CardioExchange Archive

January 3rd, 2012

Bariatric Surgery Cuts Cardiovascular Deaths and Events

Larry Husten, PHD

Bariatric surgery results in significant reductions in cardiovascular deaths and events, according to a new study from Sweden published in JAMA. But one expert cautions that the results do not mean that obese patients without other weight-related complications should undergo surgery. Analyzing data from more than 4000 obese patients enrolled in the ongoing Swedish Obese Subjects […]

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December 29th, 2011

J&J Applies for ACS Indication for Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)

Larry Husten, PHD

Based on the promising results of the recently published ATLAS ACS 2 TIMI 51 trial, Johnson & Johnson has submitted a supplemental new drug application to the FDA for the approval of rivaroxaban (Xarelto) to reduce the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events in ACS patients. Following a succession of failed trials, ATLAS was the first trial […]

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December 28th, 2011

No Mortality Benefit of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Acutely Ill Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious problem for acutely ill patients in the hospital, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine failed to find any improvement in mortality associated with thromboprophylaxis. Ajay Kakkar and the LIFENOX investigators randomized 8307 acutely ill patients to receive enoxaparin or placebo for 10 days. All patients wore […]

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December 27th, 2011

Possible Role for New Troponin Test to Diagnose MI

Larry Husten, PHD

A new study from Germany provides evidence that a new high-sensitive troponin I (hsTnI) assay may improve and speed the early diagnosis of acute MI. In an article published in JAMA, Till Keller and colleagues report on 1818 patients with acute chest pain in whom numerous biomarker tests were conducted at admission and at 3 and […]

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December 27th, 2011

Clopidogrel Testing Comes Under Fire

Larry Husten, PHD

The phenomenon of clopidogrel resistance has been much discussed, but no consensus has emerged about the best, or any, response to the problem. Now a review published in JAMA finds no clinically relevant relationship between the CYP2C19 genotype  and cardiovascular events. Michael Holmes and colleagues performed a meta-analysis of 32 studies involving CYP 2C19 genotyping and more […]

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December 22nd, 2011

Chest Pain Is Where Protocol-Driven Medicine Breaks Down

CardioExchange Editors, Staff

This post is from Shadowfax, an ER physician and administrator living in the Pacific Northwest.

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December 21st, 2011

Study Examines Changes in Resting Heart Rate Over Time

Larry Husten, PHD

Although resting heart rate (RHR) has been long known to be associated with cardiovascular risk, change in RHR over time has not been well studied. A new paper from Norway published in JAMA demonstrates that an increase in RHR over 10 years helps predict the risk of all-cause and ischemic heart disease (IHD) death. Javaid Nauman and colleagues […]

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December 20th, 2011

22 Years Later, Study Shows Life-Prolonging Effect of Antihypertensive Therapy

Larry Husten, PHD

After more than 20 years, the benefits of antihypertensive therapy are still evident, according to a new paper published in JAMA. John Kostis and colleagues performed a 22-year follow-up study on patients enrolled between 1985 and 1988 in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) trial. In 1991, SHEP found that low-dose chlorthalidone in 4736 elderly patients with […]

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December 20th, 2011

ALTITUDE Study of Aliskiren Terminated Early by Novartis

Larry Husten, PHD

Novartis announced today the early termination of the ALTITUDE trial, which was testing the effect of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (Tekturna, Rasilez) in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment at high risk for cardiovascular and renal events. The action was based on the recommendation of the independent Data Monitoring Committee, after it found […]

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December 19th, 2011

More Uncertainty About Vitamin D Supplements

Larry Husten, PHD

Although many experts believe that vitamin D deficiency may play a significant role in cardiovascular disease, there is little evidence to support the use of vitamin D supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. In a narrative review published in Annals of Internal Medicine, Cora McGreevy and David Williams write that the few available studies have […]

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