Clinical efficacy of Azithromycin for COVID-19 management: A systematic meta-analysis of meta-analyses
Azithromycin has been adopted as a component of the COVID-19 management protocol throughout the global healthcare settings but with a questionable if not downright unsubstantiated evidence base. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 15, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Ali Danish Khan Yousafzai, Ali Haider Bangash, Saleha Yurf Asghar, Syed Mohammad Mehmood Abbas, Hashir Fahim Khawaja, Saiqa Zehra, Asjad Ullah Khan, Musa Kamil, Noor Ayesha, Ayesha Khalid Khan, Rabia Mohsin, Osama Ahmed, Arshiya Fatima, Aliya Ali, Ain ul Source Type: research
Comment on: High incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients despite thromboprophylaxis
To the Editor: (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 15, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: FNU Mehak, FNU Deepak, Gianeshwaree Alias Rachna Panjwani Source Type: research
Assessment of exercise capacity using field walking tests in patients after the Fontan procedure: A case –control study
The Fontan procedure is a palliative surgical procedure for treating patients with a univentricular heart.1 The survival rate after the Fontan procedure has recently increased remarkably with improved diagnosis and surgical strategies.2 The increase in survival rate has also improved these patients' quality of life and life expectancy. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 14, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Haluk Tekerlek, Melda Saglam, Ali Cem Kucukdagli, Hayrettin Hakan Aykan, Naciye Vardar-Yagli, Ebru Calik-Kutukcu, Deniz Inal-Ince, Tevfik Karagoz Source Type: research
Discharge optimization tool to decrease length of stay and improve satisfaction related to advanced practice provider communication
Prolonged length of stay (LOS) due to delayed hospital discharge is associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality and other poor outcomes.1 Reducing length of stay (LOS) improves clinical, financial, and operational outcomes and decreases the costs of care for patients and the healthcare system.2 The LOS of patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at an urban, level 1 trauma center was 8.7 days; this is 24% longer than the 7.0-day benchmark reported by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 13, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Sean T. Kelly, Christina Cardy Source Type: research
A temporal examination of inspiratory muscle strength and endurance in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
The two most common symptoms associated with acute and post-COVID-19 are dyspnea and fatigue,1 with one possible cause of such symptoms being inspiratory muscle dysfunction. Pathological changes in the diaphragm of COVID-19 patient's post-mortum have been reported and include increased expression of genes involved in fibrosis and histological evidence of fibrosis which was not observed in controls without COVID-19 receiving a similar duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 12, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Filip Dosbaba, Martin Hartman, Ladislav Batalik, Vojtech Senkyr, Ivana Radkovcova, Svatopluk Richter, Kristian Brat, Lawrence P. Cahalin, Magno F. Formiga Source Type: research
A Comprehensive Examination of Inspiratory Muscle Performance from the Intensive Care Unit to Hospital Discharge in Patients with COVID-19
The two most common symptoms associated with acute and post-COVID-19 are dyspnea and fatigue,1 with one possible cause of such symptoms being inspiratory muscle dysfunction. Pathological changes in the diaphragm of COVID-19 patient's post-mortum have been reported and include increased expression of genes involved in fibrosis and histological evidence of fibrosis which was not observed in controls without COVID-19 receiving a similar duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 12, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Filip Dosbaba, Martin Hartman, Ladislav Batalik, Vojtech Senkyr, Ivana Radkovcova, Svatopluk Richter, Kristian Brat, Lawrence P. Cahalin, Magno F. Formiga Source Type: research
Impact of In-hospital Statin Use on Mortality in COVID-19 Patients from a Majority African American Population
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020.1 As of August 18th, 2022, the pandemic has claimed over 6,400,000 lives worldwide and over 1,000,000 lives in the United States according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.2 The virus works primarily by binding to angiotensin-converting receptor 2 on alveolar epithelial cells, whereby it activates the innate and adaptive immune systems and results in inflammation caused by a pro-inflammatory cytokine storm. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 12, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Nitish Sood, Dhairya Shukla, Pranjal Mishra, Saloni Sharma, Sahil Gandhi, Daniel F. Linder, Priyank Shah Source Type: research
Cardiovascular outcomes of patients referred to home based cardiac rehabilitation
This article was enlightening and purposeful; we feel fortunate to have read it. We concede in the critical epilogue that Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation (HBCR) is a viable alternative that can improve access to CR for patients who are not candidates for CBCR or are unable to attend. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to verify these results. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 12, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Hamza islam, Rabia islam Source Type: research
Effects of time of bed rest on vascular complications after cardiac catheterization in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease: A randomized controlled trial
In pediatric cardiology, with the development of sheaths and skilled techniques, cardiac catheterizations are invasive, albeit relatively safe procedures that are commonly used for diagnoses and interventions, regardless of the patient's age and weight or the femoral vessel used.1 Cardiac catheterizations performed using the femoral vessel approach require immobilization, supine bed rest, and heavy sandbag use to prevent vascular complications,2,3 such as bleeding, hematoma, and fistula.1 To maintain immobilization and facilitate bed rest of pediatric patients after cardiac catheterizations, restraints can be used. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 11, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Eunbin Cho, Myung Roul Jang, Ju Ryoung Moon, Min-Ji Kim, Yeon Mi Kim, Ye Jin An, I-Seok Kang, Jinyoung Song Source Type: research
Association of disrupted sleep with 24-hour blood pressure variability in caregivers
According to a 2020 report by the National Alliance for Caregiving, nearly one-fifth of American adults (53 million) are providing unpaid, informal care to their loved ones with chronic illness or disabilities.1 It is well documented that caregiving demands are likely to adversely affect caregivers ’ health.2–5 Among physical health problems that caregivers are known to be susceptible to, increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been supported by a growing body of research that demonstrated caregivers’ higher incidence of CVD compared to non-caregivers. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 9, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Soojung Ahn, Jill Howie-Esquivel, Eric M. Davis, Misook L. Chung, Jennifer M. Lobo, Jeongok G. Logan Source Type: research
The catheter-to-vein ratio at the tip level, not the catheter type, as a risk factor for a catheter failure. A retrospective comparative study of polyurethane midline and long peripheral catheters
In patients requiring a peripheral venous access for more than seven days, long peripheral catheters (LPCs) or midline catheters (MCs) are recommended. Since MCs and LPCs share many characteristics, studies comparing devices made of the same biomaterial are needed. Moreover, a catheter-to-vein ratio>45% at the insertion point has been recognized as a risk factor for catheter related complications, but no study investigated the effect of the catheter-to-vein ratio at the catheter tip level in peripheral venous devices. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 9, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Adam FABIANI, Marilena SANTORO, Gianfranco SANSON Source Type: research
Comment on: Long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction and no ischemic changes on electrocardiogram
Long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction and no ischemic changes on electrocardiogram by Karolina et al. was read with great interest.1 The author of this paper should be commended for their work. Myocardial infarction (MI) patients with no ischemic changes (NIC) have a less favorable prognosis than was previously thought. Their results were comparable to the T-wave inversion (TWI) and STEMI groups. We are aware of the study's caveats, and we acknowledge the possibility that other approaches could strengthen the results. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 4, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Rabia islam, Hamza islam Tags: Letter to the editor Source Type: research
Risk factors for inspiratory muscle weakness in coronary heart disease
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a set of pathophysiologic disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels, which include coronary heart disease (CHD), congenital and valvular heart disease, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease.1 As the standard of living of the population has improved, CHD has increasingly become a global health problem and a major cause of morbidity and premature death worldwide.2 It is estimated that in 25 years, the number of coronary heart disease-related deaths will reach 20.18 million worldwide. (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 4, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Meifen Lv, Lihua Liao, Yecheng Deng, Huan Jin, Linghua Chen, Zhaoqi Huang Source Type: research
Lifestyle integrated functional exercise for people with interstitial lung disease (iLiFE): A mixed-methods feasibility study
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a highly disabling group of chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) characterised by lung inflammation and/or fibrosis.1 This population commonly experiences severe symptoms, which affects, progressively, their physical activity (PA) and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs).2,3 Moreover, people with ILD spend most of their time at home4 and adhere poorly to interventions,5 which further intensifies their clinical decline.6 (Source: Heart and Lung)
Source: Heart and Lung - March 4, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: C átia Paixão, Sara Almeida, Pedro G Ferreira, M Aurora Mendes, Dina Brooks, Alda Marques Source Type: research
Comorbidities are associated with state hopelessness in adults with ischemic heart disease
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the number one cause of death and disability globally1. There has been a concomitant increase in the aging population and the prevalence of chronic diseases and comorbidities2. Individuals with IHD suffering from comorbidities such as diabetes and stroke are more likely to have impaired physical function, higher dependence on social support, higher health care costs, and greater morbidity and mortality3,4. A greater number of comorbidities, especially comorbid disorders lasting for decades, are also associated with increased frequency and intensity of additional therapies and interventions5 ...
Source: Heart and Lung - March 4, 2023 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Holli A. DeVon, Nathan Tintle, Ulf G. Bronas, Sahereh Mirzaei, Eleanor Rivera, Melissa Gutierrez-Kapheim, Windy W. Alonso, Steven J. Keteyian, Madison Goodyke, Susan L. Dunn Source Type: research
