Epidemiological profile of patients with heart diseases with indications for palliative care

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Western countries, with heart failure being the final pathway of heart disease. Despite this, few patients are referred for Palliative Approach (PA). There is no consensus about the indication or the right time to refer patients to PA, whose main objective is to improve the patient's quality of life. OBJECTIVE: Characterize the epidemiological profile of patients with heart diseases with indication for PA in a hospital specialized in cardiology. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with analysis of 554 patients included for PA from Feb 2018 to Feb 2022. Frequency, median, percentage, mean, maximum and minimum value were used for statistical analysis RESULTS: The sample comprised of 554 patients (P), for PA 270( 57% ) were male, mean age 71 ±14 years, 179(37%) Catholic, 91(20%) Evangelical, With most frequent medical history of arrhythmia 242(51%), ventricular dysfunction 297(62%), Coronary artery bypass graft surgery 109 (23%) and stroke 175(15%). The most frequent clinical complains were: Dyspnea 329(59.30%), Lower limb edema 96(17.39%), diagnosis at the time of PA was renal failure 351 P (74.4%) and of these 148 (31%) needed hemodialysis, Heart failure 177(31.9%) (HF), Sepsis/Septic shock 146(26,3), stroke 113(20%). The mean ejection fraction was 40%. As for performance in activities of daily living we used the Palliative performance Scale (PPS) where 282 (71,1%) needed life support. We evaluated the prognosis with the PPI scale, 345(56.8%) with high short-term mortality. Regarding treatment, 277(58,7%) of patients with PA had CVC, 277(58.7%) received broad spectrum antibiotics, 196(41.5%) dobutamine, 138(30%) noradrenaline, 164 (34.7%) on mecanichl ventilation 130(27.5%) on hemodialysis 116(24.6%) sedated, 81 (8%) with IAP. Among these patients 295(52.9%) died during hospitalization and 126 (22%) were able to be discharged. Only 26(4.7%) did not accept the PA protocol, the most frequent site of the PA was 245(51.1%) in the ICU, followed by the ward with 227 (48%) P. CONCLUSION: In our sample we identified that patients with heart disease in PA still receive futile interventions and therapies, and the most frequent site of palliation is the ICU. This shows a later indication for PC , in patients with advanced HF and at the end of life. Strategies and institutional protocols are needed for an earlier indication, in order to promote integral care and better qualy of life.

Novas evidências em antitrombóticos na fibrilação atrial 2010 / New evidences in antithrombotics for atrial fibrillation 2010

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A principal arritmia cardíaca em pacientes acima dos 60 anos de idade é a fibrilação atrial (FA). Com o aumento da expectativa de vida, estima-se que 30% da população acima de 65 anos, apresentará FA, e esta é associada a um risco de eventos cardio embólicos anuais ao redor de 6% ao ano. Devido as complicações cardio embólicas, o tratamento de eleição é o uso de fármacos antitrombóticos, os quais estão incluídos, os antiplaquetários e os anticoagulantes, baseados na estratificação de risco do paciente. Até o momento, a terapia de eleição na prevenção de eventos cardio embólicos são os antagonistas de vitamina K (AVK); entretanto, devido sua janela terapêutica estreita, controle laboratorial rigoroso, interação com outros medicamentos e principalmente dificuldade de utilização em pacientes idosos, torna-se um fator limitador na prática clínica diária. Dentro deste cenário, novos antitrombóticos estão sendo desenvolvidos no intuito de melhorar o cuidado e a qualidade de vida dos portadores de FA e talvez substituir os AVK. CONTEÚDO Artigos publicados entre 1969 e 2009 foram selecionados no banco de publicações Medline, através das palavras-chaves fibrilação atrial, antitrombóticos, anticoagulantes e antiplaquetários, assim como diretrizes internacionais foram buscadas no link http://sumsearch.uthscsa.edu. CONCLUSÃO: O desenvolvimento de novos antitrombóticos, através de ensaios clínicos aleatórios, talvez em um futuro próximo possibilite a utilização e implementação de forma sistemática na pratica clinica destes novos medicamentos, como, por exemplo, os inibidores diretos da trombina, inibidores diretos e indiretos do fator Xa, superando as limitações dos AVK.(AU)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The main cardiac arrhythmia in patients over 60 years of age is atrial fibrillation (AF). With increasing life expectancy, it is estimated that 30% of the population over 65 years, will present FA, and this is associated with a risk of cardioembolic events annually around 6% per annum. Because of cardioembolic complications, the treatment of choice is the use of antithrombotic drugs, which are included, the antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, based on risk stratification of patients. So far, the therapy of choice in the prevention of cardioembolic events are antagonists of vitamin K (AVK), however, due to its narrow therapeutic window, under strict control, interaction with other drugs and especially difficult to use in elderly patients, it is a limiting factor in clinical practice. Within this scenario, new antithrombotic agents are being developed in order to improve care and quality of life of patients with AF and perhaps replace the AVK. The development of new antithrombotic drugs through clinical trials, perhaps in the near future allow the use and implementation in a systematic manner in the clinical practice of these new drugs, such as the direct thrombin inhibitors, indirect and direct inhibitors of factor Xa, overcoming limitations of AVK.CONTENTS: Articles published from 1969 to 2009 were selected in the MedLine database, using the keywords Atrial Fibrillation, antithrombotics, anticoagulants, antiplatelets in the MedLine database as well as search for international guidelines in http://sumsearch.uthscsa.edu.CONCLUSION: The development of new antithrombotic drugs through clinical trials, perhaps in the near future allow the use and implementation in a systematic manner in the clinical practice of these new drugs, such as the direct thrombin inhibitors, indirect and direct inhibitors of factor Xa, overcoming limitations of AVK.(AU)