HEART HEALTH
Multinational study updates on chronic stable angina
In an international observational study of 32,691 patients, Mesnier et al. sought to describe the prevalence and time course of angina in patients with stable coronary artery disease. The group also aimed to uncover the natural history of angina pectoris and assess the consequences of angina evolution on cardiovascular outcomes like other randomized trials exploring antianginal treatments. Using the CLARIFY registry (Prospective Observational Longitudinal Registry of Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease), the study concluded that patients whose angina had resolved at 1 year with conservative management were not at higher risk of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction than those who never experienced angina. At 5 years, 33.9% of patients with angina at baseline still experienced anginal symptoms but 45.8% were event- and angina-free. Although longer trials are still necessary to test antianginal drugs, angina treatment will continue developing to improve the quality of life for patients.
Source: Circulation. 2021;144(7):512-523. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.054567. Epub 2021 Jul 15.
ALLOGRAFT DYSFUNCTION
Electronic nose detects lung transplant failure
An encouraging new tool in the pulmonology field emerged from a cross-sectional study of 91 patients approximately 3.5 years post lung transplant. Researchers from Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam in the Netherlands used eNose (SpiroNose, Breathomix) to detect volatile organic compounds patterns to help identify early-stage chronic allograft dysfunction (CLAD) in transplant patients. This unique development progresses the pulmonary research on chronic rejection. The electronic breathing nose was 86% accurate in detecting CLAD in transplant recipients. Cross-referencing previous diagnoses, the results are hopeful. The research group presented their successful findings from their 2020 study at the virtual European Respiratory Society International Congress. Study author Nynke Wijbenga, PhD, shared some final positive thoughts on the device: "Based on our data, we believe that exhaled breath analysis might have the potential to enable earlier diagnosis of chronic lung allograft dysfunction in the future."
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/927276
In November, celebrate
* American Diabetes Monthhttp://www.diabetes.org/community/american-diabetes-month
* COPD Awareness Monthhttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/copd-learn-more-b
* Lung Cancer Awareness Monthhttps://lcfamerica.org/get-involved/november-lung-cancer-awareness-month
* National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Monthhttps://alzfdn.org/alzawarenessmonth
* National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Monthhttps://pancreatic.org/november
NURSE STAFFING
Declare nurse staffing shortage a national crisis, urges ANA
Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses and healthcare staff are feeling the pressure more than ever to care for patients while maintaining appropriate staff levels. In a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra sent on September 1, the American Nurses Association (ANA), which represents over 4.2 million nurses, proposed helpful solutions to address the dire nurse staffing shortage crisis across the country. It starts with coming together to identify short- and long-term solutions to staffing challenges to handle the demand of the COVID-19 pandemic response. A few of those solutions include partnering with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to promote payment equity for nursing services, removing unnecessary regulatory barriers to APRN practice, and incentivizing future nurses with aid in obtaining and retaining staff. Nurses and healthcare professionals are also asking the nation to do their part by getting vaccinated or receiving the additional recommended boosters. "The nation's health care delivery systems are overwhelmed, and nurses are tired and frustrated as this persistent pandemic rages on with no end in sight," said ANA President Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, in a press release. "We cannot be a healthy nation until we commit to address underlying, chronic nursing workforce challenges that have persisted for decades."
Source: ANA, 2020. http://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2021/ana-urges-us-department-of-h.