Strategies to improve cardiovascular health and treatment of dyslipidemia in Spain. Expert Insights Project.

Objectives: To gather opinions, recommendations, and proposals for improvement from Spanish clinicians on cardiovascular (CV) health, with particular focus on dyslipidemia management.

Methods: The Expert Insights project involved 8face-to-face sessions held throughout Spain, attended by 138 CV health experts. Clinicians answered to 25 questions survey related to CV health and dyslipidemia control.

Impact of different models of improvement of continuity of care on lipid control and the delay of visits to cardiology.

To analyze the impact of implementing three different models of continuity of care on the delay of first visits to the cardiologist (management end point) and on LDL-cholesterol control rates among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease (clinical end point). Observational, longitudinal and retrospective study of patients with cardiovascular disease and LDL-cholesterol ≥70 mg/dl attended in three hospitals (H1/H2/H3). In H1 and H2, a virtual system (telecardiology) was developed (in H1, internal audits and specific medical education were also performed).

Comparison of standard vs. palliative management for bladder cancer in patients older than 85 years: multicenter study of 317 de novo tumors.

Background: The peak incidence of bladder cancer (BCa) occurs at 85 years but data on treatment and outcome are sparse in this age group. We aimed to compare the outcomes of high-grade nonmuscle invasive BCa (HG NMIBC) and muscle invasive BCa (MIBC) treated with standard therapies vs. palliative management in patients >85 years.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome in Whom the Diagnosis is not Confirmed.

Patients admitted with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in whom the diagnosis is not confirmed are poorly characterized. In a contemporary registry of consecutive patients hospitalized with suspected ACS as the primary diagnosis, we assessed characteristics on admission and in-hospital and 6-month mortality of patients discharged with other diagnoses and compared this subgroup with true ACS patients. Of 2557 patients included, 9.

[Integrated Management Area of Vascular Risk: A new organisational model for global control of risk factors].

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), is a major cause of morbidity and mortality that increases the cost of care. Currently there is a low degree of control of the main cardiovascular risk factors, although we have a good therapeutic arsenal. To achieve the improvement of this reality, a good coordination and multidisciplinary participation are essential.

[Use of oral anticoagulants in patients discharged with atrial fibrillation in 2000].

Introduction And Objectives: Although there is consensus about the use of oral anticoagulants to prevent thrombi and embolisms in most patients with atrial fibrillation, this treatment is underused in actual practice. Our objective was to determine and analyze the use of acenocoumarol in patients diagnosed as having atrial fibrillation at discharge.

Patients And Method: Between January and July 2000, we retrospectively studied 501 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

[Identification of factors responsible for oral over-anticoagulation in outpatients with heart disease].

Background: Few studies have attempted to investigate the clinical course or identify factors responsible for excessive anticoagulation in patients with heart disease.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of excessive anticoagulation in outpatients with heart disease treated with acenocoumarol, analyze the factors related with over-anticoagulation, and identify bleeding complications.

Patients And Method: This 7-month prospective observational study included consecutive outpatients anticoagulated with acenocoumarol.

Radiofrequency ablation of a posteroseptal atrioventricular accessory pathway in a left-sided tricuspid ring with Ebsteinlike anomaly in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.

Radiofrequency ablation successfully eliminated a posteroseptal accessory pathway in a left-sided tricuspid ring with Ebsteinlike anomaly in a patient with a congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.

Six-month outcome in unstable angina patients without previous myocardial infarction according to the use of tertiary cardiologic resources. RESCATE Investigators. Recursos Empleados en el Síndrome Coronario Agudo y Tiempos de Espera.

Objectives: The study assessed whether varying accessibility of patients with unstable angina (UA) to coronary angiography and revascularization determined differing usages and outcomes.

Background: The appropriate use rate of coronary angiography and revascularization procedures in UA remains to be established.

Methods: A total of 791 consecutive patients with UA without previous acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admitted to four reference teaching hospitals (one with tertiary facilities) were followed for six months.

Increased synthesis of systemic prostacyclin in cirrhotic patients.

Urinary excretion of two prostacyclin metabolites was investigated in 48 subjects: 8 controls and 40 cirrhotics (9 without ascites, 22 with ascites and preserved renal function, and 9 with functional renal failure). Urinary 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), believed to reflect renal prostacyclin production, was significantly increased in patients without ascites and in ascitic patients with preserved renal function, but cirrhotics with renal failure showed rates similar to controls. Excretion of 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha (PGI-M), the major urinary metabolite of systemic prostacyclin, was increased in all groups of patients, including those with renal failure.

Comparative study of antiinflammatory drugs and sulphasalazine in relation to prostaglandin E and 19 hydroxylated prostaglandin E levels and human male fertility.

The effect of lysine salicylate, flurbiprofen and sulphasalazine on human seminal prostaglandin profiles of six normal individuals was studied. All of them were treated with pharmacological doses of the three agents for four days with rest periods of eighteen days in between. Sulphasalazine produced less prostaglandin (PG) inhibition relative to the other two antiinflammatory drugs but in contrast only sulphasalazine induced sperm changes.