Aims: The prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) in newly diagnosed heart failure (HF) and the progression of ID in patients after initiation of HF therapy are unknown. We aimed to describe the natural trajectory of ID in patients with new onset HF during the first year after HF diagnosis, assessing associations between ID, clinical factors, and quality of life (QoL).
Methods And Results: A prospective cohort of patients with new onset HF in hospitals or outpatient clinics at five major hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden, during 2015-2018 were analysed with clinical assessment, electrocardiogram, blood samples including iron levels, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ), and echocardiogram at baseline and after 12 months.
Objective: To describe how family members of critically ill patients experienced the COVID-19 visiting restrictions in Sweden.
Background: In Sweden, the response to COVID-19 was less invasive than in many other countries. However, some visiting restrictions were introduced for intensive care units, with local variations.
Aims: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were investigated as potential biomarkers associated with heart failure (HF) pathophysiology in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery characterized by HF phenotype.
Materials And Methods: Patients with preoperative proxy-diagnoses of HF types i.e.
Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes
September 2023
Aims: Patients with Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) are a heterogenous group and previous studies indicate a decreased Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) compared with patients with myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary artery disease and healthy individuals. However, longitudinal data are scarce. Therefore, the aim was to explore HRQoL among patients with MINOCA during a one-year period after the acute event in comparison with a group of healthy individuals and to describe HRQoL in patients with Takotsubo Syndrome (TTS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: In the aftermath of a myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) or Takotsubo syndrome (TS), patients commonly express high levels of stress and anxiety. Current treatment alternatives rarely address these issues. The planned (e-SMINC) aims to evaluate the effects of an internet-based intervention, building on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) by comparison with treatment as usual using an RCT approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In the aftermath of a myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) or Takotsubo syndrome (TS), patients commonly express high levels of stress and anxiety. Current treatment alternatives rarely address these issues.
Methods: The study is a randomised controlled trial, where 90 patients with a discharge diagnosis of MINOCA or TS who also report symptoms of stress or anxiety will be randomised 2-6 weeks after their cardiac event.
Aim: We present the baseline characteristics of the PREFERS Stockholm epidemiological study on the natural history and course of new onset heart failure (HF) aiming to improve phenotyping focusing on HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) pathophysiology.
Methods And Results: New onset HF patients diagnosed in hospital or at outpatient HF clinics were included at five Stockholm hospitals 2015-2018 and characterized by N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), biomarkers, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (subset). HFpEF [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%] was compared with HF with mildly reduced LVEF (HFmrEF; LVEF 41-49%) and with HF with reduced LVEF (HFrEF; LVEF ≤ 40%).
Aims: To examine patient delay in seeking medical care when afflicted by an acute myocardial infarction during March-June 2020.
Methods And Results: This was a cross-sectional study in a region in Sweden during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic examining patients selected from the national registry (SWEDEHEART). Eligible patients were those with acute myocardial infarction, and a total of 602 patients were invited.
Objectives: The full range of long-term health consequences in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors with COVID-19 is unclear. This study aims to investigate the role of ventilatory support for long-term pulmonary impairment in critically ill patients and further to identify risk factors for prolonged radiological recovery.
Methods: A prospective observational study from a single general hospital, including all with COVID-19 admitted to ICU between March and August 2020, investigating the association between ventilatory support and the extent of residual parenchymal changes on chest computed tomography (CT) scan and measurement of lung volumes at follow-up comparing high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) with invasive ventilation.
Aims: It is well-accepted that takotsubo syndrome (TS) is characterized by a massive surge of plasma catecholamines despite lack of solid evidence. The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis of a massive catecholamine elevation in TS by studying plasma-free catecholamine metabolites in patients participating in the Stockholm myocardial infarction (MI) with normal coronaries 2 (SMINC-2) study where TS constituted more than one third of the patients.
Methods And Results: The patients included in the SMINC-2 study were classified, according to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging findings (148 patients), which was performed at a median of 3 days after hospital admission.
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand
October 2021
Background: COVID-19 can cause severe disease with need of treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) for several weeks. Increased knowledge is needed about the long-term consequences.
Methods: This is a single-center prospective follow-up study of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU for respiratory organ support between March and July 2020.
Objectives: The objective of the SMINC-2 (Stockholm Myocardial Infarction With Normal Coronaries 2) study was to determine if more than 70% of patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA), investigated early with comprehensive cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), could receive a diagnosis entirely by imaging.
Background: The etiology of MINOCA is heterogeneous, including coronary, cardiac, and noncardiac causes. Patients with MINOCA, therefore, represent a diagnostic challenge where CMR is increasingly used.
Heart failure (HF) management is suboptimal in Sweden despite available evidence-based guidelines. To improve HF treatment, a comprehensive HF management program (4D project) was implemented in the Stockholm County (>2.1 million inhabitants).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The involvement of patient research partners (PRPs) in research aims to safeguard the needs of patient groups and produce new interventions that are developed based on patient input. Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), unlike acute myocardial infarction (MI) with obstructive coronary arteries, is presented with no significant obstructive coronary artery disease. Patients with this diagnosis are a subset of those diagnosed with traditional MI and often need more psychological support, something that is presently not established in the current treatment scheme in Swedish health care or elsewhere, to our knowledge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are associated with metabolic derangements, which may have different pathophysiological implications.
Methods And Results: In new-onset HFpEF (EF of ≥50%, n = 46) and HFrEF (EF of <40%, n = 75) patients, 109 endogenous plasma metabolites including amino acids, phospholipids and acylcarnitines were assessed using targeted metabolomics. Differentially altered metabolites and associations with clinical characteristics were explored.
Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs
December 2020
Background: A relation to stress and stressful triggers is often, but not always, described in patients with Takotsubo syndrome. Few studies have focused on patients' self-rated stress in combination with qualitative experiences of stress in Takotsubo syndrome.
Aims: The aim of this study was to describe stress before and after the onset of Takotsubo syndrome.
Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), but the underlying causes are not fully understood. We investigated whether ID is associated with decreased iron absorption in patients with CHF.
Methods And Results: We performed an oral iron-absorption test in 30 patients and 12 controls.
Background: There is an increasing interest in mobile health (mHealth), the use of mobile devices for supporting self-care in persons with heart failure. However, an established theoretical framework to explain, predict, and understand the phenomena of mHealth to support self-care is lacking.
Objective: The aim of this study was to deductively test if the situation-specific theory of heart failure self-care could be applied in the context of persons with heart failure using an mHealth system with a tablet computer connected to a weighing scale to support their self-care.
Peer-assessment in nursing education using an OSCE protocol is an increasing educational activity that complements that of teachers. However, little is known about how students' and teachers' assessments correspond. The study aimed to compare OSCE assessments made by student examiners and faculty examiners during examinations of clinical skills in undergraduate nursing education.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Decompensation is frequent in heart failure (HF) patients and predicts poor prognosis.
Hypothesis: Volume-overload events in HF patients are preceded by changes in intrathoracic impedance (Z) and body weight (BW); monitoring these parameters may be useful to predict decompensation.
Methods: Forty-three HF patients (LVEF 25% ± 12%) with a recent HF event and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator providing daily Z were equipped with telemonitoring scales submitting daily BW.
Background: Thirst can be aggravated in patients with heart failure (HF), and optimization of HF medication can have positive impact on thirst.
Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe changes in thirst intensity and to determine factors associated with high thirst intensity during optimization of HF medication.
Methods And Results: Patients with HF (N = 66) who were referred to an HF clinic for up-titration of HF medication were included.
Objectives: To evaluate whether a new home intervention system (HIS, OPTILOGG(®)) consisting of a specialised software, a tablet computer (tablet) wirelessly connected to a weight scale may improve self-care behaviour, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), knowledge about heart failure (HF) and reduce hospital days due to HF.
Design: 82 patients (32% females) with mean age: 75 ± 8 years hospitalised with HF were randomised at discharge to an intervention group (IG) equipped with the HIS or to a control group (CG) receiving standard HF information only. The tablet contained information about HF and lifestyle advice according to current guidelines.
Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being
December 2013
Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with a high burden of morbidity and mortality and with reduced quality of life. New techniques such as telemonitoring (TM) have recently been introduced in the care of patients with HF in order to improve outcomes. TM is defined as sending data from the patients' home to healthcare professionals.
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