Characteristics and 1-year prognosis of medically treated patients with chronic heart failure in Japan.

The study was designed to characterize patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in Japan in terms of the etiologies and prognosis. CHF was defined by ejection fraction (EF >or=50%), left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDD >or=55 mm) or a past history of congestive heart failure. Among the 721 recruited patients, the most frequent etiology for CHF was dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in patients aged less than 59 years, and valvular heart disease (VHD) in those aged 70 years or more. The 1-year crude mortality was 8% overall and 12% in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Sudden death accounted for 40% of the total deaths among all patients, and 60% in patients with MI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was a consistent prognostic marker in CHF patients with a variety of etiologies. Total death and hospitalization because of heart failure were significantly less frequent in patients with BNP less than 100 pg/ml. In conclusion, the etiologies of Japanese CHF appear to be more diverse than those of other Western countries, but BNP is an excellent prognostic marker despite the etiological diversity. Sudden, unexpected death in CHF patients is also a serious problem in Japan. A nation-wide epidemiologic study should be done to characterize Japanese CHF.     

慢性心力衰竭患者心脏标志物水平及超声心动图特点

目的分析慢性心力衰竭(CHF)患者心脏标志物水平及超声心动图特点。 方法选取2017年4月至2018年3月在泰兴市第二人民医院收治的82例CHF患者设为CHF组,选择同期24例健康体检者为对照组。将CHF患者根据心功能分级分为4个CHF亚组：CHF 1级23例、CHF 2级25例、CHF 3级21例和CHF 4级13例。检测外周血脑钠肽(BNP)和生长分化因子－15(GDF－15)水平,采用超声心动图测定室间隔舒张末期厚度(IVSTD)、左室后壁舒张期厚度(LVPWTD)、左心室舒张末期内径(LVDD)、左房收缩末期内径(LAD)。采用Simpson公式计算左室射血分数(EF)、心输出量(CO)、心脏指数(CI)。从心尖四腔切面获得二尖瓣血流频谱,收集舒张早期最大流速(E峰),舒张晚期最大速度(A峰),E/A、舒张早期快速充盈分数(RFF)、左心室重量指数(LVMI)、相对室壁厚度(RWT),并对两组结果进行比较。 结果与对照组比,CHF组患者外周血BNP和GDF－15均明显增高(P<0.05),在CHF组中,随着心功能降低,外周血BNP和GDF－15也增高(P<0.05),与对照组比,CHF组的IVSTD、LVPWTD、LVDD、LAD、LVMI、RWT、CO和A明显增高(P<0.05),CI、EF、E/A和RFF明显减少(P<0.05),在CHF组中,随着心功能降低,IVSTD、LVPWTD、LVDD、LAD、LVMI、RWT、CO和A也明显增高(P<0.05),CI、EF、E/A和RFF也明显减少(P<0.05)。 结论CHF心脏标志物BNP和GDF－15明显增高,超声心动图各指标异常,异常集中表现为左心功能衰竭。     

Predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure.

AIMS: We aimed to develop prognostic models for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated data from 7599 patients in the CHARM programme with CHF with and without left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Multi-variable Cox regression models were developed using baseline candidate variables to predict all-cause mortality (n=1831 deaths) and the composite of cardiovascular (CV) death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization (n=2460 patients with events). Final models included 21 predictor variables for CV death/HF hospitalization and for death. The three most powerful predictors were older age (beginning >60 years), diabetes, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (beginning <45%). Other independent predictors that increased risk included higher NYHA class, cardiomegaly, prior HF hospitalization, male sex, lower body mass index, and lower diastolic blood pressure. The model accurately stratified actual 2-year mortality from 2.5 to 44% for the lowest to highest deciles of predicted risk. CONCLUSION: In a large contemporary CHF population, including patients with preserved and decreased left ventricular systolic function, routine clinical variables can discriminate risk regardless of EF. Diabetes was found to be a surprisingly strong independent predictor. These models can stratify risk and help define how patient characteristics relate to clinical course.     

B-type natriuretic peptides. A diagnostic breakthrough in heart failure

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a neurohormone synthesized in the cardiac ventricles, which is released as N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and then enzymatically cleaved in to the NT fragment and the immunoreactive BNP. Both tests have been used to identify patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Important considerations for these tests include their half-lives in plasma, dependence on renal function for clearance, and the interpretation of their units of measure. In general, a BNP level below 100 pg/mL has strong negative predictive value in the assessment of patients with dyspnea caused by a disorder other than CHF. In addition, BNP levels can be used to gauge the effect of short-term treatment of acutely decompensated heart failure, and the peptide has been shown to be a reliable independent predictor of sudden cardiac death. In the absence of renal dysfunction NT-proBNP has also been shown to be an independent predictor of sudden death in CHF patients. Because both a large area of myonecrosis or concomitant left ventricular failure are related to prognosis in acute coronary syndromes, B-type natriuretic peptides have also been linked to outcomes in this condition. This article describes the physiology and timing of release of B-type natriuretic peptides and the rationale for their use in the following settings: 1) evaluation of decompensated CHF, 2) screening for chronic CHF, 3) prognosis of CHF and sudden death, and 4) prognosis in acute coronary syndromes with inferred left ventricular dysfunction.     

Limitations of ejection fraction for prediction of sudden death risk in patients with coronary artery disease: lessons from the MUSTT study.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the contribution of multiple variables to predict arrhythmic death and total mortality risk in patients with coronary disease and left ventricular dysfunction. We then constructed an algorithm to predict risk of mortality and sudden death. BACKGROUND: Many factors in addition to ejection fraction (EF) influence the prognosis of patients with coronary disease. However, there are few tools to use this information to guide clinical decisions. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between 25 variables and total mortality and arrhythmic death in 674 patients enrolled in the MUSTT (Multicenter Unsustained Tachycardia Trial) study that did not receive antiarrhythmic therapy. We then constructed risk-stratification algorithms to weight the prognostic impact of each variable on arrhythmic death and total mortality risk. RESULTS: The variables having the greatest prognostic impact in multivariable analysis were functional class, history of heart failure, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia not related to bypass surgery, EF, age, left ventricular conduction abnormalities, inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia, enrollment as an inpatient, and atrial fibrillation. The model demonstrates that patients whose only risk factor is EF < or =30% have a predicted 2-year arrhythmic death risk <5%. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple variables influence arrhythmic death and total mortality risk. Patients with EF < or =30% but no other risk factor have low predicted mortality risk. Patients with EF >30% and other risk factors may have higher mortality and a higher risk of sudden death than some patients with EF < or =30%. Thus, risk of sudden death in patients with coronary disease depends on multiple variables in addition to EF.     

B型利钠肽测定对充血性心力衰竭患者预后评估的研究

目的探讨B型利钠肽(BNP)对充血性心力衰竭(CHF)患者预后评估的价值。方法对343例因CHF住院的患者,入院时测定BNP,同时测定左心室射血分数(LVEF)、左心室舒张末内径(LVDD),胸片测定心胸比率(CTR)。出院前复查一次,随访观察患者3个月内的病死率、再住院率,作为终末事件。结果①心功能Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ级患者的BNP水平分别为(157±15)pg/ml、(341±22)pg/ml、(597±33)pg/ml、(1245±38)pg/ml。心功能越差,BNP越高,不同的NYHA心功能分级,BNP差异有显著性(P<0.001)。②BNP水平与LVEF呈明显负相关(r=-0.8,P<0.05)。③343例患者,住院期间死亡5例,3月内再次入院22例。事件组27例,其BNP水平为(1683±124)pg/ml,非事件组316例,其BNP水平为(468±48)pg/ml。两组差异有显著性(P<0.001)。4.将出院前BNP>1500pg/ml作为评估终末事件的界值,其预测预后的敏感性为96.3%,特异性为92.7%。5.对CHF患者的性别、年龄、LVEF、LVDD、BNP、病因等进行多元逐步回归分析,BNP与预后关系最密切。结论本文提示BNP较LVEF评价CHF更确切可靠,动态观察BNP变化水平是CHF患者有效的预后判断指标。     

Prevalence and significance of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with premature ventricular contractions and heart failure treated with vasodilator therapy

Objectives. This study sought to determine the prevalence and significance of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) in patients with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and heart failure treated with vasodilator therapy.Background. Heart failure patients with ventricular arrhythmia and NSVT have a significantly increased risk of premature cardiac death. Recently there has been the question of whether these arrhythmias are expressions of a severely compromised ventricle or are they independent risk factors. We, therefore, determined the prevalence and significance of NSVT in patients with PVCs and heart failure and on vasodilator therapy.Methods. Twenty-four hour ambulatory recordings were done at randomization, at 2 weeks, at months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 and then every 6 months in 674 patients with heart failure and on vasodilator therapy. The median period of follow-up was 45 months (range 0 to 54).Results. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia was present in 80% of all patients. Patients without (group 1) and with (group 2) NSVT were balanced for variables: age, etiology of heart disease, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, use of amiodarone and diuretics and left ventricular diameter by echocardiogram. However, group 1 patients had significantly less beta-adrenergic blocking agent use and higher ejection fraction (EF) (p < 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Survival analysis for all deaths showed a greater risk of death among group 2 patients (p = 0.01). Similarly, sudden death was increased in group 2 patients (p = 0.02, risk ratio 1.8). After adjusting for the above variables, only EF (p = 0.001) and NYHA class (p = 0.01) were shown to be independent predictors of survival. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia showed a trend (p = 0.07) as an independent predictor for all-cause mortality but not for sudden death. Only EF was an independent predictor for sudden death.Conclusions. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia is frequently seen in patients with heart failure and may be associated with worsened survival by univariate analysis. However, after adjusting other variables, especially for EF, NSVT was not an independent predictor of all-cause mortality or sudden death. These results have serious implications in that suppression of these arrhythmias may not improve survival.     

Correlation between serum concentrations of B-type natriuretic Peptide and albumin in patients with chronic congestive heart failure

While B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and hypoalbuminemia are both predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), whether these markers are correlated is not known. We retrospectively analyzed data collected in 85 patients presenting with CHF, a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) < 50%, and non-ischemic heart disease, followed for a mean of 38 months. Statistical analysis was performed to 1) examine the relationship between a) baseline BNP or albumin concentrations and b) baseline clinical characteristics, 2) identify the correlates of changes in (Δ) BNP concentrations, and Δ albumin concentrations, and 3) ascertain the prognostic value of each variable. Log transformed BNP was correlated with New York Heart Association functional class, total protein and LVEF, while albumin was correlated with a history of diabetes mellitus and total protein. Δ BNP and Δ albumin concentrations between baseline and follow-up were correlated (P < 0.0001). The follow-up BNP and albumin concentrations were independent predictors of MACE.BNP and albumin were correlated with different baseline clinical characteristics. The long-term changes in the two markers were inversely correlated and both were independent predictors of CHF.     

Prognostic value of diastolic dysfunction for sudden cardiac death of patients after myocardial infarction

We studied prognostic value of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) in relation to sudden cardiac death (SCD) after myocardial infarction (MI). We examined 603 patients in acute period of MI (including 551 with preserved LV systolic function and DD). Duration of follow-up was 1-7 years. According to data of Cox multifactorial regression analysis LVDD was not an independent prognostic factor. ut it increased SCD risk at the account of interrelationship with such predictors as ventricular rhythm disturbances, lowering of heart rate variability, and sensitivity of cardiochronotropic component of arterial baroreflex.     

Serum level of uric acid, partly secreted from the failing heart, is a prognostic marker in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: A recent study suggested that xanthine oxidase is activated in congestive heart failure (CHF). However, whether uric acid (UA) is secreted from the failing heart remains unknown, so it is currently unclear whether serum UA can provide prognostic information independent of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum UA was measured in the aortic root (AO) and the coronary sinus (CS) of 74 patients with CHF. The serum UA level was significantly higher in the CS than in the AO. The transcardiac gradient of UA (CS-AO) increased with the severity of CHF, inversely correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and positively correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic volume index. The plasma levels of norepinephrine, BNP, UA, and LVEF were monitored prospectively in 150 CHF patients for a mean follow-up of 3 years. High plasma levels of UA (p<0.001) and BNP (p<0.001) were shown by multivariate stepwise analysis to be independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma UA level, partly secreted from the failing heart, is a prognostic predictor independent of BNP in patients with CHF. Monitoring a combination of BNP and UA may be useful for the management of patients with CHF.     

High levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and interleukin-6 after optimized treatment for heart failure are independent risk factors for morbidity and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether repetitive measurements of plasma levels of neurohumoral factors and cytokines before and after additional treatment are useful for predicting mortality in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: Neurohumoral and immune activation play an important role in the pathophysiology of CHF. However, the effects of serial changes in these factors on the prognostic value remain unknown. METHODS: We measured plasma levels of neurohumoral factors and cytokines and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before and three months after optimized treatment for CHF in 102 consecutive patients with severe CHF (New York Heart Association class III to IV) on admission to our hospital. Physicians who were blind to the plasma neurohumoral factors until study completion treated patients using standard drugs. Patients were monitored for a mean follow-up period of 807 days. RESULTS: Plasma levels of neurohumoral factors, cytokines and LVEF were significantly improved three months after optimized treatment. Cardiac death occurred in 26 patients. Among 19 variables including LVEF, only a high level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at three months after optimized treatment showed significant independent relationships by Cox proportional hazard analysis with a high mortality for patients with CHF. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that high plasma BNP and IL-6 levels three months after optimized treatment are independent risk factors for mortality in patients with CHF, suggesting that sustained high plasma levels of BNP and IL-6 after additional standard treatment were independent risk factors for mortality in patients with CHF despite improvements in LVEF and symptoms.     

内源性促红细胞生成素对慢性心力衰竭患者预后的影响

目的了解内源性促红细胞生成素(EPO)对慢性心力衰竭(CHF)患者预后的判定价值。方法选择住院的CHF患者115例,以患者是否存活分为死亡组55例,存活组60例。另选同期住院的年龄、性别相匹配的非CHF患者67例为对照组,以便建立logEPO和血红蛋白(Hb)的回归方程。对CHF患者进行全因死亡和因心力衰竭再次入院的随访观察,测定血EPO,并进行分析。结果与存活组比较,死亡组高龄患者多、心功能(NYHA)Ⅱ级比例低、Hb降低和B型钠尿肽(BNP)水平升高(P<0.01)。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示,贫血的CHF患者病死率增高(RR=2.50,95%CI:1.38～4.54,P=0.002)。ROC曲线评估EPO和BNP预测CHF患者死亡的最佳界值分别为44.4 U/L和752 ug/L(P=0.036,=0.000)。年龄、Hb、BNP和NYHA对CHF患者全因死亡有独立预测价值;而男性、BNP和Hb水平对因心力衰竭再次入院有独立预测价值。贫血的CHF患者EPO是独立于Hb的全因死亡的强预测指标(RR=2.86,95%CI:1.18～6.94,P=0.020)。结论贫血是CHF患者不良预后的独立预测因素。EPO是贫血CHF患者全因死亡的独立预测指标。     

Arrhythmias in Patients with Heart Failure

Opinion statement Both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are very common in patients with congestive heart failure, and their presence is associated with symptoms, significant morbidity, and mortality. Studies have attempted to determine the prognostic significance of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure. Whether atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor of mortality remains controversial. The presence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy identifies patients at high risk for sudden death. However, in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy there is not a strong correlation between ventricular arrhythmias and increased risk for sudden death. Multiple trials using antiarrhythmic drugs, pharmacologic therapy, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators have been performed in an attempt to improve survival in patients 1) post-myocardial infarction; 2) with congestive heart failure, with and without nonsustained ventricular tachycardia; and 3) with sustained ventricular tachycardia and those who have survived an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of arrhythmias in patients with heart failure and discuss the prevalence, prognostic significance, complications, mechanisms, and trials that have formed the current therapies presently used.     

Usefulness of temporal changes in neurohormones as markers of ventricular remodeling and prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure receiving either candesartan or enalapril or both

Although various neurohormones at initial measurement confer prognostic value in heart failure and correlate with the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac volumes, the significance of their temporal changes (Delta) remains undetermined. This study examined temporal changes in neurohormones related to cardiac remodeling and prognosis in patients with systolic dysfunction and heart failure receiving therapeutic inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Temporal changes in plasma renin, angiotensin-II, aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-ANP) in 768 treated patients with heart failure measured at baseline and 17 and 43 weeks after randomization were examined for their relations with concurrent changes in the EF, cardiac volumes, and risk for subsequent adverse clinical outcomes. Increasing BNP (p < 0.0001) and NT-ANP (p = 0.01) over time were associated with a concurrent decreasing EF, increasing end-diastolic volume (EDV), and increasing end-systolic volume (ESV; all p < 0.0001). In multivariable analysis, DeltaBNP and DeltaNT-ANP were independent predictors of DeltaESV and DeltaEDV, whereas DeltaBNP also predicted DeltaEF (all p < 0.0001). Patients who died or experienced heart failure hospitalization had larger antecedent increases in NT-ANP (+293.7 vs -21.5 pmol/ml, p = 0.006) and lesser decreases in norepinephrine (-22.3 vs -48.5 pg/ml, p = 0.04). Increasing NT-ANP (hazard ratio [HR] 3.45, p = 0.009) and norepinephrine (HR 2.04, p = 0.02) over time independently predicted increased risk for subsequent death or heart failure hospitalization. In conclusion, in treated patients with heart failure, increasing NT-ANP and BNP over time predict a decreasing EF and ventricular dilatation, while increasing NT-ANP and norepinephrine independently predict greater mortality and morbidity. Serial measurements of these neurohormones may serve as useful surrogate markers of ventricular remodeling and prognosticators for clinical risk stratification.     

Brain natriuretic peptide and QRS duration as a predictor for cardiac events in patients with heart failure

OBJECTIVES: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and QRS duration have been reported as independent predictors for cardiac events in patients with heart failure. The present study investigated the relationships between BNP and QRS duration to assess the prognostic value in patients with heart failure. METHODS: We prospectively examined 93 patients presenting to our emergency department with heart failure between April 2000 and April 2003 (age 69 +/- 13 years, 53 males, 40 females). BNP level and QRS duration were measured after treatment for heart failure. The efficacy end point was the composite incidence of sudden death, death for progressive heart failure, or readmission for worsening heart failure. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up period of 720 +/- 470 days, cardiac events occurred in 35 patients (sudden death in 6, death for progressive heart failure in 9, and readmission for worsening heart failure in 20). BNP level was almost equally higher in the three groups with cardiac events (mean +/- SEM; sudden death: 348 +/- 128 pg/ml, death for progressive heart failure: 390 +/- 97 pg/ml, readmission for worsening heart failure: 354 +/- 79 pg/ml) than in patients without cardiac events (213 +/- 34 pg/ml). In contrast, QRS duration was exclusively prolonged in patients with sudden death(mean +/- SEM, 125 +/- 10 msec) compared with the remaining three groups (death for progressive heart failure: 100 +/- 5 msec, readmission for worsening heart failure: 103 +/- 4 msec, no cardiac events: 108 +/- 3 msec). No relationship was found between BNP level and QRS duration in all patients with heart failure (Spearman r = 0.13, p = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Increased BNP level was associated with poor prognosis irrespective of mode of cardiac events, and prolonged QRS duration was related to sudden death in our cohort with heart failure. The combination of BNP level and QRS duration may have adjunctive value in predicting the prognosis in patients with heart failure.     

Depressed Heart Rate Variability as an Independent Predictor of Death in Chronic Congestive Heart Failure Secondary to Ischemic or Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

After acute myocardial infarction, depressed heart rate variability (HRV) has been proven to be a powerful independent predictor of a poor outcome. Although patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) have also markedly impaired HRV, the prognostic value of HRV analysis in these patients remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether HRV parameters could predict survival in 102 consecutive patients with moderate to severe CHF (90 men, mean age 58 years, New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II to IV, CHF due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 24 patients and ischemic heart disease in 78 patients, ejection fraction [EF], 26%; peak oxygen consumption, 16.9 ml/kg/min) after exclusion of patients in atrial fibrilation with diabetes or with chronic renal failure. In the prognostic analysis (Cox proportional-hazards model, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis), the following factors were investigated: age, CHF etiology, NYHA class, EF, peak oxygen consumption, presence of ventricular tachycardia on Holter monitoring, and HRV measures derived from 24-hour electrocardiography monitoring, calculated in the time (standard deviation of all normal RR intervals [SDNN], standard deviation of 5-minute RR intervals [SDANN], mean of all 5-minute standard deviations of RR intervals [SD], root-mean-square of difference of successive RR intervals [rMSSD], and percentage of adjacent RR intervals >50 ms different [pNN50]) and frequency domain (total power [TP], power within low-frequency band [LF], and power within high-frequency band [HF]). During follow-up of 584 ± 405 days (365 days in all who survived), 19 patients (19%) died (mean time to death: 307 ± 315 days, range 3 to 989). Cox's univariate analysis identified the following factors to be predictors of death: NYHA (p = 0.003), peak oxygen consumption (p = 0.01), EF (p = 0.02), ventricular tachycardia on Holter monitoring (p = 0.05), and among HRV measures: SDNN (p = 0.004), SDANN (p = 0.003), SD (p = 0.02), and LF (p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, HRV parameters (SDNN, SDANN, LF) were found to predict survival independently of NYHA functional class, EF, peak oxygen consumption, and ventricular tachycardia on Holter monitoring. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed SDNN <100 ms to be a useful risk factor; 1-year survival in patients with SDNN <100 ms was 78% when compared with 95% in those with SDNN >100 ms (p = 0.008). The coexistence of SDNN <100 ms and a peak oxygen consumption <14 ml/kg/min allowed identification of a group of 18 patients with a particularly poor prognosis (1-year survival 63% vs 94% in the remaining patients, p <0.001). We conclude that depressed HRV on 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography monitoring is an independent risk factor for a poor prognosis in patients with CHF. Whether analysis of HRV could be recommended in the risk stratification for better management of patients with CHF needs further investigation.

In 102 consecutive patients with stable chronic congestive heart failure and sinus rhythm, several heart rate variability measures derived from 24-hour electrocardiographic recording were significant prognostic risk markers, independent of clinical variables (New York Heart Association class, peak oxygen consumption, left ventricular ejection fraction). The coexistence of the standard deviation of all normal RR intervals <100 ms and peak oxygen consumption <14 ml/kg/min had the worst prognosis, and it is concluded that heart rate variability analysis is useful for noninvasive heart transplant assessment.     

Factors causing arrhythmias in chronic congestive heart failure

Severe congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common syndrome with a high mortality rate (about 50% in 1 year among patients with symptoms at rest). Severity of left ventricular dysfunction is the most important adverse prognostic factor. Serious arrhythmias are common in CHF and also increase the mortality rate. Sudden death is the mode of death in about 40% of patients with severe heart failure. Multiple factors contribute to arrhythmias in CHF, including left ventricular dysfunction, myocardial ischemia, catecholamines, electrolyte disturbances, and drugs used to treated the heart failure. Minimizing or correcting these influences may be important in reducing serious arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic drugs may be important in reducing the incidence of sudden doath among patients with severe heart failure, although this has not yet been proved.     

不同类型冠心病患者心律失常的相关因素

目的 探讨不同类型冠心病患者心律失常发生情况的临床相关因素。方法 1 014例冠心病患者,分为急性冠脉综合征(ACS)和慢性缺血综合征(CIS)两种类型,采用动态心电图检查记录所发生的心律失常类型,分析比较各组中房性心律失常或室性心律失常的发生与年龄、性别、高血压病、糖尿病、高脂血症、冠脉病变支数、血钾、脑尿钠肽(BNP)、左室射血分数(LVEF)和左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)值的相关性,并通过logistic回归分析,找出心律失常发生情况的相关因素。结果 ①ACS患者的年龄、性别、高血压、糖尿病、高脂血症、冠脉病变支数、BNP、LVEF及LVEDD值在发生房性或室性心律失常中的差异无统计学意义,而血钾值在发生房性或室性心律失常中的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);logistic回归分析显示,ACS患者发生室性心律失常的独立相关因素是低血钾(P=0.027,OR:2.009,95%CI:1.084-3.726)。②CIS患者的年龄、性别、高血压病、糖尿病、高脂血症、冠脉病变支数、血钾值在发生房性或室性心律失常中的差异无统计学意义,而BNP、LVEF及LVEDD值在发生房性或室性心律失常中的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;logistic回归分析显示,CIS患者发生室性心律失常的独立相关因素是LVEF降低(P=0.048,OR:3.561,95%CI:1.010-12.553)。结论 低血钾可能是ACS组患者发生室性心律失常的独立相关因素;而LVEF降低可能是CIS组患者发生室性心律失常的独立相关因素。     

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. A new gold standard in predicting mortality in patients with advanced heart failure.

AIMS: The selection of patients for cardiac transplantation (CTx) is notoriously difficult and traditionally involves clinical assessment and an assimilation of markers of the severity of CHF such as the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), maximum oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and more recently, composite scoring systems e.g. the heart failure survival score (HFSS). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is well established as an independent predictor of prognosis in mild to moderate chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the prognostic ability of NT-proBNP in advanced heart failure is unknown and no studies have compared NT-proBNP to standard clinical markers used in the selection of patients for transplantation. The purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic ability of NT-proBNP in advanced heart failure and compare it to that of the LVEF, peak VO2 and the HFSS. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively studied 142 consecutive patients with advanced CHF referred for consideration of CTx. Plasma for NT-proBNP analysis was sampled and patients followed up for a median of 374 days. The primary endpoint of all-cause mortality was reached in 20 (14.1%) patients and the combined secondary endpoint of all-cause mortality or urgent CTx was reached in 24 (16.9%) patients. An NT-proBNP concentration above the median was the only independent predictor of all cause mortality (chi2=6.03, P=0.01) and the combined endpoint of all cause mortality or urgent CTx (chi2 =12.68, P=0.0004). LVEF, VO2 and HFSS were not independently predictive of mortality or need for urgent cardiac transplantation in this study. CONCLUSION: A single measurement of NT-proBNP in patients with advanced CHF, can help to identify patients at highest risk of death, and is a better prognostic marker than the LVEF, VO2 or HFSS.     

脑钠素在心血管疾病中的变化及意义

脑钠素是一种神经激素 ,主要在心室容量及压力增高的情况下分泌 ,可作为充血性心力衰竭的诊断、严重程度评估以及预后的重要标志物 ,对于急性冠状动脉综合征 ( ACS)的危险分层及死亡预测有重要价值。