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Prognosis Of Hospitalized New-Onset Systolic Heart Failure In Indo-Asians--A Lethal Problem, Fahim H. Jafary, Mahesh Kumar, Irfan E. Chandna

Section of Cardiology

Background: Systolic heart failure (SHF), particularly when requiring hospital admission carries a poor prognosis. There is a paucity of data in Indo-Asians on outcomes of SHF, among whom the burden of cardiovascular disease is consistently rising. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and predictors of mortality and morbidity amongst patients admitted with new-onset SHF at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Methods and Results: Hospital charts of 196 patients with a diagnosis of new or recent onset (!3 months) SHF (ejection fraction [EF] !40%) were reviewed. Patients who died during the admission, those with life-limiting concomitant …

The "Incidental" Episode Of Ventricular Fibrillation: A Case Report, Fahim H. Jafary

Section of Cardiology

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VF) carry important prognostic implications, especially in the post myocardial infarction period. However, artifact on the electrocardiographic tracing can mimic VF particularly on routinely recorded rhythm strips in hospitals. Such misinterpretation can lead to expensive (and potentially risky) diagnostic and therapeutic steps. We report on such a case and highlight the need for careful inspection of the tracing.