CardioExchange Archive

March 14th, 2015

Assessing the Diagnostic PROMISE of CT Angiography

Pamela S. Douglas, MD

Pamela S. Douglas discusses the PROMISE randomized comparison of CT angiography with functional exercise testing in more than 10,000 patients with chest pain.

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March 14th, 2015

DAPT ‘Approaching the Point of Diminishing Returns’?

Larry Husten, PHD

After a myocardial infarction (MI), patients remain at high risk for recurrent events. The precise role of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to lower this risk has been the subject of considerable disagreement.  Now a new study offers fresh evidence that prolonged DAPT can lower risk over a long period, but only at the cost of […]

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March 14th, 2015

FDA Approves Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for AF

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has approved Boston Scientific’s long-delayed Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device. According to the company, the Watchman is indicated as an alternative to long-term warfarin therapy for the reduction of thromboembolism from the left atrial appendage in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation at increased risk for stroke and systemic embolism. Although an alternative to warfarin, […]

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March 10th, 2015

First Good Look at TAVR in The Real World

Larry Husten, PHD

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is one of the most important advances in cardiovascular medicine in recent years. Although it is associated with significant risks, TAVR can offer some patients a less invasive alternative to traditional aortic valve replacement surgery.  Because of early concerns about potential overuse and misuse of TAVR, many observers have been eagerly […]

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March 9th, 2015

Appropriate Use Criteria for Diagnostic Catheterization are Weak

Larry Husten, PHD

Appropriate use criteria (AUC) are designed to help make sure that medical procedures and interventions are performed in patients most likely to benefit and, in turn, are not performed on people unlikely to gain benefit. Now a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that the AUC for one very widely performed procedure, diagnostic cardiac […]

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March 9th, 2015

The Coffee Conundrum – What Do You Say to Your Patient?

John Ryan, MD

John Ryan presents a scenario based on a recent study’s findings that people who consume moderate amounts of coffee may be less likely to have atherosclerosis.

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March 9th, 2015

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: March 9th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the effects of low BP in cognitively impaired elderly patients taking antihypertensive drugs and the effects of blood-pressure lowering on CV risk according to baseline BMI.

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March 4th, 2015

FDA: Testosterone Therapy May Pose Cardiovascular Risks

Physician's First Watch, CardioExchange Staff

Men who use testosterone products to treat low testosterone may be at increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, and death, the FDA cautioned on Tuesday. The agency is requiring a label change to warn of these risks and to clarify the approved uses for such products. The action — which updates a drug safety communication […]

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March 2nd, 2015

Moderate Coffee Consumption Linked to Lower Coronary Calcium

Larry Husten, PHD

The relationship of coffee and cardiovascular disease has been difficult to assess. Although early studies found a possible increased risk associated with heavy coffee consumption, more recent studies have found the opposite. Now a new study published in Heart finds that people who consume moderate amounts of coffee may be less likely to have atherosclerosis. In a […]

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March 2nd, 2015

How Can We Care Better for Patients Even After They Leave the Hospital?

Joy Pollard, PhD, ACNP-BC

The CardioExchange Editors interview Joy Pollard about her research group’s findings in her recent paper studying the impact of regional collaboratives on improving heart-failure readmission rates.

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