Safety and efficacy of sertraline for depression in patients with heart failure: results of the SADHART-CHF (Sertraline Against Depression and Heart Disease in Chronic Heart Failure) trial.

Objectives: The objective was to test the hypothesis that heart failure (HF) patients treated with sertraline will have lower depression scores and fewer cardiovascular events compared with placebo.

Background: Depression is common among HF patients. It is associated with increased hospitalization and mortality.

Safety and efficacy of sertraline for depression in patients with CHF (SADHART-CHF): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sertraline for major depression with congestive heart failure.

Background: Sertraline, a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, has demonstrated substantial mood improvement in patients with post myocardial infarction or with unstable angina. The impact of sertraline on the prognosis and depression of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) is unknown.

Method: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of MDD in patients with HF.

Outcomes following elective percutaneous coronary intervention without on-site surgical backup in a community hospital.

Despite guidelines to the contrary, limited numbers of elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures without on-site surgical backup are being performed, particularly in Europe and Canada. In the United States, many hospitals are considering establishing on-site surgical programs, in part to facilitate PCI. At a hospital with only off-site surgical backup, 562 elective PCI procedures were performed on 489 consecutive patients.