Evaluating the use of participatory action research to implement evidence-based guidance on dementia palliative care in long-term care settings: A creative hermeneutic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dementia affects a large proportion of society and places a significant burden on older people and healthcare systems internationally. Managing symptoms at the end of life for people with dementia is complex. Participatory action research can offer an approach that helps to encourage implementation of evidence-based practices in long-term care settings. METHODS: Three evidence-based guidance documents (pain assessment and management, medication management, nutrition and hydration management) were introduced in three long-term care settings for older people. Data generated from work-based learning groups were analysed using a critical hermeneutic approach to explore the use of participatory action research to support the implementation of guidance documents in these settings. RESULTS: Engagement and Facilitation emerged as key factors which both enabled and hindered the PAR processes at each study site. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the body of knowledge that emphasises the value of participatory action research in enabling practice change. It further identifies key practice development approaches that are necessary to enable a PAR approach to occur in care settings for older people with dementia. The study highlights the need to ensure that dedicated attention is paid to strategies that facilitate key transformations in clinical practice.

Implementation of evidence-based guidance for dementia palliative care using participatory action research: examining implementation through the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

BACKGROUND: The importance of providing evidence-based palliative care for people with dementia is increasingly acknowledged as important for patient outcomes. In Ireland, evidence-based guidance has been developed in order to address key features of dementia palliative care, including the management of pain, medications and hydration and nutrition. The aim of this study was to identify and explore the factors affecting the implementation of evidence-based guidance on dementia palliative care. METHODS: The Consolidated Framework for Implementation (CFIR) guided a mixed-method pre-post study. One guidance document pertaining to the management of pain, medication or hydration and nutrition was implemented in three long-term care facilities. Participatory action research in the form of work-based learning groups was used to implement the guidance, drawing on a situational analysis (pre-implementation). Staff questionnaires and audits were conducted pre- and post-implementation while champion interviews were also conducted post-implementation. RESULTS: Features of the guidance, the inner setting components such as readiness to change, and the process of implementation were most frequently identified as impacting implementation. Components of the outer setting, such as external policy incentives and individual characteristics, featured less commonly. Data from qualitative interviews revealed that the guidance was perceived as advantageous or complimentary to previous care provided. Within the inner setting, leadership and support from other colleagues facilitated implementation. However, limited availability of other healthcare professionals to assist with carrying out guidance actions presented a barrier in some facilities. The external facilitators of the work-based learning groups (WBLGs) were perceived as experienced and encouraged active participation and reflection on practices. Despite the challenge of releasing staff to attend the WBLGs, quantitative data demonstrated reduced staff de-motivation amongst those who did attend was noted post-implementation (pre-Mdn = 19.50 versus post-Mdn = 22.00, U = 497.00, p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: A situational analysis informed by the CFIR framework in conjunction with a participatory action research approach helped to advance the implementation of the guidance. The progress of implementation depended on the extent to which evidence-based care was previously being implemented at each site. Post-implementation analysis using CFIR identified challenges to address in future projects such as staff cover and timing of training to facilitate attendance for staff with different working hours. Facilitators included multidisciplinary engagement with the intervention and champions at each site to support the implementation process.

Effective workforce planning: Understanding final-year nursing and midwifery students' intentions to migrate after graduation.

AIMS: To examine the factors influencing final-year nursing/midwifery students' intentions to migrate following graduation. BACKGROUND: With expanding global staff shortages, effective recruitment and retention strategies targeted at new nursing/midwifery graduates are necessary. Understanding factors that influence graduates' decisions to migrate or remain in the health care organisation that supported their education is essential but under-researched. METHODS: A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to graduating nursing/midwifery students across nine higher education institutions in Ireland with a 36% (N = 407) response rate. RESULTS: 85% of Irish (n = 376) nursing/midwifery graduating students reported an intention to migrate overseas and 70% intend to return within 5 years. Pay, working conditions and career were ranked as influencing intentions to migrate. Multivariable analysis illustrated that educational opportunities and friends predict migration, while family and obligation were protective factors. CONCLUSION: Nursing and midwifery leaders and policymakers must reconsider recruitment and retention strategies and embrace innovative and responsive approaches to address migration intentions and trends. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING/MIDWIFERY MANAGEMENT: Strategic leadership is required to develop effective structures that support personal, professional and career opportunities for new graduates. Targeted recruitment innovations to entice graduates back into the health service are recommended.

Does the social context of early alcohol use affect risky drinking in adolescents? Prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited longitudinal data on the associations between different social contexts of alcohol use and risky adolescent drinking. METHODS: Australian prospective longitudinal cohort of 1943 adolescents with 6 assessment waves at ages 14-17 years. Drinkers were asked where and how frequently they drank. Contexts were: at home with family, at home alone, at a party with friends, in a park/car, or at a bar/nightclub. The outcomes were prevalence and incidence of risky drinking (≥5 standard drinks (10g alcohol) on a day, past week) and very risky drinking (>20 standard drinks for males and >11 for females) in early (waves 1-2) and late (waves 3-6) adolescence. RESULTS: Forty-four percent (95 % CI: 41-46 %) reported past-week risky drinking on at least one wave during adolescence (waves 1-6). Drinking at a party was the most common repeated drinking context in early adolescence (28 %, 95 % CI 26-30 %); 15 % reported drinking repeatedly (3+ times) with their family in early adolescence (95 % CI: 14-17 %). For all contexts (including drinking with family), drinking 3+ times in a given context was associated with increased the risk of risky drinking in later adolescence. These effects remained apparent after adjustment for potential confounders (e.g. for drinking with family, adjusted RR 1.9; 95 % CI: 1.5-2.4). Similar patterns were observed for very risky drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that consumption with family does not protect against risky drinking. Furthermore, parents who wish to minimise high risk drinking by their adolescent children might also limit their children's opportunities to consume alcohol in unsupervised settings.

Social and emotional adjustment following early pregnancy in young Australian women: a comparison of those who terminate, miscarry, or complete pregnancy.

PURPOSE: To compare social and emotional adjustment including educational attainment and substance use in women who had a child, pregnancy termination, or miscarriage by young adulthood. METHODS: Data were from a population-based longitudinal study of the health and well-being of 1,943 young Australians (Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study) followed from 15 to 24 years of age. The sample was restricted to female participants and based on pregnancies reported by age 24 years. Analyses were adjusted for early teenage depressive symptoms, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, cannabis use, and parent socioeconomic context. RESULTS: A total of 208 pregnancies (in 170 women) were reported from a sample of 824 young women by 24 years of age. Compared with those who had never been pregnant, those who had a child had lower tertiary education completion and a higher risk of nicotine dependence; those who terminated a pregnancy were more commonly single and had a higher risk of smoking and alcohol use as well as nicotine and alcohol dependence; and those who had a miscarriage had a higher risk of depressive symptomatology and binge drinking as well as nicotine and cannabis dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Young women who have been pregnant by their mid-twenties report a range of difficulties in social and emotional adjustment that vary across the different pregnancy outcomes. Broad-based psychosocial health care is essential not only for young women whose pregnancies proceed to live birth, but also for those whose pregnancies end with miscarriage or induced abortion.

The persistence of adolescent binge drinking into adulthood: findings from a 15-year prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of binge drinking in adolescence and its persistence into adulthood in an Australian cohort. DESIGN: 15-year prospective cohort study. SETTING: Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 1943 adolescents were recruited from secondary schools at age 14-15 years. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Levels of past-week 'binge' drinking (5+ standard drinks on a day, each 10 g alcohol) and 'heavy binge' drinking (20+ standard drinks on a day for males, 11+ for females) were assessed during six adolescent waves, and across three adult waves up to age 29 years. RESULTS: Half of the males (52%) and a third of the females (34%) reported past-week adolescent binge drinking. 90% of male and 70% of female adolescent-onset binge drinkers continued to binge in young adulthood; 70% of males and 48% of females who were not adolescent-onset binge drinkers reported young adult binge drinking. Past-week heavy bingeing was less common in adolescence than adulthood. Overall, 35% of the sample (95% CI 33% to 38%) reported past-week binge drinking in adolescence and young adulthood and one-third (33%; 30% to 35%) first reported binge drinking in young adulthood; only 7% of the sample (6-8%) had binge drinking in adolescence but not young adulthood. 'Heavy binge' drinking occurred in adolescence and young adulthood for 9% (8% to 10%); 8% (7% to 10%) reported it in adolescence but no longer in young adulthood; and 24% (22% to 26%) began 'heavy binge' drinking in young adulthood. Among adolescent binge drinkers (n=821), young adult binge and heavy binge drinking were predicted by being male, adolescent antisocial behaviour and adverse consequences of drinking in adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: Binge alcohol use is common and persistent among young Australians. Efforts to prevent the onset of binge drinking during adolescence may substantially reduce harmful patterns of alcohol use in young adulthood.

Adolescent depressive symptoms and subsequent pregnancy, pregnancy completion and pregnancy termination in young adulthood: findings from the victorian adolescent health cohort study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine relationships between depressive symptoms in adolescence (14-18 years of age) and becoming pregnant, completing a pregnancy (live birth) and terminating a pregnancy in young adulthood (21-24 years of age). PARTICIPANTS AND DESIGN: Data from 1000 females were drawn from a larger sample of 1943 young Australians participating in a longitudinal study of adolescent health and development, followed across 8 waves from adolescence (waves 1-6) to young adulthood (waves 7 and 8). SETTING: Victoria, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy, pregnancy completion and pregnancy termination between 21-24 years of age. RESULTS: We observed a twofold increase in the odds of becoming pregnant in those reporting persisting patterns of depressive symptoms during adolescence (2+ waves); however, after staged adjustment for adolescent antisocial behaviour, drug use and socioeconomic disadvantage, there was no evidence of association. Of particular note, and consistent with previous research, adolescent antisocial and drug use behavior were strongly associated with becoming pregnant and pregnancy termination in young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent antisocial and drug use behavior, not depressive symptoms, independently predict pregnancy outcomes in young adulthood.

Long-term statin therapy in patients with systolic heart failure and normal cholesterol: effects on elevated serum markers of collagen turnover, inflammation, and B-type natriuretic peptide.

BACKGROUND: The role of statin therapy in heart failure (HF) is unclear. The amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PIIINP) predicts outcome in HF, and yet there are conflicting reports of statin therapy effects on PIIINP. OBJECTIVES: This study determined whether there was an increase in serum markers of inflammation, fibrosis (including PIIINP), and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with systolic HF and normal total cholesterol and determined the effects of long-term treatment with atorvastatin on these markers. METHODS: Fifty-six white patients with systolic HF and normal cholesterol levels (age 72 [13] years; 68% male; body mass index 27.0 [7.3] kg/m(2); ejection fraction 35 [13]%; 46% with history of smoking) were randomly allocated to atorvastatin treatment for 6 months, titrated to 40 mg/d (A group) or not (C group). Age- and/or sex-matched subjects without HF (N group) were also recruited. Biomarkers were measured at baseline (all groups) and 6 months (A and C groups). RESULTS: Serum markers of collagen turnover, inflammation, and BNP were significantly elevated in HF patients compared with normal participants (all P < 0.05). There were correlations between these markers in HF patients but not in normal subjects. Atorvastatin treatment for 6 months caused a significant reduction in the following biomarkers compared with baseline: BNP, from median (interquartile range) 268 (190-441) pg/mL to 185 (144-344) pg/mL; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), from 5.26 (1.95 -9.29) mg/L to 3.70 (2.34-6.81) mg/L; and PIIINP, from 4.65 (1.86) to 4.09 (1.25) pg/mL (all P < 0.05 baseline vs 6 months). Between-group differences were significant for PIIINP only (P = 0.027). There was a positive interaction between atorvastatin effects and baseline hs-CRP and PIIINP (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term statin therapy reduced PIIINP in this small, selected HF population with elevated baseline levels. Further evaluation of statin therapy in the management of HF patients with elevated PIIINP is warranted.

B-type natriuretic peptide measurement in primary care; magnitude of associations with cardiovascular risk factors and their therapies. Observations from the STOP-HF (St. Vincent's Screening TO Prevent Heart Failure) study.

BACKGROUND: An effective prevention strategy for heart failure in primary care requires a reliable screening tool for asymptomatic ventricular dysfunction. Preliminary data indicate that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) may be suitable for this task. However, for the most effective use of this peptide, the interrelationships between associated risk factors and their therapies on BNP, and in particular their magnitude of effect, needs to be established in a large primary care population. Therefore, the objective of the study was to establish the extent of the association between BNP, cardiovascular risk factors and their therapies. METHODS: BNP measurement and clinical review was preformed on 1122 primary care patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Multivariate analyses identified significant associates of BNP concentrations which were further explored to establish the magnitude of their association. RESULTS: Associates of BNP were age (1.36-fold increase in BNP/decade), female (1.28), ß-blockers (1.90), myocardial infarction (1.36), arrhythmia (1.98), diastolic blood pressure; all p<0.01. A novel method was devised that plotted median BNP per sliding decade of age for the various combinations of these principal associates. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented underline the importance of considering several clinical and therapeutic factors when interpreting BNP concentrations. Most of these variables were associated with increased concentrations, which may in part explain the observed false-positive rates for detecting ventricular dysfunction using this peptide. Furthermore, the design of studies or protocols using BNP as an endpoint or a clinical tool should take particular account of these associations. This analysis provides the foundation for age, risk factor and therapy adjusted reference ranges for BNP in this setting.

Quality of life predicts outcome in a heart failure disease management program.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with a poor Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). HRQoL has been shown to be a predictor of HF outcomes however, variability in the study designs make it difficult to apply these findings to a clinical setting. The aim of this study was to establish if HRQoL is a predictor of long-term mortality and morbidity in HF patients followed-up in a disease management program (DMP) and if a HRQoL instrument could be applied to aid in identifying high-risk patients within a clinical context. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of HF patients attending a DMP with 18+/-9 months follow-up. Clinical and biochemical parameters were recorded on discharge from index HF admission and HRQoL measures were recorded at 2 weeks post index admission. RESULTS: 225 patients were enrolled into the study (mean age=69+/-12 years, male=61%, and 78%=systolic HF). In multivariable analysis, all dimensions of HRQoL (measured by the Minnesota Living with HF Questionnaire) were independent predictors of both mortality and readmissions particularly in patients <80 years. A significant interaction between HRQoL and age (Total((HRQoL))age: p<0.001) indicated that the association of HRQoL with outcomes diminished as age increased. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that HRQoL is a predictor of outcome in HF patients managed in a DMP. Younger patients (<65 years) with a Total HRQoL score of > or =50 are at high risk of an adverse outcome. In older patients > or =80 years HRQoL is not useful in predicting outcome.

The value of level III clearance in patients with axillary and sentinel node positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The value of level III axillary clearance is contentious, with great variance worldwide in the extent and levels of clearance performed. OBJECTIVE: To determine rates of level III positivity in patients undergoing level I-III axillary clearance, and identify which patients are at highest risk of involved level III nodes. METHODS: From a database of 2850 patients derived from symptomatic and population-based screening service, 1179 patients who underwent level I-III clearance between the years 1999-2007 were identified. The pathology, surgical details, and prior sentinel nodes biopsies of patients were recorded. RESULTS: Eleven hundred seventy nine patients had level I-III axillary clearance. Of the patients, 63% (n = 747) were node positive. Of patients with node positive disease, 23% (n = 168) were level II positive and 19% (n = 141) were level III positive. Two hundred fifty patients had positive sentinel node biopsies prior to axillary clearance. Of these, 12% (n = 30) and 9% (n = 22) were level II and level III positive, respectively. On multivariate analysis, factors predictive of level III involvement in patients with node positive disease were tumor size (P < 0.001, OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.2-1.5), invasive lobular disease (P < 0.001, OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.9-6.95), extranodal extension (P < 0.001, OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.18-0.4), and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.04, OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.35-1). Lobular invasive disease (P = 0.049, OR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1-16.8), extranodal spread (P = 0.003, OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.57), and having more than one positive sentinel node (P = 0.009, OR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.5-16.1) were predictive of level III involvement in patients with sentinel node positive disease. CONCLUSION: Level III clearance has a selective but definite role to play in patients who have node positive breast carcinoma. Pathological characteristics of the primary tumor are of particular use in identifying those who are at various risk of level III nodal involvement.

Causes and consequences of nonpersistence with heart failure medication.

Persistence with therapy may be more easily and objectively identified in the clinical setting than compliance and recent work has shown it to be linked to mortality in heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to determine the extent, causes, and clinical impact of nonpersistence with disease-modifying therapy in a retrospective cohort study of 183 patients with systolic HF participating in a disease management program. The main outcome measurements were reasons/determinants of nonpersistence and its impact on hospitalizations. Fifty-three patients (29%) had 74 separate occurrences of nonpersistence with disease-modifying therapy. There was no medical reason for discontinuing medications in 50% of occurrences, whereas medication was discontinued for an adverse reaction in 30% and for a justified medical reason in 15% of occurrences. Nonpersistence was a significant predictor of all-cause readmission (hazard ratio 3.20, 95% confidence interval 1.74 to 11.37) and cardiovascular readmission (hazard ratio 4.45, 95% confidence interval 1.74 to 11.37). In the adjusted model, there was no significantly increased risk of HF readmission (hazard ratio 2.41, 95% confidence interval 0.88 to 6.62). In conclusion, nonpersistence with HF therapy is common, is often not medically justified, and is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization.

A comparative study of the palliative care needs of heart failure and cancer patients.

AIMS: Studies suggest that patients with advanced heart failure (HF) have unmet palliative care (PC) needs. However, many of these studies have been retrospective or based on patients receiving poorly coordinated ad hoc care. We aimed to demonstrate whether the PC needs of patients with advanced HF receiving specialist multidisciplinary coordinated care are similar to cancer patients deemed to have specialist PC needs; thereby justifying the extension of specialist PC services to HF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a cross-sectional comparative cohort study of 50 HF patients and 50 cancer patients, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Both patient cohorts were statistically indistinguishable in terms of symptom burden, emotional wellbeing, and quality-of-life scores. HF patients had good access to community and social support. HF patients particularly valued the close supervision, medication monitoring, ease of access to service, telephone support, and key worker provided at the HF unit. A small subset of patients had unmet PC needs. A palliative transition point is described. CONCLUSION: HF patients should not be excluded from specialist PC services. However, the majority of their needs can be met at a HF unit. Recognition of the palliative transition point may be key to ensuring that end-of-life issues are addressed. The palliative transition point needs further evaluation.

Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: improved accuracy with the use of markers of collagen turnover.

AIMS: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) can be difficult to diagnose in clinical practice. Myocardial fibrosis is a major determinant of diastolic dysfunction (DD), potentially contributing to the progression of HF-PEF. The aim of this study was to analyse whether serological markers of collagen turnover may predict HF-PEF and DD. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 85 Caucasian treated hypertensive patients (DD n=65; both DD and HF-PEF n=32). Serum carboxy (PICP), amino (PINP), and carboxytelo (CITP) peptides of procollagen type I, amino (PIIINP) peptide of procollagen type III, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of MMP levels were assayed. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, MMP-2 (AUC=0.91; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.98), CITP (0.83; 0.72, 0.92), PICP (0.82; 0.72, 0.92), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (0.82; 0.73, 0.91), MMP-9 (0.79; 0.68, 0.89), and PIIINP (0.78; 0.66, 0.89) levels were significant predictors of HF-PEF (P<0.01 for all). Carboxytelo peptides of procollagen type I (AUC=0.74; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.86), MMP-2 (0.73; 0.62, 0.84), PIIINP (0.73; 0.60, 0.85), BNP (0.69; 0.55, 0.83) and PICP (0.66; 0.54, 0.78) levels were significant predictors of DD (P<0.05 for all). A cutoff of 1585 ng/mL for MMP-2 provided 91% sensitivity and 76% specificity for predicting HF-PEF and combinations of biomarkers could be used to adjust either sensitivity or specificity. CONCLUSION: Markers of collagen turnover identify patients with HF-PEF and DD. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 may be more useful than BNP in the identification of HF-PEF. This suggests that these new biochemical tools may assist in identifying patients with these diagnostically challenging conditions.

Multiple neurohumoral modulating agents in systolic dysfunction heart failure: are we lowering blood pressure too much?

BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying drug treatment in heart failure (HF) reduces blood pressure. Titration of these agents is guided by clinic blood pressure readings; however, the impact of such treatment on blood pressure is unknown because diurnal blood pressure patterns remain poorly described. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of additional neurohumoral modulating agents on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) control in patients with systolic HF and examine the relationship between the burden of hypotension and clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective analysis on 45 patients undergoing initiation and optimization of additional medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, or beta-blockers), mean daytime systolic (P = .035) and mean daytime and nocturnal diastolic hypotensive episodes (both P < .001) increased significantly posttitration. There was no change in clinic blood pressure before and after titration. In a cross-sectional analysis on 144 patients, those with the most diastolic hypotensive episodes had higher rates of HF readmissions (P = .01) and the composite end point of all-cause mortality and all-cause readmissions (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Additional neurohumoral modulating agents could produce significant increases in 24-hour hypotension burden despite reassuring clinic blood pressure readings. The burden of diastolic hypotension is independently predictive of HF readmissions and the composite end point of all-cause mortality and emergency readmissions.

Need and evolution of need for device therapy in a community heart failure population.

BACKGROUND: New guidelines for implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) have expanded the potential use for device therapy. The implications of this on a community heart failure (HF) population are unknown. AIM: To assess the need for device therapy and the change in need over time. METHODS: We reviewed device need in a community HF population using ESC guidelines. Change in need was assessed by comparing data between an annual visit called TP2 and an earlier visit called TP1. Patients' need and change in need between TP1 and TP2 was determined. RESULTS: 210 patients were included; mean age 70+/-12 years, 67% male and 54% ischaemic. At TP1, 34% of patients were suitable for ICD and 3% for CRT. At TP2, 22% and 1% were suitable respectively. Of those suitable for ICD at TP1, 19% lost the need at TP2; in addition 9% of patients unsuitable for ICD at TP1 had acquired the need by TP2. Fifty five percent of patients were unsuitable for ICD at either time point, and 16% were suitable at both time points. CRT need was negligible but also noted to change. CONCLUSION: ICD need is substantial in a community HF population, but CRT need is limited. ICD need changes significantly. Identifying those likely to change their need may optimise ICD use.

Outpatient intravenous diuretic therapy; potential for marked reduction in hospitalisations for acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure patients have frequent readmissions for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). AIMS: To examine the feasibility, safety and outcomes of outpatient intravenous (IV) diuretic therapy in treating ADHF. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients included in a hospital-based heart failure disease management programme, who received outpatient IV diuretic therapy for the management of ADHF between 2002 and 2006. Changes in clinical and biochemical parameters from time of therapy to stability were measured. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients (mean age 71+/-11 years) received outpatient IV diuretic therapy for ADHF IV diuretic administration reduced weight (p<0.001), blood pressure (p<0.01) and BNP (p=0.01). It increased urea (p=0.01) and creatinine (p=0.07). Seventy-two percent of patients stabilised following IV diuretics and did not require admission. No patients were hospitalised for hypotension or hypokalaemia. One patient was hospitalised for renal failure. Two patients died post admission. CONCLUSION: Outpatient IV diuretic administration for ADHF is safe, cost effective and reduces hospitalisations. This service may expand the potential of a disease management programme to manage ADHF out of hospital and thereby reduce the hospital dependency of this condition.

Improvement but no cure of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in treated heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in pharmacological and pacemaker-based treatments for heart failure (HF) have brought about significant improvements in left ventricular function. AIMS: To identify the proportion of treated systolic HF patients in whom left ventricular systolic function improves and/or returns to normal. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 221 HF patients. Improvement in left ventricular function was defined as an improvement in ejection fraction (LVEF) of > or =10% on echocardiography. Return to normal was defined as an improvement of LVEF to > or =50% and a reduction in left ventricular end diastolic diameter to < or =55 mm. Changes in BNP were also recorded. RESULTS: Improvement in LVEF was observed in 44.3% of patients and return to normal systolic function in 10.9%, only 2.3% had both a return to normal echocardiographic parameters and a BNP<100 pg/ml. A higher percentage of the improved group were on target doses of beta-blockers (p=0.004). Baseline BNP was not a predictor of improvement. There was a trend towards a reduction in HF readmissions in the improved group (p=0.07) but no difference in the risk of death or all-cause readmission. CONCLUSION: While a substantial proportion of treated HF patients have an improvement in left ventricular function over time, only a small proportion return to normal dimensions and LVEF, underlining the permanent nature of ventricular damage in the vast majority of patients.

Fluid restriction in the management of decompensated heart failure: no impact on time to clinical stability.

BACKGROUND: To examine the clinical effect of fluid restriction in patients admitted to the hospital with class IV heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a single-blind randomized controlled study. Time to clinical stability was compared between the fluid restricted (FR: n = 34) and free fluid (FF: n = 33) groups respectively showing no significant difference (8.3 +/- 6.3 days versus 7.0 +/- 6.0 days, P = .17). There was no significant difference between groups in time to discontinuation of intravenous diuretic therapy (FR: 2.7 +/- 4.5 days, FF: 3.2 +/- 5.6 days, P = .70). Changes from baseline to achievement of clinical stability in serum urea (P = .23), serum creatinine (P = .14), BNP (P = .42), and sodium (P = .14) did not differ between the FF and FR groups. Baseline serum sodium levels did not predict the time to clinical stability (beta = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.60, 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Fluid restriction is not an evidence-based therapy although it is occasionally applied in the management of HF. These results suggest that FR is not of any clinical benefit in patients with acute decompensated HF and this hypothesis should be tested in a larger randomized controlled study.

The biologic variability of B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in stable heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting data on the usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) in the optimization of therapy for heart failure (HF). Discordant results may be explained by the intra-individual variability of these peptides. This study evaluates the intraindividual variability of BNP and NT-proBNP and the impact of the covariates of age, sex, and renal function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Stable HF patients attending our unit were included. Blood samples were drawn 1 hour apart on 2 occasions 1 week apart. Forty-five patients were enrolled (69.6 +/- 12.1 years, 64% male, 84% systolic HF). Within-hour and within-week intraindividual variability were: 6.9% and 21.1% for NT-proBNP; 14.6% and 28.4% for BNP (P < .01 for within-hour comparison of BNP and NT-proBNP). Reference change values over 1 week for NT-proBNP and BNP were 49.2% and 66.2%, respectively. There were no significant relationships identified between variability and age, gender, or glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSION: There is considerable intraindividual variability in these peptides in stable HF patients. Changes of approximately 50% and 66% for NT-proBNP and BNP from week to week are needed to indicate an altered clinical status and caution should be exercised in interpreting serial changes in these peptide levels when monitoring patient responses to treatment or clinical status.