Topics
Cardiovascular diseases
How well do NSW hospital data identify cases of heart failure?
To the Editor: Large administrative datasets are increasingly being used for health research; validation studies are critical to understanding data quality, in particular that coding accurately reflects the clinical condition under study. We compared heart failure coding and the associated comorbidity burden using the New South Wales Admitted Patient Data Collection (APDC) with the clinical data in patient medical records (the “gold standard”). The APDC ...
Jane Robertson · Sallie-Anne Pearson · John R Attia
Tachycardia of unknown Origin
A previously unknown effect of watching the State of Origin
Michael H Toon BPharm, MB BS(Hons) · Martin R Brown MB BS, MRCP, FRACP
Sotalol-associated cardiogenic shock in a patient with asymptomatic transient rate-related cardiomyopathy
The prescribing information for sotalol does not warn of the risk of life-threatening cardiogenic shock when this drug is used in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, and should probably be amended.
Simon D Leslie
Update on the management of atrial fibrillation
Part 5 of our Cardiology series provides a practical review of the issues faced in managing patients with AF, including considerations in deciding between rate control and rhythm control approaches, the role of catheter ablation, and the use of warfarin and the new oral anticoagulant drugs.
John V Amerena MB BS, FRACP, FCSANZ · Tomos E Walters MB BS · Sam Mirzaee MD · Jonathan M Kalman MB BS, PhD, FRACP
Arrhythmia management distilled
The authors of this book work in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, and are well known to and respected by many Australian cardiologists working in the field of cardiac arrhythmia. The first edition was published in 2010. In view of the rapid advances in arrhythmia management, particularly the new medication and guidelines for management of atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as in catheter ablation, ...
William F Heddle
Management of heart failure
The fourth part of our Cardiology series provides the latest clinical information on pharmacological and other therapies for a complex clinical syndrome that affects about half a million Australians.
Henry Krum MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Andrea Driscoll MEd, PhD
Cardiology in the real world and whole world
Australia’s struggles and progress with cardiovascular disease are both a burden and an opportunity
Ruth Armstrong
Developing a global agenda for action on cardiovascular diseases
Australian health policy can and should address, as a core aim, cardiovascular health in less economically advanced nations
Stephen R Leeder MD, PhD, FRACP
The SNAPSHOT ACS study: getting the big picture on acute coronary syndrome
A “real world” audit comparing patient characteristics, patterns of investigation, treatment and patient outcomes can highlight variations in care and areas for improvement
Peter S MacDonald MB BS, MD, PhD · Phillip J Newton RN, BN(Hons), PhD · Patricia M Davidson RN, BA, PhD
Replacing warfarin for better or worse: identifying patient factors and future directions
In light of the increasing utility of novel oral anticoagulants, strategies to improve anticoagulation management in patients with atrial fibrillation must take patient factors into account
Basia O Diug BBioMedSci(Hons) · Judy A Lowthian PhD, MPH, BAppSc(SpPath) · Michael Dooley BPharm, GradDipHospPharm
The impact of trans fat regulation on social inequalities in coronary heart disease in Australia
To the Editor: The evidence that industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs) increase the risk of coronary heart disease is compelling, and it is widely agreed that their use in food products should be minimised.1-3 Dietary TFAs are generally found in higher quantities in “unhealthy” food products,4 consumption of which is also found to follow predictable socio-demographic patterns.5 Thus, although the average TFA intake for ...
Kathryn Backholer · Anna Peeters
A case of spontaneous renal infarction secondary to an accessory renal artery thrombosis
Renal infarction is a rare cause of abdominal or flank pain. This is the first reported case of an acute thrombosis in an accessory renal artery causing a renal infarction.
Elizabeth C Travis · Vicki A Quincey
Contemporary themes in acute coronary syndrome management: from acute illness to secondary prevention
The third part of our Cardiology series provides an overview of the current key issues in the provision of ACS care, including the importance of early diagnosis of ischaemia; risk stratification; provision of timely, appropriate and evidence-based management; and prevention of recurrent events
David B Brieger MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Julie Redfern BSc, BAppSc(Physio), PhD
Acute coronary syndrome care across Australia and New Zealand: the SNAPSHOT ACS study
Objectives: To characterise management of suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Australia and New Zealand, and to assess the application of recommended therapies according to published guidelines.Design, setting and patients: All patients hospitalised with suspected or confirmed ACS between 14 and 27 May 2012 were enrolled from participating sites in Australia and New Zealand, which were identified through public records and health networks. Descriptive and ...
Derek P Chew MB BS, MPH, FRACP · John French MB BS, FRACP · Tom G Briffa PhD · Christopher J Hammett MB ChB, MD, FRACP · Christopher J Ellis BM, FRACP, FCSANZ · Isuru Ranasinghe MB ChB, MMed(ClinEpi), FRACP · Bernadette J Aliprandi-Costa RN, BHSc · Carolyn M Astley RN, BN, DrPH · Fiona M Turnbull MB ChB, PhD, FAFPHM · Jeffrey Lefkovits MB BS, FRACP · Julie Redfern PhD, BAppSc(Physio)(Hons), BSc · Bridie Carr BA, SRN, OND · Greg D Gamble MSc · Karen J Lintern MNurs, BHlth(ClinStud), CCC · Tegwen E J Howell BEcon, MEcSt · Hella Parker RN · Rosanna Tavella BSc(Hons), PhD · Stephen G Bloomer PhD, HPM · Karice K Hyun BSc, MAppStats · David B Brieger MB BS, PhD, FRACP
Improving cardiovascular disease management in Australia: NPS MedicineWise
Over the past decade, NPS MedicineWise implemented several educational programs to improve cardiovascular management in primary care. This study finds that four such programs had small but clinically relevant beneficial effects.
Svetla V Gadzhanova PhD, MSc · Elizabeth E Roughead PhD, MAppSc, BPharm · Mark J Bartlett BSc, MPH, GradDipAppEpi
Utility of auscultatory screening for detecting rheumatic heart disease in high-risk children in Australia’s Northern Territory
Even in the hands of experts, listening through a stethoscope is not the best way to screen for rheumatic heart disease in Indigenous children, according to this cross-sectional screening survey of more than 1000 children
Kathryn V Roberts MPHTM, FRACP, MB BS · Alex D H Brown BMed, MPH, PhD · Graeme P Maguire PhD, FRACP, MB BS · David N Atkinson MPH, MB BS · Jonathan R Carapetis PhD, MB BS, BMedSci
Utility of exercise electrocardiography testing for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in a remote Australian setting
Objective: To determine the utility of exercise electrocardiography testing (EET) in evaluating suspected coronary artery disease in a remote Australian setting where a significant proportion of patients are Indigenous Australians.Design: Retrospective cohort study with grouping based on EET results.Patients and setting: 268 patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent EET at Alice Springs Hospital — a specialist teaching hospital ...
Patricia N Hurune MB ChB · Justine M O’Shea MB BS · Graeme P Maguire MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Saliya S Hewagama MB BS, FRACP
Phenytoin: an old but effective antiarrhythmic agent for the suppression of ventricular tachycardia
Clinical record A 73-year-old man presented with recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) on a background of severe, non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction, 20%) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Over the previous 6 months, he had frequent appropriate ICD shocks for VT after unsuccessful antitachycardia pacing. A coronary angiogram was normal. Amiodarone had been successful in reducing VT burden and ICD shocks, but was ...
Louis W Wang BSc(Med), MB BS, MM · Rajesh N Subbiah MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Michael J Kilborn BM BCh, DPhil, FRACP · Richard F Dunn MB BS, FRACP, FCSANZ
The approach to patients with possible cardiac chest pain
Part 2 of the MJA’s Cardiology series focuses on assessing patients with possible cardiac chest pain, including risk stratification, cardiac biomarkers and the role of non-invasive testing for myocardial ischaemia and coronary artery disease.
William A Parsonage DM, MRCP, FRACP · Louise Cullen MB BS, FACEM · John F Younger MB ChB, MRCP, FRACP
The changing face of cardiovascular care in Australia
Introducing the MJA’s new Cardiology series, which aims to review current and future challenges and innovations in cardiac care.
Derek P B Chew MB BS, MPH, FRACP · Ian A Scott MB BS, FRACP, MHA
Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: new guidelines, technologies and therapies
Moving away from managing isolated risk factors towards assessment and management of absolute cardiovascular disease risk will target the patients most in need of medication and avoid medicalisation of the low-risk population.
Mark R Nelson MB BS(Hons), FRACGP, PhD · Jennifer A Doust BM BS, FRACGP, PhD
J-curve revisited: cardiovascular benefits of moderate alcohol use cannot be dismissed
The J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular risk has been studied and confirmed in multiple studies. Whether it should influence the formulation of public policy on alcohol consumption is another question.
Peter L Thompson MD, FRACP, FACC
Screening, referral and treatment for depression in patients with coronary heart disease
The 2003 National Heart Foundation of Australia position statement on “stress” and coronary heart disease found depression to be an important risk factor. This consensus statement updates the evidence on depression in patients with coronary heart disease, and provides guidance for health professionals on screening and treatment.
David M Colquhoun MB BS, FRACP, FCSANZ · Stephen J Bunker RN, PhD · David M Clarke PhD, FRACGP, FRANZCP · Nick Glozier MB BS, FRANZCP, PhD · David L Hare DPM, FRACP, FCSANZ · Ian B Hickie MD, FRANZCP, FASSA · James Tatoulis MB BS, MD, FRACS · David R Thompson MA, PhD, FRCN · Geoffrey H Tofler MB BS, MD, FRACP · Alison Wilson MBA · Maree G Branagan MPH
Is there really misuse and abuse of dabigatran?
We have a continued responsibility to ensure that the benefits of new drugs demonstrated in randomised controlled trials are translated into clinical practice.
John W Eikelboom MB BS, MSc · Graeme J Hankey MD, FRACP, FRCP
The role of depression in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
To the Editor: We would like to add a cautionary note to O’Neil’s support for the inclusion of “depression and other psychosocial factors” in the updated National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance guidelines for assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Her statement “it is now clear that depression is also an important risk factor for CVD” is premature.1 Different authors have challenged the suggested relationship and, given ...
Hans G Stampfer · Dana A Hince · Simon B Dimmitt