LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tip Highlights:
- Women may not fare as well as men after ICD implantation
- Heart failure patients may have increased cancer risk
- Public access to automated external defibrillators save school children's lives in Japan
NOTE ALL TIMES ARE PACIFIC. ALL TIPS ARE EMBARGOED UNTIL THE TIME OF PRESENTATION OR 3 P.M. PT/ 6 P.M. ET EACH DAY, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. For more information Nov. 3-7, call the AHA News Media Staff Office at the Los Angeles Convention Center: (213) 743-6205. Before or after these dates, call the Communications Office in Dallas at (214) 706-1173. For public inquiries, call (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721).
EMBARGO: 9 a.m. PT/ 12 p.m. ET
Abstract 9310 (Room 402)
Women may not fare as well as men after ICD implantation
Women may be more likely than men to have complications from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), hospital readmission for heart failure and death within six months of implantation, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012.
ICDs are small devices placed in the chest to treat irregular or rapid heartbeats and prevent sudden cardiac death.
Researchers compared results after ICD implantation in 2006-09 in 38,912 patients (25 percent women).
Complications, including surgical problems or device problems requiring intervention within 30 or 90 days of implantation, were notably higher among women. Women were 40 percent more likely to die or have complications and 34 percent more likely to be readmitted to the hospital for heart failure within six months of implantation.
Whether these gender differences impact the benefit of the treatment in women requires more study, researchers said.
Embargo: 9:30 a.m. PT/ 12:30 p.m. ET
Abstract 11697 (Kentia Hall)
Heart failure patients may have increased cancer risk
People with heart failure were 68 percent more likely than community controls to develop cancer, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012.
Cancer also increased heart failure patients' death risk by 56 percent in this study sample.
Researchers compared cancer and death rates among 961 newly diagnosed heart failure patients with community controls.
They found that patients with heart failure had similar rates of cancer at the time of heart failure diagnosis. However, during follow-up of patients without prior cancer diagnosis and after adjusting for other diseases, patients with heart failure had a significantly increased risk of cancer. Cancer rates in heart failure patients were similar among men and women, but trended stronger in people younger than 75 years.
EMBARGO: 11:15 a.m. PT/ 2:15 p.m. ET
Abstract 11175 (Room 518)
Public access to automated external defibrillators save school-age children's lives in Japan
Increased access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in Japan is saving the lives of more school-age children having cardiac arrests, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012.
Researchers studied out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in 2005-09 among Japanese elementary and middle school-age children who received resuscitation by emergency responders. In Japan, 72 percent of elementary schools and almost 90 percent of middle schools have AEDs.
They found:
- Among 230 children eligible for the study, 29 had received a first shock by a layperson. Of those, 55.2 percent had favorable recoveries after their cardiac arrests.
- During the four-year study, the percentage of eligible patients initially shocked by a bystander increased from 2.4 percent to 20.5 percent.
- The percentage of patients with favorable recoveries after the arrests also increased from 12.2 percent to 36.4 percent.
- The time from the child collapsing to receiving shock from a defibrillator was shorter when bystanders were able to access and use the devices.
The American Heart Association recommends public AED programs in locations where there's a reasonable likelihood of sudden cardiac arrest happening around bystanders. Schools may decide whether to implement an AED program, based on the cost and the number of adult employees, volunteers and visitors; and based on how easy it is for emergency medical services to access their campus.
Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
Follow news from the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012 via Twitter: @HeartNews.
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at the Los Angeles Convention Center: (213) 743-6205
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