ACS chest pain less common, not rare, in younger women vs men
It's a cautionary tale: clinicians are warned not to overlook an ACS diagnosis in women aged 55 or less just because they don't have chest pain; usually in such cases, there are other telltale signs or symptoms—and anyway, the chest-pain difference between women and men in ACS isn't so great. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Stroke risk post-MI declining, especially in diabetics
The reduction is attributed to increased use of primary PCI and secondary prevention medications, but there is room for further improvement. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 16, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
AUC sharpen SPECT chest-pain risk stratification in large series
Inappropriate use degrades and appropriate use sharpens the prognostic power of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in chest-pain evaluation in a community-based setting, a study finds. An editorial doesn't disagree but questions the study's broad applicability and conclusiveness. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 16, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Happy hearts: Positivity plus exercise linked to lower CVD mortality
A healthy, happy, positive outlook on life lowers the risk of all-cause mortality in ischemic heart disease patients, a relationship mediated by exercise, according to a new study. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 13, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Mass AF screening flags stroke risk
Systematic screening of all 75 to 76 year olds in two regions of Sweden found 5% of individuals had untreated AF. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 13, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
New PAH drug, macitentan, improves QoL in SERAPHIN
Following the trial's primary publication of clinical benefits from the drug, the new quality of life data are said to be “one of the most important considerations" in these patients, one investigator says. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 13, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
CABG reduces risk of death vs PCI in diabetic patients
A new meta-analysis, which includes the FREEDOM trial, shows a clear mortality benefit for diabetic patients treated with CABG surgery compared with patients who undergo PCI. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 13, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Big LDL drops with PCSK9 inhibition in grouped phase 2 studies
The analysis combined four phase 2 studies and showed that AMG145, an investigational human monoclonal antibody that inhibits PCSK9, reduced LDL cholesterol by as much as 64%. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 12, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Big LDL drops with PCSK9 inhibition in grouped phase-2 studies
The analysis combined four phase-2 studies and showed that AMG145, an investigational human monoclonal antibody that inhibits PCSK9, reduced LDL cholesterol by as much as 64%. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 12, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Blind trust: Analysis predicts smaller BP drops in pivotal renal-denervation trials
Renal-denervation enthusiasts "are going to be disappointed" after they see the blood-pressure drops the technique achieves in studies with properly blinded randomized controlled trials, one expert predicts. Several studies meeting those standards are now testing the prediction. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 12, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Blind trust: Analysis predicts smaller BP drops in pivotal renal denervation trials
Renal-denervation enthusiasts "are going to be disappointed" after they see the blood-pressure drops the technique achieves in studies with properly blinded randomized controlled trials, one expert predicts. Several studies meeting those standards are now testing the prediction. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 12, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Pay for performance improves CV outcomes in small clinics
A new study shows that incentives can lead to modest improvements in CV care processes and outcomes in small primary care practices. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 12, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Most statin-intolerant patients can be restarted on lipid-lowering drugs
At the Cleveland Clinic, 72.5% of patients with prior statin intolerance were successfully rechallenged with a statin, with most of these patients taking the drug on a daily basis and a smaller percentage of patients following an intermittent dosing regimen. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 11, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Lancet retracts Jikei Heart Study as scandal cuts swath across journals
The journal concluded that data in the trial's primary publication had been "intentionally altered." (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 11, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Pay doctors, not practices, to boost performance in BP control
Individual incentives led to significant improvements in the number of patients with controlled blood pressure and in the number of patients whose treatment course was reconsidered in response to uncontrolled hypertension. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - September 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
