Warfarin: Impact on hemostasis after radial catheterization.

OBJECTIVES: This study explores bleeding risk of warfarin patients undergoing radial catheterization. BACKGROUND: Traditionally warfarin has been held prior to catheterization due to bleeding risk; however, this practice is being reconsidered with radial access. This study examined if radial patients receiving warfarin have similar hemostasis times to those not taking warfarin. METHODS: A convenience sample of patients undergoing radial catheterization was analyzed. Demographics, procedure characteristics, and pharmacologic therapies were reviewed. Hemostasis times, defined as compression band times, were compared. To exclude confounding effects of aspirin and clopidogrel, a separate analysis of band times for each medication was performed. Specifically, analysis of variance models and exact logistic regression models were used to assess means between usage or nonusage of medications (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel) while adjusting for other medications. RESULTS: Of 208 patients, 60 (29%) were taking warfarin. The breakdown of warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel use was as follows: 6 (3%) not taking medications; 14 (7%) warfarin alone; 88 (42%) aspirin alone; 2 (1%) clopidogrel alone; 39 (19%) both warfarin and aspirin; 52 (25%) clopidogrel and aspirin; and 7 (3%) warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel. No major complications occurred. Mean hemostasis times for warfarin and nonwarfarin patients were not different (118 vs. 116 min; P = 0.25). Likewise, there was no difference for aspirin (117 vs. 114 min; P = 0.70). There was a nonsignificant trend toward clopidogrel prolonging hemostasis (123 vs. 114 min; P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: There were no apparent differences in adequacy of hemostasis or duration of compression time between patients taking warfarin or not taking warfarin after controlling for antiplatelet therapy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: historical perspectives, current evidence, and future directions.

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) results in considerable morbidity and mortality without aortic valve replacement and is expected to increase in prevalence with the aging population. Because AS primarily affects the elderly, many patients with comorbidities are poor candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and may not be referred. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as transformative technology for the management of AS over the past decade. Randomized trials have established the safety and efficacy of TAVR with improved mortality and quality of life compared with medical therapy in inoperable patients, while demonstrating noninferiority and even superiority to SAVR among high-risk operative candidates. However, early studies demonstrated an early penalty of stroke and vascular complications with TAVR as well as increased paravalvular leak as compared with SAVR. Two device platforms have been evaluated and approved for use in the United States: the Edwards SAPIEN and the Medtronic CoreValve. Early studies also suggest cost-effectiveness for TAVR. Ongoing studies are evaluating new iterations of the aforementioned TAVR devices, novel device designs, and applications of TAVR in expanded populations of patients including those with lower risk profiles as well as those with comorbidities that were excluded from early clinical trials. Future improvements in TAVR technology will likely reduce periprocedural and long-term complications. Further studies are needed to confirm device durability over long-term follow-up and explore the applicability of TAVR to broader AS patient populations.

Physical activity and other health behaviors in adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The clinical expression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) is undoubtedly influenced by modifying genetic and environmental factors. Lifestyle practices such as tobacco and alcohol use, poor nutritional intake, and physical inactivity are strongly associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and increased mortality in the general population. Before addressing the direct effect of such modifiable factors on the natural history of HC, it is critical to define their prevalence in this population. A voluntary survey, drawing questions in part from the 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), was posted on the HC Association website and administered to patients with HC at the University of Michigan. Propensity score matching to NHANES participants was used. Dichotomous and continuous health behaviors were analyzed using logistic and linear regression, respectively, and adjusted for body mass index and propensity score quintile. Compared to the matched NHANES participants, the patients with HC reported significantly less alcohol and tobacco use but also less time engaged in physical activity at work and for leisure. Time spent participating in vigorous or moderate activity was a strong predictor of self-reported exercise capacity. The body mass index was greater in the HC cohort than in the NHANES cohort. Exercise restrictions negatively affected emotional well-being in most surveyed subjects. In conclusion, patients with HC are less active than the general United States population. The well-established relation of inactivity, obesity, and cardiovascular mortality might be exaggerated in patients with HC. More data are needed on exercise in those with HC to strike a balance between acute risks and the long-term health benefits of exercise.