Objective-To study the eVects of a management programme on hospitalisation and health care costs one year after admission for heart failure. Design-Prospective, randomised trial. Setting-University hospital with a primary catchment area of 250 000 inhabitants. Patients-190 patients (aged 65-84 years, 52.3% men) hospitalised because of heart failure. Intervention-Two types of patient management were compared. The intervention group received education on heart failure and self management, with follow up at an easy access, nurse directed outpatient clinic for one year after discharge. The control group was managed according to routine clinical practice. Conclusions-A management programme for patients with heart failure discharged after hospitalisation reduces health care costs and the need for readmission. (Heart 1998;80:442-446)

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Background-The transmembrane sodium/hydrogen exchanger maintains myocardial cell pH integrity during myocardial ischemia but paradoxically may precipitate cell necrosis. The development of cariporide, a potent and specific inhibitor of the exchanger, prompted this investigation of the potential of the drug to prevent myocardial cell necrosis. Methods and Results-A total of 11 590 patients with unstable angina or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) or undergoing high-risk percutaneous or surgical revascularization were randomized to receive placebo or 1 of 3 doses of cariporide for the period of risk. The trial failed to document benefit of cariporide over placebo on the primary end point of death or MI assessed after 36 days. Doses of 20 and 80 mg every 8 hours had no effect, whereas a dose of 120 mg was associated with a 10% risk reduction (98% CI 5.5% to 23.4%, Pϭ0.12). With this dose, benefit was limited to patients undergoing bypass surgery (risk reduction 25%, 95% CI 3.1% to 41.5%, Pϭ0.03) and was maintained after 6 months. No effect was seen on mortality. The rate of Q-wave MI was reduced by 32% across all entry diagnostic groups (2.6% versus 1.8%, Pϭ0.03), but the rate of non-Q-wave MI was reduced only in patients undergoing surgery (7.1% versus 3.8%, Pϭ0.005). There were no increases in clinically serious adverse events. Conclusions-No significant benefit of cariporide could be demonstrated across a wide range of clinical situations of risk.The trial documented safety of the drug and suggested that a high degree of inhibition of the exchanger could prevent cell necrosis in settings of ischemia-reperfusion. (Circulation. 2000;102:3032-3038.)

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Knowledge correlates to patient behaviour with respect to some risk factors, which should be recognised in preventive programs.