BACKGROUND: Respiratory induced heart rate variability (rHRV) was analysed in mechanically ventilated patients during two levels of sedation and brain death. Our aim was to determine whether rHRV can distinguish between different levels of sedation and especially between brain death and sedated patients. METHODS: In this study 30 critically ill and 23 brain death patients were included and four respiratory rates of 15, 12, 8 and 6 breaths per minute, each lasting 5 min were used. Two sedation levels, basal and deep, were performed in the critically ill patients. Heart rate and blood pressure changes induced by ventilation were subsequently detected and analysed. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in rHRV and rHRV adjusted for tidal volume (rHRV/VT) between critically ill and brain death patients during slow breathing at 6 or 8 breaths per minute. The rHRV at 6 breaths per minute was below 15 ms in all brain death subjects except one. The rHRV/VT was lower than 25 ms/l at both 6 and 8 breaths per minute in all brain death patients and simultaneously at 75% of non-brain death patients was higher (specificity 1, sensitivity 0.24). Differences in rHRV and rHRV/VTs between basal and deep sedation were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The main clinical benefit of the study is the finding that rHRV and rHRV/VT during 6 and 8 breaths per minute can differentiate between critically ill and brain death patients. An rHRV/VT exceeding 25 ms/l reliably excludes brain death.

• Klíčová slova
• Brain death, Critical illness, Heart rate variability, Mechanical ventilation, Respiratory rate variability, Sedation,
• MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• dechová frekvence * MeSH
• dechový objem * MeSH
• diferenciální diagnóza MeSH
• kritický stav * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mechanika dýchání MeSH
• mozková smrt diagnóza   patofyziologie   MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• srdeční frekvence * MeSH
• umělé dýchání metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

Heart rate variability (HRV) computed from 24-hour ECG recording has been associated with an increased risk of malignant arrhythmias after MI. To make HRV analysis more practical, we evaluated prospectively prognostic role of short-term HRV in comparison with other risk stratifiers. Study population consisted of 48 patients with acute MI (mean age 59.6 +/- 10.6 years, 38 males), who were off betablockers. All patients underwent 30-minute ECG recording at supine rest on day 2 and 5 after admission, between 9 and 11 a.m. One ECG channel from a commercial bedside monitor was A/D converted, and subsequently analysed using a purpose-built interactive software. Short-term HRV was computed as the standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) as well as the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals (rMSSD). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, in %) was determined using 2D-echocardiography. During one-year follow up, 5 patients (10.4%) died of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and one of non-cardiac death. Subjects who died of SCD presented with significantly lower SDNN parameter on day 5 (28.8 +/- 4.3 vs 39 +/- 18.4, p < 0.006) and similar trend was revealed for rMSSD (12.22.8 vs 24.321, N.S.). Similarly, LVEF was significantly decreased in these patients (35.4 +/- 5.5 vs 49.7 +/- 11.3, p < 0.007). Positive predictive accuracy for prediction of SCD was 17% for rMSSD, 20% for SDNN, 29% for LVEF, and 40% for combination of depressed SDNN (< or = 33 ms) and LVEF (< or = 40). In conclusion, depressed HRV computed from short-term predischarge ECG recordings obtained under standardised conditions is associated with an increased risk of SCD. Such predictive power is substantially increased in combination with depressed LVEF, and this approach seems to be effective as a simple screening method to identify high risk subjects.

• MeSH
• elektrokardiografie MeSH
• infarkt myokardu komplikace   patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• náhlá srdeční smrt etiologie   MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• srdeční arytmie komplikace   MeSH
• srdeční frekvence * MeSH
• tepový objem MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major medical, economic and social problem. The estimated annual number of SCDs is approximately 4 million cases worldwide. Approximately 50% of SCDs are unexpected first manifestations of cardiac disease. The survival rate after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is low even in countries with the most advanced health care systems. It all emphasizes the importance of prevention, in which implantable cardioverter-defibrillators play a dominant role. However, our ability to recognize high-risk patients remains insufficient. Moreover, a declining rate of shockable rhythm as the initial recording has been reported in the last decades. Despite numerous SCD studies and undisputed progress, there are still many unanswered questions.

• Klíčová slova
• implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, mechanism, prevention, risk stratification, sudden cardiac death,
• MeSH
• defibrilátory implantabilní * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• míra přežití MeSH
• náhlá srdeční smrt etiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• zástava srdce mimo nemocnici * etiologie   terapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

UNLABELLED: We analysed respiratory induced heart rate and blood pressure variability in mechanically ventilated patients with different levels of sedation and central nervous system activity. Our aim was to determine whether it is possible to distinguish different levels of sedation or human brain activity from heart rate and blood pressure. We measured 19 critically ill and 15 brain death patients ventilated at various respiratory frequencies - 15, 12, 8 and 6 breaths per minute. Basal and deeper sedation was performed in the critically ill patients. We detected and analysed heart rate and blood pressure parameters induced by ventilation. RESULTS: Respiratory induced heart rate variability is the unique parameter that can differentiate between brain death patients and sedated critically ill patients. Significant differences exist, especially during slow deep breathing with a mean period of 10 seconds. The limit values reflecting brain death are: baroreflex lower than 0.5 ms/mmHg and tidal volume normalised heart rate variability lower than 0.5 ms/ml. Reduced heart rate variability parameters of brain death patients remain unchanged even after normalisation to respiration volume. However, differences between basal and deep sedation do not appear significant on any parameter.

• MeSH
• dechový objem fyziologie   MeSH
• diastola fyziologie   MeSH
• dýchání * MeSH
• krevní tlak fyziologie   MeSH
• kritický stav * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozková smrt patofyziologie   MeSH
• srdeční frekvence fyziologie   MeSH
• systola fyziologie   MeSH
• umělé dýchání * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

INTRODUCTION: The impact of conditions that partly or indirectly contribute to drinking-related mortality is usually underestimated. We investigate all alcohol-related multiple (underlying and contributory) causes of death and compare mortality distributions in countries with different levels and patterns of drinking. METHOD: Analysis of population-level mortality data for persons aged 20 and over in Austria, Czechia, Poland and Spain. Age-standardised death rates and standardised ratios of multiple to underlying cause were calculated for alcohol-related causes of death. RESULTS: Multiple-cause mortality ranged from 20 to 58 deaths per 100,000 for men and from 5 to 16 per 100,000 for women. Liver diseases were the most common underlying and multiple causes, but mental and behavioural disorders were the second or third, depending on country and sex, most prevalent multiple mentions. Two distinct age patterns of alcohol-related mortality were observed: in Czechia and Poland an inverted-U distribution with a peak at the age of 60-64, in Austria and Spain a distribution increasing with age and then levelling off for older age groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The importance of alcohol-related conditions that indirectly impact mortality can be re-assessed with the use of contributory mentions. The multiple-cause-of-death approach provides convergent results for countries characterised by similar patterns of alcohol consumption. Multiple-cause mortality was almost double the level of mortality with alcohol as the underlying cause, except in Poland. Mental and behavioural disorders were mostly certified as contributory to other, non-alcohol-related underlying causes of death.

• Klíčová slova
• Europe, alcohol, causes of death, mortality, multiple causes of death,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mortalita * MeSH
• pití alkoholu * MeSH
• příčina smrti MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Polsko MeSH

• Klíčová slova
• INFANT MORTALITY *, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM/diseases *,
• MeSH
• dýchací soustava * MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• kojenecká mortalita * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoc * MeSH
• nemoci dýchací soustavy * MeSH
• poruchy dýchání * MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• Klíčová slova
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, Risk stratification, Sudden cardiac death,
• MeSH
• celosvětové zdraví MeSH
• defibrilátory implantabilní * MeSH
• hypertrofická kardiomyopatie komplikace   terapie   MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• náhlá srdeční smrt epidemiologie   etiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• dopisy MeSH

BACKGROUND: The elderly are living longer and causes of death are shifting. At the same time, autopsy rate is at, or near, its lowest in history, compounded by an even lower interest in geriatric autopsies. Thus, the prevalent cause of death in this age group remains poorly studied. METHODS: In a retrospective study, the autopsy protocols of 440 70-year-old or older patients from the Houston Veterans Affairs Hospital and 321 80-year-old or older patients from the II*Institute of Pathology in Prague (Czech Republic) were reviewed in order to establish a correct cause of death. The autopsy diagnosis was correlated with the prosectors' description of pathological findings in the protocol. In questionable cases or discrepancies, the patient's clinical chart and/or the histological autopsy slides were also reviewed. RESULTS: The distribution of death by infections and cardiac disorders each accounted for one-third of all deaths. Congestive heart failure prevailed in the over 80-year-olds, and myocardial infarcts prevailed in the younger patients. The number of deaths due to malignancy dropped from 25% in those 70-79 years old to about 10% in the elder patients. Central nervous system disorders were frequent as an underlying disease, but were not common as a cause of death. The findings were similar in both series, thus supporting their accuracy. CONCLUSION: Our findings bring into question the accuracy of reported causes of death in the elderly. With increasing age, differences appear in the levels of mortality and morbidity for various disease categories. This study underlines the need for more baseline data for older people which can be obtained only by more and well-performed autopsies.

• MeSH
• geriatrie * MeSH
• infekce mortalita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mortalita * MeSH
• nádory mortalita   MeSH
• nemoci centrálního nervového systému mortalita   MeSH
• nemoci srdce mortalita   MeSH
• příčina smrti MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Spojené státy americké MeSH

PURPOSE: The places of death for people who died of suicide were compared across eight countries and socio-demographic factors associated with home suicide deaths identified. METHODS: Death certificate data were analyzed; using multivariable binary logistic regression to determine associations. RESULTS: National suicide death rates ranged from 1.4 % (Mexico) to 6.4 % (South Korea). The proportion of suicide deaths occurring at home was high, ranging from 29.9 % (South Korea) to 65.8 % (Belgium). Being older, female, widowed/separated, highly educated and living in an urban area were risk factors for home suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Home suicide deaths need specific attention in prevention programs.

• Klíčová slova
• Death certificate data, International comparison, Location of death, Suicide,
• MeSH
• celosvětové zdraví statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• příčina smrti MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• sebevražda statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• úmrtní listy * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Heart Rate Turbulence (HRT) is a newly described physiological chronotropic response of sinus rhythm following a single ventricular premature beat (VPB) consisting of early acceleration and later deceleration of heart rate. Using two large independent cohorts of postinfarction patients, the absence of HRT was retrospectively validated to be a potent multivariate risk predictor, stronger than a number of currently available risk stratifiers. Although exact pathophysiological mechanism of HRT remains speculative, it is now believed that HRT arises from the haemodynamic changes and baroreceptor reflexes that occur following a VPB. Therefore, HRT descriptors (Turbulence Onset and Turbulence Slope) may serve as very reasonable, Holter--based surrogates of baroreflex sensitivity available in clinical practice. The aim of this review is to summarise the current knowledge on pathophysiological mechanisms of HRT and to discuss practical problem of its detection.

• MeSH
• elektrokardiografie * MeSH
• infarkt myokardu komplikace   patofyziologie   MeSH
• komorové extrasystoly diagnóza   etiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• náhlá srdeční smrt etiologie   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• srdeční frekvence * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH