[Features, management and prognosis of Chilean patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation: GARFIELD AF registry].

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with high rates of death, ischemic stroke and systemic embolism (SE). There is scarce information about clinical characteristics and use of anti-thrombotic therapies in Chilean patients with non-valvular AF.

Aim: To describe the characteristics and 1-year outcomes of patients with recently diagnosed AF recruited in Chile into the prospective global GARFIELD-AF registry.

Derivation of a measure of systolic blood pressure mutability: a novel information theory-based metric from ambulatory blood pressure tests.

We provide ambulatory blood pressure (BP) exams with tools based on information theory to quantify fluctuations thus increasing the capture of dynamic test components. Data from 515 ambulatory 24-hour BP exams were considered. Average age was 54 years, 54% were women, and 53% were under BP treatment.

[Profile of patients with infective endocarditis admitted to a Chilean regional hospital].

Background: Mortality due to infective endocarditis (IE) in Chile is close to 30%.

Aim: To report the experience with patients admitted with the diagnosis of IE in a regional tertiary hospital.

Material And Methods: Retrospective study of 107 patients aged 50 ± 16 years (75% males) discharged with a definitive diagnosis of IE according to modified DUKE criteria, between years 2003 and 2010.

[Chilean results of the international registry of risk factors and treatment of unstable angina and non ST elevation myocardial infarction: ACCORD (ACute CORonary syndrome Descriptive study)].

Background: Guidelines for the management of unstable angina (UA) and non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have been issued, however, current practices are unknown in Chile.

Aim: To evaluate in a prospective cohort of NSTEMI patients the current practices, treatments and risk factors.

Material And Methods: One year prospective International non interventional registry, conducted in Chile between January 2005 and November 2006.

[Evaluation of a nutritional intervention to reduce cholesterol levels in patients with coronary artery disease].

Background: The mainstay of cholesterol reduction therapy is the diet. But the lack of compliance and prescription problems limit its usefulness.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention given by a nutritionist with the usual recommendations given by a physician to reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in patients with coronary artery disease, treated at the Regional public hospital in Temuco.