A Delphi consensus on the management of anticoagulation in the COVID-19 pandemic: the MONACO study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, guideline documents on the management of anticoagulation were rapidly published. However, these documents did not follow a structured methodology, and significant differences existed between the guidelines. The aim of this expert consensus was to provide recommendations on the clinical management of oral anticoagulation in patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A two-round Delphi study was conducted using an online survey. In the first round, panellists expressed their level of agreement with the items on a 9-point Likert scale. Items were selected if they received approval from ≥66.6% of panellists and if they were agreed by the scientific committee. In the second round, panellists revaluated those items that did not meet consensus in the first round. Results: A total of 147 panellists completed the first round, and 144 of them completed the second round. Consensus was reached on 161 items included in five dimensions. These dimensions addressed: (I) management of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) without mechanical valves or moderate/severe mitral stenosis during COVID-19 infection; (II) thromboprophylaxis in patients hospitalised for COVID-19; (III) management of anticoagulation at hospital discharge/after COVID-19; (IV) anticoagulation monitoring in the COVID-19 pandemic setting; and (V) role of telemedicine in the management and follow-up of patients with AF in the COVID-19 pandemic setting. Conclusions: These areas of collective agreement could specially guide clinicians in making decisions regarding anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19 during hospitalisation and at discharge, where results from clinical trials are still limited and, in some cases, conflicting.

A Delphi consensus on the management of oral anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Spain: ACOPREFERENCE study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of agreement between cardiologists regarding the management of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-round Delphi study was performed using an online survey. In round 1, panel members rated their level of agreement with the questionnaire items on a 9-point Likert scale. Item selection was based on acceptance by ≥66.6% of panellists and the agreement of the scientific committee. In round 2, the same panellists evaluated those items that did not meet consensus in round 1. RESULTS: A total of 238 experts participated in round 1; of these, 217 completed the round 2 survey. In round 1, 111 items from 4 dimensions (Thromboembolic and bleeding risk evaluation for treatment decision-making: 18 items; Choice of OAC: 39 items; OAC in specific cardiology situations: 12 items; Patient participation and education: 42 items) were evaluated. Consensus was reached for 92 items (83%). Over 80% of the experts agreed with the use of DOACs as the initial anticoagulant treatment when OAC is indicated. Panellists recommended the use of DOACs in patients at high risk of thromboembolic complications (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥3) (83%), haemorrhages (HAS-BLED ≥3) (89%) and poor quality of anticoagulation control (SAMe-TT2R2 >2) (76%), patients who fail to achieve an optimal therapeutic range after 3 months on VKA treatment (93%), and those who are to undergo cardioversion (80%). Panellists agreed that the efficacy and safety profile of each DOAC (98%), the availability of a specific reversal agent (72%) and patient's preference (85%) should be considered when prescribing a DOAC. A total of 97 items were ultimately accepted after round 2. CONCLUSIONS: This Delphi panel study provides expert-based recommendations that may offer guidance on clinical decision-making for the management of OAC in NVAF. The importance of patient education and involvement has been highlighted.

Short-term mortality risk score for de novo acute heart failure (ESSIC-FEHF).

BACKGROUND: Different variables are playing a role in prognosis of acute heart failure. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to create and validate a risk score to predict mortality in patients with a first episode of acute heart failure during the first 2 months after the first hospitalization. DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: We recruited patients diagnosed with a first episode of acute heart failure. MAIN MEASURES: We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics; medical history; symptoms; precipitating factors; signs and symptoms of congestion; echocardiographic parameters; aetiology; vital signs and laboratory findings; and response to initial treatment (yes/no). A Cox proportional hazard regression model was built with mortality during the first 2 months after the index episode as the dependent variable. A risk score is presented. KEY RESULTS: The mortality rate during the first 2 months after a first episode of heart failure was 5%. Age, systolic blood pressure, serum sodium, ejection fraction and blood urea nitrogen were selected in the internal validation, as was right ventricular failure. A risk score was developed. Both the model and the score showed good discrimination and calibration properties when applied to an independent cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Our ESSIC-FEHF risk score showed excellent properties in the derivation cohort and also in a cohort from a different time period. This score is expected to help decision making in patients diagnosed with heart failure for the first time.

Creation and validation of the acute heart failure risk score: AHFRS.

Our aims were to create and validate a clinical decision rule to assess severity in acute heart failure. We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with symptoms of acute heart failure who attended the emergency departments (EDs) of three hospitals between April 2011 and April 2013. The following data were collected on arrival to or during the stay in the ED: baseline severity of symptoms; presence of decompensated comorbidities; number of hospital admissions/visits to EDs for acute heart failure during the previous 24 months; triggers of the exacerbation; clinical signs and symptoms; results of ancillary tests requested in the ED; treatments prescribed; and response to the initial treatment in the ED. The main outcome was poor course during the acute phase, in-hospital for admitted patients and during the first week following the ED visit for discharged patients, this being a composite endpoint that included death, admission to an intensive care unit, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, cardiac arrest and use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed. Predictors of poor course in acute heart failure were oedema on chest radiography, visits to the ED and/or admissions in the previous two years, and levels of glycemia and blood urea nitrogen (areas under the curve of 0.83 in the derivation sample, and 0.82 in the validation sample). Four clinical predictors available in the ED can be used to create a simple score to predict poor course in acute heart failure.Clinical Trials.gov ID: NCT02437058.

Indicaciones actuales de tratamiento médico / Current indications for medical therapy

La mortalidad cardiovascular se ha reducido en las últimas décadas. Este hecho, junto con el envejecimiento de la población, ha producido un aumento de las prevalencias de la cardiopatía isquémica crónica y la angina de pecho estable y, por lo tanto, un incremento de pacientes con comorbilidades relacionadas. Las comorbilidades más prevalentes son la hipertensión y la diabetes mellitus, aunque la vasculopatía periférica, la enfermedad obstructiva crónica, la insuficiencia cardiaca y la fibrilación auricular también son frecuentes. En este contexto, el tratamiento médico es cada vez más complejo por la necesidad de utilizar múltiples fármacos, aunque los nuevos antianginosos como la ranolazina y la ivabradina ofrecen nuevas posibilidades para controlar los síntomas. En cualquier caso, el tratamiento médico óptimo siguiendo las recomendaciones de las guías de práctica clínica es la primera opción terapéutica (AU)

Mortality associated with cardiovascular disease has decreased in recent decades. The occurrence of this decrease at a time when the population is aging has led to a rise in the prevalence of chronic ischemic heart disease and stable angina and, consequently, an increase in the number of patients with associated comorbidities. Although the most prevalent comorbidities are hypertension and diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation are also common. In this setting, medical therapy is increasingly complex because of the number of drugs that have to be prescribed. Moreover, new antianginal drugs, such as ranolazine and ivabradine, have provided alternative ways of achieving symptom control. Nevertheless, first-line therapy still involves the administration of optimum medical treatment in accordance with clinical practice guidelines (AU)