Eduardo Nunez - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Eduardo Nunez

International Journal of Cardiology, 2011

European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care, 2015

The additional diagnostic and prognostic information provided by delta high-sensitivity troponin ... more The additional diagnostic and prognostic information provided by delta high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) in patients with acute chest pain and hs-cTnT elevation remains unclear. The study group consisted of 601 patients presenting at the emergency department with non-ST-segment elevation acute chest pain and hs-cTnT elevation after two determinations (admission and within the first six hours). Maximum hs-cTnT and delta hs-cTnT (absolute or percentage change between the two measurements) were considered. Cutoff values were optimized using the quartile distribution for the endpoints. The endpoints were diagnostic (significant stenosis in the coronary angiogram) and prognostic (death or recurrent myocardial infarction at one year). Regarding the diagnostic endpoint, 114 patients showed a normal angiogram. Both maximum hs-cTnT ⩾80 ng/ml (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.8, P=0.005) and delta hs-cTnT ⩾20 ng/l (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.0, P=0.02) median value cutoffs were related to significant coron...

PloS one, 2015

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) have emerged as robust prognostic biomark... more Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) have emerged as robust prognostic biomarkers in heart failure. Experimental data have also suggested a potential molecular interaction between CA125 and Gal-3; however, the biological and clinical relevance of this interaction is still uncertain. We sought to evaluate, in patients admitted for acute heart failure, the association between plasma Gal-3 with all-cause mortality and the risk for rehospitalizations among high and low levels of CA125. We included 264 consecutive patients admitted for acute heart failure to the Cardiology Department in a third-level center. Both biomarkers were measured on admission. Negative binomial and Cox regression models were used to evaluate the prognostic effect of the interaction between Gal-3 and CA125 (dichotomized by its median) with hospital readmission and all-cause mortality, respectively. During a median follow-up of 2 years (IQR = 1-2.8), 108 (40.9%) patients deaths and 365 rehospital...

$Research paper thumbnail of Acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and long-term Readmisions$

European Journal of Heart Failure Supplements, 2008

Revista Española de Cardiología (English Edition), 2015

In patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes, low glycosylated hemoglobin has been related ... more In patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes, low glycosylated hemoglobin has been related with higher risk of mortality but information regarding morbidity is scarce. We sought to evaluate the association between glycosylated hemoglobin and 30-day readmission in patients with type 2 diabetes and acute heart failure. Glycosylated hemoglobin was measured before discharge in 835 consecutive patients with acute heart failure and type 2 diabetes. Cox regression analysis adapted for competing events was used. Mean (standard deviation) age was 72.9 (9.6) years and median glycosylated hemoglobin was 7.2% (6.5%-8.0%). Patients treated with insulin or insulin/sulfonylurea/meglitinides were 41.1% and 63.2% of the cohort, respectively. At 30 days post-discharge, 109 (13.1%) patients were readmitted. A multivariate analysis revealed that the effect of glycosylated hemoglobin on the risk of 30-day readmission was differentially affected by the type of treatment (P for interaction&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;.01). Glycosylated hemoglobin (per 1% decrease) was inversely associated with higher risk in those receiving insulin (hazard ratio = 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.86; P=.003) or insulin/sulfonylurea/meglitinides (hazard ratio = 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.80; P=.001). Conversely, glycosylated hemoglobin (per 1% increase) had no effect in non-insulin dependent diabetes (hazard ratio = 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.87-1.17; P=.897) or even a positive effect in patients not receiving insulin/sulfonylurea/meglitinides (hazard ratio = 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.22; P=.011). In acute heart failure, glycosylated hemoglobin showed to be inversely associated to higher risk of 30-day readmission in insulin-dependent or those treated with insulin/sulfonylurea/meglitinides. A marginal effect was found in the rest. Whether this association reflects a treatment-related effect or a surrogate of more advanced disease should be clarified in further studies.

$Research paper thumbnail of Physical therapy in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A systematic review$

European journal of preventive cardiology, Jan 8, 2014

About 50% of patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) which is e... more About 50% of patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) which is especially common in elderly people with highly prevalent co-morbid conditions. HFpEF is usually defined as an ejection fraction equal to or greater than 50%, although some studies have used a limit as low as 40%. The prevalence of this syndrome is expected to increase over the next decades. The associated impact on mortality and hospital readmissions has made of this entity a major public health issue. Despite the fact that mortality and re-hospitalisation rates of HFpEF are similar to the syndrome of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), currently there is no available evidence-based therapy as effective as is the case for HFrEF. Exercise intolerance is the principal clinical feature in HFpEF. The pathophysiological mechanisms behind impaired exercise capacity in these patients are complex and not yet fully elucidated. Current guidelines and consensus documents recommend the implem...

International Journal of Cardiology, 2015

European heart journal. Acute cardiovascular care, Jan 30, 2014

The changes in renal function that occurred in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (A... more The changes in renal function that occurred in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) are prevalent, and have multifactorial etiology and dissimilar prognosis. To what extent the prognostic role of such changes may vary according to the presence of renal insufficiency at admission is not clear. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether early creatinine changes (ΔCr) (admission to 48-72 hours) had an effect on 1-year mortality relative to the presence of renal insufficiency at admission. We included 705 consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of ADHF. Admission renal insufficiency was defined as serum creatinine ≥1.4mg/dl (A-RIcr) or estimated glomerular filtration rate <60ml/min/1.73m(2) (A-RIGFR). Appropriate survival regression techniques were used. The mean age was 72.9±11.4 years and 51.2% were males. Patients with admission renal insufficiency (24.7% and 42.8% for A-RIcr and A-RIGFR, respectively) had higher prevalence of extreme values in ΔCr in e...

$Research paper thumbnail of Effects of inspiratory muscle training in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction$

European journal of preventive cardiology, 2014

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is remarkably common in elderly people wit... more Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is remarkably common in elderly people with highly prevalent comorbid conditions. Despite its increasing in prevalence, there is no evidence-based effective therapy for HFpEF. We sought to evaluate whether inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves exercise capacity, as well as left ventricular diastolic function, biomarker profile and quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced HFpEF and nonreduced maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). A total of 26 patients with HFpEF (median (interquartile range) age, peak exercise oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and left ventricular ejection fraction of 73 years (66-76), 10 ml/min/kg (7.6-10.5) and 72% (65-77), respectively) were randomized to receive a 12-week programme of IMT plus standard care vs. standard care alone. The primary endpoint of the study was evaluated by positive changes in cardiopulmonary exercise parameters and distance walked in 6 minutes (6MWT). Secondary endpoints were chang...

Revista Española de Cardiología, 2010

$Research paper thumbnail of Valor pronóstico de la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca aguda$

Medicina Clínica, 2008

ABSTRACT Background and objective The relation between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ... more ABSTRACT Background and objective The relation between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and prognosis in patients with heart failure is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relation of LVEF in long-term mortality and readmissions for acute heart failure in a non-selected population of patients admitted with acute heart failure (AHF). Patients and method We included 507 patients admitted consecutively for AHF in a cardiology department of a single-centre. LVEF was assessed with transthoracic echocardiography during hospitalization. All-cause mortality and readmission for AHF were selected as primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. The independent association between LVEF and endpoints was assessed with traditional Cox regression analysis for all-cause mortality and Cox regression for competing risks for readmission for AHF. Results 47% of patients exhibited LVEF ≥ 50%. During a median follow-up of one year, 151 (30%) deaths and 139 (27%) readmissions for AHF were observed. Mortality rates were higher in patients with LVEF < 50% (34 vs 25%; p = 0.028) and no differences were observed for readmissions for AHF (26 vs 29%, p = 0.510). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for traditional risk factors, patients with LVEF < 50% did not show higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.57; p = 0.645) or readmissions for AHF (HR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.68-1.47; p = 1). Conclusions Patients with preserved LVEF constitute a substantial proportion of patients with AHF, exhibiting similar mortality and readmissions risks compared with patients with depressed LVEF.

International Journal of Cardiology, 2014

American Heart Journal, 2014

Geriatric conditions may predict outcomes beyond age and standard risk factors. Our aim was to in... more Geriatric conditions may predict outcomes beyond age and standard risk factors. Our aim was to investigate a wide spectrum of geriatric conditions in survivors after an acute coronary syndrome. A total of 342 patients older than 65 years were included. At hospital discharge, 5 geriatric conditions were evaluated: frailty (Fried and Green scores), physical disability (Barthel index), instrumental disability (Lawton-Brody scale), cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer questionnaire), and comorbidity (Charlson and simple comorbidity indexes). The outcomes were postdischarge mortality and the composite of death/myocardial infarction during a 30-month median follow-up. Seventy-four (22%) patients died and 105 (31%) suffered from the composite end point. Through univariable analysis, all individual geriatric indexes were associated with outcomes, mainly mortality. Of all of them, frailty using the Green score had the strongest discriminative accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.76 for mortality). After full adjustment including clinical and geriatric data, the Green score was the only independent predictive geriatric condition (per point; mortality: hazard ratio 1.25, 95% CI 1.15-1.36, P = .0001; composite end point: hazard ratio 1.16, 95% CI 1.09-1.24, P = .0001). A Green score ≥ 5 points was the strongest mortality predictor. The addition of the Green score to the clinical model improved discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.823 vs 0.846) and significantly reclassified mortality risk (net reclassification improvement 26.3, 95% CI 1.4-43.5; integrated discrimination improvement 4.0, 95% CI 0.8-9.0). The incremental predictive information was even greater over the GRACE score. Frailty captures most of the prognostic information provided by geriatric conditions after acute coronary syndromes. The Green score performed better than the other geriatric indexes.

Revista Española de Cardiología, 2011

International Journal of Cardiology, 2014

The use of loop diuretics in acute heart failure (AHF) is largely empirical and has been associat... more The use of loop diuretics in acute heart failure (AHF) is largely empirical and has been associated with renal function impairment by reducing renal perfusion but also renal improvement by decreasing renal venous congestion. Antigen carbohydrate 125 (CA125) has emerged as a proxy for fluid overload. We sought to evaluate whether the early changes in creatinine (ΔCr) induced by intravenous furosemide doses (ivFD) differ among clinical groups defined by overload status (CA125) and creatinine on admission (Cr). We included 526 consecutive patients admitted for AHF. All patients received intravenous furosemide for the first 48 hours. CA125 and Cr were dichotomized at 35 U/ml and 1.4 mg/dl, respectively, and grouped as follows: C1 [Cr &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;1.4, CA125 ≤ 35 (n=151)]; C2 [Cr &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;1.4, CA125 &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;35 (n=241)]; C3 [Cr ≥ 1.4, CA125 ≤ 35 (n=45)]; and C4 [Cr ≥ 1.4, CA125 &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;35 (n=89)]. Clinicians in charge of the management of patients were blind to CA125 values. ΔCr was estimated as the absolute difference in Cr between admission and 48-72 hours. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used for modeling purposes. The adjusted analysis showed a differential effect of ivFD on ΔCr. Per increase in 20mg/day of ivFD, the mean ΔCr was 0.010 mg/dl (p=0.464) in C1, 0.002 mg/dl (p=0.831) in C2, 0.045 mg/dl (p=0.032) in C3, and -0.045 mg/dl (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001) in C4 (omnibus p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001). A similar pattern of response was observed in a validation cohort. In patients with AHF, the magnitude and direction of ΔCr attributable to ivFD were differentially associated with values of CA125 and Cr on admission.

The American Journal of Cardiology, 2010

... Basem Azab MD a , Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author ... more ... Basem Azab MD a , Corresponding Author Contact Information , E-mail The Corresponding Author , Medhat Zaher MD b , Kera F. Weiserbs PhD a , Estelle Torbey MD a , Kenson Lacossiere MD a , Sainath Gaddam MD a , Romel Gobunsuy MD a , Sunil Jadonath MD a , Duccio ...