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Spotlight on... awareness weeks

Awareness weeks guide

Heart research month

Heart research month

Heart disease is still Australia’s leading cause of death and affects families and communities around the country. REDFEB is a month dedicated to raising awareness for heart health and raising much-needed funds for research. Australian Heart Research

UpToDate

Diagnosis

General

Treatment

UpToDate pathways

Cochrane Library

Guidelines (Heart Foundation)

Online resources

Reports

Podcasts

Articles

Covid-19

Prevention

Research

Treatment

E-books

E-journals

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Articles

Covid-19

Cardiovascular outcomes for people hospitalised with COVID‐19 in Australia, and the effect of vaccination: an observational cohort study
The known: Information regarding the frequency of cardiovascular events in people hospitalised with COVID‐19, and the impact of vaccination, is limited.
The new: Troponin levels were elevated in 37% of patients with COVID‐19 assessed during admission to one of 21 Australian hospitals, but cardiovascular outcomes were infrequent and not influenced by vaccination. Those who had received one or more COVID‐19 vaccine doses were less likely to die in hospital or to be intubated.
The implications: There risk of cardiovascular events for people hospitalised with COVID‐19 is small but clinically significant. Our findings highlight the value of COVID‐19 vaccination for reducing in‐hospital mortality. MJA 3 June 2024

Impact of age and sex on myocardial involvement in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. A Pre-specified Subanalysis of COVID-HEART
COVID-19 affected the heart differently in males and females, with no major differences noted attributable to age. A greater proportion of male patients was found to have an ischemic scar during the acute infection, while microinfarction and other scar patterns were similarly prevalent between sexes. Heart 10 December 2024

Longitudinal cardiac imaging for assessment of myocardial injury in non-hospitalised community-dwelling individuals after COVID-19 infection: the Rotterdam Study
The aim of this study was to assess the presence of myocardial injury after COVID-19 infection and to evaluate the relation between persistent cardiac symptoms after COVID-19 and myocardial function in participants with known cardiovascular health status before infection. Heart 16 January 2025

Predictors of new-onset in-hospital atrial fibrillation in 122 089 patients admitted with COVID-19: an Australian statewide population study
This study identified patients at risk of developing new- atrial fibrillation (AF) in the setting of COVID-19 infection. This multivariable logistic regression analysis that included CHA2DS2VASc score has a relatively good predictive value and if confirmed in other COVID-19 cohorts, may be used to identify patients in whom antiarrhythmic and more aggressive thromboprophylactic strategies can be considered. European heart journal 28 October 2024

The role of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing post-COVID-19 thromboembolic and cardiovascular complications
COVID-19 vaccination reduced the risk of post-COVID-19 cardiac and thromboembolic outcomes. These effects were more pronounced for acute COVID-19 outcomes, consistent with known reductions in disease severity following breakthrough versus unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 infection. Heart 15 April 2024

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Prevention

Awareness of cardiovascular disease risk and care received among Australian women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey
Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP)  are unaware of their increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and are not receiving recommended CVD preventative care, irrespective of HDP type and/or socioeconomic status (SES). Findings should be used to inform development of tailored CVD prevention interventions in the primary care setting for women following HDP. BMC pregnancy and childbirth 8 January 2025

Blood pressure in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: analysis of baseline data from a prospective cohort study
The known: Cardiovascular disease‐related mortality has significantly declined among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. However, 31% of Indigenous adults have hypertension, the leading cause of avoidable deaths of Indigenous people.
The new: About 70% of Indigenous young people from regional, remote, and urban communities had normal blood pressure, but one in eight had elevated blood pressure and one in five hypertension.
The implications: Hypertension in Indigenous young people must be prevented to avert cardiovascular disease in later life. Reducing early cardiovascular risks, while avoiding unnecessary medicalisation and deficit‐framing, is critical for promoting cardiovascular health throughout life. MJA 20 January 2025

Embedding a text message recall system to increase the uptake of cardiovascular screening in Australian general practice. Results of the Text to Detect randomised controlled trial
This study demonstrates the effectiveness of text mediated recall of eligible patients to increase the uptake of cardiovascular risk screening in Australian general practice. European heart journal 28 October 2024

Nonobese young females with polycystic ovary syndrome are at high risk for long-term cardiovascular disease
Patients with PCOS had an increased risk of CVD, and young nonobese PCOS patients should be prioritized for CVD risk management. These findings support the necessity of clinical surveillance and suggest DCBLD2 as a possible CVD biomarker in females with PCOS. European journal of preventative cardiology 20 November 2024

Risk stratification for Cardiovascular Disease: A comparative analysis of cluster analysis and traditional prediction models
Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) relies on effective risk stratification to guide interventions. Current models, primarily developed using regression analysis, can lead to inaccurate estimates when applied to external populations. This study evaluates the utility of cluster analysis as an alternative method for developing CVD risk stratification models, comparing its performance with established CVD risk prediction models. European journal of preventative cardiology 15 January 2025

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Research

Determinants of medication adherence in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial
Sociodemographic and clinical factors may influence medication adherence. Greater awareness, discussion and monitoring of these factors during patient follow-up may help improve medication adherence. Heart 16 January 2025

Genetic testing in cardiovascular disease
Summary

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally and is responsible for an estimated one‐third of deaths as well as significant morbidity and health care utilisation.
  • Technological and bioinformatic advances have facilitated the discovery of pathogenic germline variants for some specific CVDs, including familial hypercholesterolaemia, cardiomyopathies and arrhythmic syndromes. Use of these genetic tests for earlier disease identification is increasing due, in part, to decreasing costs, Medicare rebates, and consumer comfort with genetic testing.
  • However, CVDs that occur more commonly, including coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, do not display monogenic inheritance patterns. Genetically, these diseases have generally been associated with many genetic variants each with a small effect size. This complexity can be expressed mathematically as a polygenic risk score. Genetic testing kits that provide polygenic risk scoring are becoming increasingly available directly to private‐paying consumers outside the traditional clinical setting.
  • An improved understanding of the evidence of genetics in CVD will offer clinicians new opportunities for individualised risk prediction and preventive therapy.

MJA 22 April 2024

Hospital costs for unplanned re‐admissions within 30 days of hospitalisations with heart failure, Australia, 2013–2017: a retrospective cohort study
The known:
Heart failure is a frequent cause of hospitalisation, and the risk of re‐admission after discharge is high. The direct cost of unplanned re‐admissions has not been assessed in Australia.
The new: During 2013–2017, unplanned re‐admissions within 30 days of hospitalisation with heart failure cost the health system $604 million, equivalent to one‐third of costs for the initial hospitalisations. Most of these costs were for re‐admissions with possibly hospital‐acquired conditions (40.1%) or heart failure recurrence (35.6%).
The implications: Unplanned re‐admissions are expensive, and a large proportion may be preventable. Minimising the risk of re‐admission after hospitalisation with heart failure could improve outcomes, both for people with heart failure and the hospitals that treat them. MJA 16 September 2024

Identifying gaps in detection of Heart Valve Disease (HVD) in Australia: A population survey
The knowledge and concern about HVD are low among Australians greater than 60 years of age. Large gaps remain including the need for simple, cost-effective strategies to improve patient education to seek routine medical care, promote regular auscultation within primary care, and request echocardiography if clinical suspicion of HVD is present. Heart, lung and circulation 16 January 2025

Knowledge of acute coronary syndrome symptoms and the intention to call emergency medical services in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians
Knowledge of ACS symptoms and intention to call an ambulance were lower among CALD respondents. The demographics of those with low ACS symptom knowledge and EMS calling intention were similar in the two groups. Future education efforts in Australia should focus on promoting ACS symptom knowledge and EMS use and should target these groups. Heart, lung and circulation 10 October 2024

Measurement of digoxin levels falsely affected by enzalutamide
Lessons from practice

  • Enzalutamide can result in false positive digoxin levels on specific digoxin assays, leading to misdiagnosis and potential mismanagement.
  • Understanding the laboratory assays available can help delineate between false toxic and true toxic results.
  • The quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analysis (QTOF‐MS) is a new technology that has the potential for rapid simultaneous targeted screening for over 1000 therapeutic drugs and metabolites, which can confirm the presence of enzalutamide and absence of digoxin.
  • The QTOF‐MS technology can assist with navigating uncertainty in medication non‐compliance, intentional, surreptitious or malicious intake of prescribed and non‐prescribed drugs.

MJA 6 May 2024

Non‐index hospital re‐admissions after hospitalisation with acute myocardial infarction and geographic remoteness, New South Wales, 2005–2020: a retrospective cohort study
The known: More than one in ten people hospitalised with acute myocardial infarction are re‐admitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge.
The new: In NSW, 42.3% of re‐admissions to hospital after acute myocardial infarction admissions during 2015–2020 were not to the initial treating hospital. Several factors influenced the likelihood of non‐index hospital admissions, including remoteness and the mixture of public and private health care. For people from regional and remote areas, non‐index hospital re‐admissions were associated with lower 30‐day mortality.
The implications: Our results are reassuring for people in regional and remote areas with acute myocardial infarction for whom returning to the specialised hospitals where they initially received treatment can be difficult. MJA 16 September 2024

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Treatment

Antiplatelet therapy after coronary artery bypass surgery: five year follow-up of randomised DACAB trial
Treatment with ticagrelor dual antiplatelet therapy for one year after surgery reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events at five years after coronary artery bypass grafting compared with aspirin monotherapy or ticagrelor monotherapy.  BMJ 11 June 2024

Factors associated with cardiac implantable electronic device‐related infections, New South Wales, 2016–21: a retrospective cohort study
The known:
Infections are serious complications of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures that cause significant morbidity and mortality.
The new: Of 37 675 people who underwent CIED procedures in NSW during 2016–21, 397 (1.1%) were hospitalised with related infections within twelve months, and 500 (1.3%) by the end of follow‐up (median, 27 months). For people receiving CIED replacements or upgrades or new cardiac resynchronisation therapy with defibrillators, the respective proportions were 1.5% and 2.5%. A range of patient, device, and procedural factors were associated with greater risk of CIED‐related infection.
The implications: Awareness of specific risk factors for CIED‐related infections is needed for decisions about CIED procedures and prophylactic measures. MJA 3 June 2024

First implantable cardiac defibrillator insertions in New South Wales, 2005–2020: an analysis of linked administrative data
The known:
Implantable cardioverter–defibrillators (ICDs) can avert sudden cardiac death in people who have experienced sudden cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular arrhythmia (secondary prevention) or in people otherwise at high risk of sudden cardiac death (primary prevention).
The new: In New South Wales, insertion of first ICDs was increasing before the COVID‐19 pandemic. First insertion rates are highest for men aged 70 years or older. Device‐related adverse effects led to hospital re‐admission of 12.1% of people within twelve months of receiving their first ICDs.
The implications: Better stewardship of ICD use would be appropriate. ICDs should be offered only to people for whom the potential benefit (prevention of sudden cardiac death) outweighs the potential harm (device‐related adverse events). MJA 18 March 2024

Revascularization in frail patients with acute coronary syndromes: a retrospective longitudinal study
Frailty is common in people presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), where cardiovascular causes are the principal mode of death. Revascularization is associated with short- and long-term survival benefits in people at intermediate and high risk of frailty after adjustment for measured and unmeasured confounders. European heart journal 16 November 2024

The effects of burst steroid therapy on short-term decongestion in acute heart failure patients with pro-inflammatory activation: A post hoc analysis of the CORTAHF randomized, open-label, pilot trial
Highlights

  • 7-day prednisone therapy reduces congestion in patients with AHF and inflammation.
  • Prednisone treatment improves QoL in patients with AHF and high inflammatory markers.
  • Prednisone improves congestion, with stronger effects in patients with high IL-6 levels.

Journal of cardiac failure 29 September 2024

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E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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E-Journals

This is just a sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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