Palliative care in heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure is a prevalent clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality rates. Palliative care has an important role in symptomatic control. This study was designed to characterize the population referred to a palliative care unit and to identify those who benefit from early and regular intervention. AIMS: To characterize heart failure patients referred to a Palliative Care Team and identify those who would benefit from a regular intervention. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all the heart failure patients referred to our palliative care team between January 2015 and December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were included with a mean age of 80 years. The mean score on the Palliative Performance Scale was 57. The median duration of disease was 46 months, 61.1% of patients were in NYHA class III, 57.4% had ejection fraction >40%, and 51.9% had ischemic cardiomyopathy. Most patients (94.4%) were referred during hospitalization; 60.8% were discharged, half with home-based assistance. Mortality one month after referral was 53.7%, and 83.3% after six months. We found no variables predictive of mortality within a month of referral. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the characterization of the heart failure population referred to palliative care. No clinical sign was predictive of one-month mortality, but the high mortality rate shows that patients are referred in advanced stages of the disease or frailty.

Telemonitoramento da Insuficiência Cardíaca - A Experiência de um Centro / Telemonitoring in Heart Failure - A Single Center Experience

Resumo Fundamento A evolução natural da insuficiência cardíaca é uma pior progressiva e internações hospitalares recorrentes. São necessárias estratégias para se detectar descompensações em tempo hábil. O uso do telemonitoramento da insuficiência cardíaca é inconsistente. Objetivos Este estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar o impacto desse programa de telemonitoramento (PTM) em internações hospitalares e admissões em serviços de emergência. Métodos Este é um estudo retrospectivo observacional que analisou dados de todos os pacientes que se cadastraram no PTM de janeiro a 2018 a dezembro de 2019. Foram coletados dados demográficos, clínicos e relacionados ao PTM. O número de internações hospitalares e admissões em serviços de emergência do ano anterior e posterior ao cadastro foram comparados, utilizando-se o teste de Wilcoxon. Um p-valor bilateral de <0,05 foi considerado significativo. Resultados Um total de 39 pacientes foram cadastrados, com uma média de idade de 62,1 ± 14 anos e predominância de pacientes do sexo masculino (90%). As causas mais comuns de insuficiência cardíaca foram cardiomiopatia isquêmica e dilatada. A fração de ejeção média foi de 30% e o tempo mediano da duração da doença foi de 84 meses (FIQ 33-144). Pacientes que foram cadastrados por menos de um mês foram excluídos, com um total de 34 pacientes analisados. Os pacientes foram acompanhados no PTM por um período mediano de 320 dias. O número de admissões em serviços de emergência foi reduzido em 66% (p<0,001) e o número de internações hospitalares por insuficiência cardíaca foi reduzido em 68% (p<0,001). O PTM não teve impacto no número de internações hospitalares por outras causas. Conclusões Este estudo sugere que o PTM poderia reduzir a utilização de serviços de saúde em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca.

Abstract Background The natural history of heart failure is a progressive decline and recurrent hospital admissions. New strategies to timely detect decompensations are needed. The use of telemonitoring in heart failure is inconsistent. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the impact of this telemonitoring program (TMP) in hospitalizations and emergency department admissions. Methods This is a retrospective observational study, that analyzed data of all the patients who enrolled in the TMP program from January 2018 to December 2019. Demographic, clinical, and TMP-related data were collected. The number of hospitalizations and emergency department admissions from the year before and after enrollment were compared, using the Wilcoxon test. A two-sided p<0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 39 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 62.1 ± 14 years and a male predominance (90%). The most common causes of heart failure were ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy. The mean ejection fraction was 30% and the median time of disease duration was 84 months (IQR 33-144). Patients who were enrolled for less than one month were excluded, with a total of 34 patients analyzed. Patients were followed in the TMP for a median of 320 days. The number of emergency department admissions was reduced by 66% (p<0.001), and the number of hospitalizations for heart failure was reduced by 68% (p<0.001). The TMP had no impact on the number of hospitalizations for other causes. Conclusions This trial suggests that a TMP could reduce health service use in patients with heart failure.

Telemonitoring in Heart Failure - A Single Center Experience. / Telemonitoramento da Insuficiência Cardíaca ­ A Experiência de um Centro.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of heart failure is a progressive decline and recurrent hospital admissions. New strategies to timely detect decompensations are needed. The use of telemonitoring in heart failure is inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of this telemonitoring program (TMP) in hospitalizations and emergency department admissions. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study, that analyzed data of all the patients who enrolled in the TMP program from January 2018 to December 2019. Demographic, clinical, and TMP-related data were collected. The number of hospitalizations and emergency department admissions from the year before and after enrollment were compared, using the Wilcoxon test. A two-sided p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 62.1 ± 14 years and a male predominance (90%). The most common causes of heart failure were ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy. The mean ejection fraction was 30% and the median time of disease duration was 84 months (IQR 33-144). Patients who were enrolled for less than one month were excluded, with a total of 34 patients analyzed. Patients were followed in the TMP for a median of 320 days. The number of emergency department admissions was reduced by 66% (p<0.001), and the number of hospitalizations for heart failure was reduced by 68% (p<0.001). The TMP had no impact on the number of hospitalizations for other causes. CONCLUSIONS: This trial suggests that a TMP could reduce health service use in patients with heart failure.

FUNDAMENTO: A evolução natural da insuficiência cardíaca é uma pior progressiva e internações hospitalares recorrentes. São necessárias estratégias para se detectar descompensações em tempo hábil. O uso do telemonitoramento da insuficiência cardíaca é inconsistente. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar o impacto desse programa de telemonitoramento (PTM) em internações hospitalares e admissões em serviços de emergência. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo retrospectivo observacional que analisou dados de todos os pacientes que se cadastraram no PTM de janeiro a 2018 a dezembro de 2019. Foram coletados dados demográficos, clínicos e relacionados ao PTM. O número de internações hospitalares e admissões em serviços de emergência do ano anterior e posterior ao cadastro foram comparados, utilizando-se o teste de Wilcoxon. Um p-valor bilateral de <0,05 foi considerado significativo. RESULTADOS: Um total de 39 pacientes foram cadastrados, com uma média de idade de 62,1 ± 14 anos e predominância de pacientes do sexo masculino (90%). As causas mais comuns de insuficiência cardíaca foram cardiomiopatia isquêmica e dilatada. A fração de ejeção média foi de 30% e o tempo mediano da duração da doença foi de 84 meses (FIQ 33-144). Pacientes que foram cadastrados por menos de um mês foram excluídos, com um total de 34 pacientes analisados. Os pacientes foram acompanhados no PTM por um período mediano de 320 dias. O número de admissões em serviços de emergência foi reduzido em 66% (p<0,001) e o número de internações hospitalares por insuficiência cardíaca foi reduzido em 68% (p<0,001). O PTM não teve impacto no número de internações hospitalares por outras causas. CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo sugere que o PTM poderia reduzir a utilização de serviços de saúde em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca.

A Rare Cause of Optic Neuropathy.

Lyme disease is a multisystem infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi that mainly affects the joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Neurological complications usually manifest in untreated patients and present as meningitis, cranial neuropathies, and radiculoneuritis. The authors present the case of a 48-year-old male who developed loss of vision in the right eye over a period of two months. On physical examination a relative afferent pupillary defect of the right eye was noted. Visual evoked potential test revealed delayed P100 latency bilaterally, confirming a bilateral optic neuropathy. The analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed a lymphocytic meningitis. After an extensive work-up, a diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis with meningitis and optic neuritis was made. The patient was treated with antibiotics and showed gradual improvement. The follow-up brain MRI revealed a mild T2 hyperintensity on the right optic nerve with gliosis, sequelae of the inflammatory process. Lyme disease should always be considered in patients from endemic areas with nonspecific symptoms. The diagnosis of neuroborreliosis is challenging, but prompt identification and treatment can prevent the development of complications and sequelae.