AimsThe aim was to assess the effect of a telemonitoring programme vs. standard care (SC) in preventing all‐cause deaths or unplanned hospitalisations in heart failure (HF) at 18 months.Methods and resultsOSICAT was a randomised, multicentre, open‐label French study in 937 patients hospitalised for acute HF ≤12 months before inclusion. Patients were randomised to telemonitoring (daily body weight measurement, daily recording of HF symptoms, and personalised education) (n = 482) or to SC (n = 455). Mean ± standard deviation number of events for the primary outcome was 1.30 ± 1.85 for telemonitoring and 1.46 ± 1.98 for SC [rate ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–1.23; P = 0.80]. In New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV HF, median time to all‐cause death or first unplanned hospitalisation was 82 days in the telemonitoring group and 67 days in the SC group (P = 0.03). After adjustment for known predictive factors, telemonitoring was associated with a 21% relative risk reduction in first unplanned hospitalisation for HF [hazard ratio (HR) 0.79, 95% CI 0.62–0.99; P = 0.044); the relative risk reduction was 29% in patients with NYHA class III or IV HF (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53–0.95; P = 0.02), 38% in socially isolated patients (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39–0.98; P = 0.043), and 37% in patients who were ≥70% adherent to body weight measurement (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45–0.88; P = 0.006).ConclusionTelemonitoring did not result in a significantly lower rate of all‐cause deaths or unplanned hospitalisations in HF patients. The pre‐specified subgroup results suggest the telemonitoring approach improves clinical outcomes in selected populations but need further confirmation.

BackgroundAspecific scoring systems are used to predict the risk of death postsurgery in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of the present study was both to analyze the risk factors for in‐hospital death, which complicates surgery for IE, and to create a mortality risk score based on the results of this analysis.Methods and ResultsOutcomes of 361 consecutive patients (mean age, 59.1±15.4 years) who had undergone surgery for IE in 8 European centers of cardiac surgery were recorded prospectively, and a risk factor analysis (multivariable logistic regression) for in‐hospital death was performed. The discriminatory power of a new predictive scoring system was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Score validation procedures were carried out. Fifty‐six (15.5%) patients died postsurgery. BMI >27 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P=0.049), estimated glomerular filtration rate <50 mL/min (OR, 3.52; P<0.0001), New York Heart Association class IV (OR, 2.11; P=0.024), systolic pulmonary artery pressure >55 mm Hg (OR, 1.78; P=0.032), and critical state (OR, 2.37; P=0.017) were independent predictors of in‐hospital death. A scoring system was devised to predict in‐hospital death postsurgery for IE (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.780; 95% CI, 0.734–0.822). The score performed better than 5 of 6 scoring systems for in‐hospital death after cardiac surgery that were considered.ConclusionsA simple scoring system based on risk factors for in‐hospital death was specifically created to predict mortality risk postsurgery in patients with IE.

Background Acute heart failure (AHF) is a common serious condition that contributes to about 5% of all emergency hospital admissions in Europe. Hypothesis To assess the type and chronology of the first AHF symptoms before hospitalization and to examine the French healthcare system pathways before, during and after hospitalization. Material and Methods A retrospective observational study including patients hospitalized for AHF Results 793 patients were included, 59.0% were men, 45.6% identified heart failure (HF) as the main cause of hospitalization; 36.0% were unaware of their HF. Mean age was 72.9 ± 14.5 years. The symptoms occurring the most before hospitalization were dyspnea (64.7%) and lower limb edema (27.7%). Prior to hospitalization, 47% had already experienced symptoms for 15 days; 32% of them for 2 months. Referral to hospital was made by the emergency medical assistance service (SAMU, 41.6%), a general practitioner (GP, 22.3%), a cardiologist (19.5%), or the patient (16.6%). The modality of referral depended more on symptom acuteness than on type of symptoms. A sudden onset of AHF symptoms led to making an emergency call or to spontaneously attending an emergency room (ER), whereas cardiologists were consulted when symptoms had already been present for over 15 days. Cardiologists referred more patients to cardiology departments and fewer patients to the ER than general practitioners or the SAMU. Conclusion This study described the French healthcare system pathways before, during and after hospitalization AHF. AHF clinic network should be developed to provide adequate care for all HF patients and create awareness regarding AHF symptoms.

Introduction:We aimed to describe patients with coexisting infective endocarditis (IE) and bacterial meningitis (BM). Methods: We merged two large prospective cohorts, an IE cohort and a BM cohort, with only cases of definite IE and community-acquired meningitis. We compared patients who had IE and BM concurrently to patients with IE only and BM only. Results: Among the 1030 included patients, we identified 42 patients with IE-BM (4.1%). Baseline characteristics of patients with IE-BM were mostly similar to those of patients with IE, but meningitis was the predominant presentation at admission (39/42, 92.3%). Causative pathogens were predominantly Streptococcus pneumoniae (18/42, 42.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus (14/42, 33.3%). All pneumococcal IE were associated with BM (18/18). BM due to oral and group D streptococci, Streptococcus agalactiae, and S. aureus were frequently associated with IE Bruno Hoen and Xavier Duval contributed equally.The members of the AEPEI and the COMBAT study groups are listed in the Acknowledgements section.G. Be ´raud (&)