Cardiac rehabilitation and mid-term follow-up after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Evaluation of patient outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has usually been based on survival and clinical improvement. Studies on quality of life are limited, and data from comprehensive assessments after the procedure are lacking.

Methods: Sixty patients referred for cardiac rehabilitation after TAVI underwent in-hospital and after-discharge multidimensional assessments to evaluate clinical, functional, and nutritional statuses, degree of autonomy, cognitive impairment, depression and quality of life.

Is the use of beta-blockers in COPD still an unresolved dilemma?

Beta-blockers are competitive antagonists at beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-AR) and are a life-saving form of treatment in different cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Despite current guidelines supporting the use of selective beta(1)-blockers in patients with CVD and especially in heart failure (HF), they are still largely underused, mostly as a consequence of the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In primary care, prevalence of COPD in patients with HF is approximately 25%, and it will rise in the next years.