Expert recommendations for the management of iron deficiency in patients with heart failure in Asia.

Background: Iron deficiency is a common comorbidity in heart failure (HF) and is independently associated with a worse quality-of-life and exercise capacity, as well as increased risk of hospitalization, regardless of anemia status. Although international guidelines have provided recommendations for the management of iron deficiency in patients with HF, guidelines in Asia are less established, and practical use of guidelines for management of iron deficiency is limited in the region.

Methods: A panel comprising cardiologists from China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand convened to share insights and provide guidance for the optimal management of iron deficiency in patients with HF, tailored for the Asian community.

Elements of Potentially Inappropriate Interventions and Patient Prognostic Profiles at the End of Life in Cardiology: A Qualitative Analysis.

The determination of what makes a medical treatment inappropriate is unclear with a small likelihood of consensus. This study aimed to explore how clinicians in cardiology perceive "inappropriate treatment" and to collate the common profiles of cardiology patients receiving likely "inappropriate treatment" as perceived by clinicians in a multiethnic Asian context. A qualitative study was conducted using semistructured in-depth interviews with 32 clinicians involved in the care for cardiology patients at a large national cardiology center in Singapore.

Validity and Reliability of the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale in Asian Heart Failure Patients.

Background: The Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) was developed in the United Kingdom for health assessment in advanced illness.

Objectives: To evaluate the validity and reliability of a culturally adapted IPOS (both patient and staff versions) for heart failure (HF).

Design/setting: We recruited HF patients and staff from a tertiary hospital in Singapore.

Factors Influencing Potentially Futile Treatments at the End of Life in a Multiethnic Asian Cardiology Setting: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Modern medicine enables clinicians to save lives and prolong time to death, yet some treatments have little chance of conferring meaningful benefits for patients nearing the end-of-life. What clinicians perceive as driving futile treatment in the non-Western healthcare context is poorly understood.

Aim: This study aimed to explore clinicians' perceptions of the factors that influence futile treatment at the end of life within a tertiary hospital cardiac care setting.

Waitlisted Transplant Candidates' Attitudes and Concerns Toward Transplantation During COVID-19.

BACKGROUND In solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can contribute to a severe clinical course and an increased risk of death. Thus, patients awaiting a SOT or HSCT face the dilemma of choosing between a life-saving treatment that presents a significant threat of COVID-19 and the risk of waitlist dropout, progression of disease, or mortality. The lack of established literature on COVID-19 complicates the issue as patients, particularly those with inadequate health literacy, may not have the resources needed to navigate these decisions.

Life Beyond Heart Failure-What Are the Long-Term Challenges, Supportive Care Needs, and Views Toward Supportive Care of Multiethnic Asian Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Device and Their Caregivers?

Context: Challenges experienced by patients with the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and their caregivers during the early period after LVAD implantation are well documented. However, little is known about long-term challenges, supportive care needs, and views toward supportive care of Asian LVAD patients and caregivers.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the experiences of multiethnic Asian LVAD patients and caregivers so as to identify their long-term challenges, supportive care needs, and views toward supportive care.

Staphylococcal driveline infections are the predominant type of left ventricular assist device associated infections in Singapore.

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) associated infections (LVADIs) have substantial morbidity and mortality. We aim to describe the incidence and epidemiology of LVADIs in an Asian cohort. This is currently not well studied.

Impact of advance care planning on the care of patients with heart failure: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Despite the promise and popularity of advance care planning, there is insufficient evidence that advance care planning helps patients to meet their end-of-life care preferences, especially in Asian settings. Thus, the proposed study aims to assess whether patients with advanced heart failure who are receiving advance care planning have a greater likelihood of receiving end-of-life care consistent with their preferences compared to patients receiving usual care. Secondary objectives are to compare differences in health care expenditures, quality of life, anxiety and depression, understanding of own illness, participation in decision-making and concordance with their caregiver's preferences for end-of-life care, between patients with advanced heart failure receiving advance care planning and usual care.

Outcomes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in a Southeast Asian cohort.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) has been shown to be of better or equivalent prognosis than heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF). We aimed to characterize and study the outcome of HF-PEF in a multiethnic South East Asian context.

Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective analysis of 312 patients admitted with decompensated heart failure over 1 year from January to December 2009.

Use of left ventricular assist device (HeartMate II): a Singapore experience.

Recent advances in medical and device therapies in heart failure have improved the survival of patients with heart failure. However, due to the limited availability of suitable heart donors, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become an important tool as a bridge-to-heart transplantation for patients with refractory heart failure in Singapore. We report our experience with the HeartMate II (HMII) LVAD (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA) as a bridge-to-heart transplant in our center from 2009 to 2012.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: experience in an Asian tertiary centre.

Introduction: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but life-threatening condition. We report 11 patients admitted to the National Heart Centre Singapore with a diagnosis of PPCM over a period of 14 months.

Methods: Baseline demographics, pregnancy history, haematology, serum biochemistry and echocardiographic findings of women admitted with a diagnosis of PPCM were analysed.