Longitudinal evaluation of ventricular ejection fraction and NT-proBNP across heart failure subgroups.

Objectives: Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are important surrogate markers of cardiac function and wall stress. Randomized trials of heart failure (HF) have shown improvements in survival in patients with reduced EF (<40%, HFrEF) but not with preserved EF (≥50%, HFpEF) or mid-range EF (40-49%, HFmrEF). Limited information is available on the trajectory of EF in contemporary heart failure management programs (HFMPs).

Psychosocial aspects before and up to 2 years after heart or lung transplantation: Experience of patients and their next of kin.

Background: Psychosocial factors are important for patients undergoing heart (HTx) or lung (LTx) transplantation and for their next of kin (NoK).

Aim: To describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL; patients only), anxiety, depression, stress, coping ability, and burden (NoK only) for patients and their NoK before and up to 2 years after HTx or LTx.

Design: Adult patients (28 hearts and 26 lungs) and their appointed NoK were surveyed with questionnaires about specific psychosocial topics when they were accepted for the transplantation waiting list and 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after transplantation.