[Telephone coaching for depression].

Background: Depression is associated with a substantial utilization of resources in the German healthcare system. A typical symptom in depression is loss of drive, which possibly contributes to non-adherence and increased costs.

Objective: The study is based on routine healthcare data and tested the hypothesis that telephone coaching in cases of depression leads to a reduction in total healthcare costs.

Skeletal muscle weakness is related to insulin resistance in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is associated with insulin resistance, indicating impairment in the control of energy metabolism. Insulin resistance in CHF relates to symptomatic status and independently predicts poor prognosis. We sought to determine whether insulin sensitivity is related to skeletal muscle strength in patients with CHF, taking into account muscle size and perfusion.

Intestinal blood flow in patients with chronic heart failure: a link with bacterial growth, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cachexia.

Background: Blood flow in the intestinal arteries is reduced in patients with stable heart failure (HF) and relates to gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and cardiac cachexia.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to measure arterial intestinal blood flow and assess its role in juxtamucosal bacterial growth, GI symptoms, and cachexia in patients with HF.

Methods: A total of 65 patients and 25 controls were investigated.

Characteristics, management modalities and outcome in chronic systolic heart failure patients treated in tertiary care centers: results from the EVIdence based TreAtment in Heart Failure (EVITA-HF) registry.

Background: Limited data exist regarding baseline characteristics and management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EF) in tertiary care facilities.

Methods: EVITA-HF comprises web-based case report data on demography, comorbidities, diagnostic and therapy measures, quality of life, adverse events and 1-year follow-up of patients hospitalized for chronic heart failure and an ejection fraction of less than 40%.

Results: Between February 2009 and June 2011, a total of 1,853 consecutive, hospitalized patients (pts) were included in 16 centers in Germany.

Relation of impaired interorgan communication and parasympathetic activity in chronic heart failure and multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome.

Background: We investigated the relationship of impaired autonomic function and severity of illness in chronic heart failure (CHF) and multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) as an end stage of CHF. Furthermore, we assessed the link of parasympathetic modulation of the heart rate and inflammatory activation in CHF and MODS.

Methods: Sixty-five patients admitted for worsening of CHF were retrospectively enrolled in this study.