CardioExchange Archive

October 9th, 2012

PCI Utilization Lower in States with Public Reporting of Outcomes

Larry Husten, PHD

In patients with acute MI, utilization of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is lower in states that publicly report outcomes data, according to a new study published in JAMA. Despite the difference in utilization, however, there was no difference in mortality between reporting and nonreporting states. Karen Joynt and colleagues used Medicare data to analyze PCI utilization […]

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October 9th, 2012

Erasmus Medical Center Releases Final Report on Cardiovascular Research Scandal

Larry Husten, PHD

After an extensive investigation, a large medical center in the Netherlands has confirmed earlier charges of research misconduct against a prominent cardiovascular researcher. On Tuesday, Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam released a final report on the scientific integrity of trials conducted by Don Poldermans, a well-known and highly prolific Dutch cardiovascular researcher. The final report contains numerous […]

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October 8th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: October 8th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include beta-blockers and the lack of a cardioprotective effect for certain patients; intra-aortic balloon support for MI with cardiogenic shock; prasugrel vs. clopidogrel for acute coronary syndromes without revascularization; CRP, fibrinogen, and CVD prediction; and a comparison of thrombectomy devices for acute ischemic stroke.

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October 5th, 2012

A Plea For Open Science And Data Sharing

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

I am still out pushing the cause of open science and data sharing. Something we can do better through the scientific community. It starts with the will – and a focus on societal good. The ‘how’ is challenging – but the problems can be solved. Earlier this week I gave a talk at an Institute of […]

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October 4th, 2012

Beta-Blockers May Not Work as Well as We Thought: So What Does “Optimal Medical Therapy” Really Mean?

Ajay J Kirtane, MD, SM

Proponents of optical medical therapy believe that the benefits of coronary revasculartion in stable ischemic disease were established in outdated studies. But if beta blockers aren’t very effective, is optimal therapy just aspirin and a statin?

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October 3rd, 2012

ACC Fellows in Training Push Congress for Sustainable Health Care Reform

Michael Tempelhof, MD MSc

Dr. Michael Tempelhof, one of the ACC’s Fellows in Training, discusses the group’s efforts to lobby Congress for a restructured health care program, emphasizing high-quality, evidence-based medicine.

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October 2nd, 2012

Registry Study Raises Questions About Cardioprotective Effect of Beta-Blockers

Larry Husten, PHD

Although beta-blockers have been a cornerstone of therapy for patients with coronary artery disease for more than a generation, a new study in JAMA suggests that that in the modern era, beta-blockers might not improve outcomes. Sriapl Bangalore and colleagues analyzed data from 44,708 patients enrolled in the Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH […]

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October 1st, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: October 1st

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include exercise and mortality in those with diabetes, BP targets in those with type-2 diabetes, and the diagnostic accuracy of FFR from CT angiography.

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October 1st, 2012

I Want Some of What the American Heart Association is Smoking

Yoni Freedhoff, MD

When it comes to public-private partnerships between health organizations and the food industry, there are many shades of grey — but Cheetos orange isn’t one of them.

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September 24th, 2012

‘Dramatic’ Increase in Bleeding Accompanies Addition of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy in ACS

Larry Husten, PHD

The newer oral anticoagulants may help reduce ischemic events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but only at the cost of a “dramatic” increase in bleeding complications, according to a new meta-analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Hungarian researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven trials in which 31,286 ACS patients […]

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