Sarcopenia in patients after an episode of acute decompensated heart failure: An underdiagnosed problem with serious impact.

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia is a multifactorial syndrome resulting in a decrease in both muscle mass and function. Little is known about the prevalence and prognostic impact of sarcopenia in patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure (ADHF). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence (main endpoint) and impact of sarcopenia on ADHF patients.

[Left ventricle assist device: rehabilitation and management programmes].

Progress in the medical management of patients with heart failure with systolic dysfunction has been accompanied by a significant improvement in survival and quality of life. These strategies have also resulted in changes in the clinical profile as well as an increase in the number of patients with advanced heart failure. The technological developments in left ventricular assist devices provide real hope for these patients.

Factors influencing return to work at one year after coronary bypass graft surgery: results of the PERISCOP study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive factors of return to work after coronary bypass graft surgery, for the subgroup of professionally active patients aged less than 60 years included in the PERISCOP study.

Methods: In the principal, prospective, multicentre study, 2065 patients were evaluated 20+/-10 days after surgery by exercise testing, echocardiogram and 24-h ambulatory ECG monitoring. A questionnaire was completed one year after surgery.

Use of non-invasive cardiac investigations to predict clinical endpoints after coronary bypass graft surgery in coronary artery disease patients: results from the prognosis and evaluation of risk in the coronary operated patient (PERISCOP) study.

Aims: Little is known about which patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery are at risk of future clinical cardiovascular events and may benefit from further medical treatment. We sought to determine if routine non-invasive cardiac investigations performed early after surgery were able to stratify the risk of cardiovascular events in this population.

Methods: Two thousand and sixty-five consecutive patients were enrolled in a prospective multicenter study (PERISCOP).