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Clinical Times: Cardiovascular
All entries for Cardiovascular
Women with gout have heart risk
10 March 2010
Women with gout are at greater risk of a heart attack than men with the disease, according to new research. The researchers based their findings on a population study of more than 9,500 gout patients and 48,000 people without the... Read more
Use of perioperative statin in CABG patients
09 March 2010
Administering peri-operative atrovastatin may inhibit inflammatory reaction, reduce the incidence and duration of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF), and hence may prevent and treat postoperative AF in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Researchers from Tongji University in Shanghai, China,... Read more
Elderly should not be denied aggressive cardiac treatment
03 March 2010
Invasive therapies should not be considered less valuable in elderly cardiac patients, new research has found. Indeed, the positive long-time effect of revascularisation procedures during hospitalisation, not only on ‘hard’ endpoints but also on functional outcome and a patient’s quality... Read more
Statins are unlikely to cause diabetes
03 March 2010
While statin therapy is associated with a slightly increased risk of development of diabetes, the risk is low both in absolute terms and when compared with the reduction in coronary events. Trials of statin therapy have had conflicting findings on... Read more
Performing single ultrasound to detect DVT may be sufficient
24 February 2010
An analysis of previous studies has suggested that for patients with a suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT), withholding anticoagulation therapy after a negative whole-leg compression ultrasound is associated with a low risk of developing a DVT during the subsequent three... Read more
Hypertension link to dementia in certain cognitive deficits
23 February 2010
High blood pressure appears to predict the progression to dementia in older adults with impaired executive functions but not in those with memory dysfunction, according to a new report. In light of evidence that hypertension is a major risk factor... Read more
Impact of PPI on antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel
23 February 2010
Careful treatment planning is required when administering omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), to patients on clopidogrel, new research has recommended. PPI use with clopidogrel was recently shown to result in increased risk of major cardiovascular events compared to clopidogrel... Read more
Better adherence to statins needed for prevention of CVD
17 February 2010
A 50 per cent improvement in people sticking to long-term treatment with statins would stave off twice as many deaths from stroke and heart attack as giving the drugs to a wider range of people, according to new research. The... Read more
New study links radiation exposure and circulatory disease
17 February 2010
Exposure to moderate levels of radiation may increase the rates of heart disease and stroke, but the degree of risk at lower doses is unclear, according to a new study, which provides the strongest evidence available to date of an... Read more
Specialised catheter treatment results in better outcomes
10 February 2010
Use of catheter ablation – in which radiofrequency energy is emitted from a catheter to eliminate the source of an irregular heartbeat – results in significantly better outcomes in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who have not responded previously to... Read more
Women's heart risk rises with every ten-beat pulse increase
10 February 2010
A woman’s chance of dying from a heart attack rises 18 per cent for every ten-beat-per-minute increase in her resting heart rate up to the age of 70 years, according to new research from Norway. The Norwegian doctors based their... Read more
The Endocrinology Clinic: the metabolic syndrome
Prof T Joseph McKenna and Prof Frances Hayes | 04 February 2010
Concluding their series on ‘Notes from the Endocrinology Clinic’, Prof T Joseph McKenna and Prof Frances Hayes examine the global health threat from the metabolic syndrome... Read more
Fatty acid levels linked to telomere length in coronary patients
03 February 2010
Patients with coronary heart disease who had higher omega-3 fatty acid blood levels had an associated lower rate of shortening of telomere length, a chromosome marker of biological ageing, according to a study. Several studies have shown increased survival rates... Read more
Weekend strokes more aggressively treated
03 February 2010
Stroke patients admitted to the hospital on the weekend appear more likely to receive the clot-dissolving medication tissue plasminogen activator than patients admitted during the week, according to a new report from the United States. The researchers found that stroke... Read more
Jury still out on e-cigarettes
27 January 2010
More research is needed before consumers can be reassured that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are safe, according to two leading experts. Andreas Flouris and Dimitris Oikonomou, from the Institute of Human Performance and Rehabilitation in Greece, wrote that say that ‘our... Read more
Exercise can reduce risk of mild cognitive impairment — study
20 January 2010
Moderate physical activity performed in midlife or later appears to be associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment, whereas a six-month high-intensity aerobic exercise programme may improve cognitive function in individuals who already have the condition, according to... Read more
Doctors can RE-LY on new therapy
Rory Hafford | 14 January 2010
Rory Hafford finds out from the RE-LY trial that dabigatran is the new therapeutic advance in stroke prevention that patients and treating physicians have been waiting on for decades... Read more
Smoking cessation in CVD patients effective
13 January 2010
Varenicline, a partial alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, is effective for smoking cessation in smokers with cardiovascular disease (CVD), a new limited study has suggested. Researchers at the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston carried out a... Read more
Top tips in Heart Failure
Prof Ken McDonald | 04 December 2009
In the last of the 'Top Tips' series, Prof Ken McDonald gives his advice on the management of heart failure in an out-patient setting... Read more
WHO has recommended less salt intake to reduce cardiovascular disease
02 December 2009
High salt intake is associated with significantly greater risk of both stroke and cardiovascular disease, a new study has concluded. The link between high salt intake and high blood pressure is well established, and it has been suggested that a... Read more
The management of stable angina in the outpatient setting
Dr Dermot McCaffery | 26 November 2009
Dr Dermot McCaffery writes that angina care has focused mainly on the symptoms of the condition, since symptoms are the patient's main complaint... Read more
Nicotine patch looks best for smoking cessation
25 November 2009
In a comparison of five different smoking cessation medications, a nicotine patch plus a nicotine lozenge appears most effective at helping smokers quit, according to a new report. The report followed a study in which doctors conducted a randomised clinical... Read more
Migraine with aura doubles risk of stroke
25 November 2009
Migraine with aura is associated with a two-fold increased risk of stroke, a new study has found. Further risk factors for stroke among patients with migraine are being a woman, being young, being a smoker, and using oestrogen-containing contraceptives.... Read more
High BP and inflammation markers are more common in children of parents with Alzheimer’s disease
11 November 2009
High blood pressure, evidence of arterial disease and markers of inflammation in the blood in middle age appear more common in individuals whose parents have Alzheimer’s disease than in individuals without a parental history of the condition, according to a... Read more
Clinical Update: Find it, confirm it, treat it and monitor therapy effectiveness
Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009
HYPERTENSION: The main message in relation to hypertension according to cardiologist Dr Michael Conway is ‘find it, confirm it, treat it, monitor therapeutic effectiveness and add therapies if resistant’. And make sure it is not secondary to arterial, renal and... Read more
Clinical Update: Dysfunction difficult to reverse
Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009
HYPERTENSION: Even in early hypertension, diastolic dysfunction in the left ventricle is very difficult to reverse. Almost half of people with hypertension have diastolic dysfunction. Blood pressure lowering is very important but if the doctor does not measure the echocardiographic... Read more
Clinical Update: Blood pressure is problematic in people with fat around waist
Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009
HYPERTENSION: Blood pressure is a particular problem in people with predominant deposits of fat around the waist (visceral obesity). A number of trials, including ASCOT and ALLHAT, have shown that the rapidity of control of blood pressure is a very... Read more
Hypertension picked up mainly in check-ups
Gary Culliton | 28 October 2009
HYPERTENSION: Some form of screening for hypertension in general practice might prove very useful, since hypertension is being picked up largely by chance at check-ups. In deciding that a person is hypertensive a certain ‘hold steady’ approach should apply, in... Read more
Hypertension picked up mainly in check-ups
Gary Culliton | 28 October 2009
HYPERTENSION: Some form of screening for hypertension in general practice might prove very useful, since hypertension is being picked up largely by chance at check-ups. In deciding that a person is hypertensive a certain ‘hold steady’ approach should apply, in... Read more
Non-invasive tests on children’s arteries recommended
21 October 2009
In a new scientific statement, the American Heart Association has recommended standardising non-invasive assessment of children’s arteries to address the unprecedented rise of heart disease risk factors in children. The recommendations apply only to children who are participating in research.... Read more
Track record of regular exercise may lessen impact of stroke
14 October 2009
A track record of regular exercise may lessen the severity of a stroke, according to new research. The researchers based their findings on 673 patients, all of whom had had a first stroke and were taking part in the Ischemic... Read more
Acute stroke centres promise to ‘revolutionise’ stroke care services for patients
07 October 2009
The growth of acute stroke care centres and systems of care could revolutionise clinicians’ ability to treat patients with stroke, according to a new analysis. In the analysis, US-based researchers studied how stroke services are developing and looked in particular... Read more
Top tips for managing stroke
Dr Joe Harbison | 01 October 2009
In the latest Irish Medical Times 'Top Tips' series, Dr Joe Harbison, Consultant Stroke Physician at St James’s Hospital offers doctors his top tips on diagnosing and managing stroke... Read more
Incidental surgery linked to stroke risk — study
09 September 2009
Patients who have a patent foramen ovale incidentally discovered and repaired during surgery for a different condition may have an increased odds of postoperative stroke, along with no clear benefit on short-term outcomes or long-term survival, according to a new... Read more
Managing heart failure for patients
Dr Brendan McAdam and Ms Clare Lewis | 13 August 2009
Dr Brendan McAdam and Ms Clare Lewis explain the thinking behind the establishment of the Heart Failure unit at Beaumont Hospital and its success in managing and treating patients suffering from heart failure... Read more
The value of patterns of 24-hour ambulatory BP
07 August 2009
Prof Eoin O'Brien writes that patterns of 24-hour ambulatory blood-pressure are very valuable in clinical practice... Read more
A revolution in blood-pressure management?
30 July 2009
Is the 'polypill' really a panacea for cardiovascular disease and should it be routinely prescribed to patients aged over 55 years? Erica Mills examines the issues and asks some experts for their opinions... Read more
Croi MyAction – a new CVD
Dr Jim Crowley | 30 July 2009
Dr Jim Crowley, Dr Susan Connolly, Irene Gibson and Neil Johnson outline the thinking behind Croi MyAction — a community-based preventive cardiology programme... Read more
High density lipoprotein – higher is better?
Dr Neville Wilson | 30 July 2009
Dr Neville Wilson writes that a shift to a new treatment paradigm that embraces HDL cholesterol enhancement is necessary in the management of coronary heart disease... Read more
Verbal instruction fails to increase physical activity
29 July 2009
Repeated encouragement and verbal instruction do not motivate older stroke survivors to be physically active, and other more intensive strategies need to be found, a new study has concluded. According to background information cited in the study, counselling on physical... Read more
Active commuters have fewer heart risk factors
29 July 2009
Men and women who walk or ride a bike to work appear more fit, and men are less likely to be overweight or obese and have healthier triglyceride levels, blood pressure and insulin levels, according to a new report. The... Read more
Biomarkers of little benefit in predicting cardiovascular events
JAMA | 10 July 2009
Use of several older and newer biomarkers appears to offer minimal added benefit in the prediction of cardiovascular events, compared to conventional risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to a new study. In the study,... Read more
Has anything changed in the management of CD?
Prof Eoin O'Brien | 15 June 2009
Prof Eoin O'Brien writes that the results from the EUROASPIRE surveys show a continuing gap between the standards set in cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines and the reality of clinical practice. The first EURO-ASPIRE (European Action on Secondary and Primary Pre-vention... Read more
Stockings do not reduce blood clot risk in patients
The Lancet Online | 08 June 2009
Thigh-length graduated support stockings (TL-GCS) do not reduce the risk of blood clots in stroke patients, new research has found. In the study, doctors analysed 2,518 patients from 64 centres in the UK, Italy and Australia. They were admitted to... Read more
Treating blood clots following surgery
03 June 2009
New drug treatments could play a key role in preventing blood clots in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery — according to recent published analysis Data from a pooled analysis of three pivotal Phase III trials, RECORD 1, 2 and 3... Read more
Taking ACTION to identify those at risk for PVD and stroke
29 April 2009
Initiatives to aid in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of PVD, as identified by the Joint British Societies' Guidelines, have been optimised by ACTION, the Atherosclerosis Circulation Training and Information Network. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a highly prevalent, progressive... Read more
Aliskiren in the management of heart failure
Prof Ken McDonald | 29 April 2009
Prof Ken McDonald writes about the pharmaco-therapeutic approach to treating heart failure, which has come a long way in recent years. Pharmacotherapy of heart failure has developed dramatically over the last 20 years, with major improvements in prognosis and reduction... Read more
Former prison inmates may be at risk of hypertension
Archives of Internal Medicine | 28 April 2009
Young adults who have been incarcerated appear more likely to have high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy, according to a new report from the United States. The report followed a study in which doctors studied the association of prior... Read more
Exercise training may provide benefit for heart-failure patients
JAMA | 15 April 2009
Aerobic exercise training appears safe for patients with heart failure and was associated with a modest reduction in the risk of death and hospitalisation, with some improvement in quality of life, according to the results of a new American study.... Read more
Treadmill exercise improves walking endurance
JAMA | 09 April 2009
Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which can include symptoms such as pain in the legs, who participated in supervised treadmill exercise, improved their walking endurance and quality of life, according to a new study. In the study, doctors investigated... Read more
A new treatment for degenerative aortic stenosis
Dr Ronan Margey and Prof Declan Sugrue | 07 April 2009
Dr Ronan Margey and Prof Declan Sugrue on transcatheter percutaneous valve replacement — an exciting development in interventional cardiology Calcific or degenerative aortic valve disease is the most common valvular lesion encountered among elderly patients. In the Helsinki Ageing Study,... Read more
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in CV disease
18 March 2009
Key speakers at a recent Solvay Healthcare meeting in Dublin outlined the role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. Dr Vincent Maher, a Cardiology Consultant at Adelaide and Meath Children’s Hospital,... Read more
Sudden cardiac death remains rare in young athletes
Circulation | 02 March 2009
The rate of sudden cardiac death in young athletes is higher than previous estimates, but the problem is still relatively rare, according to the results of a 27-year registry. These data add to the debate about whether countries should implement... Read more
New diagnoses of heart disease provides window to change behaviour
20 February 2009
Older adults appear more likely to quit smoking or lose weight following a recent diagnosis of heart disease or other serious condition, according to a new report. It followed a study in which doctors analysed data from the Health and... Read more
Use of cardiac computed tomography angiography is found to expose patients to high doses of radiation
JAMA | 16 February 2009
Use of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has the potential to expose patients to high doses of radiation, and methods available to reduce radiation dose are not frequently used, according to a new study. The 64-slice CCTA has emerged as... Read more
Resting rate predicts heart attacks
BMJ Online | 16 February 2009
A simple measurement of resting pulse predicts coronary events in women independently of physical activity and common risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, a new study has found. Previous studies have shown that resting heart rate predicts coronary... Read more
Biomarker levels for therapy do not improve outcomes
JAMA | 09 February 2009
Using a measure of the hormone N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to guide therapy for older patients with heart failure did not improve overall clinical or quality of life outcomes compared to patients receiving conventional, symptom-guided therapy, according to a... Read more
Abnormal heart function affects exercise capacity
JAMA | 30 January 2009
Patients with abnormal diastolic function in the left ventricle of the heart have a substantially lower maximum capacity for exercise, according to a new study. In the study, doctors examined the relationship between left ventricular diastolic function and exercise capacity.... Read more
What's coming up in MIMS Ireland
30 January 2009
In February, MIMS Ireland focuses on cardiovascular diseases, including European recommendations on the prevention and management of these diseases, with a particular emphasis on the management of hypertension according to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. The Clinical... Read more
Abdominal aortic aneurisms, evolution in management
Drs Ciara Hanley, A. O'Callaghan, M.P. Colgan, N. Haider, S. O'Neill, P. Madhavan and D.J. Moore | 27 January 2009
Drs Ciara Hanley, A. O'Callaghan, M.P. Colgan, N. Haider, S. O'Neill, P. Madhavan and D.J. Moore on the minimally invasive technique of endovascular aneurysm repair. Due to our increasing life expectancy, advances in medical imaging and community screening programmes, aortic... Read more
Factor Xa inhibitor heralds new era in anticoagulant therapy
Alan Deeley | 18 January 2009
Alan Deeley reports on a recent meeting where attendees heard that a new Factor Xa inhibitor (rivaroxaban) represents a revolution in anticoagulant therapy following orthopaedic surgery. Orthopaedic surgeons and their medical colle-agues are on the verge of a revolution in... Read more
Statins linked to lower risk of death from pneumonia
Archives of Internal Medicine | 06 January 2009
Patients who take cholesterol-lowering statins before being hospitalised with pneumonia appear less likely to die within 90 days afterward, according to a new report from Denmark. In the study, doctors reviewed data from 29,900 adults hospitalised with pneumonia between 1997... Read more
Experts gather at mitral valve conference
Dr Ross Murphy | 12 December 2008
Key international guests gathered for a recent conference to hear how mitral valve surgery can help patients with heart failure, writes Dr Ross Murphy Mitral valve disease is a potentially important curable cause of heart failure. It is receiving more... Read more
Cardiovascular disease in RA
Dr Miriam O'Sullivan, Dr Grainne Murphy and Prof MGM Molloy | 09 December 2008
Dr Miriam O'Sullivan, Dr Grainne Murphy and Prof MGM Molloy look at the incidence of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis and how best to manage CVD risk in these patients. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthropathy. It... Read more
Help with hypertension
Dr Carl Vaughan | 07 December 2008
Dr Carl Vaughan answers questions from GPs on hypertension in the penultimate instalment of our Ask the Consultant series 1. What is the risk to renal function with ARBs? Answer: Some physicians are worried about worsening renal function when they... Read more
Whatever happened to the thallium scan?
Dr Martin O'Connell | 13 November 2008
Dr Martin O’Connell, Consultant Radiologist, Mater Hospital, writes on the usage of the thallium scan in cardiology investigations. The thallium scan is a well-known part of the diagnostic algorithm for investigation of myocardial ischaemia. In the era of wider availability... Read more
Ranolazine safe and effective for treating chronic stable angina
The Lancet | 28 October 2008
The drug ranolazine is a safe and effective treatment for chronic stable angina and adds to the treatment options for patients with this condition, according to leading United State doctors. Drs Stephen Nash and David Nash, of Syracuse Preventive Medicine,... Read more
Simpler methods can detect leg clots
JAMA | 21 October 2008
A comparison of two diagnostic methods used to detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities has found that a simpler method has rates of DVT detection equivalent to a more complex method. Two ultrasonography diagnostic methods often used... Read more
Hypertension management report from ESC Congress
Gary Culliton | 07 October 2008
During the Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Satellite Symposium, at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), which was supported by Merck Sharp & Dohme, Prof Richard Devereux of Weill Medical College, Cornell University, reviewed a large amount of data... Read more
Congress covers the latest in cardiology developments
07 October 2008
Gary Culliton reports from the 2008 Congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Munich, where delegates heard updates on lipids management and hypertension. During the Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Satellite Symposium, at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology... Read more
Stroke and TIA: a real surgical emergency?
Mr Noel O'Brien and Mr Greg Fulton | 19 September 2008
Each year in Ireland, there are approximately 10,000 cerebro-vascular accidents (CVAs) or strokes, with 2,029 deaths from stroke in 2005. This accounts for seven per cent of all deaths in Ireland. The incidence of transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is more... Read more
'BEAUTIFUL' study presented in Munich
Natalya Anderson | 12 September 2008
Natalya Anderson, UK correspondent of Irish Medical Times was in Munich for the recent cardiology conference and to examine the results of the 'BEAUTIFUL' study. Ivabradine may reduce fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction and coronary revascularisation by up to a... Read more
New therapies can lead to better outcomes in leg ulcers ulcers
Mr Philip Coleridge Smith and Mr John Scurr | 01 September 2008
Mr Philip Coleridge Smith and Mr John Scurr report on new ways of treating leg ulcers, which involve minimally invasive treatment methods. Leg ulcers remain a common problem in general practice and lead to considerable costs for healthcare providers. The... Read more
HDL: the good cholesterol?
Prof Gerald H. Tomkin | 28 August 2008
Prof Gerald H. Tomkin writes about the connections between the levels of LDL and HDL cholesterols and a patient's risk of developing coronary artery disease. The story of cholesterol is long and fascinating. One of the reasons why cholesterol became... Read more
Athletes continue to take caffeine to enhance their performance
http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/july/caffeine.doc | 17 August 2008
A study of UK athletes has revealed that 33 per cent of track and field athletes and 60 per cent of competitive cyclists take caffeine to enhance performance. Four years ago, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed caffeine from the... Read more
Athletes continue to take caffeine to enhance their performance
http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/july/caffeine.doc | 17 August 2008
A study of UK athletes has revealed that 33 per cent of track and field athletes and 60 per cent of competitive cyclists take caffeine to enhance performance. Four years ago, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed caffeine from the... Read more
Stroke care needs major investment
Dr Joe Harbison | 15 August 2008
Dr Joe Harbison looks at definitions of stroke care and where Ireland stands relative to other countries. Stroke unit management is such a basic level of care that its absence in many countries would be considered negligent. We have now... Read more
Index for atherosclerosis risk may predict cardiovascular risk
JAMA 2008;300:197-208 | 31 July 2008
The ankle brachial index may be useful to improve the accuracy of cardiovascular risk prediction, according to a new meta-analysis of previous studies. The researchers noted that attention has been given to indicators of asymptomatic atherosclerosis, such as coronary artery... Read more
Evidence needs to be robust
Prof Eoin O'Brien | 25 July 2008
What exactly is the Euro Consumer Heart Index that ranks Irish heart care ranks only 16th out of 29 European countries? A rather dramatically-worded press release issued from Brussels on 3 July 2008 carrying the above headline went on to... Read more
Angiotensin-receptor blockers as cardioprotective drug therapy
Dr John Cox | 11 July 2008
Dr John Cox reports on a number of clinical trials which have investigated the pros and cons of treatment with ARBs compared to or combined with ACE inhibitors. General practitioners are by now very familiar with the drugs used in... Read more
Drug-releasing stents can decrease revascularisation
JAMA | 01 July 2008
The widespread adoption of the use of drug-releasing coronary artery stents into routine practice is associated with a decrease in the need for revascularisation procedures, a new study has found. In the study, doctors compared the rates of revascularisation, heart... Read more
Thrombosis: 'silent killer' strikes without warning
Natalya Anderson | 01 July 2008
Natalya Anderson reports from a conference in London, at which delegates heard that venous blood clots kill an average of 544,000 people in Europe every year. Preventative treatment is essential in reducing the potentially fatal effects of thrombosis, but challenges... Read more
Availability of two options for repair of ruptured aneurysm can reduce mortality
Archives of Surgery | 26 June 2008
Availability of two options for repair of ruptured aneurysm can reduce mortality. Having two options available for the repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms is associated with improvement in overall survival after surgery, according to a new report. Most patients... Read more
Oral HRT doubles risk of clots
BMJ Online First | 14 June 2008
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) given in skin patches may cause fewer blood clots than HRT given orally, according to a report from a new study. Furthermore, women who take the oral form of HRT more than double their risk of... Read more
Black men less likely to undergo elective aneurysm repair
Archives of Surgery 2008;143:506-510 | 10 June 2008
Black men are less likely than white men to undergo elective surgery to repair abdominal aortic aneurysms, even after accounting for racial differences in rates of developing the disease, according to a new report. According to the report, doctors identified... Read more
Clopidogrel reduces early blood-clot formation
07 June 2008
The anti-platelet drug clopidogrel reduced the frequency of early blood clot formation in new fistulas created for patients requiring dialysis, but did not increase the proportion of these fistulas that subsequently became suitable for use during dialysis, according to a... Read more
Statins may help to reduce blood pressure
Archives of Internal Medicine 2008;168:721-727 | 20 May 2008
Statins may modestly reduce a person’s blood pressure, according to a new report. Several previous studies have suggested that statins may have an effect on blood pressure, particularly in patients with hypertension. Doctors conducted a randomised, double-blind trial comparing statins... Read more
The disgrace of Ireland's blood pressure statistics
Prof Eoin O'Brien | 16 May 2008
The ‘SLÁN 2007 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland’ has just been published (www.slan07.ie). This is the most comprehensive survey of the state of Ireland’s health, involving face-to-face interviews with over 10,000 adults, along with a sub-study on... Read more
Targeting cardiovascular benefits
Prof John Feely | 09 May 2008
Prof John Feely reports from the 2008 American College of Cardiology meeting, where new developments were highlighted for the treatment of cardiovascular disease One might question why we need more studies in cardiovascular (CV) disease. In reality, it still remains... Read more
Anti-platelet drugs improve tPA effect
19 April 2008
Patients given the drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) after a stroke appear to have better outcomes if they were already taking anti-platelet medications, according to a new study. According to background information supplied by the researchers, dissolving blood clots by... Read more
Advances in interventional cardiology
Prof David Foley | 12 April 2008
Techniques for treating cardiac problems by the ‘percutaneous’ approach (what we call ‘interventional cardiology’ or, in layman’s terms, ‘keyhole surgery’) continue to develop at an exciting pace. Coronary angiography and stenting are now routinely performed via the radial artery,... Read more
Muscle ruptures and ankle sprains associated with risk of blood clots
10 April 2008
Muscle ruptures, ankle sprains and other common minor leg injuries appear to be associated with a higher risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs, according to a new report. Previous studies have shown that major injuries increase the... Read more
Immunisation could replace medication to control BP
26 March 2008
Immunisation against angiotensin II could lower the blood pressure of patients with hypertension, improve treatment adherence and eventually replace traditional medications, according to leading researchers. That prediction follows a study in which doctors conducted phase IIa trial of 72 patients... Read more
Age-related macular degeneration doubles the risk of heart attack
Early online edition of British Journal of Ophthalmology, available at: http://press.psprings.co.uk/bjo/february/bj131706.pdf | 21 March 2008
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) doubles the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, new research from Australia has revealed. The Australian researchers assessed the general and eye health of over 3,600 people, all of whom were aged 49... Read more
Hypertension: unique challenges for women
Hypertension, February 7, 2008 | 05 March 2008
Women face unique risks for developing hypertension and special challenges in keeping their high blood pressure under control, according to new research. Some of the latest findings include: 1) Dietary calcium, not supplements, may have a role in preventing hypertension.... Read more
One in four stroke patients dead within a month, says study
BMJ 2008;336:337-338 | 26 February 2008
Despite advances in prevention, acute care and rehabilitation, 20-30 per cent of stroke patients die within a month and 13 per cent of survivors are discharged to institutional care, according to leading UK experts. That finding followed a study published... Read more
Autopsy findings suggest end of decline
Archives of Internal Medicine 2008;168:264-270 | 19 February 2008
Autopsies of individuals in one county in the United States suggest that the decades-long decline in the rate of coronary artery disease there may have ended and possibly reversed after 2000, according to a new report from American and Canadian... Read more
Most patients with high BP do not follow their recommended diets
Archives of Internal Medicine 2008;168:308-314 | 19 February 2008
Only a small proportion of individuals with hypertension eat diets that align with recognised guidelines for controlling the disease, according to a new report. Results of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial, published in 1997, indicated that a... Read more
Women's high blood pressure rates worse
Online edition of Circulation, available at: www.americanheart.com | 19 February 2008
A new study has found that blood pressure rates in the United States may be on the increase for women and stagnating for men. In the study, researchers examined blood pressure trends nationally using the National Health and Nutrition Examination... Read more
BMI less predictive of stroke risk in lean people says study
www.strokeassociation.org | 12 February 2008
Although a high body mass index (BMI) often leads to higher blood pressure that may predispose to stroke, the link between BMI and stroke may not hold true for lean people, according to a new study of Chinese men. The... Read more
Stopping Clopidogrel: heart patients' risk
JAMA 2008; 299:532-539 | 12 February 2008
Patients who receive the anti-platelet medication clopidogrel following an acute coronary syndrome appear to be at greater risk of a heart attack or death in the first 90 days after stopping clopidogrel treatment, according to a new study. Randomized trials... Read more
Drugs, care and practice guidelines reduce heart disease and strokes
www.americanheart.org | 05 February 2008
The American Heart Association is crediting improvements in drugs, care and practice guidelines for a steep fall in the rates of death from heart disease and stroke. Those comments followed the publication of new mortality data from the Centers for... Read more
Drug-releasing coronary stents have similar patient outcomes
JAMA 2008;299:409-416 | 05 February 2008
A comparison of use of the first two commercially available drug-releasing coronary stents - for the medications sirolimus and paclitaxel - among patients in everyday clinical practice indicates no significant differences for outcomes such as heart attack or cardiac death,... Read more
Diuretics just as effective in treating hypertension
Archives of Internal Medicine 2008;168:207-217 | 05 February 2008
Use of calcium-channel blockers, alpha-blockers or ACE inhibitors appears to offer no advantages in improving clinical outcomes compared with use of diuretics when treating hypertension among individuals with metabolic syndrome, according to a new report. In the study, doctors analysed... Read more
Non-specific immunomodulation: possible heart advance
The Lancet 2008;371:228-236 | 01 February 2008
Non-specific immunomodulation therapy (IMT) could have a role for treating large numbers of patients with heart failure, according to leading experts in the field. Those comments followed a study in which doctors conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a device-based... Read more
Increased risk of heart attack and stroke in aspirin-resistant patients
BMJ | 01 February 2008
Being resistant to aspirin makes patients four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or even die from a pre-existing heart condition, according to a new meta-analysis of previous studies. There is currently no agreed method of accurately... Read more
Undernourished stroke patients have worse outcomes
Archives of Neurology 2008;65:39-43 | 01 February 2008
Patients who are undernourished when they enter the hospital with an acute ischemic stroke are likely to remain undernourished in the hospital and may have worse clinical outcomes, according to a new report. The report followed a study by doctors... Read more
Fifty years of cardiology: from bed rest to dissolvable stents
Dr Ross Murphy | 25 January 2008
Consultant cardiologist, Dr Ross Murphy, charts recent advancements in coronary care and points to the need for continued exploration and movement on all frontiers In 1956, the world’s leading cardiologist insisted on three-to-six weeks’ strict bed rest on a semi-starvation... Read more
Thiazolidinediones linked to higher risk of heart problems for elderly
JAMA 2007;298:2634-2643 | 11 January 2008
Older patients treated for diabetes with thiazolidinedione drugs have a significantly increased risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, and death, compared with the use of other hypoglycaemic drugs, according to a new study. Canadian-led researchers analysed the risks of... Read more
Instances of persistent platelet activation is cardiovascular threat
New England Journal of Medicine 2007;357:2482-2494 | 11 January 2008
Italian researchers have reported that persistent platelet activation is linked to major cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes mellitus and visceral obesity. The researchers, funded by the European Commission to study the role of eicosanoids and nitric oxide in cardiovascular disease,... Read more
Fitness level can predict longevity
JAMA 2007;298:2507-2516 | 04 January 2008
Adults over age 60 who had higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness lived longer than unfit adults - independent of their levels of body fat - according to a new study. Previous studies have provided evidence that obesity and physical inactivity... Read more
Ozone link between heat and increased heart attack risk
Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 14 December 2007
Ozone may prove the key to the link between high temperature and the increased risk of death from heart disease or stroke, according to new research. The researchers based their findings on a population of almost 100 million people in... Read more
Infusion therapy may increase patients' risk of heart attack
JAMA 2007;298:2399-2405 | 14 December 2007
Infusion of a combination therapy consisting of glucose, insulin and potassium - which was thought could be a beneficial treatment immediately following a heart attack - may increase the risk of heart failure and death in the first three days... Read more
Fewer die with rapid response
JAMA 2007;298:2267-2274 | 07 December 2007
A childrens hospital that added a rapid response medical team for patients not in the intensive care unit saw an 18 per cent decrease in the death rate, and about a 70 per cent decline in the rate of cardiac... Read more
Tezosentan does not improve heart failure symptoms
JAMA | 23 November 2007
The medication tezosentan, which was thought could be beneficial for the treatment of acute heart failure, does not improve breathlessness or reduce the risk of fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular events. In a study, researchers tested the hypothesis that tezosentan would... Read more
Studies show pre-eclampsia is linked with heart disease
BMJ Online First | 23 November 2007
Two new studies have added further weight to the theory that pre-eclampsia and cardiovascular diseases may share common causes or mechanisms. The first study found that women who had pre-eclampsia during pregnancy had a more than two-fold higher risk of... Read more
Whole-grain cereals reduce heart failure
Archives of Internal Medicine | 16 November 2007
Men who consume a higher amount of whole-grain breakfast cereals may have a reduced risk of heart failure, according to a new report. In the study, researchers analysed the association between breakfast cereal intake and new cases of heart failure... Read more
Healthy lifestyle significantly lowers MI risk for women
Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167:2122-2127 | 02 November 2007
Women who eat a healthy diet, drink moderate amounts of alcohol, are physically active, maintain a healthy weight and do not smoke have a significantly reduced risk of heart attack, according to a Swedish study. Researchers identified dietary patterns in... Read more
Long QT syndromes and drugs
Dr Muhammad Arshad, Prof Michael Fitzgerald & Zoya Ali | 02 November 2007
"Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome." (Isaac Asimov, US science fiction novelist and scholar 1920-1992). Medical professionals prescribe medications from infancy for a multitude of reasons such as to treat infection, pain, asthma etc, and... Read more
Anti-anaemia drug may improve health of kidney disease patients
The Lancet 2007;370:1395,1415-1421 | 02 November 2007
The use of a long-acting form of the anti-anaemia drug epoetin could result in improved quality of life and simplified anaemia management, compared with conventional therapy for treating anaemia, according to a new study. In the study, doctors compared the... Read more
Occupational therapy effective for stroke patients
BMJ Online | 26 October 2007
Occupational therapy can improve the lives of patients who have suffered a stroke and lessen their chances of deteriorating, according to a new study. Researchers in Scotland looked at nine randomised controlled trials with a total group size of 1,258... Read more
ACE inhibitor perindopril proven effective against aortic stiffness
JAMA 2007;298:1539-1547 | 19 October 2007
New research from Australia has suggested that use of the ACE inhibitor perindopril, along with a beta-blocker, may help reduce cardiac measures such as aortic stiffness and dilation that are associated with the cardiac complications of Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome... Read more
Hypertension– a revision of the best practise guidelines
Dr John Cox | 05 October 2007
The 2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hyper-tension (ESH/ESC guidelines) have recently been published by the Task Force for the Management of Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)... Read more
Manage BP to lessen risk of heart failure
Online First Edition of Hypertension | 05 October 2007
Preventing heart failure at age 70 or 80 may depend upon maintaining normal blood pressure and a healthy weight at age 50, researchers have reported in hypertension. An increase of just one standard deviation of about 20mmHg in systolic blood... Read more
Experts propose cholesterol tests for children as young as 15 mths
BMJ | 28 September 2007
Children could have their cholesterol levels tested at about 15 months of age to prevent heart disease later in life, according to leading UK doctors. Researchers at Barts and the London Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry analysed published... Read more
Being moderately overweight is an independent risk for heart disease
Archives of Internal Medicine | 21 September 2007
Being moderately overweight or obese appears to increase the risk for developing coronary heart disease events independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies. Doctors led by Dutch colleagues combined data from 21 previous... Read more
Resistant hypertension and the role of spironolactone in its treatment
Prof John Feely & Dr Azra Mahmud | 14 September 2007
Resistant hypertension is diagnosed in individuals who are actually taking their medicines but despite three antihypertensives (in the US they recommend one should be a diuretic) BP remains stubbornly above goal >140/90 mmHg. For many years we had intermittently used... Read more
Food supplements to treat diabetes and atherosclerosis
14 September 2007
The health benefits of cutting down on dietary saturated fatty acids and including higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids are well documented in medical literature. Nutritional research is focusing on the effects of incorporating these healthier fatty acids, such as... Read more
Heart attack patients at higher risk of developing diabetes
The Lancet | 07 September 2007
People who have had heart attacks are at higher risk of developing both new-onset diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), a new study has found. In the study, doctors investigated 8,291 Italian patients who had had a heart attack within... Read more
European Hypertension Guidelines: Comprehensive and worthwhile
Prof John Feely & Dr Jayant Sharma | 07 September 2007
The 2007 guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension from the European Societies of Hypertension and Cardiology have just been published in the Journal of Hypertension (2007;25:1105-87). These update the 2003 guidelines and were eagerly awaited particularly because of the... Read more
Diabetics with ACS at greater risk of dying
JAMA | 31 August 2007
Individuals with diabetes and such acute coronary syndromes (ACS) as heart attack and unstable angina have an increased risk of death at 30 days and one year after ACS, compared with ACS patients without diabetes, according to a new study.... Read more
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators appear to be extremely effective
JAMA | 03 August 2007
High-risk patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy appear to have reduced risk of sudden cardiac death with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. In a new study, doctors examined the risk profile and incidence and effectiveness of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) intervention in patients with hypertrophic... Read more
Non-fasting triglyceride levels linked to risk of cardiovascular events
JAMA | 27 July 2007
Results from two studies indicate that elevated non-fasting triglyceride levels are associated with cardiovascular events. In the first, doctors in a Danish-led study tested the hypothesis that very high levels of non-fasting triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of... Read more
Eating small amounts of dark chocolate is linked to a reduction in blood pressure
JAMA 2007;298:49-60 | 13 July 2007
Eating about 30 calories a day of dark chocolate was associated with a lowering of blood pressure, without weight gain or other adverse effects, according to a new study. Previous research has indicated that consumption of high amounts of cocoa-containing... Read more
Risks and reliable procedures when dealing with bleeding
Dr Darach Ó hIci | 22 June 2007
With the event of percutuaneous coronary interveion (PCI) and anti-platelet therapy, life threatening ischemic complications are rare, and minimally affected by the intensity and duration of the anti-coagulation protocol. Bleeding complications have become the most commonly observed adversity of percutaneous... Read more
Pre-operative anaemia and polycythemia increase the likelihood of post-operative death
JAMA 2007;297:2481-2488 | 22 June 2007
Older patients with mild degrees of pre-operative anaemia or polycythemia have a higher risk of post-operative death or cardiac events following major non-cardiac surgery. In a new study, doctors evaluated the prevalence of pre-operative anaemia and polycythemia and their effects... Read more
Statins are safe and are effective even for treatment of elderly
The Lancet | 22 June 2007
Statins are safe, tolerated and have a proven impact on cardiovascular disease for all patients including the elderly, according to a review of stain research. “No dose adjustment is recommended for elderly patients on statins, although the very elderly may... Read more
Men could benefit in the long-term from screening for AAA
Annals of Internal Medicine 2007;146:699-706 | 15 June 2007
A large study conducted by UK doctors has concluded that screening ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is cost-effective over the long term. The study, which confirms the result of findings for short-term studies, involved ultrasonography screening for AAA in... Read more
Untreated VTEs are killing thousands
BMJ 2007;334:1017-1019 | 01 June 2007
More than a thousand patients may be dying in Irish hospitals each year from untreated venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), if a warning from the UK is any indication. According to leading UK experts, as many as 25,000 people there may die... Read more
Studies reveal shortcomings in stroke services in Ireland
18 May 2007
The findings of the first part of the National Stroke Audit have revealed that stroke services are notable by the complete absence, with one exception, of the recommended standard of stroke units for optimal care of patients following stroke. According... Read more
Phone monitoring helps patients with chronic heart failure
BMJ | 04 May 2007
Monitoring patients’ health by phone can make a real difference to people with chronic heart failure, according to a new study. The study found that remote monitoring programmes involving structured telephone support or telemonitoring by a health professional reduced admissions... Read more
Ibuprofen may boost heart risk in osteoarthritis patients
Annals of Rheumatic Diseases | 27 April 2007
Ibuprofen may boost the likelihood of heart problems in high risk patients who have osteoarthritis, according to new research. The research team compared the cardiovascular health over one year of more than 18,000 patients aged over 50 with osteoarthritis. The... Read more
Fish oil helps statins reduce coronary events
The Lancet 2007;369:1062,1090-1098 | 20 April 2007
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), found naturally in fish oil, could be additionally cardioprotective for people taking statins to lower cholesterol, according to a new study from Japan. The Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS) tested the hypothesis that long-term use of... Read more
Statin therapy continues to provide clinical benefit
Gary Culliton | 20 April 2007
The Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study (CARDS) showed a significant reduction in cardiovascular events in patients, Prof John Betteridge, a lead author of CARDS and Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism at University College London Hospital, told the Pfizer Cardiovascular National Forum.... Read more
Tilarginine does not reduce death risk in patients up to 6 months after heart attack
JAMA | 20 April 2007
The medication tilarginine, a drug that was believed beneficial for patients who develop cardiogenic shock after a heart attack, did not reduce the risk of death up to six months after a heart attack. Cardiogenic shock is the leading cause... Read more
Strokes linked to use of stimulant drugs
Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:495-502 | 13 April 2007
The use of stimulant drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines, may be linked to a higher risk for stroke. In the study, doctors used a database of 3,148,165 discharges from Texas hospitals between 2000 and 2003 to assess the connection between... Read more
Reconstituted HDL may benefit coronary atherosclerosis patients
JAMA | 13 April 2007
Preliminary research has suggested that use of reconstituted HDL cholesterol may have some benefit in coronary atherosclerosis. In the study, Canadian-led researchers assessed the effects of infusion with a reconstituted HDL, CSL-111, on coronary atherosclerosis. CSL-111 consists of apolipoprotein A-I... Read more
Long-term aspirin use linked to reduced risk of dying in women
Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167:562-572 | 13 April 2007
Women who take low to moderate doses of aspirin have a reduced risk of death from any cause, and especially heart disease-related deaths, according to a new report. In the study, doctors examined the association between aspirin use and death... Read more
Tolvaptan shown to relieve heart failure symptoms
JAMA 2007;297:1319-1331 | 06 April 2007
The tolvaptan heart failure medication appears to improve some symptoms and signs of heart failure during hospitalisation, but does not reduce the risk of re-hospitalisation or death, according to a new trial. Doctors in the Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in... Read more
Rosuvastatin shown to slow arterial thickening progression
JAMA 2007;297:1344-1353 | 06 April 2007
Among low-risk middle-aged people with subclinical atherosclerosis,the cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin reduces the rate of progression of arterial thickening and stops– but does not reverse– atherosclerotic disease, according to a new study. In the study, doctors conducted a randomised study of... Read more
Chest compressions may be more effective than the kiss-of-life
The Lancet 2007;369:882-884,920-926 | 30 March 2007
A new Japanese study has found that bystander cardiac-only resuscitation has a better outcome for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Doctors compared the outcomes for over 4,000 adult patients who underwent cardiac-only resuscitation or conventional... Read more
Calcium and vitamin D supplements don’t affect heart disease risk
Circulation 2007;115:846-854 | 23 March 2007
Calcium and vitamin D supplementation neither increased nor decreased heart disease and stroke risk in generally healthy postmenopausal women over seven years of use, according to a new study. Researchers evaluated the risk of coronary and cerebrovascular events in 36,282... Read more
Children with elderly parents seen at lower risk of heart disease
Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167:438-444 | 23 March 2007
Individuals with one or more parents who survive to age 85 or older may have fewer risk factors for heart disease in middle age, according to a new report. In the study, doctors investigated 1,697 members of the Framingham Heart... Read more
Women with prehypertension are at greater cardiovascular risk
Circulation 2007;115:855-860 | 23 March 2007
According to new American research, prehyper-tension exists in about 40 per cent of postmenopausal women and it is associated with a 58 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular death, regardless of ethnicity, compared to normal blood pressure. Using the most... Read more
Updated guidelines focus on women's lifetime heart risk
16 March 2007
Doctors should focus on women’s lifetime heart disease risk, not just short-term risk, according to updated American Heart Association guidelines. The 2007 Guidelines for Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Women include expanded recommendations on lifestyle factors such as physical activity, nutrition,... Read more
Women's age a factor in heart attack deaths
Circulation 2007;115:833-839 | 16 March 2007
While women are typically referred for artery re-opening procedures less often than men after a heart attack, this disparity in care does not appear to be the main reason for women’s higher rate of death after a heart attack, according... Read more
Stroke unit improves recovery
16 March 2007
The Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) in Portiuncula Hospital comprises four beds; cardiac and physiological monitoring facilities; specialist nurses for the unit only; consultant; physiotherapist for stroke unit only; occupational therapist; dietetics; specialist stroke nurse; social worker; and speech therapist (twice... Read more
Fighting hypertension means lifestyle changes
Dr Mary Ryan | 09 March 2007
Hypertension is a result of persistent high blood pressure which may cause damage to the vessel and arteries of the brain, kidneys and eyes. The entire circulatory system is affected since it is increasingly more difficult for the blood to... Read more
Genetic variation links to venous thrombosis
JAMA 2007;297:489-498 | 02 March 2007
Researchers have identified new genetic variations that may be associated with the risk of developing nonfatal venous thrombosis in postmenopausal women, according to a new study. In the study, researchers examined the association of common genetic variation in 24 clotting-related... Read more
British hypertension guidelines not so NICE for beta-blockers
Prof John Feely & Dr Azra Mahmud | 02 March 2007
In our article in Irish Medical Times in November 2005, entitled ‘Atenolol in Hypertension– the end of an era?’, we speculated that, on the basis of poor performance in a number of comparative trials, the use of atenolol as a... Read more
Genetic variation links to venous thrombosis
JAMA 2007;297:489-498 | 02 March 2007
Researchers have identified new genetic variations that may be associated with the risk of developing nonfatal venous thrombosis in postmenopausal women, according to a new study. In the study, researchers examined the association of common genetic variation in 24 clotting-related... Read more
Symptoms of depression linked to early stages of coronary artery disease
Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:225-233 | 23 February 2007
Depressive symptoms may be associated with thickening arteries, which may reflect an early sign of coronary artery disease. Researchers looked at 324 men and women who were an average of 60.6 years old. At the beginning of the study, participants... Read more
Patients who get ICDs for prevention need fewer driving restrictions
Circulation, 7 February 2007 | 23 February 2007
Patients who receive implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) as a preventative measure don’t need the same driving restrictions as people who get an ICD after surviving a life-threatening heart rhythm disturbance, according to an updated scientific statement from the American Heart... Read more
Intensive atorvastatin treatment cuts hospital time for heart failure
Circulation 2007;115:576-583 | 23 February 2007
Intensive treatment with atorvastatin in patients with stable coronary disease significantly reduces hospitalisations for heart failure, a new study has found. In the study, doctors randomised 10,001 patients with stable coronary disease to treatment with 80 mg per day or... Read more
Aprotinin limits loss of blood but it could increase risk of death after bypass surgery
JAMA 2007;297:471-479 | 16 February 2007
Aprotinin, a drug used for limiting blood loss in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, is associated with an increased risk of death during five years following the surgery, according to a new study. In all, more than four million patients worldwide... Read more
An aggressive research agenda is needed to fight metabolic syndrome
Dr Mary Ryan | 16 February 2007
For most of the 20th century, cardiovascular disease was identified as the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. During this period considerable efforts were made to understand the underlying biology of the disease and to identify... Read more
Statin therapy linked to regression of coronary atherosclerosis
JAMA 2007;297:499-508 | 16 February 2007
An analysis of data from four clinical trials suggests that statin therapy is associated with regression of coronary atherosclerosis when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is substantially reduced and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is increased. Despite such findings, it remains to... Read more
Severely mentally ill more at risk of cardiovascular death
Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:242-249 | 16 February 2007
A large British study has found that individuals with severe mental illnesses are significantly more likely to die from coronary heart disease and stroke, but not cancer, than those without mental illnesses. In the study, doctors selected 46,136 individuals with... Read more
Thrombolysis therapy with alteplase could routinely treat stroke
The Lancet 2007;369:275- | 09 February 2007
The thrombolytic drug alteplase, despite recent concerns, is safe and effective in routine clinical use when used within three hours of stroke onset, according to a new study. Alteplase is the only approved medical therapy for patients with acute ischaemic... Read more
Improved prediction of stroke after TIA
The Lancet 2007;369:283-292 | 09 February 2007
Existing prognostic scores for early-risk stroke prediction after transient ischaemic attack (TIA) have been validated and refined to develop a unified score that is more predictive than previous methods. Recent studies have shown that four to 20 per cent of... Read more
Alerting clinicians to the dangers of hyperhomocysteinaemia
Dr Neville Wilson | 09 February 2007
Homocysteine is an amino acid that, if present at a high level within the blood, is associated with an increased risk of arterial thrombosis, including heart attacks and strokes. This condition is known as hyperhomocysteinaemia. Recent publications (IMT, 8 December... Read more
South Asians experience MI risk factors at earlier ages
JAMA 2007;297:286-294 | 26 January 2007
People who are native to south Asia experience acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) at a younger age because of greater levels of heart attack risk factors such as smoking and diabetes at a younger age, according to a new study. The... Read more
Level of cardiac biomarker could help to predict MI
JAMA 2007;297:169-176 | 19 January 2007
A blood test for patients with coronary heart disease could help predict their risk for subsequent cardiovascular events or death, according to a new study. According to background information supplied by the researchers, brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP; consisting of 2... Read more
Medication adherence guide to better survival
JAMA 2007;297:177-18 | 19 January 2007
Research suggests that the taking medications such as statins and beta-blockers as prescribed after a heart attack is associated with living longer. Doctors in Canada examined the relationship between drug adherence and death following acute myocardial infarction. To help evaluate... Read more
Stress disorder may raise heart disease risk in men
Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:109-116 | 19 January 2007
A higher level of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in older men, according to a new American study. Doctors conducted a prospective study to test the hypothesis that high levels... Read more
Aspirin reduces heart problems in women and men
JAMA 2006;295:306-313 | 15 December 2006
An analysis of previous studies indicates that use of aspirin significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in women and in men, due to reducing the risk of stroke in women and reducing the risk of heart attack in men,... Read more
Statin use linked to lower risk of death in heart failure
JAMA 2006;296:2105-2111 | 15 December 2006
Patients with heart failure who used statins for the first time had a reduced risk of death of nearly 25 per cent, compared to non-users, and also a lower risk for hospitalisation, according to a new study. In the study,... Read more
Folic acid cuts heart disease
BMJ 2006;333:1114-1117 | 08 December 2006
The scientific evidence is strong enough to justify using folic acid as a cheap and simple way of reducing heart disease and strokes, according to researchers. That advice followed an analysis of the debate over whether raised homocysteine levels in... Read more
Hypertension and heart failure management: best practice
Colin Kerr | 01 December 2006
In assocaition with A.Menarini, Colin Kerr reports form their Cardiovascular Symposium which reviewed hypertension guidelines and featured an update on the management of heart failure That was the keynote message from Professor John Feely, clinical pharmacologist and consultant general physician... Read more