Cardiac Resynchronisation Study
Heart FailureThis study aims to investigate the effect of a pacemaker device used in heart failure patients which is called Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT). Specifically the investigators aim to investigate if the CRT pacemaker has an effect on breathing stability in these patients and particularly breathing stability at night. Our theory is that the CRT pacemaker may improve the stability of breathing in patients with heart failure.
Sodium Channel Splicing in Heart Failure Trial
Atrial FibrillationAtrial Flutter1 moreThe purpose of this research is to see if investigators can detect truncated mRNA splice variants of the cardiac voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channel gene, SCN5A, in patients with a weak heart (Heart Failure) with or without an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and compare them to patients with a normal heart. Hypothesis: Patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction have increased abundances truncated mRNA splice variants of the SCN5A gene, which portends to sodium channel dysfunction and an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices (ICDs) who have experienced shock therapy have increased abundances of truncated mRNA splice variants of the SCN5A gene compared to similar congestive heart failure patients who have not experienced shock therapy.
Proactive Palliative Care for Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) and Their Families...
Heart FailureEnd-stage DiseaseThe primary aim of the study is to provide "proof of concept" to demonstrate that patients with Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) and caregivers are willing to be enrolled in a randomized trial of palliative care and that such a study is feasible. Secondary aims include demonstrating improvement in symptoms (physical and psychological) for intervention patients and their caregivers as compared to control patients and caregivers. The investigators will also examine differences in utilization of healthcare services, mortality, and completion of advance directives between intervention and control patients.
Effect of Quality Improvement Tools in Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Congestive Heart FailureHypothesis: Quality Improvement tools like "Heart Failure Discharge Checklist" which emphasizes on proper education to patients, ensure appropriate dose titration and counselling improve outcome in congestive heart failure (CHF).
Carvedilol Vascular Efficacy Trial
Heart FailureAcute Myocardial InfarctionBeta-blockers should be administered to all patients with heart failure stages II to IV NYHA. It should also be administered to patients with stage I after myocardial infarction. The low ejection fraction, especially after myocardial infarction is a strong indication for beta-blockers, as many studies indicate that administration of these drugs substantially reduces cardiovascular mortality. Beta-blockers reduce mortality and hospitalizations and improve the operational phase for all categories of patients with heart failure. Since beta-blockers, only carvedilol, metoprolol, and recently visoprololi nevimpololi have shown these benefits and thus, only those have to be administered. The clinical study Carvedia aims to observe and record the action of beta-blocker carvedilol on cardiac function in patients with heart failure or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction after acute myocardial infarction.
Centers for Education on Research and Therapeutics - Heart Failure: Targeted Intervention Study...
Heart FailureThe objective of this study is to evaluate whether a quarterly feedback, education and performance improvement site-based intervention has a greater impact on quality performance and adherence to evidenced-based guidelines than existing on-demand feedback. This study will use a randomized design to compare changes in quality performance and adherence to selected measures among hospitals using existing on-demand reports and general quality improvement (QI) efforts versus those receiving intensive, targeted QI feedback via reports, teleconferences, webinars, and specialized tool kits.
EVIdence Based TreAtment - Heart Failure (EVITA-HF)
Heart FailureEVITA should function as an idea supplier and should coordinate possible future studies. Other important tasks of the register are: (i) the establishment of recommendations for an optimal medicinal therapy (OMT) as well as for ICD- and CRT-treatment; (ii) the establishment of quality assurance measures, including monitoring of new therapy.
Aetna_Intel Medicare Home Biomonitoring Study
Congestive Heart FailureThe hypothesis is that use of Internet-connected home biomonitoring of weight, blood pressure and other indicators, in conjunction with nurse case management, will result in improved outcome for Medicare beneficiaries with with Congestive Heart Failure; compared to case management assistance without the biomonitoring device.
Nutritional Orientations and Adherence, Nutritional Status, Clinical and Life Quality Parameters...
NutritionHeart FailureThe nutritional systematic orientations in outpatients with heart failure throughout 1 year in comparison to conventional treatment is estimated to lead to higher nutritional treatment adherence and improved nutritional status, clinical and life quality parameters.
Clinical Assessment of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and/or Chronic...
COPDHeart Failure1 moreCigarette smoking, the major risk factor for COPD, causes not only airway and lung inflammation, but also systemic effects. These systemic effects of smoking could substantially contribute to the development of chronic diseases, other than COPD, particularly chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of this project is to assess the frequency and severity of CHF and COPD in outpatients with history of smoking referred to Hospital because of dyspnea and/or chronic cough.