Differential features of Infective endocarditis caused by oral streptococci in the Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba (Spain): 1987-2023 period.

Introduction And Objectives: Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by oral streptococci is considered to be a 'more benign' IE than those caused by other microorganisms. Our aim is to analyse the changes in its incidence and its differential characteristics in our setting.

Methods: Observational, single-centre, prospective cohort study including all cases of IE diagnosed in our centre between 1987 and 2023.

Clinical differences between transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis and hypertensive heart disease.

Introduction: A significant percentage of patients eventually diagnosed with cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (TTRA) was previously diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease (HHD), since both conditions usually present with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and ventricular hypertrophy. Our objectives were to evaluate the clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic differences, and to analyse whether there exists a differential prognosis between these two nosological entities.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively included all patients with HHD for whom a cardiac scintigraphy with Tc-diphosphonate (GDPD) and a free light chains test in blood and urine were ordered for ATTR screening in our centre, in the period between 2016 and 2021.

The Worsening of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: The Impact of the Number of Hospital Admissions in a Cohort of Patients.

Background: Worsening heart failure (WFH) includes heart failure (HF) hospitalisation, representing a strong predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, there is little evidence analysing the impact of the number of previous HF admissions. Our main objective was to analyse the clinical profile according to the number of previous admissions for HF and its prognostic impact in the medium and long term.

Improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Predictors and clinical impact.

Background: A percentage of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the evolution. This entity, defined for the first time in an international consensus as heart failure with improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF), could have a different clinical profile and prognosis than HFrEF. Our main aim was to analyze the differential clinical profile between the two entities, as well as the mid-term prognosis.

Risk scores for predicting incident heart failure admission in patients with chronic coronary syndromes: Validation in a prospective, monocentric, long-term, cohort study.

Background: Heart failure (HF) admission in chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients has a prognostic impact. Stratification schemes have been described for predicting this endpoint, but none of them has been externally validated.

Objectives: Our aim was to develop point scores for predicting incident HF admission with data from previous studies, to perform an external validation in an independent prospective cohort and to compare their discriminative ability for this event.

Long-Term Prognostic Impact of Sex in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome: A 17-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Women and men with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) have different clinical features and management, and studies on mid-term prognosis have reported conflicting results. Our objective was to investigate the impact of the female sex in the prognosis of the disease in the very long term. We investigated differential features and very long-term prognosis in 1268 consecutive outpatients with CCS (337 [27%] women and 931 [73%] men).

Electrocardiographic features and need for pacemaker in cardiac amyloidosis: Analysis of 58 cases.

Aim: Amyloidosis is a disease in which amyloid fibrils can be deposited in different cardiac structures, and several electrocardiographic abnormalities can be produced by this phenomenon. The objective of this study was to describe the most common basal electrocardiographic alterations in patients diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and to determine if these abnormalities have an impact on the need of pacemaker.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who had an established diagnosis of CA [light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (LA-CA) or transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTR-CA)] between January 2013 and March 2021.

Long-term Survival in a Spanish Population With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease. The CICCOR Registry.

Introduction And Objectives: Data are lacking on the long-term prognosis of stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD). Our aim was to analyze long-term survival in patients with SIHD and to identify predictors of mortality.

Methods: A total of 1268 outpatients with SIHD were recruited in this single-center prospective cohort study from January 2000 to February 2004.

Nutritional Intervention in Malnourished Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure.

Background And Aims: Hospitalized patients with heart failure who are malnourished present a worse prognosis than those with an adequate nutritional status. We undertook this study to assess whether a nutritional intervention in malnourished hospitalized patients with heart failure benefits morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted.

[Left-sided native valve infective endocarditis: Influence of age and the presence of underlying heart disease].

Introduction And Objectives: Left-sided native valve infective endocarditis (LNVIE) epidemiology has been modified as a result of the increase in average age. The aim of our study is to analyze the influence of age and the presence of predisposing heart disease in the prognosis of these patients.

Methods: We analyzed a series of 257 cases of LNVIE depending on their age (greater than or equal to 70 years old), both in the overall series and in the subgroup of patients without predisposing heart disease.

Rationale and design of PICNIC study: nutritional intervention program in hospitalized patients with heart failure who are malnourished.

Introduction And Objectives: Hospitalized patients with heart failure who are malnourished present a worse prognosis than those with an adequate nutritional status. It is unknown whether a nutritional intervention can modify the prognosis of these patients. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of a nutritional intervention on morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with heart failure who are malnourished.

[Impact of malnutrition on long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with heart failure].

Introduction And Objectives: The prevalence of malnutrition among patients with heart failure and the role it might play in prognosis is not currently known. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence and risk of malnutrition as well as its possible influence on long-term mortality in patients with heart failure.

Methods: A prospective analysis was conducted on 208 patients discharged consecutively from our centre between January 2007 and March 2008 after being hospitalised with heart failure.

[Effects of three different disease management programs on outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure: a randomized trial].

Background And Objective: Despite the recognized benefit of intervention programs in patients with heart failure (HF), it is unknown whether different types of programs have similar efficacy. The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of three different types of intervention.

Patients And Methods: 208 patients discharged with the diagnosis of HF were randomized.

[Should Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors be continued over the long term in patients whose left ventricular ejection fraction normalizes after an episode of acute myocarditis?].

It is well established that long-term administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has a favorable effect in patients with chronic heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. However, less information is available on patients whose left ventricular ejection fraction normalizes after an episode of systolic dysfunction secondary to acute myocarditis. We followed 35 patients who were diagnosed at our center between 1987 and 1995 with acute myocarditis and an ejection fraction<45%.

[Oral anticoagulation for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: are scientific recommendations effective and safe in daily clinical practice?].

Introduction And Objectives: To study the efficacy and safety of an oral anticoagulation protocol for the treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, based on scientific associations' recommendations, in unselected patients seen in daily clinical practice.

Methods: The study included all consecutive patients with permanent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who attended two outpatient cardiology clinics between February 1, 2000 and February 1, 2002. They were treated according to an anticoagulation protocol based on Spanish Society of Cardiology and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/European Society of Cardiology guidelines.

[Short- and long-term prognosis of infective endocarditis in non-injection drug users: improved results over 15 years (1987-2001)].

Introduction And Objectives: The treatment of infective endocarditis has undergone significant change within the last few years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of infective endocarditis over both the short and long term in patients who are not intravenous drug users.

Patients And Method: We carried out a prospective study of 222 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with infective endocarditis between 1987 and June 2001 at two centers.