Cardiac disease is the major cause of death in dialysis patients, accounting for over one third of deaths. This book focuses on myocardial function and dysfunction in chronic uremia. It is aimed at practicing and training nephrologists, cardiologists, and internists, and at research workers in the field. We have tried to produce an up-to-date, in-depth review of the subject by inviting experts in clinical epidemiology, pathophysiology, and thera peutics to write the 18 chapters. The book is divided into three sections. The first section comprises five chapters that provide an overview of the burden of illness associated with cardiac disease in end-stage renal disease and a review of clinical epidemi ological aspects of various cardiac diseases that occur in renal patients. The second section discusses abnormalities of left ventricular contractility and mass, and the factors that predispose to both systolic and diastolic disorders. The importance of hypertension, anemia, hyperparathyroidism, hyper lipidemia, and diabetes mellitus in predisposing to these abnormalities is reviewed splendidly by researchers active in these areas. The final section concentrates on therapeutics. Data and opinion on management of congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and arrhythmias are provided. In editing this book, we have reviewed an extensive literature, but un fortunately we have become more aware that substantial gaps in our knowl edge exist. Insufficient high-quality clinical research has been undertaken xiii xiv Preface regarding the various cardiac diseases that occur in end-stage renal disease."

Cardiac disease is the major cause of death in dialysis patients, accounting for over one third of deaths. This book focuses on myocardial function and dysfunction in chronic uremia. It is aimed at practicing and training nephrologists, cardiologists, and internists, and at research workers in the field. We have tried to produce an up-to-date, in-depth review of the subject by inviting experts in clinical epidemiology, pathophysiology, and thera peutics to write the 18 chapters. The book is divided into three sections. The first section comprises five chapters that provide an overview of the burden of illness associated with cardiac disease in end-stage renal disease and a review of clinical epidemi ological aspects of various cardiac diseases that occur in renal patients. The second section discusses abnormalities of left ventricular contractility and mass, and the factors that predispose to both systolic and diastolic disorders. The importance of hypertension, anemia, hyperparathyroidism, hyper lipidemia, and diabetes mellitus in predisposing to these abnormalities is reviewed splendidly by researchers active in these areas. The final section concentrates on therapeutics. Data and opinion on management of congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and arrhythmias are provided. In editing this book, we have reviewed an extensive literature, but un fortunately we have become more aware that substantial gaps in our knowl edge exist. Insufficient high-quality clinical research has been undertaken xiii xiv Preface regarding the various cardiac diseases that occur in end-stage renal disease."

Clinical epidemiology provides the scientific basis for the practice of medicine due to its focus on the diagnosis, prognosis and management of human disease using appropriate research design, measurement and evaluation. In Clinical Epidemiology: Practice and Methods, leading experts contribute selections intended to educate researchers on how best to undertake clinical research. Divided into two categories, the volume first covers issues of design, measurement and analysis associated with various research designs, then continues with methods to better inform medical decision-making, including aggregation of multiple studies using meta-analysis, health economics, clinical practice guidelines and health technology assessment. As a part of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series, this comprehensive text collects the kind of detailed, up-to-date information and implementation advice that is crucial for getting optimal results. Essential and advantageous, Clinical Epidemiology: Practice and Methods is an ideal reference for medical practitioners, basic scientists and allied health professionals who desire to improve clinical outcomes.