GRACE评分与80岁以上急性冠状动脉综合征患者冠状动脉狭窄严重程度的相关性

目的研究≥80岁急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)患者的急性冠状动脉事件的全球性注册研究(GRACE)评分与冠状动脉狭窄程度的相关性。方法连续入选470例≥80岁ACS患者,根据Gensini评分分为轻度狭窄组(141例)和重度狭窄组(329例),并以同期因胸痛住院而冠状动脉造影未见明显狭窄的66例≥80岁患者作为对照组。比较3组临床情况、合并疾病和GRACE评分,分析GRACE评分与Gensini评分的相关性。结果随着冠状动脉狭窄程度的加重,心率、空腹血糖、血清肌酐和尿素氮明显升高(P0.01);3组患者糖尿病、慢性肾功能不全、心肌梗死病史差异显著(P0.05)。冠状动脉重度狭窄组急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死(STEMI)和急性非ST段抬高型心肌梗死(NSTEMI)患病率明显高于轻度狭窄组和对照组(P0.05);3组患者GRACE评分差异显著,与Gensini评分呈正相关(r=0.356,P=0.000)。结论≥80岁ACS患者GRACE评分与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈正相关。高龄ACS患者的冠状动脉狭窄程度越重,GRACE评分越高,预后越差。     

脑利钠肽对急性冠脉综合征介入治疗患者的预后价值

目的探讨急性冠脉综合征(ACS)行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PC I)患者血浆脑利钠肽水平与预后的关系。方法连续性选择230例行PC I治疗的ACS患者。测定入院即刻的血浆BNP水平。随访患者住院期间及发病30 d时病死率及主要心脏不良事件(MACE)(心源性死亡、再发心肌梗死、再发心绞痛及再入院的复合终点)的发生率。结果随着血浆BNP水平的升高,病死率及MACE发生率呈明显升高趋势。经多变量的logistic回归分析表明,BNP独立于年龄、性别、家族史、吸烟、血脂异常、糖尿病、高血压等危险因素及左室射血分数(LVEF),可预测发病30 d时的病死率(r=0.8621,P<0.01)及MACE的发生率(r=0.7241,P<0.01)。结论BNP可以对ACS患者行PC I治疗后进行危险分层,预测近期病死率和MACE发生率,可以作为评价ACS患者近期临床预后的指标。     

Gender Differences in the Rate of 30-Day Readmissions after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background

It has been reported that women have higher 30-day readmission rates than men after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, readmission after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ACS is a distinct subset of patients in whom gender differences have not been adequately studied.

血清N端B型脑钠肽前体水平检测在治疗ACS中的临床意义

目的：探讨血清N端B型脑钠肽（NT-pro BNP）水平检测在治疗急性冠脉综合征（ACS）中的临床意义。方法：抽选本院ICU收治的153例ACS患者,对其血清NT-pro BNP水平、冠脉病变程度Gensini评分以及左室射血分数（LVEF）进行检测和评定,并与同期93例健康体检者（对照组）和86例稳定性心绞痛患者（SAP组）进行对比研究;同时统计分析153例ACS患者经住院治疗前及治疗第7、15天血清NT-pro BNP水平变化。结果：（1）与对照组和SAP组相比,ACS患者的NT-pro BNP水平、冠脉病变程度Gensini评分明显升高,LVEF下降（P＜0.05）;且SAP、UAP、AMI组中NT-pro BNP、Gensini评分呈递增式升高,LVEF递减式下降（P＜0.05）。（2）153例ACS患者经治疗后,好转出院80例、心衰恶化39例、死亡34例。好转出院组患者在治疗第7天后血清NT-ProBNP显著下降（P＜0.05）,第7、15天均逐渐降低;而死亡组和心衰恶化组患者治疗后2个时点血清NT-ProBNP与治疗前相比呈逐渐升高趋势（P＜0.05）。结论：血清NT-pro BNP有利于ACS的临床诊断及心功能评估,可作为评估 ACS治疗预后的一个重要监测指标。     

Socioeconomic environment and recurrent coronary events after initial myocardial infarction

PurposeLongitudinal data linking area-level socioeconomic status (SES) to repeated acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events are limited. Using multiple failure-time data, we examined the association between neighborhood SES and ACS in a community-based cohort of myocardial infarction (MI) survivors.MethodsConsecutive patients aged 65 years or younger discharged from eight hospitals in central Israel after first MI in 1992–1993 were followed through 2005. Recurrent MI and unstable angina pectoris (UAP) leading to hospitalization were recorded. Neighborhood SES was assessed through a composite census-derived index developed by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Different variance-corrected proportional hazards models were used to account for multiple recurrent events: Andersen-Gill, Wei-Lin-Weissfeld (WLW), and Prentice-Williams-Peterson.ResultsDuring follow-up, 531 recurrent MIs and 1584 UAP episodes occurred among 1164 patients. Adjusting for known prognostic factors and individual SES using the Andersen-Gill model, higher estimated hazards were associated with poor neighborhood SES (hazard ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–2.14 for recurrent MI; and hazard ratio, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.22–1.79 for UAP; in the 5th vs. 95th percentiles). The WLW and Prentice-Williams-Peterson models yielded similar results. When the two outcomes were combined, the WLW-derived hazard ratio was 1.64 (95% CI, 1.39–1.93).ConclusionsMI survivors living in a deprived neighborhood are at higher risk of repeated hospital admissions because of ACS. Secondary prevention initiatives should incorporate multilevel approaches to increase effectiveness and reduce geographic health disparities.     

Relationships between in-hospital and 30-day standardized hospital mortality: implications for profiling hospitals

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates and the association between in-hospital mortality and hospital discharge practices. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: A secondary analysis of data for 13,834 patients with congestive heart failure who were admitted to 30 hospitals in northeast Ohio in 1992-1994. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. DATA COLLECTION: Demographic and clinical data were collected from patients' medical records and were used to develop multivariable models that estimated the risk of in-hospital and 30-day (post-admission) mortality. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for in-hospital and 30-day mortality were determined by dividing observed death rates by predicted death rates. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In-hospital SMRs ranged from 0.54 to 1.42, and six hospitals were classified as statistical outliers (p <.05); 30-day SMRs ranged from 0.63 to 1.73, and seven hospitals were outliers. Although the correlation between in-hospital SMRs and 30-day SMRs was substantial (R = 0.78, p < .001), outlier status changed for seven of the 30 hospitals. Nonetheless, changes in outlier status reflected relatively small differences between in-hospital and 30-day SMRs. Rates of discharge to nursing homes or other inpatient facilities varied from 5.4 percent to 34.2 percent across hospitals. However, relationships between discharge rates to such facilities and in-hospital SMRs (R = 0.08; p = .65) and early post-discharge mortality rates (R = 0.23; p = .21) were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: SMRs based on in-hospital and 30-day mortality were relatively similar, although classification of hospitals as statistical outliers often differed. However, there was no evidence that in-hospital SMRs were biased by differences in post-discharge mortality or discharge practices.     

血浆脑钠肽、血清尿酸与急性冠脉综合征的相关性分析

目的检测血浆脑钠肽(BNP)、血清尿酸(UA)在急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者外周血中浓度的变化,探讨其临床意义。方法随机选择69例急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者、32例稳定型心绞痛(SAP)患者及43例健康对照者,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定血浆BNP水平、尿酸酶法测定血清尿酸(UA)水平,对3组结果进行比较分析,探讨其与急性冠脉综合征的关系。结果 ACS组血浆BNP、血清UA水平明显高于SAP组和对照组(P<0.05)。血浆BNP水平和血清UA水平在ACS组呈正相关(r=0.407,P<0.01)。结论血浆BNP和血清UA水平升高与急性冠脉综合征密切相关,联合检测血浆BNP和血清UA水平对ACS的诊断有一定参考意义。     

GRACE评分联合中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值对急性非ST段抬高型心肌梗死短期预后的预测价值

  目的  探讨GRACE评分联合中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值（neutrolphil to lymphocyte ratio,NLR）对急性非ST段抬高型心肌梗死（non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,NSTEMI）短期预后的预测价值。
  方法  回顾性分析2015年2月—2019年10月行经皮冠状动脉介入术（percutaneous coronary intervention,PCI）治疗的NSTEMI患者628例,以术后28 d未出现主要不良心血管事件（major adverse cardiovascular events,MACE）的529例患者为非MACE组,出现MACE的99例患者为MACE组。根据电子病历系统收集2组临床资料,分析GRACE、NLR对NSTEMI短期预后的影响。
  结果  多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,分别相比年龄≤ 65岁、NLR < 3.83、N末端B型脑钠肽≤ 478.83 ng/L、GRACE评分为中高危、Killip分级为Ⅰ~Ⅱ级的患者,年龄 > 65岁、NLR ≥ 3.83、N末端B型脑钠肽 > 478.83 ng/L、GRACE评分为低危、Killip分级为Ⅲ~Ⅳ级的NSTEMI患者PCI术后28 d出现MACE的危险性为1.14、1.99、1.68、2.53、1.73倍（P < 0.05）。ROC分析示NLR、GRACE评分及联合预测NSTEMI患者PCI术后28 d出现MACE的AUC分别为0.665（95% CI:0.587~0.743）、0.782（95% CI:0.718~0.847）、0.886（95% CI:0.825~0.948）,联合预测的AUC高于单独预测（P < 0.05）。
  结论  GRACE评分、NLR是NSTEMI患者短期发生MACE的影响因素,两者联合对NSTEMI患者PCI术后28 d出现MACE具有较好的预测价值。
     

Does concordance with guideline triage recommendations affect clinical care of patients with possible acute coronary syndrome?

BACKGROUND: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) Unstable Angina Practice Guideline recommends outpatient management for patients at low risk and admission to a monitored bed for patients at intermediate-high risk of adverse short-term outcomes, but the clinical consequences of adhering to these recommendations are unclear. METHODS: This analysis included 7466 adults who presented to the emergency department (ED) with symptoms of possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and who participated in 3 prospective clinical effectiveness trials during the period 1993 to 2001. The authors used logistic regression to assess the impact of concordance with guideline triage recommendations on subsequent diagnostic testing, follow-up care, and 30-day mortality and applied propensity score methods to adjust for selection bias. RESULTS: Among low-risk patients (n = 1099), ED discharge was not associated with higher mortality and did not increase the need for emergency care or hospitalization during follow-up (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.63-1.6 for ED revisits); however, 1.7% of discharged low-risk patients had confirmed ACS. Among intermediate- to high-risk patients (n = 6367), admission to a monitored bed was not associated with reduction in 30-day mortality but significantly reduced the need for follow-up ED care (adjusted OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.69-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis supports the practice of discharging low-risk ED patients with symptoms of possible ACS but highlights the need to arrange timely follow-up (or to perform additional risk stratification in the ED prior to discharge). It also confirms the benefit of admitting ED patients with intermediate- to high-risk characteristics to a monitored bed.     

依诺肝素对急性冠脉综合征患者血清抵抗素浓度的影响

目的研究依诺肝素对急性冠脉综合征(acute coronary syndrome,ACS)患者血清抵抗素浓度的影响。方法选取2010年3月—2011年6月行冠状动脉造影的ACS患者93例,分为不稳定型心绞痛(unstable angina,UA)组34例、非ST段心肌梗死(non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,NSTEMI)组30例、ST段抬高性心肌梗死(ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,STEMI)组29例,选择同期健康人30名作为对照组。所有患者给予依诺肝素皮下注射,收集治疗前后患者血液,经ELISA法测定血清抵抗素浓度,并进行组间比较。结果治疗后UA组、NSTEMI组、STEMI组血清抵抗素浓度分别为(8.15±1.18)、(15.21±12.03)、(15.08±2.20)μ/L,与治疗前比较,差异均有统计学意义,但仍均高于对照组(均P0.05)。结论依诺肝素能显著降低ACS患者血清抵抗素浓度,抑制炎症反应,可减轻动脉粥样硬化。     

Risk stratification in the patient with non ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome

Patients hospitalized with unstable angina (UA) or with a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarct (NSTEMI) are at increased risk of suffering refractory angina, recurrent myocardial infarct (MI), and death. These patients need to be evaluated more aggressively. According to the last published guidelines (2002) of UA/NSTEMI by the ACC/AHA Task Force, these patients should be categorized in a risk scale as: low, intermediate or high. This should be done in the initial evaluation, which includes: medical history, physical exam, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac markers. The TIMI risk score should also be used as complementary in this risk assessment. High risk patients, without contraindications, should be managed more aggressively with coronary angiography. On the other end, low risk patients, and some intermediate, may be evaluated more conservatively with early non-invasive studies for further assessment of ischemia and prognosis.     

Effect of Early Nutritional Support on Clinical Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

The initial nutritional delivery policy for patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to determine whether an initial adequate nutrition supply and route of nutrition delivery during the first week of sepsis onset improve clinical outcomes of critically ill patients with sepsis. We reviewed adult patients with sepsis and septic shock in the ICU in a single tertiary teaching hospital between 31 November 2013 and 20 May 2017. Poisson log-linear and Cox regressions were performed to assess the relationships between clinical outcomes and sex, modified nutrition risk in the critically ill score, sequential organ failure assessment score, route of nutrition delivery, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score, and daily energy and protein delivery during the first week of sepsis onset. In total, 834 patients were included. Patients who had a higher protein intake during the first week of sepsis onset had a lower in-hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39–0.78; p = 0.001). A higher energy intake was associated with a lower 30-day mortality (adjusted HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90–0.98; p = 0.003). The route of nutrition delivery was not associated with 1-year mortality in the group which was underfed; however, in patients who met > 70% of their nutritional requirement, enteral feeding (EN) with supplemental parenteral nutrition (PN) was superior to only EN (p = 0.016) or PN (p = 0.042). In patients with sepsis and septic shock, a high daily average protein intake may lower in-hospital mortality, and a high energy intake may lower the 30-day mortality, especially in those with a high modified nutrition risk in the critically ill scores. In patients who receive adequate energy, EN with supplemental PN may be better than only EN or PN, but not in underfed patients.     

An update on management of the patient presenting with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes

Over 780,000 patients in the United States are diagnosed with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) each year. As physicians, it is our responsibility to provide prompt workup, diagnosis and management of these patients. After identification of the patient with ACS and confirming there is not ST-segment elevation MI requiring immediate revascularization, physicians should pursue a work-up for non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). It is important to understand the latest best practice guidelines in the treatment and management of patients with NSTE-ACS who carry high rates of in-hospital mortality. Physicians must integrate the clinical history and examination, electrocardiogram and laboratory findings in order to properly diagnose an NSTE-ACS. Early treatment with guideline directed medical therapy is imperative even in the setting of an early invasive strategy with cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention. The focus of this review is to discuss the appropriate strategies for evaluation and management of patients with NSTE-ACS based on the most recent ACC/AHA practice guidelines.     

中国31个省市自治区急性冠脉综合征住院患者糖尿病患病现况分析

目的 了解中国多省市急性冠脉综合征(ACS)住院患者糖尿病的患病、知晓及治疗现状.方法 以3223例住院诊断的ACS患者为研究对象.2006年在中国31个省市自治区选择32家三级医院和32家二级医院,每家医院以研究启动时点起向前连续选择经住院诊断的ACS患者50份病历.为避免研究可能带来的干预影响,采用回顾形式收集已出院患者的病历,填写统一的表格,分析患者糖尿病的患病、院前知晓及治疗情况.结果 (1)在调查的3223例ACS患者中,男性占67.7%(2183例),女性占32.3%(1040例),平均年龄(65±11)岁;其中心电图ST段抬高心肌梗死占39.8%,非ST段抬高心肌梗死占9.2%,不稳定心绞痛占51.0%;既往有ACS病史者27.1%.(2)3223例ACS住院患者中22.6%有糖尿病,女性(26.3%)高于男性(20.8%,P＜0.01);按地理区域分为7个地区(华北、华东、华南、华中、东北、西北和西南),其中东北地区患者糖尿病患病率最高(28.0%),西南地区最低(17.7%),各地区间的差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.01).(3)在729例糖尿病患者中,入院前知晓率为73.1%,各地区间知晓率的差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.01);入院前糖尿病治疗率为62.1%,在知晓者中治疗率为84.8%;治疗率最高的是西北地区(88.6%),最低是华中地区(78.4%).(4)既往有ACS史的患者中糖尿病的患病率为27.1%,知晓率为82.3%,知晓者的治疗率为86.7%,上述三率均高于既往无ACS病史者(21.0%、68.7%和83.7%).结论 ACS住院患者中近1/4伴有糖尿病;入院前糖尿病知晓率为73.1%;治疗率为62.1%.在知晓有糖尿病的患者中,仍然有15%未接受降糖治疗,这在冠心病二级预防中应当引起重视.     

B-type natriuretic peptide: a review of its diagnostic,prognostic, and therapeutic monitoring value in heart failure for primary care physicians

BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure is misdiagnosed clinically 50% to 75% of the time. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations have shown to be useful in the diagnosis of heart failure in addition to having prognostic and therapeutic monitoring value. Studies were evaluated for validity and potential value of BNP measurements for managing patients with heart failure. METHODS: A literature review using MEDLINE (1966 to present), CINAHL (1980 to present) and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews was performed with the following key words: "cardiac neuro-hormone," "B-type natriuretic peptide," "congestive heart failure," and combination of the key terms. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A BNP level of 80 pg/mL is useful in diagnosing heart failure in symptomatic patients without a history of heart failure. BNP is not specific for any disease state, however, especially in patients with a history of heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction. BNP levels are potentially more useful when a baseline concentration is known for a patient, because BNP levels are proportional to the severity of heart failure. The role of BNP as a prognostic marker and for therapeutic monitoring is closely related. Whereas larger studies are needed to support further recommendations, a goal to maintain a BNP concentration of less than 100 pg/mL has shown to correlate with functional improvement in patients with heart failure and has tended to decrease clinical endpoints, such as cardiovascular death. Consequently, using BNP concentrations to monitor patients with heart failure and manage their medical therapy accordingly might improve overall morbidity and mortality.     

N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide as prognostic marker for mortality in coronary patients without clinically manifest heart failure

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its inactive N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) are strong prognostic markers in patients with manifest heart failure and acute coronary syndromes. We aimed to establish the association between NT-proBNP and all-cause mortality in patients with stable chronic coronary heart disease. Three-hundred-eighty-five patients, 6–24 months after acute coronary syndrome or coronary revascularisation, but without history or symptoms of chronic heart failure, were included into the cohort study. The NT-proBNP was measured at baseline and all-cause mortality was ascertained after more than 6 years of follow-up. Patients with NT-proBNP above 862 pmol/l (i.e. in top quintile) showed significantly higher mortality rates, than patients with lower NT-proBNP; the adjusted odds ratio (and 95% confidence intervals) for all-cause death was in patients with NT-proBNP >862 pmol/l 3.26 (1.40–7.62). In conclusion, the asymptomatic elevation of NT-proBNP provides prognostic information also in stable coronary patients not yet manifesting any symptoms of heart failure.     

急性心肌梗死给予脑钠肽前体检测对溶栓治疗预后的评价

目的：本研究旨在观察成功溶栓患者中是否发生早期心血管事件,比较其血浆N氨基酸末端脑钠肽前体（NT-pro BNP）的差异,并研究其与血清肌钙蛋白T、肌酸激酶、肌酸激酶同工酶、左室射血分数、左室舒张末期容积之间的相关性,探讨测定血浆NT-pro BNP水平在评价急性心肌梗死（AMI）成功溶栓治疗的患者病情严重程度和预后的意义。方法：采用酶联免疫吸附法对61例ST段抬高型AMI患者应用瑞替普酶静脉溶栓治疗前测定NT-pro BNP。随访30 d,观察30 d内是否发生心血管死亡、心力衰竭、再发心肌梗死、梗死后心绞痛等情况。结果：两组的年龄、性别、身高、体重、吸烟与否、高血压、糖尿病以及心肌梗死的发生部位等指标比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,log NT-pro BNP水平与c Tn T、CK、CK-MB、LVEDV存在正相关（P〈0.05）,与LVEF存在负相关（P〈0.05）。结论：测定入院时血浆NT-pro BNP水平对评估AMI经过成功溶栓治疗的患者30 d内发生心血管事件有重要的临床价值。     

可溶性血栓调节蛋白在急性冠脉综合征中的临床意义

目的 测定急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者可溶性血栓调节蛋白(sTM)水平并探讨其临床意义.方法 用ELISA法测定48例ACS患者(ACS组)及10例对照者(对照组)sTM水平,并对冠状动脉造影结果、各种冠心病危险因子和主要心脏不良事件与sTM水平之间的关系进行统计分析.结果 ACS组sTM水平高于对照组[(3.674±71)μg/L比(2.34±0.43)μg/L,P<0.05].危险因子数>2个患者的sTM水平高于危险因子数≤2个患者[(4.93±2.76)μg/L比(3.13±0.81)μg/L,P<0.05];病变血管数>2支患者的sTM水平高于病变血管数≤2支患者[(4.60±2.83)μg/L比(2.91±0.23)μg/L,P<0.05].sTM>3.2 μg/L患者的主要心脏不良事件发生率显著高于sTM≤3.2 μg/L患者(70.0%比35.7%,P<0.05).结论 sTM水平是反映内皮细胞损伤程度和范围的良好标志,它与冠心病危险因子的损伤作用有关,并对ACS的病变范围和预后有提示意义.     

Ambient temperature and biomarkers of heart failure: a repeated measures analysis

Background: Extreme temperatures have been associated with hospitalization and death among individuals with heart failure, but few studies have explored the underlying mechanisms.Objectives: We hypothesized that outdoor temperature in the Boston, Massachusetts, area (1- to 4-day moving averages) would be associated with higher levels of biomarkers of inflammation and myocyte injury in a repeated-measures study of individuals with stable heart failure.Methods: We analyzed data from a completed clinical trial that randomized 100 patients to 12 weeks of tai chi classes or to time-matched education control. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Endothelin-1 was measured at baseline and 12 weeks. We used fixed effects models to evaluate associations with measures of temperature that were adjusted for time-varying covariates.Results: Higher apparent temperature was associated with higher levels of BNP beginning with 2-day moving averages and reached statistical significance for 3- and 4-day moving averages. CRP results followed a similar pattern but were delayed by 1 day. A 5°C change in 3- and 4-day moving averages of apparent temperature was associated with 11.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 22.5; p = 0.03) and 11.4% (95% CI: 1.2, 22.5; p = 0.03) higher BNP. A 5°C change in the 4-day moving average of apparent temperature was associated with 21.6% (95% CI: 2.5, 44.2; p = 0.03) higher CRP. No clear associations with TNF or endothelin-1 were observed.Conclusions: Among patients undergoing treatment for heart failure, we observed positive associations between temperature and both BNP and CRP-predictors of heart failure prognosis and severity.     

Predictors of subsequent coronary events,stroke, and death among survivors of first hospitalized myocardial infarction

We identified predictors of prognosis among n = 2,677 health maintenance organization enrollees 30 to 79 years old who survived a first hospitalized myocardial infarction (MI) during 1986-1996 (mean follow-up 3.4 years). Independent risk factors for reinfarction/fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) (incidence = 49.0/1,000 person-years, 445 events) were age, diabetes, chronic congestive heart failure (CHF), angina, high body mass index (BMI), low diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high serum creatinine, and low/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Independent risk factors for stroke (incidence = 13.0/1,000 person-years, 124 events) were age, diabetes, CHF, high DBP, and high creatinine. Independent predictors of death (incidence = 44.2/1,000 person-years, 431 events) were age, diabetes, CHF, continued smoking after MI, low DBP, high pulse rate, high creatinine, and low HDL cholesterol, while BMI had a significant U-shaped association with death (elevated risk at low and high BMI). The occurrence of study end points did not differ significantly between men and women after adjustment for other risk factors and use of preventive medical therapies, although men tended to have higher rates of reinfarction/CHD than women among older subjects. In summary, we demonstrated that the major cardiovascular risk factors age, diabetes, CHF, smoking, and dyslipidemia are important prognostic factors in the years after nonfatal MI. Elevated BMI was associated with increased risk of reinfarction/CHD and death and elevated DBP with increased risk of stroke, but we also observed high mortality among those with low BMI and high risk of recurrent coronary disease and death among those with low DBP. Finally, high creatinine was a strong, independent predictor of a variety of adverse outcomes after first MI.