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Condition: Heart Failure
Infectious Disease: Epidemics

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Total 57 results found since Jan 2013.

Rivaroxaban and other novel anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: time to embrace the future
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is now said to be at epidemic proportions.1 Although symptoms and heart failure are two of the main reasons that patients with AF suffer from reduced quality of life, thromboembolic complications, particularly stroke, remain the major determinant of significant morbidity and mortality.2 Importantly, the risk of thromboembolism (TE) is completely irrespective of symptoms, and hence the sad fact that people continue to present with catastrophic stroke in AF with no prior history of its detection.3 Appropriate anticoagulation is imperative to reduce the TE/stroke risk. Numerous large scale studies hav...
Source: Heart - February 18, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Rajappan, K. Tags: Drugs: cardiovascular system, Epidemiology Editorials Source Type: research

Why should we screen for atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) constitutes an increasing challenge to the medical community and healthcare providers. With a prevalence of almost 3% in the adult Swedish population1 and a forecasted twofold or threefold increase by 2050 in the USA, we are facing a diagnosis with epidemic proportions. Apart from increased mortality, AF also increases the risk of heart failure, hospitalisations and ischaemic stroke.2 Of these complications, ischaemic stroke gives a particularly heavy burden on patients, their family and society. Ischaemic stroke is the most common reason for permanent neurological disability in the adult Western p...
Source: Heart - December 8, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Svennberg, E., Engdahl, J. Tags: Press releases, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Epidemiology Editorials Source Type: research

Quantitative assessment of atrial conduit function: a new index of diastolic dysfunction
Conclusions Our study confirms that LACV contribution to stroke volume increases along with worsening DD, as assessed in the context of (near) constant-volume four-chamber heart physiology. Thus, LACV can serve as new parameter for DD grading severity in HF patients.
Source: Clinical Research in Cardiology - June 30, 2015 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Biomarkers and atrial fibrillation: is it prime time yet?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a global epidemic with increasing burden on healthcare systems.1 AF is associated with increased risk of thromboembolic stroke, heart failure, cognitive dysfunction and mortality. In improving prognosis, the focus of management revolves around stroke prevention with clinical scores developed to identify people with increased stroke risk. The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores are the most commonly used scores, with the latter being better able to discriminate low-risk subjects.2 However, both the risk scores have a modest predictive value for identifying high-risk subjects for stroke with C statisti...
Source: Heart - July 3, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Mahajan, R., Lau, D. H., Sanders, P. Tags: Drugs: cardiovascular system, Echocardiography, Clinical diagnostic tests, Epidemiology Editorials Source Type: research

Diabetes drug pioglitazone could get personal: Neither panacea, nor peril
When I was in training, one of my beloved mentors declared, “I never use a drug until it’s been on the market for 20 years.” I was young enough then that I couldn’t fathom being a doctor for 20 years, let alone waiting two decades to use a new drug. As my career has progressed, I’ve seen many new drugs released to the market. Some of them are truly miraculous, bringing people longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Many of them have not withstood the test of time. More than a few have even been taken off the market. Even though the Food and Drug Administration diligently reviews each new medicine before it...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - May 5, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Lori Wiviott Tishler, MD, MPH Tags: Diabetes Drugs and Supplements pioglitazone thiazolidinediones Source Type: news

Obesity and heart failure as a mediator of the cerebrorenal interaction.
Abstract The obesity epidemic is contributing substantially to the burden of cardiovascular disease including heart disease and congestive heart failure, in the United States and the rest of the world. Overnutrition as a driver of obesity, promotes alterations in fatty acid, lipid, and glucose metabolism that influence myocardial function and progression of heart failure from diastolic to systolic failure. The association of progressive heart failure and progressive chronic kidney disease is well documented and often referred to as the cardiorenal syndrome, as well as a prognosticator for cerebrovascular disease (...
Source: Contributions to Nephrology - May 26, 2013 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Jindal A, Whaley-Connell A, Sowers JR Tags: Contrib Nephrol Source Type: research

Atrial fibrillation for internists: current practice.
Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) has become a global epidemic and puts affected patients at high risk of adverse events. In this review we summarise the current evidence on risk factors and complications of AF, describe current treatment strategies, and outline new fields of research. Current evidence shows that hypertension and obesity are the two most important modifiable risk factors for the development of AF. Patients with AF face an increased stroke risk. Oral anticoagulation reduces this risk substantially. Mainly for reasons of safety and ease of use, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are prefer...
Source: Swiss Medical Weekly - March 8, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: Meyre P, Conen D, Osswald S, Kühne M, Meyer-Zürn C Tags: Swiss Med Wkly Source Type: research

Atrial fibrillation: Profile and burden of an evolving epidemic in the 21st century
Abstract: Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents an increasing public health challenge with profound social and economic implications.Methods: A comprehensive synthesis and review of the AF literature was performed. Overall, key findings from 182 studies were used to describe the indicative scope and impact of AF from an individual to population perspective.Results: There are many pathways to AF including advancing age, cardiovascular disease and increased levels of obesity/metabolic disorders. The reported population prevalence of AF ranges from 2.3%–3.4% and historical trends reflect increased AF incidence. Es...
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - February 4, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Jocasta Ball, Melinda J. Carrington, John J.V. McMurray, Simon Stewart Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

The role of diastolic filling in preserving left ventricular stroke volume — An MRI study
In this early part of the 21st century, many countries appear to be experiencing a ‘heart failure epidemic’, with prevalence rates worldwide in the order of 2% and increasing . But despite its significant global impact, there remains considerable debate over the most appropriate way to diagnose heart failure , especially that with a preserved ejection fraction (commonly known as HFPEF). HFPEF, defined as heart failure with a normal, or near normal, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF>50%), now comprises as much as 50–60% of those diagnosed with heart failure .
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - February 18, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: S. Offen, D. Celermajer, C. Semsarian, R. Puranik Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Ceruloplasmin dysfunction: a key factor in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation?
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Source: Journal of Internal Medicine - November 5, 2013 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Jamie Y Jeremy, Nilima Shukla Tags: Editorial Comment Source Type: research

The effect of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on vascular function in obstructive sleep apnea: how much is enough?
Over the last two decades, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has emerged as a considerable public health burden. Due to the ongoing epidemic of obesity, which is strongly linked to OSA, the prevalence of the disease has been steadily rising. According to recent data from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort, the combination of sleep-disordered breathing as indicated by an apnea–hypopnea index of>5 events per hour and excessive daytime sleepiness occurs in approximately 14% of men and 5% of women between the ages of 30 and 70years . Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent the principal morbidity and mortality in OSA and large-scale ep...
Source: Sleep Medicine - November 8, 2013 Category: Sleep Medicine Authors: Silke Ryan Tags: Editorials Source Type: research

Emergence of Atrial Repolarization Alternans at Late Stages of Remodeling: The “Second Factor” in Atrial Fibrillation Progression?
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology - January 1, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: FADI G. AKAR Tags: Editorial Comment Source Type: research

A formidable “TASK”: Tipping the balance in favor of rhythm control for the management of atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major public health epidemic that increases the risk of stroke and heart failure.1 Therapeutic approaches for AF include ablation techniques and pharmacologic agents. The goal of the former strategy is to convert AF by burning or freezing foci of arrhythmogenic triggers or imposing anatomical barriers that disrupt the reentrant circuits that maintain AF. An alternative to ablation is the use of pharmacologic strategies that are either curative (when AF is amenable to conversion) or ameliorative (when it is not).
Source: Heart Rhythm - July 17, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Fadi G. Akar Source Type: research

Task shifting interventions for cardiovascular risk reduction in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Conclusions There is a dearth of evidence on the implementation of task-shifting strategies to reduce the burden of CVD in LMICs. Effective task-shifting interventions targeted at reducing the global CVD epidemic in LMICs are urgently needed.
Source: BMJ Open - October 16, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Ogedegbe, G., Gyamfi, J., Plange-Rhule, J., Surkis, A., Rosenthal, D. M., Airhihenbuwa, C., Iwelunmor, J., Cooper, R. Tags: Open access, Cardiovascular medicine, Global health, Health services research Source Type: research