CardioExchange Archive

May 24th, 2013

Spinning RECORD: Battle Over Rosiglitazone Heats up Two Weeks Before Crucial FDA Meeting

Larry Husten, PHD

Battle lines are being drawn two weeks before a highly unusual two-day FDA advisory committee meeting to discuss the contentious diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline [GSK]). This will be the second time an FDA panel has wrestled with the fate of the drug and expectations have been that the discussion will once again be heated. But at […]

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May 23rd, 2013

Small Study Suggests Statins May Blunt Benefits of Exercise

Larry Husten, PHD

A small study is raising big questions about whether statins may blunt the beneficial effects of exercise. The study has been published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and is the subject of a New York Times blog. Some 37 previously sedentary, overweight or obese adults with at least two other risk factors underwent 12 weeks of aerobic […]

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May 21st, 2013

Athletes with ICDs Don’t Need to Quit Sports

Larry Husten, PHD

Although the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology now advise people with ICDs not to participate in vigorous sports, a new study offers strong support for people with ICDs who want to take part in sports. Now findings from the ICD Sports Safety Registry, published in Circulation, provide vital new information about this important topic. […]

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May 21st, 2013

European Medicines Agency Starts Review of Combined Use of Drugs that Block the Renin-Angiotensin System

Larry Husten, PHD

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said last week that it was initiating a review of the combined use of agents that block the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The three classes of RAS-blocking drugs (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and direct renin inhibitors) are used to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure. The EMA said that the review was being performed to […]

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May 20th, 2013

Similar Cardiovascular Risk Observed with COPD Drugs

Larry Husten, PHD

A large observational study has found no difference in the increased risk for cardiovascular disease between the two main classes of drugs used in the first-line treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). LABAs (long-acting inhaled beta-agonists) and LAMAs (long-acting muscarinic antagonists) have a variety of beneficial effects in COPD patients, but evidence has been […]

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May 17th, 2013

Instagram for Heart Attacks: iPhone App Speeds ECG Transmission to Hospital

Larry Husten, PHD

In the crucial early stages of a possible myocardial infarction (MI), EMTs on the scene now rely on slow and unreliable proprietary technology to transmit vital ECG data to physicians at a hospital for evaluation. But a new iPhone app using standard cell phone networks may help speed the process and, ultimately, cut delays in […]

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May 16th, 2013

Salt Report from IOM Sparks Much Heat, Only a Little Light

Larry Husten, PHD

An Institute of Medicine report on salt earlier this week sparked a lot of controversy. The report concludes that there’s no evidence to support current efforts to lower salt consumption to less than 2300 mg/day. Unfortunately, the press coverage offered little insight into the science behind the issue. On the Knight Science Journalism Tracker blog, […]

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May 14th, 2013

Study Questions Role of Dual-Chamber ICDs for Primary Prevention

Larry Husten, PHD

The majority of patients who receive an ICD for primary prevention without a pacing indication have a dual-chamber ICD implanted. Although there are a number of theoretical advantages with dual-chamber devices, they are more likely to cause complications than single-chamber devices. Although CMS requires providers to justify the medical necessity of dual-chamber devices, current guidelines […]

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May 13th, 2013

Novel Leadless Pacemaker Makes Debut at HRS 2013

Larry Husten, PHD

First results in human patients of a novel leadless pacemaker were presented last week at the HRS meeting in Denver by Vivek Reddy.  Pacemaker leads are the most common source of complications associated with pacemakers today. The self-contained device is delivered via catheter to the right ventricle, to which it is attached with a fixation mechanism.  The device […]

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May 10th, 2013

Encouraging 4-Year Results for Boston Scientific’s Watchman Device in AF Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Encouraging long-term results from the PROTECT AF trial comparing the Watchman left atrial appendage closure device to warfarin in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients were presented yesterday at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting in Denver. Previously the main results of the trial, published in the Lancet, demonstrated that the Watchman was noninferior to warfarin, but the total number of events […]

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