Development and validation of a prognostic model to predict birth weight: individual participant data meta-analysis.

Objective: To predict birth weight at various potential gestational ages of delivery based on data routinely available at the first antenatal visit.

Design: Individual participant data meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Individual participant data of four cohorts (237 228 pregnancies) from the International Prediction of Pregnancy Complications (IPPIC) network dataset.

Cognitive impairment predicts mortality in outpatient veterans with heart failure.

Background: In our prior study of 250 outpatient veterans with heart failure (HF), 58% had unrecognized cognitive impairment (CI) which was linked to worsened medication adherence. Literature suggests HF patients with CI have poorer clinical outcomes including higher mortality.

Objective: The study is to examine mortality rates in outpatients with HF and undiagnosed CI compared to their cognitively intact peers.

Learning Style as a Predictor of First-Time NCLEX-RN Success: Implications for Nurse Educators.

Improving NCLEX-RN® pass rates remains a priority for nursing programs. Many programs collect learning style inventory data, yet few studies have looked at relationships between these data and NCLEX-RN pass/fail rates. Learning style preferences (visual, auditory, tactile, individual, group) and NCLEX pass/fail results were examined for 532 undergraduates in a Midwestern university.

Testing a novel pictorial medication sheet to improve adherence in veterans with heart failure and cognitive impairment.

Objectives: (a) To evaluate efficacy of a pictorial medication sheet to improve adherence in veterans with heart failure (HF) and cognitive impairment (CI); (b) to describe acceptance of the intervention.

Background: CI is prevalent in HF and is associated with worsened medication adherence. The Veteran's Administration has developed a medication image library; however, use of images to improve adherence has not been tested.

Heart rate control in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

The goal of this study was to determine whether aggressive heart rate (HR) control in patients with both chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) is associated with improved outcomes. HR control is one of the mainstays in management of patients with AF. However, rate control can be challenging in patients with HF.

Cognitive impairment and medication adherence in outpatients with heart failure.

Objectives: The study objectives were (a) to describe the prevalence and severity of cognitive impairment (CI) in an outpatient veteran population with heart failure (HF), (b) to describe the cognitive domains affected in those subjects found to have CI, (c) to examine clinical and demographic variables that may be associated with CI, and (d) to determine the relationship between CI and medication adherence (MA). We hypothesized that CI is a prevalent condition in veterans with HF and is associated with poorer MA. Adherence to therapy is essential for successful outcomes.

Transient gestational hypertension: Not always a benign event.

Objective: Pregnancy outcome in women with transient gestational hypertension (TGH);defined as de novo blood pressure elevation after 20weeks gestation that normalizes by subsequent evaluation in a Day Assessment Unit.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis of hypertensive pregnancies between 2003 and 2008.

Main Outcome Measures: Final hypertensive delivery diagnosis and composites of adverse maternal and fetal outcome.

Compliance with a perinatal prophylaxis policy for prevention of venous thromboembolism after caesarean section.

Objective: To assess physician compliance, before and after a quality improvement intervention, with a regional policy on postpartum thromboprophylaxis following Caesarean section (CS), and to compare clinical outcomes (reduction of venous thromboembolism or increase in postpartum bleeding) between groups.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of deliveries by CS, 404 prior to and 451 subsequent to a quality improvement intervention. All subjects were classified as being at either moderate or high risk for venous thromboembolism based on a risk-factor assessment, and warranted postpartum thromboprophylaxis according to the regional policy.

Amiodarone rescue therapy for severe decompensated heart failure initially unsuitable for beta-blockers.

Background: Beta-blocker therapy is now standard therapy for patients with stable heart failure; however, fluid-overloaded, New York Heart Association Class IV patients tolerate beta-blockers poorly. Amiodarone, a drug with antiadrenergic effects, has been shown to improve survival for patients with heart rates of 90 beats per minute or greater.

Methods: We reviewed 26 patients with severe decompensated heart failure who were started on oral amiodarone for heart rate control.