CardioExchange Archive

June 6th, 2012

Real-World Bleeding Risk with Aspirin in Primary Prevention Examined

Larry Husten, PHD

A new study published in JAMA provides substantial new evidence about the real-world effects of aspirin, including the risk for  bleeding, in a broad  population. The study also sheds important new light on the effects of aspirin in a diabetic population. Giorgia De Berardis and colleagues analyzed data from more than 4 million people in Puglia, Italy […]

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June 5th, 2012

Troponin T Test Helps Assess Mortality Risk Following Noncardiac Surgery

Larry Husten, PHD

A new study in JAMA finds that postoperative troponin T (TnT) tests can independently improve 30-day-mortality risk assessment among patients who have undergone noncardiac surgery. The VISION (Vascular Events in Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation) study investigators evaluated the prognostic power of postoperative fourth-generation TnT testing in 15,133 patients. Overall mortality at 30 days was 1.9%. Some 11.6% of patients […]

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June 5th, 2012

Subway Meals Get American Heart Association Endorsement

Larry Husten, PHD

The American Heart Association (AHA) announced yesterday that it had initiated a new program to help people choose healthy meals at restaurants. The Subway restaurant chain will be the first to display the Heart-Check Meal Certification logo next to certain selected meals. In a press release the AHA’s president, Gordon Tomaselli said the program would make “it easy […]

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June 4th, 2012

Observational Study Finds Possible Long-Term Mortality Advantage for Rhythm Control Drugs in Atrial Fibrillation

Larry Husten, PHD

Challenging a decade-old influential trial, a large observational study of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) suggests that rhythm control drugs may outperform rate control drugs after 4 years. Raluca Ionescu-Ittu and colleagues analyzed data from 26,130 patients 66 years or older diagnosed with AF in Quebec, Canada. Patients were followed for a mean of 3.1 years […]

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June 1st, 2012

Reality Check: Stop Exercising and Eat Chocolate?

Larry Husten, PHD

Two recent studies may add value to the academic literature, but what’s their public health value?

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May 31st, 2012

Women at Increased Risk for Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation

Larry Husten, PHD

Among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), women have a higher risk than men of having a stroke, according to a new study published in BMJ. The increased risk was mostly found in women over 65 years of age and in women with multiple risk factors. Leif Friberg and colleagues analyzed data from more than 100,000 Swedish patients with […]

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May 24th, 2012

Aspirin Found to Prevent Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism

Larry Husten, PHD

Aspirin can help prevent the recurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy, according to results of the WARFASA (the Warfarin and Aspirin) study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Following 6 to 18 months of oral anticoagulation, 403 patients with first-time unprovoked VTE were randomized to aspirin (100 mg daily) or placebo for 2 […]

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May 23rd, 2012

FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Against ACS Indication for Rivaroxaban

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee voted today against adding an indication for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) to the label of the anticoagulant rivaroxaban (Xarelto). The vote was 6 to 4 against approval, with 1 abstention. The advisory panel spent most of the day trying to reconcile diametrically opposed views of the pivotal ATLAS ACS 2-TIMI […]

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May 22nd, 2012

Studies Probe Effect of CPAP and Sleep Apnea on Hypertension

Larry Husten, PHD

Two studies published in JAMA provide additional, but not surprising, information about the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension — and the role of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In the first study, Ferran Barbé and colleagues randomized 725 people with OSA but no daytime sleepiness to either CPAP or no active treatment. After a median […]

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May 21st, 2012

Rivaroxaban for ACS Gets Positive FDA Review, but Questions About ATLAS Trial Conduct Persist

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA will offer generally positive – but also highly mixed – advice to the FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee when it meets on Wednesday to consider the supplemental new drug application for rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Johnson & Johnson) for use in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) already taking dual antiplatelet therapy. The FDA posted the briefing […]

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