April 14th, 2015
Study Adds to Evidence Linking Divorce and MI
Larry Husten, PHD
A new study shows that after a divorce, people have an increased lifetime risk for myocardial infarction. Although previous studies have found that MIs occur more frequently in people who are divorced, this is the first study to prospectively examine the lifetime relationship between divorce and MI. In a paper published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and […]
April 13th, 2015
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: April 13th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include the TOTAL trial and surgical ablation of AF during mitral-valve surgery.
April 9th, 2015
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: April 9th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include the PROMISE trial, the efficacy of folic acid therapy in primary prevention of stroke among patients with hypertension in China, and more.
April 9th, 2015
Association Between Shorter Height and Heart Disease Largely Explained by Genes
Nicholas Downing, MD
The “well-established” link between shorter adult height and increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) is largely explained by height-associated genetic variants, researchers conclude in the New England Journal of Medicine. Using data from genome-wide association studies, the researchers examined the relationship between 180 height-associated genetic variants and CAD among 65,000 cases (adults with histories of […]
April 6th, 2015
Weight-Loss Programs: Slim Evidence and Thin Results
Larry Husten, PHD
A new study concludes that some weight-loss programs may be slightly better than other programs but that in the long run none of the programs have been able to show a substantial weight loss over a sustained period. For even the best programs, an editorialist writes, “weight loss is modest and likely below patients’ expectations.” In […]
April 6th, 2015
Cardiac Arrest During Exercise in Middle-Aged People
Larry Husten, PHD
Dropping dead while exercising is a common fear, especially among middle-aged men. Unfortunately there have been limited data on the precise rate of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in middle-aged people and little understanding about the medical history of the victims of SCA. Now a new study fills in some important gaps in knowledge and shows that this […]
April 6th, 2015
Bringing Clarity and Consensus to the Treatment of Hypertension in Patients with CAD
Elliott Antman, MD
AHA President Elliott Antman discusses the recent scientific statement from the AHA/ACC/ASH on the treatment of hypertension in patients with existing CAD.
April 2nd, 2015
Liberal Changes to rt-PA Contraindications for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Craig Cocchio, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Craig Cocchio discussing changes to the contraindications for acute ischemic stroke, about which the FDA has been curiously silent.
April 2nd, 2015
Global Cardiovascular Deaths Continue to Rise Despite Gains in Prevention and Treatment
Larry Husten, PHD
Improvements in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease haven’t been able to prevent a worldwide rise in cardiovascular deaths in a growing and aging population, according to the authors of a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Using mortality data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, the authors set out to “disentangle” […]
March 30th, 2015
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: March 30th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include two papers comparing everolimus-eluting stents and CABG and a study of short-term exposure to air pollution and stroke.
NEJM Journal Watch — Recent Cardiology Articles- Persistent Symptoms After Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis
- Is Diltiazem Safe in Patients with AF Taking Apixaban or Rivaroxaban?
- Does Lowering High Childhood Lipid Levels Prevent Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Adulthood?
- Self-Expanding Supraannular Valve vs. Balloon-Expandable Valve in TAVR for Small Aortic Annulus
- A New TAVR Prosthesis for Aortic Regurgitation Shows Promise