OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemakers (CRT-Ps) and combination therapy (CRT-D) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction based on a range of clinical characteristics. METHODS Individual patient data from 13 randomised trials were used to inform a decision analytical model...

Objective: To assess health related quality of life of patients with congestive heart failure; to compare their quality of life with the previously characterised general population and in those with other chronic diseases; and to correlate the different aspects of quality of life with relevant somatic variables. Setting: University hospital. Patients and design: A German version of the generic ...

Abstract Background Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the second-most frequent valvular heart disease in Europe and frequently aggravates failure (HF) symptoms. transcatheter-edge-to-edge repair (TEER) can be considered eligible patients, for both primary (in inoperable cases) or secondary severe MR. However, intervention not advised comorbid patients whom it expected to prolong survival over 1 year...

OBJECTIVES The value of end-tidal PCO(2) monitoring during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure has not been elucidated. The present study was designed to examine end-tidal PCO(2) response to exercise and its relation to functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS Maximal upright ergometer exercise with respiratory gas analysis and arterial blood...

OBJECTIVE To present and discuss in this article a table of comparative mortality of medically treated patients with aortic regurgitation, derived from data presented in the source article. BACKGROUND Although there is abundant information on the follow-up (FU) of patients after surgical replacement of a leaking aortic valve, FU studies of patients with aortic regurgitation prior to valve rep...

Case report A 38-year-old patient affected by asymptomatic (NYHA I) mild left ventricle (LV) systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 50%) secondary to previous chest ionizing radiation and chemotherapy exposure was referred to our institution due to functional class (NYHA IV) and left ejection fraction worsening (30%) 2 months after her second pregnancy and concomitant to numerous (>35 000/24 h...

The relationship between plasma norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity (DBH) was studied in 90 cardiac patients (New York Heart Association [NYHA] classes I-IV), 85 healthy control subjects and 18 competitive skiers. The cardiac patients in NYHA classes III and IV had significantly higher NE (p less than 0.001) and lower DBH (p less than 0.001) levels than t...

OBJECTIVE To describe the history of SSc-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (FC) II dyspnoea at diagnosis. METHODS Data at the time of diagnosis were collected and analysed retrospectively for 77 consecutive patients with SSc-PAH. RESULTS Twelve patients (15.6%) presented with PAH and NYHA FC II dyspnoea. ...