Median follow-up time was 4.0 years (interquartile range, 3.1-4.2 years), which resulted in 25 107 person-years of observation. A telephone interviewer contacted each participant every 6 to 9 months to inquire about all interim hospital admissions, cardiovascular outpatient diagnoses, and deaths. Two physicians reviewed each record for independent endpoint classification and assignment of event dates.
The endpoint for this study was symptomatic CHF. End point criteria were (a) CHF diagnosed by a physician and patient receiving medical treatment for CHF; (b) pulmonary edema/congestion seen on a chest radiograph; and (c) dilated ventricle or poor LV systolic function by echocardiography or ventriculography, or evidence of LV diastolic dysfunction by echocardiography. Participants who met only criterion a were considered to meet a “soft” criterion, and participants who met criteria b and c in addition to a physician diagnosis were classified as meeting “hard” criteria for CHF. For this analysis, participants who met either soft or hard criteria were considered as having incident CHF. An MI was diagnosed based on standard criteria consisting of combinations of symptoms, ECG findings, and cardiac biomarker levels.24 (link)
The endpoint for this study was symptomatic CHF. End point criteria were (a) CHF diagnosed by a physician and patient receiving medical treatment for CHF; (b) pulmonary edema/congestion seen on a chest radiograph; and (c) dilated ventricle or poor LV systolic function by echocardiography or ventriculography, or evidence of LV diastolic dysfunction by echocardiography. Participants who met only criterion a were considered to meet a “soft” criterion, and participants who met criteria b and c in addition to a physician diagnosis were classified as meeting “hard” criteria for CHF. For this analysis, participants who met either soft or hard criteria were considered as having incident CHF. An MI was diagnosed based on standard criteria consisting of combinations of symptoms, ECG findings, and cardiac biomarker levels.24 (link)
