Readability and Accessibility of Patient-Education Materials for Heart Failure in the United States.

Online education materials are widely used by patients and caregivers to understand the management of complex chronic diseases such as heart failure (HF). Organizations such as the American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommend that materials be written at a 6th-grade reading level. The current study examined the readability and accessibility of online education materials for patients with HF.

Breaking Barriers: Advancing the Mission of The Equity in Heart Transplant Project.

The Equity in Heart Transplant Project, Inc (TEHTP), a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2022, addresses financial and social barriers impeding access to heart transplantation for patients with end-stage heart failure in the United States. Rooted in the World Health Organization's declaration on health as a fundamental right, TEHTP champions equitable care. Financial impediments disproportionately affect minority populations, perpetuating disparities in heart transplant outcomes.

Trends in ischemic heart disease among females in low-and middle-income countries from 1990 to 2019.

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major contributor to mortality in low-and middle-income-countries (LMICs). However, trends in IHD in females in LMICs are not well described.

Methods: We analyzed the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study from 1990 to 2019 for males and females with IHD from the ten most-populous LMICs (India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Philippines, Egypt, Vietnam, Iran, and Afghanistan).

Low Rates of Psychotherapy Referrals in Patients With Heart Failure With Depression.

Background: Depression is common among patients with heart failure (HF) and can impact patients' outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the rates of psychotherapy referrals for patients with HF with depression.

Methods And Results: Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2008 to 2018, we examined visits for patients with depression and concurrent HF or coronary artery disease.

Experiences of Medical Interpreters During Palliative Care Encounters With Limited English Proficiency Patients: A Qualitative Study.

There are many challenges in communication and cultural barriers for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) who suffer from serious illnesses. Palliative care utilization among this population remains limited and the experiences of medical interpreters during palliative care encounters remain understudied. We conducted semistructured video interviews with interpreters working at an academic medical center.

Effect of Widespread Sleep Apnea Screening on Progression of Atrial Fibrillation.

Sleep apnea (SA) is recognized as a predictor of incident atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF recurrence after treatment. However, data on the prevalence of SA phenotypes in patients with AF and the effect of widespread SA screening on AF outcomes are scarce. We conducted a retrospective study of patients with AF referred for SA testing between March 2018 and April 2020.

Challenges Facing Heart Failure Patients With Limited English Proficiency: A Qualitative Analysis Leveraging Interpreters' Perspectives.

Background: Limited English proficiency (LEP) heart failure (HF) patients experience worse HF outcomes, including higher readmission rates and emergency department visits. To elucidate the challenges this population faces, the authors interviewed interpreters to identify gaps in care quality and ways to improve care for LEP HF patients.

Objectives: The authors sought to understand the challenges facing HF patients with LEP using medical interpreters' perspectives.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Working with Medical Interpreters.

Medical interpreters are the primary facilitators of effective communication between clinical providers and patients with limited English proficiency. They can assist in managing complex meetings in which patients, families, and clinicians decide on next steps in care. Palliative care (PC) clinicians inherently work in an interdisciplinary manner, which enables them to learn and model the effective integration of medical interpreters into the PC team.

Chronic strongyloidiasis: a case of B symptoms and recurrent asthma exacerbations.

Strongyloidiasis is one of the neglected helminths infection that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Due to its variable presentation, its diagnosis is often a challenge. We report a case of an immigrant patient with asthma who later developed eosinophilia.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators and Chronic Kidney Disease.

Use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is the treatment of choice for heart failure patients with ejection fraction <35% to prevent sudden cardiac death. Whether this benefit remains among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end stage renal disease (ESRD) is yet to be elucidated. We conducted a systematic review of studies in PubMed that have investigated the use of ICDs among patients with CKD or ESRD.

The Impact of Marijuana on the Cardiovascular System: A Review of the Most Common Cardiovascular Events Associated with Marijuana Use.

With the expanded legalization of marijuana, its medical and recreational use have sharply increased over the past decade. A wide array of new forms of cannabis is available on the market today, and the potencies are ten times those of forms previously tested, meaning that the true impact of marijuana on the cardiovascular system remains unclear. Cannabis mainly exerts its effects via the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, with different doses affecting different cannabinoids receptors.

Aberrant Thyroid Function Tests in a Patient Taking Biotin Supplements.

Biotin is a component of the B-complex vitamins that has been widely used in over-the-counter supplements. The effects of biotin on thyroid function tests (TFTs) have been recently reported by multiple authors. We report here a case of a patient who presented with TFTs consistent with hyperthyroidism and a positive radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) scan while taking biotin supplements.

Levamisole-induced Vasculitis in a Hepatitis C Patient: A General Medicine Ward Perspective on Diagnosis and Management.

Purpura in hepatitis C patients has a wide range of possible etiologies, some of which include mixed cryoglobulinemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Levamisole is a common chemical used as a lacing agent for cocaine. It is believed to enhance the addictive properties of cocaine, but it has been associated with a vasculitis syndrome that most commonly presents with purpura and leukopenia.