A Randomised Double Blinded Placebo Controlled Trial Of Adrenaline In Cardiac Arrest.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,500.00
Summary
It is estimated that in excess of 30,000 Australians per year suffer a cardiac arrest, mostly occurring outside of hospital. This sudden and often unpredictable event commonly occurs as a result of acute heart disease, injury, drug overdose and many other illnesses which affect both males and females of all ages. Unfortunately, the survival of those suffering a cardiac arrest remains poor. Best evidence to date suggests overall survival from cardiac arrest to be in the order of about 5%. While t ....It is estimated that in excess of 30,000 Australians per year suffer a cardiac arrest, mostly occurring outside of hospital. This sudden and often unpredictable event commonly occurs as a result of acute heart disease, injury, drug overdose and many other illnesses which affect both males and females of all ages. Unfortunately, the survival of those suffering a cardiac arrest remains poor. Best evidence to date suggests overall survival from cardiac arrest to be in the order of about 5%. While the survival for those suffering cardiac arrest remains poor, the rapid initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation has been clearly shown to improve outcome. While defibrillation and CPR have been shown to be beneficial, the use of vasoactive drugs such adrenaline has not been proven to improve survival in cardiac arrest. This is despite adrenaline being internationally recommended as first line drug therapy in the advanced life support (ALS) management of cardiac arrest. It is now well acknowledged that clinical trials need to be undertaken to determine the clinical effects of adrenaline when used for cardiac arrest. The purpose of this study is to randomise patients suffering a cardiac arrest to receive either adrenaline (according to standard ALS guidelines) or a placebo. All other care for both groups will be the same and in accordance with current ALS guidelines. In this way we will be able to determine the effects of adrenaline on outcome, particularly survival, following cardiac arrest. The study will run for three years and involve all cardiac arrests attended by the Ambulance Service in Perth.Read moreRead less
Generating The Evidence For New Strategies To Combat Cardiovascular Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$12,809,917.00
Summary
The Program brings together clinicians, epidemiologists and statisticians in a unique endeavour combating heart attack and stroke. For the foreseeable future, these conditions will remain leading causes of death and disease in Australia and the world. While there are many established treatment and prevention strategies there remains great potential for further advances to avert large numbers of deaths and serious disabling outcomes. This Program will provide new information that will give patien ....The Program brings together clinicians, epidemiologists and statisticians in a unique endeavour combating heart attack and stroke. For the foreseeable future, these conditions will remain leading causes of death and disease in Australia and the world. While there are many established treatment and prevention strategies there remains great potential for further advances to avert large numbers of deaths and serious disabling outcomes. This Program will provide new information that will give patients, doctors, consumers and policy makers new options for disease prevention.Read moreRead less
A Factorial Randomised Trial Of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering And Glucose Control In Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$303,330.00
Summary
People with diabetes are well known to be at high risk of developing major health problems earlier in life than people without diabetes. In particular, people with diabetes are more likely to suffer from heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and leg ulcers that may lead to amputation. Studies of diabetics have shown that if blood pressure levels or glucose levels are uncontrolled, the risk of complications is much higher. Careful management of these two risk factors is therefore now a ....People with diabetes are well known to be at high risk of developing major health problems earlier in life than people without diabetes. In particular, people with diabetes are more likely to suffer from heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and leg ulcers that may lead to amputation. Studies of diabetics have shown that if blood pressure levels or glucose levels are uncontrolled, the risk of complications is much higher. Careful management of these two risk factors is therefore now a cornerstone of diabetic care and there are well-established guidelines for treatment. However, there is new evidence to suggest that tighter control of blood pressure and glucose levels than is currently recommended might result in even greater benefits. ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease) is a large new study that has been designed by Australian researchers based at the Institute for International Health in Sydney. The aim of ADVANCE is to see if treatment to control blood pressure and glucose levels more tightly than usual reduces the risk of complications among adult diabetics. The study will include 10,000 individuals recruited from about 20 countries worldwide that will be followed for an average of 4.5 years. The first participants will be enrolled in April 2001 and the study results should be available by the end of 2006. There are presently about 300 million people in the world with diabetes and this number is increasing rapidly. The results of ADVANCE will therefore influence the care of a very large number of people. If the findings of the study were positive, implementation of the new treatments could be expected to prevent many tens of thousands of premature heart attacks and strokes around the world each year.Read moreRead less
Randomized Controlled Trial Of CPAP On Cardiac Function In Patients With Heart Failure And Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,906.00
Summary
Heart failure is a very common condition associated with disabling symptoms. The main symptoms are breathlessness, usually during sleep or upon exercise, and fatigue. Recent research has identified that sleep apnoea, a condition that occurs in about 50% of subjects with heart failure, is likely to be responsible for these symptoms. Moreover, treatment specifically aimed at sleep apnoea, namely continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delived via a small electric pump and nasal mask worn during ....Heart failure is a very common condition associated with disabling symptoms. The main symptoms are breathlessness, usually during sleep or upon exercise, and fatigue. Recent research has identified that sleep apnoea, a condition that occurs in about 50% of subjects with heart failure, is likely to be responsible for these symptoms. Moreover, treatment specifically aimed at sleep apnoea, namely continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delived via a small electric pump and nasal mask worn during sleep, may also improve the symptoms of heart failure. The study will involve subjects with stable heart failure on optimal drug treatment who have evidence of obstructive sleep apnea on an overnight sleep study. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition in which the throat intermittently narrows or blocks during sleep (often associated with snoring) causing cessation of airflow or apnoeas. Associated with the apnoeas are vigorous efforts by the chest muscles to breathe (creating negative vacuum-like pressures within the chest - and around the heart) at a time of falling oxygen levels. Previous research has suggested that these obstructive apnoeas are detrimental to the heart. Volunteers will be randomized to either a control or a CPAP treated group for a three month period. The control and CPAP groups will receive intensive advice about good eating and sleeping habits as weight gain and sleep loss are factors known to aggravate heart failure and obstructive sleep apnoea. In addition to the lifestyle advice, the CPAP group will also be treated with nasal CPAP. The variables which we will measure include severity of sleep apnoea, exercise capacity, heart function at rest and symptoms. Symptoms will be measured using 4 very detailed and validated questionnaires.Read moreRead less