Medical graphics to improve patient understanding and anxiety in elderly and cognitively impaired patients scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and limited patient comprehension may pose significant barriers when informing elderly patients about complex procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the utility of medical graphics to improve the patient informed consent (IC) before TAVI. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized dual center study, 301 patients were assigned to a patient brochure containing medical graphics (Comic group, n = 153) or sham information (Control group, n = 148) on top of usual IC. Primary outcomes were patient understanding of central IC-related aspects and periprocedural anxiety assessed by the validated Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), both analyzed by cognitive status according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). RESULTS: Patient understanding was significantly higher in the Comic group [mean number of correct answers 12.8 (SD 1.2) vs. 11.3 (1.8); mean difference 1.5 (95% CI 1.2-1.8); p < 0.001]. This effect was more pronounced in the presence of cognitive dysfunction (MoCA < 26) [12.6 (1.2) in the Comic vs. 10.9 (1.6) in the Control group; mean difference 1.8 (1.4-2.2), p < 0.001]. Mean STAI score declined by 5.7 (95% CI 5.1-6.3; p < 0.001) in the Comic and 0.8 points (0.2-1.4; p = 0.015) in the Control group. Finally, mean STAI score decreased in the Comic group by 4.7 (3.8-5.6) in cognitively impaired patients and by 6.6 (95% CI 5.8 to 7.5) in patients with normal cognitive function (p < 0.001 each). CONCLUSIONS: Our results prove beneficial effects for using medical graphics to inform elderly patients about TAVI by improving patient understanding and reducing periprocedural anxiety (DRKS00021661; 23/Oct/2020). Medical graphics entailed significant beneficial effects on the primary endpoints, patient understanding and periprocedural anxiety, compared to the usual patient informed consent (IC) procedure. Patient understanding of IC-related aspects was significantly higher in the Comic group, with a more pronounced benefit in patients with cognitive impairment (p for IC method and cognitive status < 0.001, respectively; p for IC method x MoCA category interaction = 0.017). There further was a significant decline of periprocedural anxiety in patients with and without cognitive impairment (p for IC method x measuring time point < 0.001; p for IC method x MoCA category x measuring time point interaction = 0.018).

[Catheter-based atrial appendage closure-current data and future developments]. / Der katheterbasierte Vorhofohrverschluss ­ aktuelle Daten und künftige Entwicklungen.

In Germany more than 1.6 million patients suffer from atrial fibrillation (AF). Within the next decades this number will substantially increase due to current demographic trends with the increasing average age of the population. When untreated, patients with atrial fibrillation have a five times higher risk for stroke as compared with a control cohort. A potent stroke prevention therapy reducing the risk of stroke by approximately 70-80% is primarily treatment with new oral anticoagulants (NOACs). The risk scores for stroke (CHA2DS2-VASc) and major bleeding (HAS-BLED) in patients with atrial fibrillation share common variables, so that patients with the highest stroke risk often carry a very high bleeding risk. A significant number of patients (ca. 20-30%) are, however, not eligible for long-term anticoagulation, e.g. because of a high bleeding risk. For this population there is an urgent need for alternative stroke prevention strategies, such as catheter-based percutaneous left atrial appendage closure. Current data about the efficiency and safety of this treatment as well as a discussion of ongoing recruitment for randomized studies are discussed in this review.

[Catheter-based closure of the left atrial appendage : Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation]. / Der katheterbasierte Verschluss des linken Vorhofohrs : Schlaganfallprävention bei Vorhofflimmern.

In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, >90 % of thrombi are detected in the left atrial appendage (LAA). In particular these observations have resulted in the development of catheter-based LAA closure as an approach for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in recent years. A preliminary randomized trial provided promising data with respect to efficacy and safety of this approach as compared to anticoagulation with warfarin. The safety of the procedure has been significantly improved in recent years due to procedural experience and refinement of implanted devices. In current clinical practice, this approach is particularly used for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, a significant ischemic risk (CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2), and a high bleeding risk, i. e., in patients in whom there are relevant concerns with respect to long-term anticoagulation. The present article discusses the data from randomized clinical studies and registries, the present guideline recommendations, and the practical clinical use of LAA closure for stroke prevention.

[Impact of lipid metabolism parameters on the development and progression of coronary artery disease : An update]. / Einfluss der Lipidstoffwechselparameter auf die Entstehung und Progression der koronaren Herzerkrankung : Ein Update.

Disorders of lipid metabolism play a major role in the development and progression of coronary artery disease. Dyslipidemia therefore plays a central role in therapeutic approaches for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular events associated with coronary artery disease. Epidemiological studies have shown an association between various lipid metabolism parameters, the risk of developing coronary artery disease and progression of a pre-existing disease. In particular, increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), reduced levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as high levels of triglycerides and increased lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels can be taken into account when assessing the risk stratification of patients for primary prevention of coronary artery disease. Lifestyle and dietary changes, intensified statin therapy and possibly the addition of ezetimibe remain the major interventions in both primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, as they improve the prognosis particularly by lowering levels of LDL-C. Recently, genetic studies have contributed to extending our understanding of the relationship between lipid metabolism and coronary artery disease. A causal role for progression of coronary artery disease could be demonstrated for LDL-C, Lpa and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL), which could not be demonstrated for HDL-C in various studies. Furthermore, the effect of reduction of LDL-C by proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition and by the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor anacetrapib on cardiovascular events is currently being investigated in large clinical outcome study programs.

The DETECT adherence score--structure and psychometric exploration of a novel approach to measure adherence to drug and non-drug interventions in primary care.

There is substantial evidence that patient compliance or rather adherence to medical measures and recommendations for lifestyle changes can pivotally influence the prognosis of the patients or disease progression. However, the scientific evaluation and the statistical analysis of "patient adherence" are extremely difficult due to the fact that the construct of "adherence" is complex and comprised of many layers, and varies greatly in different disease groups. With this paper, we describe the development and structure of this novel assessment tool that takes past and prospective information on different facets of drug and behavioural adherence into account, expected to result in considerably improved prediction of future cardiovascular risk. We suggest a simple scoring scheme and explore the psychometric properties and the higher order factorial structure. In this exploratory study the "Diabetes Cardiovascular Risk Evaluation Targets and Essential Data for Commitment of Treatment" (DETECT) adherence score revealed good psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and factorial structure, suggesting that its further exploration in terms of external validity is promising. Findings also underline that it is useful and informative to cover within one score both, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in primary care. Our combination in this respect is unique, as most studies conducted on this subject so far aimed at assessing solely drug adherence or behavioural adherence.