Background: Conduction system disease and beta-blocker therapy are both common among heart failure (HF) patients and contribute to increasing reliance on paced rhythms. We hypothesized that many HF patients dependent on pacing have suboptimal heart rate responses and associated limitations in exercise capacity.
Methods And Results: We studied 122 HF patients (left ventricular ejection fractions ≤40%) referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing, comparing those with pacing at baseline with those with native rhythms. The paced group (PG) had lower resting (71 ± 9 vs 75 ± 15 beats/min; P = .048) and peak heart rates (103 ± 22 vs 127 ± 27 beats/min; P < .0001). Although beta-blockers were prescribed with similar frequency in both groups (90% vs 85%), average dose was higher in the PG. Inotropic reserve (oxygen pulse) was similar in both groups (11.1 ± 3.3 vs 11.1 ± 3.4 mL/beat; P = .94), consistent with equivalent stroke volumes, but chronotropic incompetence was higher (95% vs 71%, P = .001) and peak VO(2) was lower (12.2 ± 3.4 vs 14.2 ± 4.1 mL/kg/min; P = .004) in the PG.
Conclusions: Chronotropic incompetence and exercise capacity are worse in HF patients depending on paced heart rate responses. This has implications for quality of life as well as advanced therapy choices based on exercise capacity. Reevaluating beta-blocker dosing and optimizing pacemaker programming may therefore benefit the growing population of HF patients with device-dependent rhythms.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2010.10.007 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Ment Health
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background: Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder affecting millions worldwide, with significant impacts on daily functioning and quality of life. While traditionally assessed through subjective measures such as the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the advent of wearable technology has enabled continuous, objective sleep monitoring in natural environments. However, the relationship between subjective insomnia severity and objective sleep parameters remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppl Physiol Nutr Metab
January 2025
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada;
We compared stretching, isometrics, and aerobic exercise for effectiveness in decreasing blood pressure post-exercise. Using a randomized crossover design, 5 males and 4 females (21.3y; normotensive) participated in four 30-minute sessions on separate days: static stretching (30s stretches, major muscle groups), isometric exercise, aerobic cycling (75% VO2peak), and control (rest), with blood pressure and heart rate measured before exercise (or rest) and for 60 minutes post-exercise (or rest).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRev Esc Enferm USP
January 2025
Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Medicina e Enfermagem, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of ear acupuncture with laser and needles in the treatment of anxiety in university students in the post-pandemic context of Covid-19, as well as to evaluate the possible symptoms or adverse reactions triggered by the interventions.
Method: Randomized clinical trial carried out with 126 university students, allocated to the "Needle" (control) and "Laser" (experimental) groups. Five ear acupuncture sessions were performed.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol
January 2025
LaTIM, Inserm UMR 1101, 22 Avenue Camille-Desmoulins, CS 93837, Brest cedex, 29238, France.
Pneumopericardium (PPC) is defined by the presence of gas in the pericardial cavity, often leading to cardiac tamponade and a high mortality rate. This report describes a case involving a 33-year-old man found deceased a few meters from a knife, his clothes intact, with no resuscitation attempt made. A knotted scarf was tightly fastened around his neck, without ligature mark.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSleep Breath
January 2025
Department of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, John Paul II Hospital, Prądnicka 80, Kraków, 31-202, Poland.
Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may lead to heart rhythm abnormalities including bradycardia. Our aim was to ascertain clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with OSA in whom severe bradycardia was detected in an outpatient setting, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of CPAP therapy on heart rate normalization at the early stages of treatment.
Methods: Fifteen patients mild, moderate or severe OSA and concomitant bradycardia were enrolled.
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