Evaluation of health-related quality of life changes in an Australian rapid access chest pain clinic.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of absolute cardiovascular risk counselling on quality-of-life indices within a chest pain clinic.

Data Sources And Study Setting: Primary data was collected at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Australia, between 2014 and 2020.

Study Design: Patients attending an Australian chest pain clinic were randomised into a prospective, open-label, blinded-endpoint study over a minimum 12-months follow-up.

Outcomes for older patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage who require admission to an Australian intensive care unit.

Background: Advanced age is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). However, Australian data are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate outcomes for older patients admitted to an Australian intensive care unit for management of aneurysmal SAH.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Cardiovascular Outcomes Amongst Younger Patients Undergoing Coronary Bypass Surgery.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an under-recognised but common genetic condition resulting in elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and a high risk of premature coronary disease. The prevalence of FH among younger patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery is unknown, as is their post-surgical prognosis.

Method: This was a retrospective analysis of younger patients (aged <60 years) undergoing coronary bypass surgery at an Australian tertiary hospital between 2008 and 2022.

Tracking and Transition Probability of Blood Pressure From Childhood to Midadulthood.

Importance: Despite its relevance for pediatric blood pressure (BP) screening, the long-term predictive utility and natural progression of pediatric BP classification remain understudied.

Objective: To evaluate BP tracking from childhood to midadulthood using the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) thresholds and estimate transition probabilities among BP classifications over time considering multiple time points.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The analyses were performed in 2023 using data gathered from September 1980 to August 2018 within the longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Arterial stiffness as a novel tool for the early prediction of preeclampsia: a perspective.

Preeclampsia is a leading complication of pregnancy that lacks accurate tools for its early prediction. Improved risk stratification tools early in pregnancy would enable more efficient allocation of limited healthcare resources while ensuring that pregnant women destined to develop preeclampsia receive appropriate care. This brief perspective highlights the current state of first-trimester preeclampsia prediction.

Effectiveness of rapid access chest pain clinics: a systematic review of patient outcomes and resource utilisation.

Background: Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics (RACPC) are widely used for the outpatient assessment of chest pain, but there appears to be limited high-quality evidence justifying this model of care. This study aimed to review the literature to determine the effectiveness of RACPCs.

Methods: A systematic review of studies evaluating the effectiveness of RACPCs was conducted to assess the quality of the evidence supporting this model.

OUTREACH: phase 2 study of lisocabtagene maraleucel as outpatient or inpatient treatment at community sites for R/R LBCL.

Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) is an autologous, CD19-directed, 4-1BB chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell product approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). We present the OUTREACH primary analysis, evaluating the safety and efficacy of outpatient monitoring after liso-cel treatment at community sites in the United States. Adults with R/R LBCL after ≥2 prior lines of therapy received liso-cel.

General practitioner support needs to implement cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management guidelines: Qualitative interviews.

Background And Objectives: Previous research identified numerous barriers to general practitioner (GP) use of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk guidelines, and it is unclear whether these issues have been resolved. This study explored recent GP experiences.

Method: Interviews with 18 GPs in an Australian state with relatively few COVID-19 cases in 2021 were transcribed and coded using a framework analysis approach, with data mapped to five previously identified CVD risk assessment strategies: absolute risk focused, absolute risk adjusted, clinical judgement, passive disregard and active disregard.

Absolute cardiovascular risk assessment using 'real world' clinic blood pressures compared to standardized unobserved and ambulatory methods: an observational study.

Clinic blood pressure (BP) is recommended for absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. However, in 'real-world' settings, clinic BP measurement is unstandardised and less reliable compared to more rigorous methods but the impact for absolute CVD risk assessment is unknown. This study aimed to determine the difference in absolute CVD risk assessment using real-world clinic BP compared to standardised BP methods.

Comparison of Patients Classified as High-Risk between International Cardiovascular Disease Primary Prevention Guidelines.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) primary prevention guidelines classify people at high risk and recommended for pharmacological treatment based on clinical criteria and absolute CVD risk estimation. Despite relying on similar evidence, recommendations vary between international guidelines, which may impact who is recommended to receive treatment for CVD prevention. To determine the agreement in treatment recommendations according to guidelines from Australia, England and the United States.

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Outcomes by Line of Therapy and Race in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Treated in the United States: Results From the Final Analysis of the Prospective, Observational, informCLL Registry.

Background: informCLL is the largest US-based prospective, observational registry of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) initiating FDA-approved treatment in the era of targeted therapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients were enrolled between October 2015 and June 2019. Data were collected for baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, outcomes, and safety.

Implementing absolute cardiovascular disease risk assessment into pathology collection services.

Background: Pathology services represent an ideal setting to integrate absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk estimation when patients attend for routine cholesterol testing. This study aimed to explore the process of implementing CVD risk estimation into point-of-care service delivery by pathology staff to inform future implementation and sustainability.

Methods: A new service for CVD risk estimation via a self-directed screening station was implemented into 14 pathology service sites across Tasmania, Australia.

Nanostructured Niobium and Titanium Carbonitrides as Electrocatalyst Supports.

Nanostructured niobium-titanium carbonitrides, (Nb,Ti)CN, with the cubic-rock salt structure are prepared without the use of reactive gases via thermal treatment (700-1200 °C) under nitrogen of mixtures of guanidine carbonate and ammonium niobate (V) oxalate hydrate, with addition of ammonium titanyl oxalate monohydrate as a titanium source. The bulk structure and chemical composition of the materials are characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and powder neutron diffraction, elemental homogeneity is studied using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and surface chemical analysis is examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Nanoscale crystallites of between 10 and 50 nm are observed by TEM, where EDS reveals the homogeneity of metal distribution for the mixed-metal materials.

Accuracy of methods to estimate central aortic SBP via upper arm cuff: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Central aortic BP may predict cardiovascular outcomes better than upper arm brachial BP. In recent years, technology has enabled central BP estimation by recording a peripheral BP waveform from a standard upper arm cuff. The accuracy of these devices is not well documented, and this study aimed to address this issue.

How do general practitioners manage patient health literacy differences in cardiovascular disease prevention consultations? An interview study.

Objectives: Low health literacy is associated with worse health outcomes, including for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, general practitioners (GPs) have limited support to identify and address patient health literacy needs in CVD prevention consultations. This study explored GPs' experiences of patient health literacy needs during CVD risk assessment and management consultations.

Acalabrutinib-based regimens in frontline or relapsed/refractory higher-risk CLL: pooled analysis of 5 clinical trials.

Before targeted therapies, patients with higher-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), defined as del(17p) and/or TP53 mutation (TP53m), unmutated immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes (uIGHV), or complex karyotype (CK), had poorer prognosis with chemoimmunotherapy. Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) have demonstrated benefit in higher-risk patient populations with CLL in individual trials. To better understand the impact of the second-generation BTKi acalabrutinib, we pooled data from 5 prospective clinical studies of acalabrutinib as monotherapy or in combination with obinutuzumab (ACE-CL-001, ACE-CL-003, ELEVATE-TN, ELEVATE-RR, and ASCEND) in patients with higher-risk CLL in treatment-naive (TN) or relapsed/refractory (R/R) cohorts.

Analysis of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death from prospective, randomized clinical trials of acalabrutinib.

This analysis investigated the incidence of sudden deaths (SDs) and non-fatal and fatal ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in five acalabrutinib clinical trials. In total, 1299 patients received acalabrutinib (exposure, 4568.4 patient-years).

Blood Pressure Lowering in Patients With Central Hypertension: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Cuff blood pressure (BP) is recommended for guiding hypertension management. However, central BP has been proposed as a superior clinical measurement. This study aimed to determine whether controlling hypertension as measured by central BP was beneficial in reducing left ventricular mass index beyond control of standard cuff hypertension.

Dementia Caregiver Experiences: Insights From a Telephone-Based Support Program.

Dementia caregivers face daunting challenges as both the oldest subpopulation of those providing unpaid care and the most at risk of adverse health outcomes as a result of their role, including depression, anxiety, and increased mortality. To better understand the experiences and needs of dementia caregivers, a qualitative content analysis was conducted of secondary data extracted from call logs ( = 569) recorded by a provider-initiated, telephone-based support program. Experiences identified from the call logs were coded, categorized, and ranked to determine the most prevalent dementia caregiving-related experiences.