ABSTRACT
Aortic valve stenosis is a well-recognized valvular problem in the aging population. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is becoming an increasingly popular treatment alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for frail elderly individuals with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis. There are multiple research reports documenting the effectiveness of TAVI in octogenarians; however, few authors discuss the success of this procedure in nonagenarians. This case report depicts the successful transfemoral implantation of a prosthetic aortic valve in a 97-year-old man. Moreover, the current literature on TAVI outcomes in nonagenarians is reviewed.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies have indicated divergent results on the relationship between body iron stores and cardiovascular disease in adults. This systematic review of the literature explored quantitative research studies in search for an understanding of the association between body iron stores and cardiovascular disease in adults over the age of 18 years with or without previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Articles were searched from 1992 to October 2008 using interlibrary loan, hand searching at the University of Windsor Leddy Library, and by using five electronic databases: Proquest, CINAHL, Medline, PubMed and AHA. The literature search resulted in 16 articles that were each read two times and interpreted by one reviewer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Serum iron and serum transferrin receptor were not found to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Only one study in the literature examined transferrin receptor to serum ferritin ratio and found it to be related to developing an initial acute myocardial infarction. Five studies found a significant association between serum ferritin and heart disease, while nine did not. Overall, there was no strong association in the literature between body iron stores and cardiovascular disease. The lack of consistent findings in the literature suggests the need for further research.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology , Iron Overload/complications , Adult , Body Burden , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Epidemiologic Research Design , Epidemiologic Studies , Ferritins/blood , Humans , Iron/blood , Iron Overload/blood , Iron Overload/epidemiology , Iron Overload/prevention & control , Nurse's Role , Oxidative Stress , Prospective Studies , Receptors, Transferrin/blood , Research Design , Risk Assessment , Risk Reduction BehaviorABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In attempting to manage acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms, individuals often engage in coping strategies that cause them to delay seeking timely medical care. Review of the literature revealed that several coping strategies were examined in relation to AMI delay, but there were no studies investigating the extent of use of each coping strategy. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of use of 15 coping strategies and their associations with the time taken to decide to seek medical care. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Secondary data analyses were performed on a sample of 135 patients with AMI from Canada and the United States from whom data were collected via structured interviews. Descriptive analyses were used to identify the extent of use of alternative coping strategies. Spearman rho was used to test the associations of these strategies with decision delay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The 3 most frequently used coping strategies were trying to relax, wishing/praying for symptoms to disappear, and discussing symptoms with someone. Nine coping strategies were significantly associated with decision delay. The findings of this study are useful in teaching patients about avoiding the use of coping strategies when faced with AMI symptoms. This can potentially help reduce delays in seeking care for AMI, which will result in better health outcomes for patients with AMI.