Sex-based Differences in Heart Failure Biomarkers.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Differences in HF biomarker levels by sex may be due to hormonal, genetic, and fat distribution differences. Knowledge of these differences is scarce, and it is not well established whether they may affect their usefulness in the management of HF. RECENT FINDINGS: The different biomarker profiles in women and men have been confirmed in recent studies: in women, markers of cardiac stretch and fibrosis (NP and galectin-3) are higher, whereas in men, higher levels of markers of cardiac injury and inflammation (cTn and sST2) are found. The use of new biomarkers, together with growing evidence that a multimarker approach can provide better risk stratification, raises the question of building models that incorporate sex-specific diagnostic criteria. More and more research are being devoted to understanding sex-related differences in HF. The aim of this review is to review the dynamics of HF biomarkers according to sex and in different situations, to learn whether these sex differences may affect their use in the diagnosis and follow-up of HF patients.

Análisis de la actividad de la consulta de enfermería telefónica a demanda para pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca / Analysis of the activity of the telephone nursing consultation on demand for patients with heart failure

Objetivo: Analizar los motivos más frecuentes de demanda telefónica en la consulta de la enfermera de insuficiencia cardiaca y evaluar la capacidad de resolución de respuesta tras la llamada. Método: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de todas las llamadas telefónicas registradas entre junio de 2020 y abril de 2021 en una consulta específica de enfermería para la atención a la insuficiencia cardiaca. De las historias clínicas electrónicas se extrajeron las principales variables sociodemográficas y clínicas, el motivo de llamada y la acción realizada por la enfermera, para su posterior análisis descriptivo. Resultados: Se analizaron 643 llamadas, 354 (55,1%) de las cuales fueron realizadas por los pacientes. El motivo de llamada más frecuente fue para consultar síntomas: 45,8% (n=162). El 71,6% (n=116) de las consultas se solucionaron ajustando el tratamiento farmacológico por teléfono, el 24,7% (n=40) precisaron una visita presencial en la consulta de la enfermera, necesitaron atención en urgencias 22 (13,6%) pacientes: 5 por empeoramiento de la insuficiencia cardiaca. Los pacientes que consultaron por síntomas presentaban peor clase funcional (p=0,007) y habían sido derivados desde hospitalización (p=0,023). Conclusiones: La consulta telefónica se mostró útil para pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca, siendo principalmente demandada por usuarios que presentan síntomas de empeoramiento de su enfermedad.(AU)

Objective: Analyzing the most frequent reasons for telephone demand in the heart failure nurse's consultation and to evaluate the response resolution capacity after the call. Method: Descriptive, retrospective study of all telephone calls recorded between June 2020 and April 2021 in a specific nursing consultation for heart failure care. The main sociodemographic and clinical variables, reason for calling and action carried out by the nurse were extracted from the electronic medical records, for its subsequent descriptive analysis. Results: A total of 643 calls were analyzed, 354 (55.1%) were made by the patients. The most frequent reason for calling was to consult symptoms: 45.8% (n=162). 71.6% (n=116) of the consultations were resolved by adjusting the pharmacological treatment by telephone, 24.7% (n=40) required a face-to-face visit in the nurse's consultation, 22 (13.6%) needed emergency care: 5 due to worsening heart failure. The patients who consulted for symptoms had a worse functional class (P=.007) and had been referred from hospitalization (P=.023). Conclusions: The telephone consultation was shown to be useful for patients with heart failure, being mainly demanded by users who present symptoms of worsening of their disease.(AU)

Analysis of the activity of the telephone nursing consultation on demand for patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: Analyzing the most frequent reasons for telephone demand in the heart failure nurse's consultation and to evaluate the response resolution capacity after the call. METHOD: Descriptive, retrospective study of all telephone calls recorded between June 2020 and April 2021 in a specific nursing consultation for heart failure care. The main sociodemographic and clinical variables, reason for calling and action carried out by the nurse were extracted from the electronic medical records. For its subsequent descriptive análisis. RESULTS: 643 calls were analyzed, 354 (55.1%) were made by the patients. The most frequent reason for calling was to consult symptoms 45.8% (n = 162). 71.6% (n = 116) of the consultations were resolved by adjusting the pharmacological treatment by telephone, 24.7% (n = 40) required a face-to-face visit in the nurse's consultation, 22 (13.6%) needed emergency care. 5 due to worsening heart failure. The patients who consulted for symptoms had a worse functional class (p = 0.007) and had been referred from hospitalization (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The telephone consultation was shown to be useful for patients with heart failure, being mainly demanded by users who present symptoms of worsening of their disease.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Use of Hospital Services by Patients with Heart Failure and Their Family Caregivers: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) causes high rates of hospital admissions. It is known that disease progression impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of both patients and caregivers, yet to date, this finding is based on cross-sectional studies with limited samples. OBJECTIVES: The study aim is to analyze the relationship between HF patients' use of hospital services (a proxy for disease progression) and the HRQoL of their family caregivers. METHODS: This work is a multicenter nested case-control study on a population of patients admitted to hospitals in southern Spain due to heart failure. The sample comprised 530 patient-caregiver dyads. Hospital admission data were retrospectively collected for the 5 years prior to inclusion in the study. Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine associations between patient deterioration and caregivers' quality of life. RESULTS: Patients' use of hospital services was associated with worsened quality of life for family caregivers, with an overall OR of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.23-1.79). A positive correlation was found between patients' perceptions of their physical health and the perceived mental health of caregivers (r = 0.127, p = 0.004) and between the perceived mental health of both (r = 0.291; p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Greater use of hospital services by patients with HF is an independent predictor of deterioration of family caregivers' HRQoL. The physical and mental components of patients' and their family caregivers' HRQoL interact and influence each other. Additional factors, such as the nature and intensity of care provided, also determine the worsening of a family caregiver's HRQoL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results can be used to identify family caregivers of people with heart failure at risk of suffering a deterioration in their health-related quality of life. Increased use of hospital services is an independent predictor of the deterioration of the family caregivers' health-related quality of life. Since clinical nurses are the main provider who gives support and education to family caregivers, they should be alert to this situation and individualize interventions to prevent this deterioration.

Uso de catéteres venosos de línea media en pacientes hospitalizados / The use of venous catheters of average line in hospitalized patient

En el contexto actual en el que han surgido numerosas alternativas en terapia intravenosa, se hacen necesarios estudios sobre los diferentes dispositivos disponibles para determinar cuál es el sistema más idóneo en cada caso. Las líneas medias surgen como alternativa a la utilización de catéteres venosos periféricos y catéteres centrales de inserción periférica. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el uso de los catéteres de línea media en pacientes hospitalizados. Método: Estudio retrospectivo de 1016 pacientes. Se analizaron variables relacionadas con el tiempo medio de utilización del catéter, la tasa de incidencias para cada una de las complicaciones, el número de catéteres retirados y sus causas. Resultados: El 40 % de los catéteres se canalizó por mal acceso venoso del paciente (406), el 42% por tratamiento intravenoso largo (427) y el 18% por tratamiento irritante (183). Respecto a la efectividad de los catéteres, el tiempo medio de utilización fue de 12.1 días (DE 9.4). Finalizaron el tratamiento 854 pacientes, 704 (69.3%) por fin de tratamiento y 150 (14.8%) por fallecimiento. Presentaron complicaciones el 7.4 % de los pacientes (75). Se retiraron por mal funcionamiento del catéter el 4.4% (45), el 1% por complicaciones del paciente (10). El 2% de los catéteres se retiró por fiebre (20). Conclusiones: El catéter de línea media es un dispositivo de acceso venoso con una baja tasa de complicaciones, presenta un tiempo medio de permanencia en torno a los 12 días. Supone una alternativa a los catéteres periféricos cortos en pacientes con mal acceso venoso y ofrece una alternativa a las rotaciones frecuentes en pacientes con tratamientos antibióticos superiores a 7 días

In the current context in which numerous alternatives have emerged in intravenous therapy, studies are needed on the different devices available to determine which is the most suitable system in each case. The midlines arise as an alternative to the use of peripheral venous catheters and central peripheral insertion catheters. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the use of midline catheters in hospitalized patients. Method: Retrospective study of 1016 patients. We analyzed variables related to the mean time of catheter use, the incidence rate for each of the complications, the number of catheters removed and their causes. Results: 46.5% of the catheters were inserted in men (472). The average age was 65 years (SD 16.8), being the youngest of 14 and the oldest of 101 years. 40% of the catheters were channeled due to poor venous access of the patient (406), 42% for long intravenous treatment (427) and 18% for irritant treatment (183). Regarding the effectiveness of the catheters, the average time of use was 12.1 days (SD 9.4). The treatment was terminated by 854 patients, 704 (69.3%) by the end of treatment and 150 (14.8%) by death. 7.4% of patients presented complications (75). 4.4% (45) were removed due to malfunction of the catheter, 1% due to patient complications (10). 2% of the catheters were removed due to fever (20). Conclusions: The middle line catheter is a venous access device with a low complication rate, it has a average residence time of around 12 days. It is an alternative to short peripheral catheters in patients with poor vein access and offers an alternative to frequent rotations in patients with antibiotic treatments longer than 7 days

Efectividad del índice de Brass en la planificación del alta por enfermeras gestoras de casos / Effectiveness of the brass index in discharge planning by case management nurses

Estratificar a los pacientes en relación con la complejidad y fragilidad durante la hospitalización, nos permite planificar de manera más eficiente los cuidados y el ámbito de atención que precisa al alta. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la efectividad de la traducción al español de índice de BRASS en la planificación del alta hospitalaria por enfermeras gestoras de casos de atención hospitalaria. Método: Se analizaron variables relacionadas con la estancia hospitalaria, destino al alta, utilización de recursos sanitarios y mortalidad en 370 pacientes. Resultados: La edad media fue 72.6 años (DE 14.05), 191 (51.6%) eran mujeres. Cuando analizamos la relación entre mortalidad e índice de BRASS-Sp en relación al sexo y número de días de ingreso encontramos una HR=1.73 (95% CI de 1.22 a 2.46) con una p=0.002 para sexo masculino y una HR=2.08 (95% CI 1.43 a 3.04) con una p<0.001 para puntuación del índice de BRASS_Sp. Los pacientes que continuaron en gestión de casos en Atención Primaria obtuvieron una media del BRASS-Sp de 20.97 (DE 6.11) mientras que en los demás fue de 19.35 (DE 5.60), p=0.02. Conclusiones: La traducción al español del índice de BRASS se muestra como un instrumento fácil de usar y con validez de contenido y efectividad para cribado de pacientes hospitalizados por enfermeras gestoras de casos

Classifying patients according to complexity and frailty during hospitalization allows efficient planning of the scope of care required by the patient at discharge. The aim of this study was to measure the screening validity of the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score and its effectiveness in discharge planning. Methods: We analyzed the variables hospital stay, destination at discharge, use of healthcare resources and mortality in 370 patients. Results: Analysis of the relationship between mortality and the BRASS-Sp index with regard to gender and number of days of stay yielded a hazard ratio of 1.73 (95% CI 1.22-2.46; p=0.002) for male gender and 2.08 (95% CI 1.43-3.04; p<0.001) for the BRASS-Sp score. Patients who continued in case management in Primary Care had a mean BRASS-Sp of 20.97 (standard deviation 6.11), while in the other patients the mean was 19.35 (standard deviation 5.60), p=0.02. Conclusions: The BRASS-Sp proved easy-to-use with verified content validity that is effective for screening hospitalized patients by case management nurses