View clinical trials related to Heart Diseases.
Filter by:Anti-inflammatory tablets (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) continue to be used commonly worldwide to relieve pain caused by arthritis. Likewise, aspirin is used by many patients in order to prevent blood clots. Despite their desired benefits, these medicines can cause internal bleeding from the digestive system. The source of this bleeding can be obvious (overt), or obscure and thought to come from the small intestine. Obscure bleeding can show as anemia due to lack of iron in the blood. Small intestine ulcers are now easily diagnosed using an endoscope the size of a big pill (video capsule endoscopy). Small bowel ulcers are not related to stomach acid and therefore do not heal using remedies usually taken to stop acid formation. A different drug, misoprostol, consists of a chemical (prostaglandin) that is usually lacking in patients using aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs. Misoprostol is licenced to heal stomach and duodenal ulcers in patients using these drugs. Our hypothesis is that misoprostol might be effective in healing small bowel ulcers as suggested by pilot studies; however, such works only included small numbers of patients, did not include control groups and both patients and investigators knew the nature of the tablets used. To test this hypothesis, we propose to compare misoprostol to a dummy tablet. The numbers of subjects to be studied have been calculated using established statistical methods
This multi-centre study will provide sound, generalizable data on the effectiveness of a POC-based algorithm to determine to what extent this guideline can reduce blood product transfusions. Investigators will study outcomes in 7000 patients undergoing heart surgery at 10 participating hospitals. The proposed trial addresses several important research and clinical issues and has the potential to markedly improve the transfusion management and surgical care in general of cardiac surgery patients. The intervention will be a novel POC-based algorithm that has been shown in a pilot study by us to be associated with a substantial reduction in blood product transfusions. The algorithm will employ viscoelastic and aggregometric POC-tests and an objective measure of blood loss. The primary outcome will be avoidance of red blood cell transfusion during hospitalization. The study has a 90% power to detect a 12% increase in avoidance rate. Secondary outcomes will include avoidance of red blood cell use and other blood products (plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate), units of blood products transfused, and adverse clinical outcomes related to transfusion (acute kidney injury, infections, and death). Data will also be collected for future health-economics analyses. Largely due to the limitations of existing evidence, however, such algorithms are rarely used in clinical practice. The proposed trial will provide sound, generalizable data on the effectiveness of a POC-based algorithm to guide their future use. An integrated blood management algorithm that employs POC coagulation tests will reduce blood product transfusions in cardiac surgery, thereby improving clinical outcomes. Does an integrated blood transfusion algorithm that employs POC coagulation tests applied across a network of hospitals reduce blood transfusions and associated adverse outcomes in cardiac surgery?
The six-minute walk test is an established submaximal exercise test. Its role in examination of grown-up patients with congenital heart disease (GUCH) is not studied so far. Objective of this study was a comparison of the 6MWT with other established parameters of functional capacity, in grown-up patients with GUCH.
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there are genetic differences between patients with rheumatic heart disease and members of the general population.
In a randomized controlled trial the investigators intended to evaluate the effect of a telephone based peer support intervention on depressed or anxious women with coronary heart disease (CHD). The investigators intended to include 198 depressed or anxious women aged over 18 years with CHD. Participants were randomized to intervention (IG) or waiting list (WL). IG was offered immediate telephone-based contact to peer counselors while WL received the offer with a 6-month delay. All participants got at least one telephone call by a clinical psychologist (study information, feedback about the individual level of distress, proposal to get help). Main outcome variables were depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and perceived social support (F-SozU K-14). In an additional quasi-experimental trial, the investigators included 11 peer counselors and 11 matched controls not taking part in the intervention. Main outcome variables were mood states (POMS) and perceived social support (F-SozU K-14).
Specific cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart attack, have been shown to vary by ethnic group. However, less is known about differences between ethnic groups and a wider range of cardiovascular diseases. This study will examine differences between ethnic groups (White, Black, South Asian and Mixed/Other) and first lifetime presentation of twelve different cardiovascular diseases. This information may help to predict the onset of cardiovascular diseases and inform disease prevention strategies. The hypothesis is that different ethnic groups have differing associations with the range of cardiovascular diseases studied.
Exercise therapy increase functional capacity improving the morbidity and mortality of patients with cardiovascular disease. Moderate continuous training is the best established training modality for this patients. However, a body of evidence has begun to emerge demonstrating that high intensity interval training obtained better results in terms of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to determine the effect of two types of exercise training: moderate continuous training vs high interval training on functional capacity and quality of life as well as verify the safety in its application. We included 72 patients with coronary artery disease by assigning one of the training modality for 8 weeks. We analyzed cyclo-ergo-spirometry data, aspect related to quality of life as well as a record of adverse events.
The investigator goal is to test a new device to see if it can provide continuous and simultaneous monitoring of heart and lung function.
The purpose of this study is to develop a tai-chi based exercise program designed for patients who recently had a heart attack and do not wish, or are unable, to attend traditional cardiac rehabilitation.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The disease is characterized by a high mortality rate (about 40%) and a course continuously altered by lifestyle, gene polymorphisms and therapeutic treatment. Fasting concentration of blood lipids and lipoproteins only partially express the complex relation between dyslipidemia and CHD. Following the indication stated nearly 40 years ago by Zilversmit, there is now accumulating evidence that postprandial lipemia plays an important role in the atherogenic process [ref Kolovou], particularly that most hours of the day are spent in the postprandial state. Furthermore, the increases in blood glucose and triglycerides (TGs) following meals stimulate oxidative stress, impair endothelial function, and rises the inflammatory factors that lead to atherosclerosis. Previous studies reported on postprandial lipemia in subjects with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, elderly, patients with CHD and others. However, currently the estimation of cardiovascular disease risk is based on fasting blood values of triglycerides (TGs) and inflammatory markers. The effect of postprandial atherogenic factors on the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis is actually not known.The Hellenic Postprandial Lipemia Study (HPLS) was designed to study the consequences of postprandial lipemia in CRP as inflammatory marker in high-risk adults. Furthermore, the HPLS study will investigate whether hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic or antihypertensive medication may lessen the exaggerated postprandial lipemia as well as the rest abnormal postprandial metabolism. Finally, the HPLS study is intending to evaluate the influence of gene polymorphisms involved in lipid and glucose metabolism on postprandial lipemia and cardiovascular outcomes.