New Definition Of Familial Hypercholesterolemia Could Expand Patient Population For Expensive Cholesterol Drugs
More people may be diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) using criteria contained in a new scientific statement published by the American Heart Association. The expanded definition could also mean more patients will be eligible to receive expensive cholesterol-lowering drugs, including the new PCSK9 inhibitor drugs, (Repatha from Amgen and Praluent from Sanofi/Regeneron). But the biggest impact might be to increase the...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - November 5, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes cholesterol familial hypercholesterolemia FH LDL PCSK9 Source Type: blogs
Should Doctors Tell Patients They Are Walking Time Bombs?
Should doctors tell patients that they are walking time bombs? We all know this is a commonly used metaphor. When it comes to the heart people are often told they have a “ticking” time bomb. Here’s one recent very public example from a story about statins by Jane Brody in the New York Times: “My friend Richard Erde...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - November 4, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes communication Jane Brody Patient time bomb Source Type: blogs
Clot Extraction For Stroke: Beware The Hype
Clot extraction (thrombectomy) for stroke has been on a roll lately. After the failure of a series of trials a few years ago investigators and industry went back to the drawing board. The result of their efforts– a new and improved thrombectomy– has brought about a dramatic reversal of fortune for the technology. In the past year five newer trials...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - November 3, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Interventional Cardiology & Surgery People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics stroke thrombectomy Source Type: blogs
Slow Start For New Novartis Heart Failure Drug Entresto
Initial sales of Entresto (the combination of sacubitril and valsartan, formerly known as LCZ696) have been slow. In the first few months after its approval in July the drug only had $16 million in sales, the drug’s manufacturer, Novartis, reported last week during its quarterly earnings report. The novel heart failure drug is widely expected to be...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - November 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Heart Failure People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Entresto guidelines LCZ 696 Medicare Novartis Source Type: blogs
Trick Or Treat? Hospitals, Haunted By DOJ ICD Investigation, Settle For $250 Million
The specter of the US government investigation into hospital overuse of ICDs has now finally been dismissed. The investigation, which has haunted hospital executives and electrophysiologists since it began in 2011, was finally resolved on the day before Halloween. With a $250 million treat for the government the hospitals have now finally managed to get the unwelcome trick or treaters...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 30, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics CMS DOJ ICD NCD overuse Source Type: blogs
Studies Suggest Flu Vaccines May Be Less Effective In People Taking Statins
Two new studies published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases offer preliminary evidence that the flu vaccine may not work as well in people taking statins. But there is widespread agreement among experts that the association, much less a demonstration of cause and effect, has not been proven, and that current clinical practice should not be changed because...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 30, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes flu influenza statins vaccines Source Type: blogs
Does Anyone Really Think Industry Funded CME Is Independent?
Does anyone really think that commercially supported continuing medical education (CME) is truly independent? Or does anyone really think that it has the primary goal of delivering quality medical education? A few weeks ago John Fauber and colleagues wrote an important story in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and MedPage Today about the role of CME in helping...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 28, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics CME communication Fauber low-T Slippery Slope tesosterone Source Type: blogs
Coming Attraction: Looking Forward To SPRINT At The AHA Next Month
Back in September the NIH tantalized the medical community with a preliminary announcement of the results of a major clinical trial, SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial). The NIH said SPRINT was a “landmark trial” that could “save lives,” but their claims were impossible to evaluate since they only gave the slightest hint of the actual results. On November...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 27, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes blood pressure hypertension NIH SPRINT Source Type: blogs
Amgen Requires Patients in Repatha Copay Program To Surrender Their Privacy
The tumult over the new cholesterol drugs just got a little more tumultuous. In addition to the existing controversies involving the high cost of the drugs and the fact that their clinical benefit has not yet been demonstrated, it now turns out that in order to afford one of these expensive new drugs some patients will...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 22, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes copay PCSK9 privacy Source Type: blogs
New Analysis Finds Small But Significant Advantage For Low Carb Diets
A new meta-analysis finds that low-carb diets are more effective than low-fat diets in weight loss and reducing cardiovascular risk. The study finding suggests “that a low-carb diet should be the first line approach for weight management,” said the first author of the study, Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein. But the difference between the two dietary approaches was not...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 22, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes Atkins diet low fat low-carb nutrition weight loss Source Type: blogs
Primary PCI Guideline Update: Multivessel Interventions In, Thrombectomy Out
The guidelines for primary PCI for ST-elevation MI (STEMI) have been updated to reflect major findings from recent trials: PCI of a noninfarct artery is now acceptable for some STEMI patients with multivessel disease. In previous guidelines PCI of noninfarct arteries had been considered unsafe. Routine thrombectomy prior to primary PCI for stent implantation is now...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 21, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Interventional Cardiology & Surgery MI/ACS guidelines multivessel disease primary PCI thrombectomy Source Type: blogs
More Questions About Nonprofit Groups And Industry Support
In response to my article about commercial funding of nonprofit organizations from the manufacturers of the PCSK9 inhibitors, Joshua Knowles wrote an eloquent and heartfelt defense of the FH Foundation, which receives some funding from industry. But I think he fails to address the fundamental underlying issues I wrote about in my piece. Knowles writes that “FH is a...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 19, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics cholesterol FH Foundation Joshua Knowles nonprofits PCSK9 Source Type: blogs
New York Times: Indiana Cardiologist Accused Of Performing Unnecessary Procedures
Just when you thought it was safe to read the paper again, along comes a New York Times report suggesting that not all cardiologists have learned the seemingly obvious lessons from the overuse scandals from the past decade. In a front page article in Sunday’s business section, Julie Creswell writes about the ongoing controversy and scandal involving cardiologist Arvind Gandhi,...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 18, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Heart Rhythms People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Arvind Gandhi ICDs Munster unnecessary procedures Source Type: blogs
Low T And High BS: The Role of CME
Most of my readers are keenly aware of the explosion in the marketing of testosterone products in recent years. Now a joint investigation from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and MedPage Today uncovers the key role played by continuing medical education (CME) programs funded by companies that make prescription testosterone products. The story, by reporters John Fauber, Coulter...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 18, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes CME Education Fauber testosterone Source Type: blogs
Praising The Virtues Of The Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation
The following letter was sent by Joshua Knowles in response to a previous post, Desperately Seeking Patients: New Cholesterol Drug Makers Fuel Research To Find Customers. Dr. Knowles is a faculty member and clinician at Stanford University who specializes in familial hypercholesterolemia. He is also the chief medical advisor for the FH Foundation. Dear Mr. Husten, I...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - October 16, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes familial hypercholesterolemia FH Foundation Joshua Knowles Source Type: blogs
