators and in-hospital indicators at the hospital and CARD before (2007-2011) and after (2011-2018) SSU opening. RESULTS: After SSU opening, monthly ED bed occupancy rate decreased (mean ± SD 200 ± 18% vs 187 ± 22%; P < .001) and in-hospital admissions from ED increased at the hospital (median [interquartile range] 460 [81] vs 524 [41], P < .001) and CARD (50 [12] vs 54 [12], P = .004). In parallel, monthly in-hospital elective admissions decreased at CARD (34 [18] vs 28 [17], P = .019), but not at the hospital (712 [73] vs 700 [104], P = .54). Average length of stay (LOS) increased at both hospital (8.5 ± 0.3 vs 8.7 ± 0.4 days, P < .001) and CARD (9.2 ± 1.5 vs 10.3 ± 2.3 days, P = .002) after SSU opening, but percent admissions at SSU showed a direct relationship with LOS solely at CARD. Furthermore, cardiology patients admitted at SSU had greater LOS, prevalence of coronary heart disease and age than those admitted at the conventional cardiology ward. CONCLUSIONS: SSU opening improved ED crowding, but was associated with changes in in-hospital indicators, particularly at CARD, and in the characteristics of hospitalized cardiology patients. These findings suggest that in-hospital cardiology services may need re-evaluation following SSU opening at a general hospital.

Prevalence, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia in diabetic participants of two brazilian cohorts: a place far from heaven.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. Over the last years, mortality has decreased significantly, more in individuals with diabetes than in healthy ones. That is mostly due to the control of other cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of our study was to analyze the dyslipidemia control in two diabetes cohorts. METHODS: Patients from two distinct cohorts were studied, 173 patients from the BHS (Brasília Heart Study) and 222 patients from the BDS (Brazilian Diabetes Study). The data on dyslipidemia control were studied in both different populations. All patients had diabetes. RESULTS: There are significant differences concerning comorbidities between the LDL-C and BDS groups. The average glycated hemoglobin is of 8.2 in the LDL-C > 100 group in comparison with 7.7 and 7.5 in the 70-100 and < 70 groups, respectively (p = 0.024). There is a higher percentage of hypertensive patients with LDL between 70-100 (63.9%), when comparing the < 70 and > 100 groups (54.3% and 54.9%, respectively; p = 0.005). Diastolic pressure is higher in the group with LDL > 100, with an average of 87 mmHg, in comparison with 82.6 mmHg and 81.9 mmHg in the 70-100 and < 70 groups, respectively (p = 0.019). The group with LDL > 100 has the greatest percentage of smokers (8.7%) in comparison with the groups with LDL between 70-100 and < 70 (5.6% and 4.3%, respectively; p = 0.015). There is also a difference in the previous incidence of coronaropathy. In the group with LDL < 70, 28.3% of patients had already experienced a previous infarction, compared with 11.1% and 10.6% in the 70-100 and > 100 groups, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The data in our study have shown that the dyslipidemia control in diabetic patients is inadequate and there is a tendency of direct association between lack of blood glucose control and lack of dyslipidemia control, in addition to the association with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as diastolic hypertension and smoking. This worsened control might be related to the plateau in the descending curve of mortality, and investments in this regard can improve the cardiovascular health in diabetic patients.

Intensive treatment of hyperglycemia in the acute phase of myocardial infarction: the tenuous balance between effectiveness and safety - a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

INTRODUCTION: In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), each 18 mg/dl (1 mmol/L) increment is associated with a 3% increase in mortality rates. All strategies applied for reducing blood glucose to this date, however, have not presented encouraging results. METHODOLOGY: We searched the Medline (PubMed) and Cochrane Library databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from 1995 to 2017 that used the intensive strategy or GIK therapy for blood glucose control during the acute stage of the AMI. We included eight studies. In order to identify the effects of GIK or insulin therapy, we calculated a overall risk ratio (RR) with meta-analysis of fixed and random effects models. A two-tail p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 28,151 patients were included: 1,379 intensively treated with insulin, 13,031 in GIK group, and 13,741 in the control group. The total mortality was 10.5% (n=2,961) and the RR of 1.03 [95%CI 0.96-1.10]; I2 = 31%; p = 0.41 for the combined intensive insulin plus GIK groups in comparison with the control group. In meta-regression analyses, intense reductions in blood glucose (> 36 mg/dL) in relation to the estimated average blood glucose (estimated by HbA1c) were associated with higher mortality, whereas lower reductions in blood glucose (< 36 mg/dL) were not associated with mortality. The lowering of blood glucose in the acute phase of MI compared with the average blood glucose was more effective around 18 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that there may be a tenuous line between the effectiveness and safety of reducing blood glucose in the acute phase of MI. The targets must not exceed a reduction greater than 36 mg/dL in relation to estimated average blood glucose.

Prevalence, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia in diabetic participants of two brazilian cohorts: a place far from heaven

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Diabetes is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. Over the last years, mortality has decreased significantly, more in individuals with diabetes than in healthy ones. That is mostly due to the control of other cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of our study was to analyze the dyslipidemia control in two diabetes cohorts. METHODS Patients from two distinct cohorts were studied, 173 patients from the BHS (Brasília Heart Study) and 222 patients from the BDS (Brazilian Diabetes Study). The data on dyslipidemia control were studied in both different populations. All patients had diabetes. RESULTS There are significant differences concerning comorbidities between the LDL-C and BDS groups. The average glycated hemoglobin is of 8.2 in the LDL-C > 100 group in comparison with 7.7 and 7.5 in the 70-100 and < 70 groups, respectively (p = 0.024). There is a higher percentage of hypertensive patients with LDL between 70-100 (63.9%), when comparing the < 70 and > 100 groups (54.3% and 54.9%, respectively; p = 0.005). Diastolic pressure is higher in the group with LDL > 100, with an average of 87 mmHg, in comparison with 82.6 mmHg and 81.9 mmHg in the 70-100 and < 70 groups, respectively (p = 0.019). The group with LDL > 100 has the greatest percentage of smokers (8.7%) in comparison with the groups with LDL between 70-100 and < 70 (5.6% and 4.3%, respectively; p = 0.015). There is also a difference in the previous incidence of coronaropathy. In the group with LDL < 70, 28.3% of patients had already experienced a previous infarction, compared with 11.1% and 10.6% in the 70-100 and > 100 groups, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The data in our study have shown that the dyslipidemia control in diabetic patients is inadequate and there is a tendency of direct association between lack of blood glucose control and lack of dyslipidemia control, in addition to the association with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as diastolic hypertension and smoking. This worsened control might be related to the plateau in the descending curve of mortality, and investments in this regard can improve the cardiovascular health in diabetic patients.

RESUMO OBJETIVO O diabetes é importante causa de mortalidade cardiovascular. Nos últimos anos, a mortalidade diminuiu substancialmente, mais em diabéticos do que em não diabéticos, em grande parte devido ao controle de outros fatores de risco cardiovasculares. Nosso estudo tem como objetivo analisar o controle de dislipidemia em duas coortes de diabéticos. MÉTODOS Foram estudados pacientes de duas coortes distintas, sendo 173 pacientes do BHS (Brasília Heart Study) e 222 pacientes do BDS (Brazilian Diabetes Study). Os dados sobre controle de dislipidemia foram estudados nas duas populações diferentes. Todos os pacientes eram diabéticos. RESULTADOS Há diferenças significativas em relação às comorbidades entre os grupos de LDL-C no BDS. A média de hemoglobina glicada é de 8,2 no grupo com LDL-C > 100, comparado com 7,7 e 7,5 nos grupos 70-100 e < 70, respectivamente (p = 0,024). Há maior porcentagem de pacientes hipertensos com LDL entre 70-100 (63,9%), quando comparado aos grupos < 70 e > 100 (54,3% e 54,9%, respectivamente; p = 0,005). A pressão diastólica é mais elevada no grupo com LDL > 100, com média de 87 mmHg, comparado com 82,6 mmHg e 81,9 mmHg nos grupos 70-100 e < 70, respectivamente (p = 0,019). O grupo com LDL > 100 tem maior porcentagem de tabagistas (8,7%) quando comparado aos grupos com LDL entre 70-100 e < 70 (5,6% e 4,3%, respectivamente; p = 0,015). Há, também, diferença na incidência prévia de coronariopatia. No grupo com LDL < 70, 28,3% dos pacientes já apresentaram infarto prévio, comparados com 11,1% e 10,6% nos grupos 70-100 e > 100, respectivamente (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO Os dados do nosso estudo mostram que o controle de dislipidemia em diabéticos é inadequado, e há uma tendência de associação direta entre descontrole glicêmico e descontrole de dislipidemia, além de associação com outros fatores de risco cardiovascular, como hipertensão diastólica e tabagismo. Esse pior controle pode estar relacionado ao platô no descenso da curva de mortalidade, e o investimento nesse quesito pode melhorar a saúde cardiovascular dos diabéticos.

Intensive treatment of hyperglycemia in the acute phase of myocardial infarction: the tenuous balance between effectiveness and safety - a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), each 18 mg/dl (1 mmol/L) increment is associated with a 3% increase in mortality rates. All strategies applied for reducing blood glucose to this date, however, have not presented encouraging results. METHODOLOGY We searched the Medline (PubMed) and Cochrane Library databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from 1995 to 2017 that used the intensive strategy or GIK therapy for blood glucose control during the acute stage of the AMI. We included eight studies. In order to identify the effects of GIK or insulin therapy, we calculated a overall risk ratio (RR) with meta-analysis of fixed and random effects models. A two-tail p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 28,151 patients were included: 1,379 intensively treated with insulin, 13,031 in GIK group, and 13,741 in the control group. The total mortality was 10.5% (n=2,961) and the RR of 1.03 [95%CI 0.96-1.10]; I2 = 31%; p = 0.41 for the combined intensive insulin plus GIK groups in comparison with the control group. In meta-regression analyses, intense reductions in blood glucose (> 36 mg/dL) in relation to the estimated average blood glucose (estimated by HbA1c) were associated with higher mortality, whereas lower reductions in blood glucose (< 36 mg/dL) were not associated with mortality. The lowering of blood glucose in the acute phase of MI compared with the average blood glucose was more effective around 18 mg/dL. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis suggests that there may be a tenuous line between the effectiveness and safety of reducing blood glucose in the acute phase of MI. The targets must not exceed a reduction greater than 36 mg/dL in relation to estimated average blood glucose.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO No infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM), cada incremento de 18 mg/dl (1 mmol/L) se associa a um aumento de 3% na mortalidade. As estratégias de redução da glicemia tentadas até o momento, entretanto, não trouxeram resultados animadores. METODOLOGIA Foram pesquisadas nas bases de dados Medline (PubMed) e Cochrane Library os ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECRs) de 1995 a 2017 que utilizaram estratégia intensiva ou a terapia GIK no controle glicêmico durante a fase aguda do IAM. Foram incluídos oito estudos. Para identificar os efeitos da insulinoterapia ou da terapia GIK, calculamos um risco relativo geral (RR) com meta-análises de modelos de efeitos fixos e aleatórios. Um valor de p-bicaudal < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. RESULTADOS Foram incluídos 28.151 pacientes, sendo 1.379 no grupo de tratamento intensivo da glicemia, 13.031 no GIK e 13.741 no controle. A mortalidade total foi de 2.961 (10,5%), computando um risco relativo de 1,03 [95%CI 0,96-1,10]; I 2 = 31%; p = 0,41 para o grupo intensivo ou GIK contra o grupo conservador. Reduções intensas (> 36 mg/dL) em relação à glicemia estimada média se associaram à maior mortalidade, enquanto reduções menores não se associaram com seu incremento ou redução. A redução glicêmica na fase aguda em relação à glicemia estimada média foi mais efetiva e segura na faixa em torno de 18 mg/dL. CONCLUSÃO Esta meta-análise levanta a hipótese de haver um limite tênue entre efetividade e segurança para a redução glicêmica na fase aguda, sendo que os alvos não devem exceder uma redução maior do que 36 mg/dL de glicemia.

Change of BNP between admission and discharge after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (Killip I) improves risk prediction of heart failure, death, and recurrent myocardial infarction compared to single isolated measurement in addition to the GRACE score.

OBJECTIVE: In ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 7-15% of patients admitted as Killip I will develop symptomatic heart failure or decreased ejection fraction. However, available clinical scores do not predict the risk of severe outcomes well, such as heart failure, recurrent myocardial infarction, and sudden death in these Killip I individuals. Therefore, we evaluated whether one vs two measurements of BNP would improve prediction of adverse outcomes in addition to the GRACE score in ST-elevation myocardial infarction/Killip I individuals. METHODS: Consecutive patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction/Killip I (n=167) were admitted and followed for 12 months. The GRACE score was calculated and plasma BNP levels were obtained in the first 12 h after symptom onset (D1) and at the fifth day (D5). RESULTS: Fifteen percent of patients admitted as Killip I developed symptomatic heart failure and/or decreased ejection fraction in 12 months. The risk of developing symptomatic heart failure or ejection fraction <40% at 30 days was increased by 8.7-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.10-662, p=0.046) per each 100 pg/dl increase in BNP-change. Both in unadjusted and adjusted Cox-regressions, BNP-change as a continuous variable was associated with incident sudden death/myocardial infarction at 30 days (odds ratio 1.032 per each increase of 10 pg/dl, 95% confidence interval: 1.013-1.052, p<0.001), but BNP-D1 was not. The GRACE score alone showed a moderate C-statistic=0.709 (p=0.029), but adding BNP-change improved risk discrimination (C-statistic=0.831, p=0.001). Net reclassification confirmed a significant improvement in individual risk prediction by 33.4% (95% confidence interval: 8-61%, p=0.034). However, GRACE +BNP-D1 did not improve risk reclassification at 30 days compared to GRACE (p=0.8). At 12 months, BNP-change was strongly associated with incident sudden death/myocardial infarction, but not BNP-D1. CONCLUSIONS: Only BNP-change following myocardial infarction was associated with poorer short- and long-term outcomes. BNP-change also improves risk reclassification in addition to the GRACE score.

Anthracycline Therapy Is Associated With Cardiomyocyte Atrophy and Preclinical Manifestations of Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to demonstrate that cardiac magnetic resonance could reveal anthracycline-induced early tissue remodeling and its relation to cardiac dysfunction and left ventricular (LV) atrophy. BACKGROUND: Serum biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction, although elevated after chemotherapy, lack specificity for the mechanism of myocardial tissue alterations. METHODS: A total of 27 women with breast cancer (mean age 51.8 ± 8.9 years, mean body mass index 26.9 ± 3.6 kg/m2), underwent cardiac magnetic resonance before and up to 3 times after anthracycline therapy. Cardiac magnetic resonance variables were LV ejection fraction, normalized T2-weighted signal intensity for myocardial edema, extracellular volume (ECV), LV cardiomyocyte mass, intracellular water lifetime (τic; a marker of cardiomyocyte size), and late gadolinium enhancement. RESULTS: At baseline, patients had a relatively low (10-year) Framingham cardiovascular event risk (median 5%), normal LV ejection fractions (mean 69.4 ± 3.6%), and normal LV mass index (51.4 ± 8.0 g/m2), a mean ECV of 0.32 ± 0.038, mean τic of 169 ± 69 ms, and no late gadolinium enhancement. At 351 to 700 days after anthracycline therapy (240 mg/m2), mean LV ejection fraction had declined by 12% to 58 ± 6% (p < 0.001) and mean LV mass index by 19 g/m2 to 36 ± 6 g/m2 (p < 0.001), and mean ECV had increased by 0.037 to 0.36 ± 0.04 (p = 0.004), while mean τic had decreased by 62 ms to 119 ± 54 ms (p = 0.004). Myocardial edema peaked at about 146 to 231 days (p < 0.001). LV mass index was associated with τic (ß = 4.1 ± 1.5 g/m2 per 100-ms increase in τic, p = 0.007) but not with ECV. Cardiac troponin T (mean 4.6 ± 1.4 pg/ml at baseline) increased significantly after anthracycline treatment (p < 0.001). Total LV cardiomyocyte mass, estimated as: (1 - ECV) × LV mass, declined more rapidly after anthracycline therapy, with peak cardiac troponin T >10 pg/ml. There was no evidence for any significant interaction between 10-year cardiovascular event risk and the effect of anthracycline therapy. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in LV mass after anthracycline therapy may result from cardiomyocyte atrophy, demonstrating that mechanisms other than interstitial fibrosis and edema can raise ECV. The loss of LV cardiomyocyte mass increased with the degree of cardiomyocyte injury, assessed by peak cardiac troponin T after anthracycline treatment. (Doxorubicin-Associated Cardiac Remodeling Followed by CMR in Breast Cancer Patients; NCT03000036).

P-wave duration is a predictor for long-term mortality in post-CABG patients.

Risk stratification in secondary prevention has emerged as an unmet clinical need in order to mitigate the Number-Needed-to-Treat and make expensive therapies both clinically relevant and cost-effective. P wave indices reflect atrial conduction, which is a sensitive marker for inflammatory, metabolic, and pressure overload myocardial cell remodeling; the three stimuli are traditional mechanisms for adverse clinical evolution. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the predictive role of P-wave indices to estimate residual risk in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). The cohort included 520 post-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting patients with a median age of 60 years who were followed for a median period of 1025 days. The primary endpoint was long-term all-cause death. Cubic spline model demonstrated a linear association between P-wave duration and incidence rate of long-term all-cause death (p = 0.023). P-wave >110ms was a marker for an average of 425 days shorter survival as compared with P-wave under 80ms (Logrank p = 0.020). The Cox stepwise regression models retained P-wave duration as independent marker (HR:1.37; 95%CI:1.05-1.79,p = 0.023). In conclusion, the present study suggests that P-wave measurement may constitute a simple, inexpensive and accessible prognostic tool to be added in the bedside risk estimation in CAD patients.

Evaluation of Residency Admission Exams / Avaliação de Questões de Prova de Concursos de Residência Médica

ABSTRACT Introduction: Residency admission exams, although not intended to evaluate medical training, do so in an indirect way. The evaluation of the quality of the medical residency tests allows, among other things, to re-evaluate the training process itself and the skills expected of the candidates. Objective: To evaluate first phase exam tests of different medical residency programs in the largest Brazilian urban centers. Method: We evaluated 500 questions of residency admission exams in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. The items were evaluated in terms of their origin, geographical location, area of knowledge, contextualization, context scenarios and complexity by Bloom's taxonomy. Results: Most of the questions presented contextualization (64.4%, n = 322), with predominant scenarios of high complexity and in hospital environment. The predominant taxonomic category was identified as recognition (41.60%, n = 208), the second most frequent was judgment, in 26% of the questions (n = 130), followed by synthesis (15%, n = 75), analysis (7.60%, n = 38), comprehension (6%, n = 30) and application (3.8%, n = 19). Considering the dichotomization between questions of theoretical and clinical reasoning, we found a balance between both (clinical reasoning: 48.9%, n = 243; theoretical reasoning: 51.4%, n = 257). The association of contextualization with clinical reasoning was high, with the relative risk of an item requiring clinical reasoning in the presence of contextualization of 26.31 (CI 11.06 - 62.59). Final considerations: The scenario outlined by the present research demonstrates that the different selective processes for medical residency in Brazil differ greatly in relation to the selection profile, with hospital-centered focus, favoring scenarios of high complexity in a hospital environment. Although much has been done and discussed in order to promote changes in medical education in Brazil, the selection process for Medical Residency still fails to reflect the changes advocated since the end of the last century and consolidated in the public policies of the beginning of this century. If we consider that the selected professionals are likely to remain at that institution after the end of their undergraduate studies, then we can have some understanding of the feedback cycle that is created in the programs.

RESUMO Introdução: A prova de residência, apesar de não ter o objetivo de avaliar a formação médica, o faz indiretamente. A avaliação da qualidade das provas de residência médica permite, entre outras coisas, reavaliar o próprio processo de formação e as competências esperadas para os profissionais. Objetivo: Avaliar provas de primeira fase de diferentes programas de residência médica dos maiores centros urbanos brasileiros. Método: Foram avaliadas 500 questões de provas de residência dos estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Minas Gerais. As questões foram avaliadas considerando sua origem, localização geográfica, área de conhecimento, contextualização, cenários do contexto e complexidade pela taxonomía de Bloom. Resultados: A maioria das questões apresentava contextualização (64,4%, n = 322), sendo os cenários predominantes de alta complexidade e em ambiente hospitalar. Identificou-se que a categoria taxonômica predominante foi o reconhecimento (41,60%, n = 208), sendo a segunda categoria mais frequente o julgamento em 26% das questões (n = 130), seguidas de síntese (15%, n = 75), análise (7,60%, n = 38), compreensão (6%, n = 30) e aplicação (3,8%, n = 19). Considerando a dicotomização entre questões de raciocínio teórico e clínico, encontramos uma situação de equilíbrio entre ambas (raciocínio clínico: 48,9%, n = 243; raciocínio teórico: 51,4%, n = 257). A associação de contextualização com raciocínio clínico foi alta, com risco relativo de uma questão solicitar raciocínio clínico na presença de contextualização de 26,31 (IC 11,06 - 62,59). Considerações finais: O quadro delineado pela presente pesquisa demonstra que os diferentes processos seletivos para residência médica no Brasil diferem muito entre si quanto ao perfil de seleção, com provas de caráter hospitalocêntrico, privilegiando cenários de alta complexidade em ambiente hospitalar. Embora muito se tenha feito e falado no sentido de promover mudanças na educação médica do Brasil, o processo seletivo para residência médica ainda não reflete as mudanças preconizadas desde o fim do século passado e consolidadas nas políticas públicas do início deste século. Se pensarmos que estamos selecionando profissionais que muito provavelmente se fixarão naquela instituição após o fim de sua pós-graduação, podemos ter uma ideia do círculo de retroalimentação que se cria nos programas.