Characteristics and Outcomes of Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Heart Failure Patients: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Colombian Heart Failure Registry.

Background: Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) represent conditions that commonly coexist. The impact of AF in HF has yet to be well studied in Latin America. This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical features, along with patients' outcomes with AF and HF from the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA). Methods: Patients with ambulatory HF and AF were included in RECOLFACA, mainly with persistent or permanent AF. A 6-month follow-up was performed. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. To assess the impact of AF on mortality, we used a logistic regression model. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. All statistical tests were two-tailed. Results: Of 2,528 patients with HF in the registry, 2,514 records included information regarding AF diagnosis. Five hundred sixty (22.3%) were in AF (mean age 73 ± 11, 56% men), while 1,954 had no AF (mean age 66 ± 14 years, 58% men). Patients with AF were significantly older and had a different profile of comorbidities and implanted devices compared to non-AF patients. Moreover, AF diagnosis was associated with lower quality of life score (EuroQol-5D), mainly in mobility, personal care, and daily activity. AF was prevalent in patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF), while no significant differences in N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were observed. Although higher mortality was observed in the AF group compared to individuals without AF (8.9% vs. 6.1%, respectively; P = 0.016), this association lost statistical significance after adjusting by age in a multivariate regression model (odds ratio (OR): 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95 - 1.92). Conclusions: AF is more prevalent in HF patients with higher EF, lower quality of life and different clinical profiles. Similar HF severity and non-independent association with mortality were observed in our cohort. These results emphasize the need for an improved understanding of the AF and HF coexistence phenomenon.

Characterization and effectiveness of a Fracture Liaison Services program in Colombia.

PURPOSE: Fracture Liaison Services programs reduce mortality and the risk of refracture and increase treatment and adherence rates. Greater coverage is an important priority for the future. The aim was to determine the characteristics of patients over 50 years old who suffered fractures and the effectiveness of a Fracture Liaison Services program in a health care institution in Colombia. METHODS: This was a retrospective follow-up study of a cohort of patients with vertebral and nonvertebral fractures managed in a Fracture Liaison Services program. Sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacological variables were identified. Key performance indicators were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Descriptive and bivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 438 patients were analyzed. The average age was 77.5 years, and 78.5% were women. Hip and vertebral fractures were the most common (25.3% and 24.9%, respectively). Vertebral fractures prevailed in men (33.0% vs 22.7%; p = 0.041) and those of the radius/ulna in women (20.3% vs 10.6%; p = 0.031). A total of 29.7% had experienced a previous fracture, and 16.7% had received antiosteoporosis drugs. A total of 63.5% of the cases were managed surgically. At discharge, 58.8% received prescriptions for calcium/vitamin D, and 50.7% with prescriptions of antiosteoporotic therapy, especially teriparatide (21.2%) and denosumab (16.4%), without significant differences by sex. However, in women with hip fractures, anti-osteoporotic management prevailed (83.7% vs 64.0; p = 0.032). The effectiveness of the overall program per year was 74.6%. On follow-up, only 9.1% of patients had experienced a new fall, and of those 3.7% presented a new fracture. A total of 4.3% died during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Good adherence to the recommendations of the country's clinical practice guidelines was found, and overall, the effectiveness of the program was very satisfactory, with a low incidence of new fractures during follow-up. Fracture Liaison Services programs reduce mortality and the risk of refracture. A retrospective follow-up study of a cohort of patients with vertebral and nonvertebral fractures managed in a Fracture Liaison Services, showed that the effectiveness was 73.6%. On follow-up, 9.1% of patients had experienced a new fall, and of those 3.7% presented a new fracture.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures in a tertiary care hospital / Fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas en un hospital de tercer nivel

Abstract Objetive: to describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures at a tertiary care university hospital in Manizales, from January 2018 to January 2022. Design: an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. Patients: patients with vertebral fractures seen on diagnostic imaging. Measurements: the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics and admission clinical and paraclinical test results were evaluated. Results: a total of 174 patients were found, 68.2% of whom were females; 89.4% had high co morbidity (a Charlson index score higher than 3), 54.6% had malnutrition, 60.1% had polypharmacy and 85.4% had insufficient milk product consumption. In half of the cases, the vertebral fracture was severe (>40% reduction in the vertebral body height, according to Genant), 19.8% had a prior fracture and 15.1% were receiving pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis. The bone profile findings showed decreased levels of albumin and vitamin D with elevated PTH. Conclusions: two-thirds of the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures are females, with high comorbidity and malnutrition. Most were not receiving pharmacological treatment for osteo porosis. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 48. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2023.2759).

Resumen Objetivo: describir las características clínicas y paraclínicas de los pacientes con fractura ver tebral osteoporótica en un hospital universitario de tercer nivel de Manizales, entre enero de 2018 y enero de 2022. Diseño: se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal, de tipo descriptivo. Pacientes: pacientes con fracturas vertebrales evidenciadas en imágenes diagnósticas. Mediciones: se evaluaron las características clínicas, sociodemográficas, resultados clínicos y estudios paraclínicos al ingreso. Resultados: se identificaron 174 pacientes, 68.2% de sexo femenino, 89.4% con comorbilidad alta (puntuación mayor a tres según el índice de Charlson), 54.6% con malnutrición, 60.1% con polifarmacia y 85.4% con consumo inadecuado de lácteos. En la mitad de los casos la fractura ver tebral fue severa (disminución de la altura del cuerpo vertebral ≥40% según Genant), 19.8% tenían fractura previa y 15.1% recibía terapia farmacológica para osteoporosis. En cuanto al perfil óseo con hallazgos de valores disminuidos de albúmina y vitamina D con PTH elevada. Conclusiones: dos terceras partes de los pacientes con fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas son de sexo femenino, con alta comorbilidad y malnutrición. La mayoría no recibían tratamiento farma cológico para osteoporosis. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 48. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2023.2759).

Consistency between anticholinergic burden scales in the elderly with fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Falls and bone fractures are important causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. The objective of this study was to identify the degree of consistency between the anticholinergic scales used for patients diagnosed with fractures. METHODS: This was an analytical agreement study conducted in patients diagnosed with vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in Colombia. The quadratic-weighted kappa coefficient was used to identify the consistency between the Anticholinergic Drug Scale-ADS, Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale-ACB and Anticholinergic Risk Scale-ARS in assessing the prescriptions of fracture patients during the month prior to the fracture, during their stay as an inpatient and at discharge, according to Landis criteria. RESULTS: 220 patients with fractures were included, with a mean age of 75.3±10.3 years, and 68.2% were women. The ACB scale identified the highest anticholinergic burden (26.8%) in prescriptions made the month before the fracture, and the highest agreement was between ACB and ADS (0.717); during hospitalization and at discharge, the cholinergic antagonists were best identified with ADS (77.7% and 72.1%, respectively), with the best agreement between ACB and ARS (0.613 and 0.568, respectively). The prescription of tramadol was found in 64.1% of hospitalized patients and in 61.4% of patients at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The scales evaluated show marked discrepancies between them, with highly variable frequencies of anticholinergic drugs identified at the different prescription times, and with low agreement among them, which is why the scales are not interchangeable in patients with bone fractures.