{"title":"Comparison of the accuracy of four diagnostic prediction rules for pulmonary embolism in patients admitted to the emergency department","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.02.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.02.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction and Objectives</h3><div>Ruling out pulmonary embolism (PE) through a combination of clinical assessment and D-dimer level can potentially avoid excessive use of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the standard approach based on the Wells and Geneva scores combined with a standard D-dimer cut-off (500 ng/ml), with three alternative strategies (age-adjusted and the YEARS and PEGeD algorithms) in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) with suspected PE.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Consecutive outpatients admitted to the ED who underwent CTPA due to suspected PE were retrospectively assessed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios and diagnostic odds ratios were calculated and compared between the different diagnostic prediction rules.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included 1402 patients (mean age 69±18 years, 54% female), and PE was confirmed in 25%. Compared to the standard approach (p<0.001), an age-adjusted strategy increased specificity with a non-significant decrease in sensitivity only in patients older than 70 years. Compared to the standard and age-adjusted approaches, the YEARS and PEGeD algorithms had the highest specificity across all ages, but were associated with a significant decrease in sensitivity (p<0.001), particularly in patients aged under 60 years (sensitivity of 81% in patients aged between 51 and 60 years).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Compared to the standard approach, all algorithms were associated with increased specificity. The age-adjusted strategy was the only one not associated with a significant decrease in sensitivity compared to the standard approach, enabling CTPA requests to be reduced safely.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":"43 10","pages":"Pages 551-559"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140789558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quality of life and performance status after cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A study in Cova da Beira University Hospital Center's intensive care unit","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.02.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction and Objectives</h3><div>Cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Many studies focus on survival, but few explore the outcomes. The aim of this study is to analyze the survival curve, independence, quality of life, and performance status after CA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective study included adults admitted to the intensive care unit of Cova da Beira University Hospital Center after CA between 2015 and 2019. We analyzed patient records and applied a questionnaire including EuroQoL's EQ-5D-3L and ECOG performance status.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ninety-seven patients were included (mean age 75.74 years). Thirty-one patients (32.0%) survived to hospital discharge. There was a significant loss of independence for activities of daily living, with 50.0% of those previously independent becoming dependent and 47.5% of those previously at home being institutionalized. Diabetes, female gender, and length of hospital stay were especially impactful on these findings. One year after CA, only 20.6% were alive and only 13.4% (65% of the one-year survivors) were independent. Nine patients answered our questionnaire. Mean EQ-5D quality of life index (0.528±0.297) and the most affected domains (‘Pain/discomfort’ and ‘Anxiety/depression’) were similar to the Portuguese population aged >30 years. However, 66.6% reported a decline in their quality of life. Lastly, seven respondents had a good performance status (ECOG 0-1).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>There was a significant loss of independence after CA. Moreover, despite the acceptable performance status and the quality of life results being similar to the general population, there was a perceived deterioration post-CA. Ultimately, we emphasize the need to improve care for these patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":"43 10","pages":"Pages 539-548"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140756731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cardiovascular benefits of resistance exercise: It's time to prescribe","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.02.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.02.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite the well-known health benefits of regular physical activity, sedentary behavior and physical inactivity remain a real global pandemic. Exercise is associated with increased life expectancy, improved quality of life and prevention of multiple diseases. Although less implemented in practice compared to aerobic exercise, recent evidence shows that resistance exercise (RE) is also responsible for various benefits, including improvements in body composition, control of several cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, and reduction of CV outcomes. RE increases strength and muscle mass, is effective in controlling type 2 diabetes, and improves the management of obesity, lipids, and blood pressure profiles. In this setting, clinical guidelines recommend the inclusion of RE for primary and secondary CV risk prevention, particularly in combination with aerobic exercise, in which the benefits are most pronounced. Prescription of RE should follow a methodology that includes key variables such as frequency, intensity, type, time, and progression. Despite challenges, professionals in the CV field should be familiar with RE prescription in order to maximize its referral in clinical practice. This review aims to analyze the CV effects of RE and current recommendations regarding the prescription of this type of exercise.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":"43 10","pages":"Pages 573-582"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140872323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cardio-oncology guidelines, structural heart disease and Kounis syndrome in the upcoming guidelines","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":"43 10","pages":"Pages 583-584"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141471852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shiraslan Bakhshaliyev, Ergin Arslanoğlu, Bahruz Aliyev, Görkem Çitoğlu, Kaan Altunyuva, Ibrahim Demir, Mohammed Skaik, Dogan Yetut, Murat Başaran, Emin Tireli
{"title":"The early and medium-term results of the Ross procedure in pediatric patients.","authors":"Shiraslan Bakhshaliyev, Ergin Arslanoğlu, Bahruz Aliyev, Görkem Çitoğlu, Kaan Altunyuva, Ibrahim Demir, Mohammed Skaik, Dogan Yetut, Murat Başaran, Emin Tireli","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.05.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction and objectives: </strong>The Ross procedure is the preferred surgical treatment for pediatric aortic valve diseases, and its long-term outcomes have been extensively documented. This article presents the results of the Ross and Ross-Konno procedures performed on pediatric patients in our center.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ross and Ross-Konno procedures were performed on 20 patients in our center between January 2015 and January 2019.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The patients' mean age was 10.6 years (range: 23 days to 18 years) and mean weight was 37.6 kg (range: 3-63 kg). Thirteen had aortic valve stenosis, four had aortic valve insufficiency, and three had a mixed disease. The Ross-Konno procedure was used for four patients. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 184.68±60.1 min and the mean cross time was 149±67.8 min. One neonatal patient died in the early postoperative phase due to low cardiac output. The mean follow-up time was 60.15±24.45 months. One patient later underwent reoperation due to conduit stenosis. One patient is being monitored for moderately serious conduit stenosis. At present, of those who underwent the procedure, one has moderate aortic regurgitation, two have mild or moderate aortic regurgitation, and others have minimal aortic regurgitation. No patients required intervention for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and mortality was not observed in the long term.</p><p><strong>Conclusion(s): </strong>The reintervention rates for autograft and conduit-related cases were low in early and medium-term follow-up, and no significant autograft insufficiency was observed. Ross or Ross-Konno surgery is preferred for aortic diseases in pediatric patients due to its low mortality and satisfactory long-term results.</p>","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142367128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joana Lima Lopes, Luís Brízida, João Bicho Augusto
{"title":"Superdominant circumflex as culprit of inferior myocardial infarction.","authors":"Joana Lima Lopes, Luís Brízida, João Bicho Augusto","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.07.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.07.009","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142299206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francisco Barbas de Albuquerque, Inês Neves, Rita Teixeira, Tânia Mano, Tiago Rito, Pedro O Costa, Rui Ferreira, Lídia de Sousa, Fátima Pinto
{"title":"Knowledge and perception among adults of their congenital heart disease: A single center cross-sectional study.","authors":"Francisco Barbas de Albuquerque, Inês Neves, Rita Teixeira, Tânia Mano, Tiago Rito, Pedro O Costa, Rui Ferreira, Lídia de Sousa, Fátima Pinto","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2024.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction and objective: </strong>Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a complex condition requiring a multidisciplinary approach. It is crucial that adults with CHD (CHD) have adequate knowledge of their condition, enabling them to engage in their healthcare decisions and self-management. We aimed to investigate knowledge and perception among adults of their CHD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Single-center, observational, cross-sectional study. A 25-item adapted survey of Leuven Questionnaire for CHD was used to assess four main domains: (1) disease and treatment, (2) endocarditis and preventive measures, (3) physical activity and (4) reproductive issues.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>One hundred forty-eight patients participated in the study. Patients had a significant lack of knowledge localizing their heart defect, recognizing drug side effects, acting in case of experiencing drug side effects, recognizing at least two symptoms of clinical deterioration, to adequately define endocarditis and most typical signs and risk factors, to acknowledge the hereditary nature of their CHD and risk of clinical deterioration during pregnancies. Patients with an education level ≥12th grade have higher knowledge in various items and, overall, the complexity of CHD was not associated with a better performance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the existing knowledge gaps among adults with CHD. It underscores the need for tailored information and structured educational programs to improve management. By addressing these challenges, healthcare providers can enhance patient outcomes, improve quality of life, and promote long-term well-being for individuals with CHD.</p>","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142299203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Training and attitudes concerning cardiac rehabilitation in Portugal: A national survey of physician members of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.repc.2023.12.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.repc.2023.12.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction and Objectives</h3><p>Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a central component in the management of cardiovascular disease. While its potential benefits have been extensively explored and confirmed, its implementation is still suboptimal, due to various possible barriers. This study aimed to assess training and attitudes concerning CR among physicians in a Portuguese setting.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>An online questionnaire structured in three parts (participant characteristics, training and attitudes concerning CR, and a brief general knowledge assessment) was developed and sent to members of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. The study population encompassed physicians with a medical specialty or residents from the third year onward of a specialty program.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 97 individuals (57.7% male, 61.9% aged ≤50 years) presented valid answers. CR was available at the workplace of 54.6% of participants. Most of them considered that the time allocated to CR training during residency was inadequate, and thought that more time was needed for this purpose. Most had not dedicated (or intended to dedicate) time for CR training, with lack of time being the most frequently attributed reason. In terms of referral, a substantial proportion of subjects did not refer patients, with lack of CR centers and human resources being the most frequent reasons.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This survey provides contemporary data on CR training and attitudes, highlighting areas of potential improvement, such as time allocated to training in this area. These results could provide a useful pragmatic framework for optimization of training and awareness in this pivotal field of cardiovascular medicine.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48985,"journal":{"name":"Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia","volume":"43 9","pages":"Pages 487-496"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S087025512400074X/pdfft?md5=07b25b7e26ada5b51786d0588283fd8f&pid=1-s2.0-S087025512400074X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140068870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}