Jeptha P Curtis

..To date, however, we lack a methodology to monitor and improve national hospital 30-day mortality rates among patients undergoing PCI...

..We examined hospital variation in IABP use among high risk PCI patients, and determined the association of IABP use on mortality in this population...

..The purpose of this study was to report on the all-cause readmission and repeat revascularization rates after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)...

..Allowing nonelectrophysiologists to perform implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) procedures is controversial. However, it is not known whether outcomes of ICD implantation vary by physician specialty...

..87, respectively; p for trend <0.001). In conclusion, timely administration of fibrinolytic therapy continues to significantly impact on mortality in the modern era, particularly in patients presenting early after symptom onset...

..Efforts to shorten door-to-balloon time should apply to all patients...

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..Prior studies have reported conflicting findings concerning the association of socioeconomic status (SES), treatment, and outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF)...

..0]; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The national use of pre-hospital ECG to diagnose and facilitate the treatment of STEMI remains low. When used, however, pre-hospital ECG is associated with a significantly shorter time to reperfusion...

..CONCLUSIONS: Several specific hospital strategies are associated with a significant reduction in the door-to-balloon time in the management of myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation...

..Whether regionalization will improve outcomes depends in part on the magnitude of existing differences in outcomes between PCI and non-PCI hospitals within the same health care region...

..However, little has been reported about improvements in hospital short-term mortality rates or reductions in between-hospital variation in short-term mortality rates...

..S. hospitals vary 2-fold in their 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates (RSMRs). Nevertheless, information is limited on hospital-level factors that may be associated with RSMRs...

..In conclusion, although evidence of "what works" is based on observational studies rather than randomized trials, there is evidence on effective interventions to reduce door-to-balloon time...

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..These findings suggest that anemia may be predominantly a marker rather than a mediator of increased mortality risk in older patients with HF...

..Understanding the mechanisms and impact of the "obesity paradox" in patients with HF is necessary before recommendations are made concerning weight and weight control in this population...

..Although the efficacy of carotid stenting has been established in clinical trials, outcomes of the procedure based on operator experience are less certain in clinical practice...

..The results suggest that increasing use of beta-blockers in this group provides an opportunity to improve outcomes...

..Prior aspirin use tended to reduce all-cause or coronary artery disease readmissions at one month or six months. CONCLUSIONS: Prior aspirin use is not a marker of increased mortality in patients > or =65 years old hospitalized with MI...

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..9% to 9.4%, p = 0.14 for trend). In conclusion, patients ≥80 years old undergoing primary PCI are at high risk of bleeding, and despite significant increases in use of BAS, the overall rate of bleeding complications remains high...

..Appropriately selected octogenarians with abnormal vasodilator SPECT imaging may benefit from more aggressive management of their cardiac disease...

..Moreover, we do not know whether improvements in door-to-balloon times were shared equally among patient and hospital groups...

..Small studies suggest that telemonitoring may improve heart-failure outcomes, but its effect in a large trial has not been established...

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..Relatively few hospitals have shown substantial improvement...

..49, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.67) than did patients in ASSENT-2. These findings support the use of smaller dose, weight-adjusted heparin in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with tenecteplase...

..10) and 21 mm Hg (P=.02) decrease at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Renal function was stable across all groups. Renal artery stenting reduced BP and produced greatest benefit in patients with baseline impaired renal function...

..CONCLUSIONS: Among HF patients in sinus rhythm, higher LVEFs were associated with a linear decrease in mortality up to an LVEF of 45%. However, increases above 45% were not associated with further reductions in mortality...

..By January 2004, DES use had returned to the prenotification rate and continued to increase thereafter. In conclusion, the Food and Drug Administration's notification had a modest but temporary effect on clinical practice...

..Changing the 6-minute walk test to a time- and distance-based standard would improve the efficiency of the test while retaining the bulk of the prognostic information...

..5 to 0.8 ng/ml...

..The culture of cells contained in the specimens yielded multiplying cells, some of which demonstrated features of haematopoietic progenitor cells and which differentiated into various cell-types...

..The risks of these adverse effects should be put in the context of the documented benefits of these medications...

..59) and at 12 months (-18 vs -16 mm Hg; P=.89). Renal artery stenting improved eGFR and systolic BP in patients with hypertension and CKD; however, DEP did not enhance these effects...