Characteristics of shared decision making in Romania from the patient perspective: A cross-sectional multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Shared decision making (SDM) is very important from patients' perspective. This process has not yet been evaluated in Romania. The study aims to evaluate SDM from the patients' perspective and to evaluate patients' characteristics that associate with SDM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional multicentric study comprising eight recruitment centres was performed. Inpatients and outpatients who referred to Hospital Units treating autoimmune diseases or atrial fibrillation were included. Another sample consisted of members of the Autoimmune Disease Patient Society, who completed an online anonymous questionnaire. All participants completed the Romanian translated version of the 9-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9), as these samples were used for the validation of this questionnaire, too. Patients had to refer to the visit in which the decision concerning the antithrombotic treatment was taken (atrial fibrillation patients), or the immunosuppressive treatment was last time changed (autoimmune disease patients). Ordinal regression having the total SDM score as dependent variable was used. RESULTS: A total of 665 questionnaires were filled in within the hospital setting (n = 324; 48.7%) and online (n = 341; 51.3%). The median score for SDM was 34 of 45, but it differed between hospital completion -39/45 and online completion (anonymous) -20/45 (P < .001). Patients with higher education were influenced most by the setting, giving the best marks in hospital and low marks online, while those with lower education gave lower marks in both settings. In ordinal regression with SDM score as dependent variable, hospital completion of the questionnaire (OR = 9.5, 95% confidence interval, 5.69-16), collagen disease diagnosis (OR = 2.4, 95% confidence interval, 1.39-4.14), and immunosuppressive treatment (OR = 2.16, 95% confidence interval, 1.43-3.26) were independent predictors. CONCLUSION: In our study, full anonymity was associated with significantly lower scores for the SDM process. The patients with higher education were most influenced by this condition, while those with the lowest education were the most critical.

Romanian version of SDM-Q-9 validation in Internal Medicine and Cardiology setting: a multicentric cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Shared decision making (SDM) is becoming more and more important for the patient-physician interaction. There has not been a study in Romania evaluating patients' point of view in the SDM process yet. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the psychometric parameters of the translated Romanian version of SDM-Q-9. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentric cross-sectional study was performed comprising eight recruitment centers. The sample consisted of in- and outpatients who referred to Hospital Units for treatment for atrial fibrillation or collagen diseases. Furthermore, patients who were members of Autoimmune Disease Patient Society were able to participate via an online survey. All participants completed the Romanian translated SDM-Q-9. RESULTS: Altogether, 665 questionnaires were filled in within the hospital setting (n = 324; 48.7%) and online (n = 341; 51.3%). The Romanian version had good internal consistency (Cronbach α coefficient of 0.96.) Corrected item correlations were good ranging from 0.64 to 0.89 with low corrected item correlations for item 1 and item 7. PCA found a one-factorial solution (similar with previous reports) but the first item had the lowest loading. CONCLUSION: SDM-Q-9 is a useful tool for evaluation and improvement in health care that was validated in Romania and can be used in clinical setting in this country.

Chronic kidney disease: Prognostic marker of nonfatal pulmonary thromboembolism.

OBJECTIVE: Renal dysfunction is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The alteration in renal function as a marker of mortality in pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) has not been studied extensively. METHODS: Four hundred four consecutive patients diagnosed with non-high-risk PTE (without cardiogenic shock or blood pressure <90 mm Hg) were prospectively enrolled in the study between 2005-2010. Kidney function, based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), calculated by the simplified modification in diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation (sMDRD); troponin I; B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP); and echocardiographic markers of right ventricular (RV) function were determined in survivors versus non-survivors after a 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: GFR was significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors: 51.85±19.08 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 71.65±23.21 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p=0.000). The highest 2-year mortality rate (20%) was recorded in patients with moderate renal dysfunction associated with RV dysfunction. Using multivariate analysis, we found that GFR is an independent predictor of 2-year mortality (OR 0.973, 95% CI: 0.959-0.987, p=0.000), besides troponin I, dyslipidemia, acceleration time of pulmonary ejection, pericardial effusion, and BNP. CONCLUSION: The association of renal dysfunction with right ventricular dysfunction in patients with non-fatal pulmonary thromboembolism resulted in high mortality. Renal dysfunction, assessed by glomerular filtration rate, may be used in the risk stratification of patients with non-high-risk pulmonary thromboembolism, besides troponin I, BNP, and right ventricle echocardiographic dysfunction markers.

Thyroid dysfunction and ischemic heart disease--clinical correlations, progressive implications and impact on the prognosis.

UNLABELLED: Thyroid dysfunctions are associated with systolic and diastolic heart dysfunction, hypertension, rhythm disorders, etc. Clinically significant hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism may have an impact on the patients with ischemic heart disease. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of the risk of developing ischemic heart disease, of the evolution and prognosis in relation to the entire spectrum of thyroid dysfunctions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All participants included in the study were selected from among subjects with heart disorders who were controlled with concern to the thyroid hormonal condition and who hadn't been treated previously for thyroid functional disorders. Based on these criteria we defined a study group made out of 791 subjects, divided into five lots based on the level of thyroid hormones. Once the group was formed, we conducted evaluations of the cardiovascular and thyroid status at 6 and 12 months, respectively. RESULTS: In the witness lot, during monitoring 49% of the patients showed an ischemic heart disease. The main risk factors were: heart frequency of over 80 beats/min (RR = 1.83), age over 60 (RR = 1.47), female sex (RR = 1.21) and values of triglycerides over 160 mg/dl (RR = 1.23). In the group of patients with overt clinic hyperthyroidism, during monitoring 46.1% showed ischemic heart disease. The main risk factors were: heart frequency over 80 beats/min (RR = 2.41), age over 60 (RR = 1.67), high level of LDL-cholesterol (RR = 1.53) and female sex (RR = 1.31). Among the patients with overt clinical hyperthyroidism, during monitoring 53.3% showed ischemic heart disease. The main risk factors identified were: heart frequency over 80 beats/min (RR = 2.01), age over 60 (RR = 1.42), high levels of triglycerides (RR = 1.42) and LDL-cholesterol (RR = 1.32), as well as the presence of hypertension in the health records (RR = 1.31). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid dysfunction is a common clinical condition with a key role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system and may contribute to the evolution of the ischemic heart disease and which should be taken into consideration when patients with heart disease are treated. In this light, thyroid function needs to be evaluated for all patients with a risk for ischemic heart disease.

Massive pericardial effusion associated with hypothyroidism.

The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is difficult because hypothyroidism in adults and especially the elderly, classic, has an insidious onset with a range of nonspecific symptoms which may delay diagnosis for months or even years. Old age seems to represent trigger factor for autoimmune diseases, including hypothyroidism. Clinical features in hypothyroidism, such as weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, edema and muscle weakness, and decreased osteo-tendinous reflexes are usually subtle and can be overlooked. Thyroid dysfunction may be associated with a negative impact on the cardiovascular system. Pericardial, pleural and peritoneal effusions are common findings in hypothyroidism. This case report represents a typical primary hypothyroidism (autoimmune) and shows the clinical features of this disease. Basically we talked about a severe myxedema with the involvement of internal organs in an elderly woman and the euthyroidism restoration, under thyroid replacement therapy, was correlated with the clinical improvement and cardiovascular and neurological status, with radiographic remission and regression to extinction of pericardial effusion at repeated echocardiographic evaluations.

The importance of clinical prediction models in non-fatal pulmonary embolism: an analysis of the best known clinical scores.

The clinical evaluation in pulmonary embolism (PE) is the first instrument used by practitioners in the management of this potentially fatal pathology. The necessity of develop- ing certain valid and especially affordable practical instruments has led to the emergence of various clinical prediction models. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main clinical scores, as a diagnostic or a prognostic tool, with their strengths and weaknesses. The PESI score, while relatively recent, remains the most investigated and validated prognostic score for the identification of the mortality risk and major adverse events, with economic implications of health services reduction costs through the accurate identification of patients with a low risk who are candidates of early hospital discharge. The simplified Geneva score (with a similar accuracy as the Geneva one) identifies a high or low PE probability, especially in combination with D-dimers, with a prognosis value as well. The Wells and simplified Wells scores identify the high or low probability, being improved by the level of D-dimers, having similar results with the Geneva score. The LR-PED score, conceived as an identification score for low risk, uses biochemical and electrocardiographic markers, but is less validated. The Vienna Prediction Model is another system for the evaluation of the recurrence in which the level of D-dimers is the main prediction factor. Other scores were evaluated with a statistically low significance. The Geneva and the PESI scores remain the most valuable instruments of diagnosis and clinical prognostic, respectively.

Early repolarization syndrome: electrocardiographic signs and clinical implications.

Early repolarization syndrome (ERS) was previously considered as a benign variant, but it has recently emerged as a risk marker for idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF) and sudden death. As measured by electrocardiogram (ECG), early repolarization is characterized by an elevation of the J point and/or ST segment from the baseline by at least 0.1 mV in at least two adjoining leads. In particular, early repolarization detected by inferior ECG leads was found to be associated with idiopathic VF and has been termed as ERS. This condition is mainly observed in young men, athletes, and blacks. Also, it has become evident that electrocardiographic territory, degree of J-point elevation, and ST-segment morphology are associated with different levels of risk for subsequent ventricular arrhythmia. However, it is unclear whether J waves are more strongly associated with a depolarization abnormality rather than a repolarization abnormality. Several clinical entities can cause ST-segment elevation. Therefore, clinical and ECG data are essential for differential diagnosis. At present, the data set is insufficient to allow risk stratification in asymptomatic individuals. ERS, idiopathic VF, and Brugada syndrome (known as J-wave syndromes) are three clinical conditions that share many common ECG features; however, their clinical consequences are remarkably different. This review summarizes the current electrocardiographic data concerning ERS with clinical implications.

Risk assessment in the development of atrial fibrillation at patients with associate thyroid dysfunctions.

UNLABELLED: Thyroid hormones are an important regulator of cardiac function and vascular system. Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia and an important risk factor for the ischemic cerebral vascular accident and heart failure. OBJECTIVES: The examination of the risk to develop atrial fibrillation in relation to the whole spectrum of thyroid dysfunctions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All participants to our study were selected from among subjects with cardiovascular disorders whose hormonal thyroid status had been controlled previously and who hadn't been treated for thyroid functional disorders. Based on these criteria we defined a study lot made up of 791 subjects, 700 women and 91 men, aged between 22 to 86, with a mean age of approximately 60 years old, divided into five groups, based on the level of thyroid hormones. Once the lot was constituted, evaluations were made of the cardiovascular and thyroid condition at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: During monitoring, most patients who developed atrial fibrillation were registered in the groups with manifest clinical hyperthyroidism, 34,62% and respectively with subclinical hypothyroidism, 38,6%. The main risk factors at the patients with manifest clinical hyperthyroidism were: female gender (RR=1.97) and age above 60 (RR=1.33), as well as the presence of coronary disease in the personal pathological record (RR=3.31), HBP (RR=1.46) and cardiac frequency in excess of 80 beats/min (RR=1.38). The main risk factors that led to atrial fibrillation among the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, were: obesity (RR=2.21), the presence in the personal record of heart disease (RR=2,0), age over 60 (RR=1.90) and female sex (RR=1.30). At the patients who had been administered beta blockers prior to admission (RR=0.99), ACEI (RR=0.85) and/or antiarrythmic drugs (RR=0.54), the medication represented a protective factor against developing atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid dysfunctions are associated with an increased risk to develop atrial fibrillation, both in the case of clinically manifest and the subclinical manifest forms. These results support long term screening for thyroid dysfunctions for patients with atrial fibrillation.

[Malignant hydatid disease--clinical case]. / Hidatidoza maligna--caz clinic.

We report the case of a 79-year-old woman admitted for sepsis from a hepatic hydatid cyst with multiple disseminations diagnosed one month earlier who refused the surgical treatment. Her family history was irrelevant with regard to the circumstances leading to Taenia Echinococcus infestation, and given her poor health status and absence of previous medical documents no useful information was obtained from her medical history. The patient also presented chronic ischemic heart disease and anemia secondary to a bleeding duodenal ulcer, found at necropsy, which worsened the already unfavorable course by the acute hepatic and renal failure secondary to toxic and septic shock. Despite the complex treatment, death occurred 6 days later, following a second episode of upper digestive hemorrhage. Particular to this case is the absence in patient's history of the anaphylactic/allergic reactions suggestive of hepatic hydatid cyst dissemination.

[Some aspects of degenerative mitral valve lesions encountered in medical practice]. / Date despre leziunile valvulare mitrale degenerative întâlnite în practica medicalâ.

In recent years, degenerative valvular heart diseases have the tendency to be equal in frequency with rheumatic valvular diseases. The maximum attention has been paid on the degenerative aortic stenosis as being a lesion with maximum frequency and a severe evolution. This study, given on the 18,391 admissions in the period 1997-2001, is a retrospective analysis and it is concerned with the degenerative mitral valvular lesions. Of the 223 patients with degenerative valvular heart lesions, 139 patients (62.3%) had degenerative aortic stenosis and 96 patients (38.5%) were diagnosed with degenerative mitral valvular lesions from which 30 patients have had no association with aortic valvular lesions while 66 patients have had such an association. The pointed out types of mitral lesions were: the mitral insufficiency in 59 patients, the mitral annular calcification without hemodynamic disease in 19 patients, the mitral stenosis in 9 patients and the mitral disease in 9 patients, too. The women were affected nearly 1.7 times more frequent than the men, with a maximum average age greater with four years for women but with a low minimal average age at 60 years for women and 52 years for men. The detailed analysis of this 96 cases had shown the presence of a cholesterol value over 200 mg/dl in 50 patients (52%), the diabetes mellitus of type II in 12 patients (12.5%), an association with HTA in 42 patients (43.7%), the cardiac insufficiency in 68 patients (70.8%), a permanent atrial fibrillation in 24 patients (25%), chronic myocardial infarct in 19 patients (19.7%) and disorders in the transmission of stimuli in 8 patients (8.3%). The degenerative mitral valvular lesions had occurred more and more frequently realizing more complex features under the mitral insufficiency predominance. Its frequent association with the degenerative valvular lesions determines the evolutive and therapeutic particulars that are dominated by the high gravity prognostic.

[HDL-cholesterol--active or passive participant in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis? (II)]. / HDL-colesterolul--participant activ sau pasiv in patogenia aterosclerozei? (II).

It is known that high sanguin levels of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDLc) have an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The treatment of hypercholesterolemia with statins and/or with fibrates have had beneficial effects on coronary heart disease and on other localization of atherosclerosis. The decreased of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol is the most important effect of this treatment. The epidemiological studies have revealed that the treatment with statins and/or with fibrates produce an increase of HDL-cholesterol (HDLc), which is also very important in the regression of atherosclerosis. We tried in this review to explain the mechanisms of the increase of HDL-cholesterol, in concordance with the data from literature.

[Implications of some risk factors in degenerative valvular heart diseases]. / Studiu asupra implicarii unor factori de risc în valvulopatiile degenerative.

UNLABELLED: A retrospective study on 223 patients diagnosed with degenerative heart valvular lesions: 124 women with an average of 74.9 years old and 99 men with an average of 70.1 years old with the lower limit under 50 years old (one woman and one man) and upper limit over 80 years old (22 women and 11 men) revealed that 109 patients (48.8%) had arterial hypertension, 30 patients (13.4%) had diabetes mellitus, and 16 patients (7%) had obesity. Chronic alcoholism was present at 89 patients (39.9%), chronic tobacco consumption at 54 patients (24.2%), cholesterol value over 200mg/dl in 99 patients (44%) and triglycerides value over 150 mg/dl in 15 patients (6.6%). In the 15 patients with a sever form of aortic stenosis was discovered cholesterol value over 200 mg/dl as well as chronic tobacco use and alcoholism. CONCLUSION: Degenerative heart valvular disease represents a different process from arteriosclerosis, therefore the conventional risk factors of arteriosclerosis, can not be considered as having the same significance for degenerative heart diseases.

[Some aspects regarding degenerative mitral valvular lesions encountered in medical practice]. / Aspecte ale leziunilor valvulare degenerative mitrale întâlnite în practica medicala.

In the last years, the degenerative valvular heart diseases have the tendency to equalize in frequency the rheumatismal valvular diseases. The maximum attention has been paid on the degenerative aortic stenosis as being a lesion with maximum frequency and a severe evolution. This study, given on the 18391 admissions in the period 1997-2001, is a retrospective analyse and it is concerned with the degenerative mitral valvular lesions. Of the 223 patients with degenerative valvular heart lesions, 139 patients (62.3%) had degenerative aortic stenosis and 96 patients (38.5%) were diagnosed with degenerative mitral valvular lesions from which 30 patients have had no association with aortic valvular lesions while 66 patients have had such an association. The pointed out types of mitral lesions were: the mitral insufficiency in 59 patients, the mitral annular calcification without hemodynamic disease in 19 patients, the mitral stenosis in 9 patients and the mitral disease in 9 patients, too. The women was affected nearly 1.7 times more frequent than the men, with a maximum average age greater with four years for women but with a low minimal average age at 60 years for women and 52 years for men. The detailed analyse of this 96 cases had shown the presence of a cholesterol value over 200 mg/dl in 50 patients (52%), the diabetic mellitus of type II in 12 patients (12.5%), an association with HTA in 42 patients (43.7%), the cardiac insufficiency in 68 patients (70.8%), a permanent atrial fibrillation in 24 patients (25%), the chronical myocardiac infarct in 19 patients (19.7%) and disorders in the transmission of stimuli in 8 patients (8.3%). The degenerative mitral valvular lesions had occurred more and more frequently realizing more complex features under the mitral insufficiency predominance. Its frequent association with the degenerative valvular lesions determines the evolutive and therapeutic particularities that are dominated by the high gravity prognostic.

[Analysis of some clinical aspects of degenerative valvular heart diseases in medical practice]. / Analiza unor aspecte clinice ale valvulopatilor degenerative întâlnite în practica medicala.

UNLABELLED: In a period of 5 years there were 18,391 admissions; out of them 1129 cases were diagnosed with valvular lesions: 223 (19.7%) were degenerative valvular heart disease, 608 (53.8%) had rheumatismal valvular lesions, 7 (0.6%) had congenital valvular lesions and 291 cases (25.7%) had valvular lesions of other etiologies. Out of the 223 cases with degenerative valvular lesions, 99 cases (44.4%) were men with an average age of 70.1 years old and 129 were women (55%) with an average age of 74.9 years old. The calcific aortic valve stenosis was encountered in 139 patients (62.3%), the aortic insufficiency was diagnosed in 19 patients (8.5%), the mitral insufficiency 49 patients (21.9%) and the mitral stenosis in 10 patients (4.4%) the other patients having either aortic or mitral valvular disease. The combination of an aortic stenosis with a mitral insufficiency was diagnosed in 46 cases (20.6%) from the 223. Only 14 patients were asymptomatic, most of them having heart failure (namely, 178 patients i.e. 78%) with or without angine pectoris or effort vertigo, or they had only effort angina, vertigo or effort sincope. Rhythm disorders happened in 59 patients (26.4%) while disorders in the transmission of the stimuli were diagnosed in 14 patients (5.2%). Two patients died due to cardiac causes. CONCLUSION: Rheumatismal valve disease are nearly 2.5 times more frequent than degenerative valve disease and they became a practical reality, which is claimed by its continuously increasing frequency, by a variety of lesional aspects and by implications on the heart, and by it, presence in an age group were arteriosclerosis cumulates its risk factors.

[Actualities regarding the degenerative valvular heart]. / Actualitati privind leziunile valvulare cardiace degenerative.

The degenerative valvular heart disease became prioritary from the epidemiological point of view by contrast with the rheumatismal one, as a consequence of the increase of the economic standard and of average life expectancy. The calcific aortic stenosis is the most frequently encountered among the valvular heart lesions. Since the history of this disease is not well known, many efforts have been made in order to research all its aspects from the etiology to therapeutical and prophylactic methods.

[Undesirable effects and interaction to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors therapy]. / Efecte indezirabile si interactiuni medicamentoase la tratamentul cu inhibitori de enzima de conversie a angiotensinei.

UNLABELLED: By their intervention upon the mechanisms regulating the vascular tone, renal plasma flow and direct actions of chemical structures, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may determine undesirable effects. These effects formed the object of a 5-year retrospective study (1995-1999) carried out at the IIIrd Medical Clinic of Iasi. During this interval ACE inhibitors were administrated to 2178 patients with hypertensive and coronary disorders or heart failure of various causes. Different generations of ACE inhibitors were used, but captopril, enalapril and lysinopril were the most commonly administered. Undesirable effects were recorded in 161 patients (7.3%). The following side-effects, single or associated, were recorded: 38 patients (23.6%) had increasing blood pressure proportional with ACEI dose, 80 patients (49.7%) had decreasing blood pressure at low doses ACEI, 23 patients (14.4%) had kidney failure, 2 patients (1.2%) had both increasing blood pressure and kidney failure, 3 patients (1.9%) had both decreasing blood pressure and kidney failure, 6 patients (3.8%) had dry cough, one patient (0.6%) had kidney failure with decrease blood pressure and allergic dermatitis, 4 patients (2.4%) had allergic dermatitis, and 4 patients (2.4%) had headache, vertigo, paresthesia. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with ACE inhibitors has to be carefully initiated under strict clinical and biological monitoring, preferably in hospital setting. No drug associations that favor the undesirable effects of ACE inhibitors were reported.