Left ventricular lead position and outcomes in the Resynchronization-Defibrillation for Ambulatory Heart Failure Trial (RAFT).

Background: Conflicting data exist regarding the association between left ventricular (LV) lead position and benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy. We evaluated the relationships between LV lead positions and the risk of death or hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in the cardiac resynchronization therapy arm of the Resynchronization-Defibrillation for Ambulatory Heart Failure Trial (RAFT).

Methods: LV lead position was categorized by site investigator (MD) and in a chest radiograph core laboratory (CXR) as "anterior," "lateral," or "posterior" in the short axis, and "basal," "mid," or "apical" in the long axis.

Cardiac-resynchronization therapy for mild-to-moderate heart failure.

Background: Cardiac-resynchronization therapy (CRT) benefits patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and a wide QRS complex. Most of these patients are candidates for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). We evaluated whether adding CRT to an ICD and optimal medical therapy might reduce mortality and morbidity among such patients.

The 2009 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations for the management of hypertension: Part 2--therapy.

Objective: To update the evidence-based recommendations for the prevention and management of hypertension in adults for 2009.

Options And Outcomes: For lifestyle and pharmacological interventions, evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews of trials was preferentially reviewed. Changes in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were the primary outcomes of interest.

The 2008 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations for the management of hypertension: part 2 - therapy.

Objective: To update the evidence-based recommendations for the prevention and management of hypertension in adults.

Options And Outcomes: For lifestyle and pharmacological interventions, evidence was preferentially reviewed from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews of trials. Changes in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were the primary outcomes of interest.

Prognostic use of echocardiography 1 year after a myocardial infarction.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function are known predictors of morbidity and mortality after an acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, the prognostic use of a late evaluation of cardiac function after an MI remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed echocardiograms obtained 1 year after MI in patients with LV dysfunction at baseline (ejection fraction [EF] < or = 40%) from 291 patients enrolled in the SAVE echocardiographic substudy who did not develop heart failure (HF) or a recurrent MI during this first year.