Health-related quality of life in elderly cardiac patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation and the association with exercise capacity: the EU-CaRE study.

Aims: The ability to be physically active is pivotal to the quality of life in elderly patients. This study aims to describe the association between exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety, and depression following an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme in elderly cardiac patients.

Methods And Results: Patients aged ≥65 years with acute and chronic coronary syndrome or heart valve surgery were consecutively included from eight CR centres in seven European countries.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy reduces psychological distress in younger patients with cardiac disease: a randomized trial.

Aims: To test whether usual outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) supplemented by a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention may reduce anxiety and depression compared with usual CR.

Methods And Results: In this multicentre randomized controlled trial, 147 cardiac patients (67% men, mean age 54 years, 92% with coronary artery disease) with psychological distress defined as a hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) anxiety or depression score ≥8 were randomized to five sessions of group CBT plus usual CR (intervention, n = 74) or CR alone (control, n = 73). Patients with severe distress or a psychiatric diagnosis were excluded.

Remote dielectric sensing to detect acute heart failure in patients with dyspnoea: a prospective observational study in the emergency department.

Aims: Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) enables quick estimation of lung fluid content. To examine if ReDS is superior to other methods in detecting acute heart failure.

Methods And Results: We included consecutive patients with dyspnoea from the emergency departments at Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, and performed ReDS, low-dose chest computed tomography (CT), echocardiogram, lung ultrasound, NT-Pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and a Boston score evaluation (chest X-ray and clinical signs).

Greater burden of risk factors and less effect of cardiac rehabilitation in elderly with low educational attainment: The Eu-CaRE study.

Aims: Socioeconomic status is a strong predictor of cardiovascular health. The aim of this study was to describe the immediate and long-term effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) across socioeconomic strata in elderly cardiac patients in Europe.

Methods And Results: The observational EU-CaRE study is a prospective study with eight CR sites in seven European countries.

Feasibility and Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Abdominal Sonography by Pocket-Sized Imaging Devices, Performed by Medical Residents.

Objectives: We aimed to study the feasibility and diagnostic performance of bedside ultrasound by examination of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and abdominal aorta performed by medical residents with limited experience in ultrasound, on emergency admissions using pocket-sized imaging devices (PSIDs).

Methods: A total of 199 patients admitted acutely to the medical department at the non-university Levanger Hospital, Norway, during the period from April 4 to June 23, 2011, were consecutively included. Six medical residents, selected by drawing, examined these patients with a PSID at admission.