Impact of Oral Treatment on Physical Function in Older Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a characteristic of older patients with heart failure, who undergo functional decline during hospitalization. At present, continuous intravenous infusion of diuretics is widely used for the treatment of hospitalized patients with heart failure. In this prospective, randomized, open-label controlled trial, we tested whether an early switch from continuous intravenous infusion therapy to oral treatment with diuretics prevents functional decline in patients hospitalized for heart failure. METHODS: A total of 59 patients hospitalized for heart failure were randomized to either continuous intravenous infusion (n = 30) or oral medication (n = 29) within 48 h of admission. The primary outcome was the Barthel index, a universally utilized scale to assess the functional status of patients in their activities of daily living, assessed at 10 days. Secondary outcomes included the number of daily steps counted using pedometers and average hospital costs. RESULTS: Barthel index scores were significantly higher in the oral medication group than in the intravenous group (78.1 ± 20.8 vs. 59.6 ± 34.2, P = 0.029). The number of daily steps was significantly higher in the oral treatment group relative to the intravenous group (P < 0.001), and the average hospital costs were similar between the randomized groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that oral medication was a significant independent predictor of Barthel index score at day 10, and the number of daily steps was significantly associated with the patient's functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This trial showed that, in patients hospitalized for heart failure, oral medication increased functional independence during hospitalization compared with sustained continuous intravenous infusion, most likely because the release from the infusion line enabled the patients to be more mobile. Notably, these beneficial effects were achieved without increasing hospital costs.

Adrenal insufficiency causes life-threatening arrhythmia with prolongation of QT interval.

A 63-year-old woman who had hypopituitarism was re-admitted to our hospital because of fever, diarrhea and disturbance of consciousness with life-threatening arrhythmia due to prolongation of the QT interval. She has been treated with hydrocortisone consequently, and has shown few ventricular arrhythmias with normalization of the QT interval. There have been several reports showing the case of prolonged QT interval with adrenal insufficiency, but there are few reports of isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency without any electrolytes imbalance that showed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with QT prolongation. We discuss some possible mechanisms of how adrenal insufficiency causes life-threatening arrhythmia. Since lack of glucocorticoid hormone might induce prolongation of the QT interval, patients with adrenal insufficiency should be paid attention as candidates of lethal arrhythmias particularly when exposed to excessive stresses.

Evaluation of hypertensive cardiac abnormalities using the Cornell product.

BACKGROUND: The Cornell product (CP) improved identification of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in the LIFE study, although its clinical significance is still unknown in Japanese hypertensive (HT) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A standard 12-lead ECG was recorded in 265 HT and 363 normotensive cases (N). All ECGs were digitized, and a simple product was calculated by multiplying the Cornell voltage (CV) by the QRS duration. In 147 of the 265 HT cases, the standard 12-lead ECG and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography were examined in the same period. The mean value of CP increased in the following order: 1,426+/-673 mm x ms in N, 1,989+/-900 mm x ms in HT with treatment, 2,137+/-976 mm x ms in HT without treatment. The correlation with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measured by echocardiography was improved by CP with the simple CV. With use of a partition of 2,440 mm x ms in CP, LVMI and relative wall thickness were significantly higher in HT with > or =2,440 mm x ms of CP compared with <2,440 mm x ms. Early diastolic wave in tissue Doppler imaging was significantly lower in HT with > or =2,440 mm x ms of CP compared with <2,440 mm x ms. CONCLUSION: The Cornell product is a useful ECG marker, reflecting not only left ventricular (LV) mass but also LV geometry and diastolic function in Japanese HT patients.

[Acromegalic cardiomyopathy manifesting as asymptomatic ventricular premature contractions at regular medical check up: a case report].

A 32-year-old Japanese male visited our hospital on May 20, 2004 because of ventricular premature contractions detected at a regular medical check up. He had been asymptomatic with adequate exercise capacity. However, echocardiography findings and Holter monitoring showed impaired left ventricular systolic function associated with left ventricular dilation and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia on June 26. Coronary angiography did not show significant stenosis. Different types of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia could be induced by an electrophysiologic test, but not sustained ventricular tachycardia. The physical findings, such as enlargement of the nose, lips, hands and feet, suggested endocrinologic abnormalities, and growth hormone and somatomedin-C levels were elevated. Therefore, the final diagnosis was cardiomyopathy caused by acromegaly.

[Health-related quality of life in Japanese patients with ischemic heart disease: a multicenter cooperative investigation assessed using SF-36].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the quality of life (QOL) of Japanese patients with ischemic heart disease. METHODS: The QOL data of 753 patients with chronic and stable ischemic heart disease was assessed using SF-36 Japanese version 1.2 and compared with Japanese national norms. Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were calculated to examine the correlation with patient background. Patients were also asked about subjective symptoms during the QOL investigation. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.6 +/- 7.5 years old and the male/female ratio was 85.7/14.3. About one third (30.7%) of the patients were symptomatic and about half (52.6%) had a history of myocardial infarction. Compared to Japanese national norms, physical functioning, role-physical, social functioning, general health and role-emotional were lower, and body pain, vitality and mental health were higher. PCS was significantly lower and MCS was significantly higher in aged patients than in younger patients (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001). PCS and MCS were significantly lower in the symptom (+) group than in the symptom (-) group (p = 0.0009, p < 0.0001). PCS decreased as the number of anti-angina medications for the patients increased (p = 0.0002). PCS was significantly lower and MCS was significantly higher in the beta blocker (+) group than in the beta blocker (-) group (p < 0.0001, p < 0.03). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ( > or = 63 years old), symptom (+), duration of disease (> or = 3 years) and beta blocker (+) influenced the QOL. CONCLUSIONS: The QOL level of patients with ischemic heart disease was found to depend on the clinical condition and treatment, so the optimal treatment for ischemic heart disease must be established to improve QOL.

[Ampulla cardiomyopathy with delayed recovery of microvascular stunning: a case report].

A 71-year old woman with schizophrenia was admitted to our hospital on November 26, 2002 under a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction because of ST segment elevation in leads V2-V5 and positive serum cardiac troponin T level. Emergent coronary angiography showed no significant stenosis, but left ventriculography demonstrated apical ballooning and basal hyperkinesis. The final diagnosis was ampulla cardiomyopathy. Myocardial contrast echocardiography during the acute phase revealed an echocontrast defect consistent with the area of apical ballooning. The condition improved gradually as determined by disappearance of the abnormal wall motion. The coronary flow reserve in the left anterior descending artery measured by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was decreased at 1.5 in the acute phase and gradually recovered over a period of 3 months (23 days, 1.9; 96 days, 2.9). Microvascular stunning defined as decreased coronary flow reserve was observed and recovery was delayed in this case compared with cases of myocardial stunning. These findings are of interest in evaluating the pathophysiology of ampulla cardiomyopathy.