Early ICD implantation following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a retrospective cohort study from the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Background: It is unclear whether an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is generally beneficial in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Objective: We studied the association between ICD implantation prior to discharge and survival in patients with cardiac aetiology or initial shockable rhythm in OHCA.

Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Association between exercise load, resting heart rate, and maximum heart rate and risk of future ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between exercise workload, resting heart rate (RHR), maximum heart rate and the risk of developing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: The study included all participants from the UK Biobank who had undergone submaximal exercise stress testing. Patients with a history of STEMI were excluded.

Temporal variation in survival following in-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate what characterizes IHCAs that take place during the "day" (Monday-Friday 7 am-3 pm), "evening" (Monday-Friday 3 pm-9 pm) and "night" (Monday-Friday 9 pm-7 am and Saturday-Sunday 12 am- 11.59 pm).

Methods: We used the Swedish Registry for CPR (SRCR) to study 26,595 patients from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2019.

Efficacy and Safety of Clopidogrel Versus Ticagrelor as Part of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndrome-A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The efficacy and safety of clopidogrel compared with ticagrelor as part of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients, and in older patients, with acute coronary syndrome is reviewed. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and HTA databases were searched (September 2, 2020) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Pooled risk differences (clopidogrel minus ticagrelor) were estimated using random-effects meta-analyses, and certainty of evidence was assessed according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.

Prognostic impact of percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction: A report from SWEDEHEART.

Aims: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves outcomes in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACSs). Octogenarians, however, were underrepresented in the pivotal trials. This study aimed to assess the effect of PCI in patients ≥80 years old.

[Many people over 80 years had been able to get care outside the hospital].

Ageing populations and higher ambitions continuously drive healthcare costs in Sweden and worldwide. During the last two decades, downsizing hospital bed capacity has been the strategy for cutting expenditure in the Swedish healthcare system. However, the lack of implementation of new and viable outpatient alternatives has led to a widespread overcrowding problem in Swedish hospitals and emergency departments.

High-resolution ultrasound showing increased intima and media thickness of the radial artery in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Objective: Although clinically relevant atherosclerosis of the upper limb arteries is rarely seen, intimal hyperplasia of the arteries may reflect global atherosclerosis and increased intima-media thickness of the brachial artery has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events and to early failure of the radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula. We speculated that patients with ESRD have thickening of both the radial intimal and medial layers compared to healthy subjects.

Methods: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a novel very high frequency (55 MHz) ultrasound technique that could accurately measure the intima and media thickness of the vessel wall.

Arterial baroreflex dysfunction in major depressive disorder.

Objectives: Patients treated for major depressive disorder are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Impaired arterial baroreflex function has been associated with ventricular arrhythmias. Our hypothesis was that arterial baroreflex dysfunction prevails in major depressive disorder and that electroconvulsive therapy in conjunction to medical therapy would improve both depressive symptoms and baroreflex function.

Elevated myocardial repolarization lability and arterial baroreflex dysfunction in healthy individuals with nondipping blood pressure pattern.

Background: The "nondipping" pattern (NDP) of blood pressure, characterized by the absence of the reduction in blood pressure (BP) that typically takes place during the night time, has been associated with elevated cardiovascular morbidity, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac-related death. In various cardiovascular diseases, reduced vagal control of cardiac function and elevated lability of cardiac repolarization have been associated with increased risk for ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death. The aim of this study was to assess temporal QT variability, arterial baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), and baroreflex effectiveness index (BEI) in two groups of otherwise healthy subjects, one group consisting of those with a normal BP pattern and the other with a nondipping BP pattern.

Increased intima thickness of the radial artery in individuals with prehypertension and hypertension.

Background: We have used a novel ultra high-frequency (55MHz) ultrasound technique to non-invasively measure the radial arterial vessel wall and separate the intima-media (IMT) complex into measurements of intima and media thickness (IT and MT). Since no previous study has measured IT and MT separately in individuals with prehypertension and hypertension, the aim of the current study was to measure IT and MT thickness of the radial arteries among individuals with prehypertension, hypertension and healthy subjects.

Methods And Results: Individuals with prehypertension (n=32), hypertension (n=34) and healthy subjects (n=29) underwent ultra high-resolution ultrasound of the radial artery.

Increased intima thickness of the radial artery in patients with coronary heart disease.

Ultrabiomicroscopy is a novel high-frequency (55 MHz) ultrasound technique that could be used to non-invasively measure the vessel wall and separate the intima-media complex into measurements of intima and media thickness. Since no previous study has measured intima and media thickness separately in vivo in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), the aim of the current study was to measure intima and intima-media thickness of the radial and the anterior tibial arteries among patients with CHD and healthy subjects (HS). Thirty-two patients with CHD and 46 HS underwent investigations with ultrabiomicroscopy measurements of the radial and anterior tibial arteries.

Arterial baroreflex dysfunction after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Although uncommon, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia is high in certain subsets of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting. Arterial baroreflex dysfunction has been linked to increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. The aim of the current study was to explore arterial baroreflex function during the early recovery phase and up to five months after surgery.

Elevated temporal lability of myocardial repolarization after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Introduction: Ventricular arrhythmias are uncommon after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but the incidence and mortality are high in certain subsets of patients during the early recovery after surgery. Elevated temporal lability of myocardial repolarization has been associated with sudden cardiac death. The aim of the current study was to explore temporal variability of myocardial repolarization during both early and longtime follow-up after CABG.

Increasing peripheral artery intima thickness from childhood to seniority.

Background: Using new, very high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy, we examined the thickness of artificial layers of silicone and intima thickness (IT) of radial and anterior tibial arteries in healthy subjects and in patients with vascular disease.

Methods And Results: Silicone layers of varying thicknesses and mesenteric artery specimens obtained from 18 patients undergoing colectomy were measured by both ultrasound biomicroscopy (55 MHz) and morphometry. There was high correlation (r>0.