Publications by authors named "Thordis J Hrafnkelsdottir"

Article Synopsis
  • The EuroHeart project aims to establish standardized definitions for outcome measures in cardiovascular clinical studies to enhance the evaluation of medical interventions and care.
  • A group of 82 experts formed five Working Groups to identify key outcome measures for various cardiovascular conditions, using a systematic review and consensus methods to define these measures.
  • In total, 24 mandatory (Level 1) and 48 optional (Level 2) outcome measures were established across five cardiovascular disease areas, providing a foundation for improved research and patient care quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * A working group, including experts from the European Society of Cardiology, conducted a systematic review and reached consensus on mandatory (Level 1) and optional (Level 2) measures through a Delphi process.
  • * The final catalogue includes five Level 1 and two Level 2 outcome measures, along with five additional monitoring outcomes, which will enhance research quality and improve heart failure care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study evaluates global differences in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) through an international survey of 1459 physicians, including both cardiologists and non-cardiologists.
  • The survey revealed significant regional variations in HFpEF management, such as differences in natriuretic peptide usage and echocardiographic practices, with cardiologists managing the majority of HFpEF patients.
  • The preferred treatment methods varied by region, with sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) being the most favored first-line treatment, though availability of these drugs differs significantly across locations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: The European Unified Registries On Heart Care Evaluation and Randomized Trials (EuroHeart) aims to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease. The collaboration of acute coronary syndrome/percutaneous coronary intervention (ACS/PCI) registries is operational in seven vanguard European Society of Cardiology member countries.

Methods And Results: Adults admitted to hospitals with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are included, and individual patient-level data collected and aligned according to the internationally agreed EuroHeart data standards for ACS/PCI.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Heart failure (HF) affects over 26 million people worldwide. Multidisciplinary management strategies that include symptom monitoring and patient self-care support reduce HF hospitalization and mortality rates. Ideally, HF follow-up and self-care support includes lifestyle-change recommendations and remote monitoring of weight and HF symptoms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Information on the number, indications and outcome of cardiac transplantations in Icelandic patients is scarce, as is information on the number of hearts donated from Iceland for cardiac transplantation.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study on patients receiving heart transplantation from the first procedure in 1988 until March 2019. Clinical information was gathered from Landspitali Transplantation Clinic, patient charts, and information on donated hearts from the Icelandic Donation Registry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose Of Review: Long-term survival has increased significantly in breast cancer patients, and cardiovascular side effects are surpassing cancer-related mortality. We summarize risk factors, prevention strategies, detection, and management of cardiotoxicity, with focus on left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure, during breast cancer treatment.

Recent Findings: Baseline treatment of cardiovascular risk factors is recommended.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in women compared to men, with focus on short-term and long-term complications, 30 day mortality and survival. Materials and methods This was a retrospective study on all CABG patients operated in Iceland between 2001 and 2013. Clinical information was gathered from hospital charts and survival data was obtained from the National Statistics in Iceland.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: The aim of the study was to test if pharmacological intervention by valproic acid (VPA) treatment can modulate the fibrinolytic system in man, by means of increased acute release capacity of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) as well as an altered t-PA/Plasminogen activator inhibitor -1 (PAI-1) balance. Recent data from in vitro research demonstrate that the fibrinolytic system is epigenetically regulated mainly by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. HDAC inhibitors, including VPA markedly upregulate t-PA gene expression in vitro.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Statins have multiple pleiotropic effects that are independent of their cholesterol-lowering properties including rapid improvement of endothelial function in vitro. Hypertension is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and we hypothesized that a single-dose of atorvastatin may have an acute effect on vascular function.

Design: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) and endothelium-independent vasodilation were assessed with venous occlusion plethysmography during intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine (ACH) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively, in 13 hypertensive men after wash-out from antihypertensive medication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The endogenous fibrinolytic system and the ability of the endothelium to release tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) play a pivotal role to protect humans from atherothrombotic events. We have recently reported that the decreased capacity for t-PA release in hypertension is restored with chronic blood pressure lowering. Thus, we explored if acute blood pressure lowering has the same effect.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 61-year-old male was treated with cryoablation for typical atrial flutter. Cryoablation was performed percutaneously with an 8-mm tip catheter to achieve a bidirectional conduction block of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus. When freezing at the point where bidirectional isthmus block occurred, the patient experienced chest pain and ECG showed ST segment elevations corresponding to the right coronary artery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF