CardioExchange Archive

November 19th, 2009

Dr. Ken Baughman’s Death Mourned

Larry Husten, PHD

Kenneth L. Baughman, Director of Advanced Heart Disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was struck and killed by a car while jogging on Monday in Orlando, where he was attending the AHA Scientific Sessions. He was 63. Dr. Baughman was also an Associate Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and was previously Director of […]

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November 18th, 2009

At the AHA: Intravenous Iron Therapy Improves Symptoms in Heart Failure

Larry Husten, PHD

In the FAIR-HF trial, NYHA II/III heart failure patients with LVEF ≤40 to 45% and iron deficiency benefited from intravenous iron with respect to symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life but not survival.  Dr. Fred Masoudi summarizes the findings.  Editorialist Dr. William Dec weighs in.

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November 18th, 2009

At the AHA: Continuous May Be Better Than Pulsatile Flow For Destination VADs

Larry Husten, PHD

Among 200 patients ineligible for heart transplantation in the HeartMate II study, continuous-flow LVAD therapy was associated with a lower rate of the primary endpoint, freedom from stroke or device failure, when compared to pulsatile-flow destination therapy at 2 years.  Dr. William Abraham summarizes the findings and editorialist Dr. James Fang weighs in.

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November 18th, 2009

At the AHA: New and Updated Results from BARI 2D

Larry Husten, PHD

During complementary presentations at the AHA, investigators provided new and updated study data from the BARI 2D trial. Dr. Bernard Chaitman reported on findings regarding the secondary endpoints of cardiac death and myocardial infarction.  These findings suggest that patients similar to those in the PCI stratum benefit more from intensive medical therapy alone.  In contrast, patients with […]

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November 18th, 2009

2009 AHA/ACCF Updated STEMI Guidelines Released

Larry Husten, PHD

The release of a new update to the STEMI guidelines was announced at the AHA Scientific Sessions.  Guidelines committee members report that the update incorporates evidence from key trials that have emerged over the past two years.  Changes include a greater emphasis on organized systems of emergency care, triage and transfer for PCI, and the possible roles of stenting the […]

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November 18th, 2009

EFFECT of Public Report Cards

Larry Husten, PHD

In a randomized trial of early versus delayed feedback of a performance-based report card to hospital corporations, early feedback was associated with a lower 30-day MI mortality rates but no change in the primary composite outcomes, including MI and HF process-of-care indicators.  Dr. Fred Masoudi provides a brief summary of the main findings.

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November 18th, 2009

At the AHA: Cardiovascular Outcomes Similar Between Aggressive and Restrictive Post-Operative Transfusion Strategies

Larry Husten, PHD

The FOCUS trial randomized 2,016 patients (mean age 82 years) with high cardiovascular risk undergoing hip fracture surgery to either an aggressive or restrictive post-operative transfusion strategy.  Transfusions were administered to maintain a hemoglobin above 10 g/dL in the aggressive arm and 8 g/dL in the restrictive arm.  In the restrictive arm, transfusions were also […]

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November 18th, 2009

FDA Weighs In On Combination of Clopidogrel and Omeprazole

Larry Husten, PHD

Despite recent data suggesting no significant effect on outcomes when combining the use of clopidogrel and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), the issue remains contentious.  Today, the FDA updated clopidogrel’s label to warn against its concurrent use with omeprazole.  The agency reported that omeprazole can reduce clopidogrel’s effect by nearly half, according to new manufacturer-conducted studies.  Concerns […]

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November 17th, 2009

At the AHA: Early Repolarization in Inferior Leads Might Signal Trouble Ahead

Larry Husten, PHD

J-point elevation in the inferior leads of a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram “is not an innocuous finding in middle-aged subjects,” according to a study presented at the AHA and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. Using national databases to assess outcomes in some 11,000 Finnish patients followed for an average of 30 years […]

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November 17th, 2009

At the AHA:  Lifetime Risk for SCD Higher in Men and Blacks

Larry Husten, PHD

Dr. Don Lloyd-Jones presented findings from a study of the ARIC, Cardiovascular Health Study, and Framingham cohorts on lifetime risk for sudden cardiac death.  In addition to established cardiovascular risk factors, male sex and black race in men were associated with significantly increased risk.  Overall lifetime risks were relatively high, including 1 in 8 for […]

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