Body volume is the major determinant of worsening renal function in acutely decompensated heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aims: Little is known about the relative importance of body volume and haemodynamic parameters in the development of worsening of renal function in acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF). To study the relationship between haemodynamic parameters, body water content and worsening of renal function in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) hospitalised for ADHF.

Methods And Results: This prospective observational study involved 51 consecutive patients with HFrEF (age: 73±14 years, male: 60%, left ventricular ejection fraction: 33.

Burden of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients prescribed dabigatran for stroke prevention.

Background: Dabigatran, a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant, has been shown to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Nonetheless, studies show that 10%-30% of those prescribed dabigatran experience dyspepsia that may eventually lead to discontinuation of therapy and loss of clinical benefit.

Aim: To evaluate the gastrointestinal tolerability of dabigatran utilizing a validated questionnaire, as well as determining subsequent non-compliance and drug discontinuation.

Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Hospitalized Heart Failure in a Chinese Population-The Hong Kong Heart Failure Registry.

Background: Epidemiological data for heart failure (HF) in the Chinese population is scarce. In this study, we described the clinical characteristics and outcomes of new-onset HF in our population.

Methods And Results: We conducted a retrospective, observational study on consecutive Chinese patients hospitalized for new-onset HF between 2005 and 2012 in our center.

Ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage with aspirin, dabigatran, and warfarin: impact of quality of anticoagulation control.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about the impact of quality of anticoagulation control, as reflected by time in therapeutic range (TTR), on the effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation. We investigated the risks of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in relation to warfarin at various TTRs in a real-world cohort of Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation receiving warfarin and compared with those on dabigatran, aspirin, and no therapy.

Methods: This is an observational study.

Continuation of dabigatran therapy in "real-world" practice in Hong Kong.

Background: Dabigatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, possesses several advantages over warfarin that can in principle simplify the management of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Nonetheless it remains unclear whether these advantages can translate to clinical practice and encourage long-term therapy. The objective was to describe long-term dabigatran therapy for stroke prevention in AF and to identify risk factors for discontinuation of therapy.