Blog

Highlights and more are available online now and in the upcoming October 2023 edition of Heart, Lung and Circulation

Does Australia need Cardiogenic Shock Teams?

Cardiogenic shock is the most common cause of death following acute myocardial infarction, with in-hospital mortality rates of 40%. In their narrative review, Kruit and colleagues discuss the rationales, evidence for and a proposed structure for an in-hospital cardiogenic shock or “heart” team that manages cardiogenic shock via an agreed protocol, including agreed referral pathways. They say the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF-funded Evaluation of a Standardised ClinicAl Pathway to improve Equity and outcomes in Cardiogenic Shock (ESCAPE-CS) trial may assist in the process of answering many of the questions around management, transfer timings and cost of care.
https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04325-1/fulltext

What’s happening with Long-COVID Care?
Australia is likely to have a case burden of upwards of 300,000 people with long-COVID, say Seeley et al. In a Letter to the Editor, they report their cross-sectional online survey of participants (227; about 90% female) with long-COVID. Recruited via social media earlier this year (2023), many had experienced autonomic dysfunction, with about half eventually diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). However, getting a diagnosis and accessing care was difficult. Further, half had not been able to return to work or education since developing long-COVID. Seeley et al. support calls for innovative health care solutions for people with long-COVID, with special attention to the diagnosis and management of autonomic dysfunction.
https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)04311-1/fulltext

Who Wants a Career in Cardiology?
Commonly identified, perceived barriers to wanting to pursue cardiology as a career include (in order): poor work–life balance; the physician training and examination process; and the lack of flexibility and on–call requirements — with no difference between men and women. These were among the key findings of Perera et al.’s anonymous, online survey in May 2019, which analysed responses from 127 medical students from three universities in Victoria. They say that if the cardiology profession wishes to attract the best candidates, it must acknowledge that today’s medical students value work–life balance as a critical factor in deciding on a career.
https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(23)00524-3/fulltext

Compiled by Dr Ann Gregory, Commissioning Editor, Heart, Lung and Circulation ([email protected]).