CardioExchange Archive

January 14th, 2015

Hidden Clinical Trial Data: A Dam About to Burst

Larry Husten, PHD

Two important new developments may mean that many more researchers will soon be able to access and analyze data from many more clinical trials. In recent years, in response to troubling and far-reaching questions about the availability and reliability of clinical trial data, reformers have called for new policies that would require drug companies and other […]

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January 14th, 2015

Ticagrelor Improves Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction

Larry Husten, PHD

For the first time, a very large trial has shown that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) improves cardiovascular outcomes when given to patients 1 to 3 years after a myocardial infarction. Because DAPT has been shown previously to reduce the high risk of recurrent events for up to a year following an MI, it is considered to be standard […]

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January 13th, 2015

40-Year Effort in One Rural County to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease Found Successful

Larry Husten, PHD

A 40-year program in one poor rural county to combat cardiovascular disease appears to have been successful, resulting in reduced rates of hospitalization and death compared with other counties in the same state over the same period. The new findings are described in a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Beginning in 1970, Franklin County, […]

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January 12th, 2015

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: January 12th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the effects of BP reduction in mild hypertension, the association between dietary whole grain intake and risk of mortality, and more.

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January 12th, 2015

High Rate of Inappropriate Use of Aspirin for Primary Prevention

Larry Husten, PHD

More than a third of U.S. adults — more than 50 million people — now take aspirin for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Although it was once broadly recommended, aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease is now only indicated in people who have a moderate-to-high 10-year risk. Now a new report published in […]

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January 9th, 2015

Top 10 CardioExchange Posts from 2014

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM and John Ryan, MD

The most popular stories from 2014.

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January 9th, 2015

FDA Approves New Oral Anticoagulant from Daiichi Sankyo

Larry Husten, PHD

And then there were four. Late Thursday the FDA announced that it had approved edoxaban, the new oral anticoagulant manufactured by Daiichi Sankyo. The drug will be marketed under the brand name of Savaysa and joins three other new drugs in the large and important new oral anticoagulant marketplace: dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis). All four drugs were […]

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January 5th, 2015

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: January 5th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, mortality and treatment patterns among patients hospitalized with acute CV conditions during national cardiology meetings, and more.

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January 5th, 2015

FDA Approves New Drug-Coated Balloon to Open Blocked Leg Arteries

Larry Husten, PHD

Medtronic said today that it had received approval from the FDA to market its IN.PACT Admiral drug-coated balloon (DCB) to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. The device is the second DCB to gain FDA approval. Last October the FDA approved CR Bard’s Lutonix DCB for a similar indication. The new DCB uses the anti-proliferative drug paclitaxel, […]

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January 5th, 2015

Healthy Habits of Young Women Lead to Long-Term Health Benefits

Larry Husten, PHD

It may seem obvious, but a new study shows that young women with healthy habits are less likely as they age to get coronary heart disease or go on to develop cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Andrea Chomistek and colleagues analyzed data from more than 88,000 women participating in the […]

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