There is emerging evidence that heart rate control is an important element in the management of people with heart failure. The major beta-blocker trials have shown improved mortality and reduced hospitalisation when patients with impaired left ventricular (LV) function are managed with optimal doses. In a meta-analysis of these trials, McAlister et al. have shown a correlation between heart rate control and improved outcomes.1 Beta-blockers may have other actions apart from heart rate control; for instance, they may be anti-arrhythmic or have some other mechanisms for their action. Ivabradine, whose only function is heart rate control, has also shown a reduction in hospitalisation for heart failure.2 Heart rate is additionally an indicator of optimal beta-blockade3, and so may be a proxy for optimal medical treatment.
Recognising stroke and transient ischaemic attack – the role of primary care
Stroke is the third commonest cause of adult death and the leading cause of complex disability in the UK. This article will discuss the importance of the early recognition of stroke and transient ischaemic attack and the role of primary care staff in implementing national guidelines. Practical case study examples are included.
How to manage hyperkalaemia, a life-threatening arrhythmia
Hyperkalaemia is a common electrolyte disorder which, when severe, can cause lifethreatening cardiac arrhythmias and paralysis of the respiratory muscles. It is therefore crucial for clinicians to have a clear understanding of its management. Hyperkalaemia is usually caused by a combination of factors, but renal impairment and drugs are often implicated. The rising prevalence of chronic kidney disease and increasing use of medications that interact with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system have resulted in a sharp rise in the prevalence of hyperkalaemia.
Improving the management of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy
It is exceedingly uncommon for a woman in the UK to die during pregnancy, with maternal mortality in the region of one death per 10,000 maternities1. Although there have been very significant improvements in antenatal care, such as a marked reduction in the number of deaths due to thromboembolic disease, other areas are trailing behind. One such area is cardiac disease – now the leading cause of maternal death in the UK. These relatively rare deaths also mask the much larger issues of maternal, fetal and perinatal morbidity. The most recent Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Death and the new European Society of Cardiology guidelines summarised in this issue of the PCCJ highlight the major clinical issues and attempt to provide consensus opinion regarding optimal care in what is a relatively evidence-sparse field.
Choosing the NTproBNP cut off for use as part of a community heart failure care pathway
Echocardiography (ECHO) is the “gold standard” test in the diagnosis of heart failure. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) can be helpful to rule outpatients who do not require ECHO. This study used an elevated level of Nterminal prohormone BNP (NT-proBNP) as a criterion for referral to a new community heart failure clinic. Results showed that NT-proBNP could be a useful test in the management of heart failure. The researchers propose to institute age- and sex-related cut-offs to refine its place in the patient care pathway.
How can we avoid a stroke crisis?
A report from a multidisciplinary alliance has made a compelling case for a coordinated planin Europe to reduce the health, social and economic burdens of stroke related to atrialfibrillation (AF). The group comprises eminent cardiologists, neurologists, a healtheconomists, hospital pharmacists, a haematologist and representatives from patientorganisations.How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis? has been endorsed by 17 medical and patientorganisations, including the European Primary Care Cardiovascular Society. Its aim is tohighlight to European policy makers the need to achieve earlier diagnosis and bettermanagement of AF across Europe, with the ultimate goal of reducing the risk of stroke inpatients with AF. The key points summarised in the report are shown in table 1.
Vitamin D and cardiovascular health
Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent and important health issue that warrants vigilant systematic screening and appropriate treatment and follow-up on the part of physicians, especially those in the primary care and cardiovascular fields. Although vitamin D deficiency has traditionally been associated primarily with bone disease, it is now clear that this is a multi-organ system disease. Epidemiological studies consistently show strong associations between vitamin D deficiency and bone disease, cancer and diabetes. Additionally, epidemiological evidence links vitamin D deficiency with cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease and mortality. Conclusive evidence to show that vitamin D supplementation improves cardiovascular prognosis is currently lacking, although randomised trials are under way to address this issue. In this article we review the sources and metabolism of vitamin D, the epidemiology of vitamin D deficiency, and the available evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease; and we suggest an approach to systematic screening and to treatment of vitamin D deficiency.
Understanding the impact of statin titration: a modelling approach
Introduction: Clinical guidelines specifying target cholesterol levels may require dose titration strategies for patients who do not reach target. We describe a model that simulates cholesterol and cardiovascular risk reductions for different populations, therapies, titration steps and targets.
Looking back, looking forward: reflecting on the winter season and the demise of the PCCS
The message regarding eating less has come across loud and clear this year, but there has been plenty to worry about over the last twelve months. The demise of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) has been on my mind. I was saddened to attend an Extraordinary General Meeting in January 2012, when it was decided to wind up the Society with honour due to declining funds and concern that this situation was likely to deteriorate for the foreseeable future. The closure of the PCCS is a great blow to all of us interested in promoting and improving the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease in our communities.
Atrial fibrillation and stroke: Optimising prevention and treatment
Uniquely, AF is an eminently preventable cause of stroke with a simple and highly effective treatment. AF is common and affects over 600,000 patients in England (1.2%). It is a major predisposing factor for stroke, and strokes caused by AF can be particularly severe and disabling. The annual risk of stroke is five to six times greater in AF patients, but […]
Effective management of atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Treatment is tailored to the individual. This article will review the rhythm-management strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation, and discuss the roles of secondary and tertiary care.
Management and early treatment of transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
The White Paper, Saving lives: our healthier nation (1999), set out a target to reduce the death rate from coronary heart disease and related illnesses such as stroke by 40% in the under-75s by 2010;1 recent trends indicate that this target will be met. Although the past forty years have seen a significant reduction in age-standardised stroke mortality rates, stroke still accounts for around 53,000 deaths each year in the UK, with more than 9,500 of these occurring in the under-75s.2 This article reviews how we might reduce the huge burden of stroke by improving the management of transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
