Cardiac resynchronization therapy: A comparative analysis of mortality in African Americans and Caucasians.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is recommended in patients with heart failure, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and a prolonged QRS duration. African Americans are underrepresented in clinical trials and CRT is underutilized; consequently, the benefits and outcomes of CRT are not well-defined.

Methods: We evaluated 294 patients, determined survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and used Cox proportional hazards regression model to determine predictors of mortality.

Association of elevated triglycerides and acute myocardial infarction in young Hispanics.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in young patients (age <45years) is associated with a high prevalence of smoking, obesity, hyperlipidemia and single vessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Hispanics represent the largest growing ethnic minority in the United States, yet features of AMI in young Hispanics have not been described.

Methods: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for AMI at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center and Keck Medical Center were studied.