Carmen Castillo

Assessing Health Literacy in Urban Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators and Pacemakers.

Functional health literacy (FHL) has become an increasingly prevalent topic of discussion in patient health and well-being. Although FHL has been studied in a variety of populations, it has not been investigated in patients with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).The purpose of this study was to evaluate FHL in a primarily older, urban-dwelling ICD/pacemaker population. A secondary objective was to compare 2 commonly used instruments for assessing FHL.A convenience sample of 116 patients was recruited from an urban ICD/pacemaker clinic. Participants were asked to complete the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA) followed by the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults to assess reading comprehension and numeracy. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between FHL and patient descriptors.The population was 68 ± 13 years of age, and 62.7% were men. The sample was ethnically diverse: 37.1% white, 39.7% Hispanic, and 22.4% African American; 77.4% of the population reported finishing high school. Of the 109 completing the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, 60.6% had adequate FHL, 10.1% had marginal FHL, and 29.4% had inadequate FHL. The presence of coexisting chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was associated with inadequate/marginal FHL (P = .007, P = .004, and P = .02, respectively). Of the 113 completing STOFHLA, 67.3% had adequate FHL, 7.1% had marginal FHL, and 25.7% had inadequate FHL. The presence of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was also associated with inadequate/marginal FHL as assessed by STOFHLA (P = .009, P = .02, and P = .004, respectively).In this older, urban, ICD/pacemaker population, approximately 40% had inadequate/marginal FHL. These results warrant further investigation of FHL in other cardiovascular populations.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in the first year after heart transplantation.

STUDY AIM Describe ECG abnormalities in the first year following transplant surgery. METHODS Analysis of 12-lead ECGs from heart transplant subjects enrolled in an ongoing multicenter clinical trial. RESULTS 585 ECGs from 98 subjects showed few with abnormal cardiac rhythm (99% of ECGs were sinus rhythm/tachycardia). A majority of subjects (69%) had either right intraventricular conduction delay (56%) or right bundle branch block (13%). A second prevalent ECG abnormality was atrial enlargement (64% of subjects) that was more commonly left atrial (55%) than right (30%). CONCLUSIONS Right intraventricular conduction delay or right bundle branch block is prevalent in heart transplant recipients in the first year following transplant surgery. Whether this abnormality is related to acute allograph rejection or endomyocardial biopsy procedures is the subject of the ongoing clinical trial. Atrial enlargement ECG criteria (especially, left atrial) are also common and are likely due to transplant surgery with subsequent atrial remodeling.

Correlating perceived arrhythmia symptoms and quality of life in an older population with heart failure: a prospective, single centre, urban clinic study.

Aims and objectives To determine the relationship between quality of life and perceived self-reported symptoms in an older, ambulatory, urban population living with heart failure. Background While arrhythmias in older individuals with heart failure are well documented, the association between perceived arrhythmia symptoms and quality of life is not well-defined. Design Prospective, cross-sectional single-centre study. Methods A single-centre, prospective study was conducted with heart failure patients recruited from an urban outpatient cardiology clinic in the United States. Fifty-seven patients completed a baseline quality of life survey with 42 of these completing the six-month follow-up survey. Quality of life was evaluated with the SF-36v2™ and frequency of symptoms with the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale. Subjects wore an auto triggered cardiac loop monitor (LifeStar AF Express®) for two weeks to document arrhythmias. Data analysis utilised Spearmans rank correlation and logistic regression. Results Baseline and six-month quality of life measures did not correlate with recorded arrhythmias. However, perceptions of diminished general health correlated significantly with symptoms of exercise intolerance, lightheadedness/dizziness, palpitations and chest pain/pressure. By multivariable logistic regression, more severe perceived episodes, symptoms of exercise intolerance and lightheadedness/dizziness were independently associated with diminished quality of life. Conclusion Quality of life was significantly worse in patients with perceptions of severe arrhythmic episodes and in those with symptoms of dizziness and exercise intolerance. Relevance to clinical practice The findings of this study indicate that symptomatic heart failure patients suffer from poor quality of life and that interventions are needed to improve quality of life and decrease symptom severity. Nurses who care for heart failure patients play an essential role in symptom evaluation and management and could significantly improve overall quality of life in these patients by carefully evaluating symptomatology and testing interventions and educational programmes aimed at improving quality of life.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To determine the relationship between quality of life and perceived self-reported symptoms in an older, ambulatory, urban population living with heart failure. BACKGROUND While arrhythmias in older individuals with heart failure are well documented, the association between perceived arrhythmia symptoms and quality of life is not well-defined. DESIGN Prospective, cross-sectional single-centre study. METHODS A single-centre, prospective study was conducted with heart failure patients recruited from an urban outpatient cardiology clinic in the United States. Fifty-seven patients completed a baseline quality of life survey with 42 of these completing the six-month follow-up survey. Quality of life was evaluated with the SF-36v2(™) and frequency of symptoms with the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale. Subjects wore an auto triggered cardiac loop monitor (LifeStar AF Express(®) ) for two weeks to document arrhythmias. Data analysis utilised Spearmans rank correlation and logistic regression. RESULTS Baseline and six-month quality of life measures did not correlate with recorded arrhythmias. However, perceptions of diminished general health correlated significantly with symptoms of exercise intolerance, lightheadedness/dizziness, palpitations and chest pain/pressure. By multivariable logistic regression, more severe perceived episodes, symptoms of exercise intolerance and lightheadedness/dizziness were independently associated with diminished quality of life. CONCLUSION Quality of life was significantly worse in patients with perceptions of severe arrhythmic episodes and in those with symptoms of dizziness and exercise intolerance. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The findings of this study indicate that symptomatic heart failure patients suffer from poor quality of life and that interventions are needed to improve quality of life and decrease symptom severity. Nurses who care for heart failure patients play an essential role in symptom evaluation and management and could significantly improve overall quality of life in these patients by carefully evaluating symptomatology and testing interventions and educational programmes aimed at improving quality of life.

Clinical and gender differences in heart transplant recipients in the NEW HEART study

Background: Little attention has focused on gender differences in cardiac comorbidities and outcomes in patients undergoing orthotropic heart transplant. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate gender differences at baseline and during follow-up among heart transplant patients. Methods: An observational cohort within the NEW HEART study was evaluated to determine gender differences in relation to age, coexisting cardiac comorbidities, and outcomes. Differences were assessed by t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Male transplant recipients (n = 238) were significantly older than female recipients (n = 92), with a greater percentage over 60 years of age (45% vs. 24%, p = 0.0006). Males were more likely to have hypertension (63% vs. 49%, p = 0.034), dyslipidemia (62% vs. 45%, p = 0.006), a history of smoking (52% vs. 35%, p = 0.009), and diabetes (42% vs. 21%, p = 0.0002). Analysis of endomyocardial biopsies obtained during the 1-year follow-up period demonstrated that women averaged more episodes of acute rejection than men (3.9 vs. 3.0, p = 0.009). While most episodes of rejection were mild, women were more likely than men to have episodes of moderate or severe rejection (14% vs. 5%, p = 0.012) and to be hospitalized for acute rejection (15% vs. 6%, p = 0.013). There were no significant differences in mortality. Conclusions: Men were more likely than women to be older and to have diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and a history of smoking. Women were more likely to experience moderate or severe allograft rejection and to be hospitalized for acute rejection. Future investigation of the reasons for these gender differences is warranted and may improve clinical care of women undergoing cardiac transplantation.

Cardiac genetic testing: a single-center pilot study of a Dominican population.

The impact of undergoing genetic testing in a Dominican population is not well understood. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the psychological well-being and perceived cardiac risk among Dominicans who underwent genetic testing. Participants completed a qualitative interview and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire after cardiac genetic testing. There were 31 subjects evaluated (mean age 42 ± 11 years). Participants revealed three common themes: (a) fear of dying prematurely, (b) guilt of possibly passing on a mutation to their children, and (c) fear of having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shock. Physical components of the SF-36 were within normal limits (46.2 ± 6.6) but elevated for mental components (59.9 ± 5.3). The quality of life and specific themes results determined in this investigation warrant further research in the Dominican population.

Electrocardiographic Correlates of Acute Allograft Rejection Among Heart Transplant Recipients

&NA; Background Acute allograft rejection appears to be associated with increases in QT/QTc intervals. Objectives To determine the relationship between acute allograft rejection and electrocardiogram changes in patients undergoing an orthotopic heart transplant. Methods The study population comprised 220 adult patients undergoing heart transplant and enrolled in the NEW HEART study. Electrocardiograms obtained within 72 hours of endomyocardial biopsy were analyzed; electrocardiograms obtained fewer than 10 days after transplant surgery were excluded. Repeated‐measures analysis was performed with statistical models including effects for rejection severity (mild and moderate/severe) and time trends independent of rejection status. Results The 151 male and 69 female transplant recipients (mean age [SD], 54 [13] years) had 969 biopsy/electrocardiogram pairs: 677 with no rejection, 280 with mild rejection, and 12 with moderate/severe rejection. Moderate to severe organ rejection was associated with significant increases in QRS duration (P < .001), QT (P = .009), QTc (P = .003), and PR interval (P = .03), as well as increased odds of right bundle block branch (P = .002) and fascicular block (P = .009) occurring. Conclusions Moderate to severe acute allograft rejection was associated with electrocardiographic changes after transplant surgery. Studies are needed to assess the value of computerized electrocardiogram measurement algorithms for detecting acute allograft rejection.

Corrigendum to “QTc prolongation may be a late biomarker of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) rejection” [J Electrocardiol 49 (2016) 928–929]

Author(s): Carter, Erik V; Castillo, Carmen; Chen, Belinda; Doering, Lynn V; Drew, Barbara J; Hickey, Kathleen T; Pickham, David; Sciacca, Robert R

QTc Prolongation May Be a Late Biomarker of Orthotopic Heart Transplantation (OHT) Rejection

Author(s): Carter, Erik V; Castillo, Carmen; Chen, Belinda; Doering, Lynn V; Drew, Barbara J; Hickey, Kathleen T; Pickham, David; Sciacca, Robert R