Hypertension
The latest information on high blood pressure — summaries and comments on antihypertensives, atherosclerosis, secondary hypertension, and more — drawn from across our primary care and specialty care areas. Sign up now for monthly e-mail alerts on new content.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Calcium-Channel Blockers and Losartan Are Associated with Lower Risk for Gout in Hypertensive Patients
- February 7, 2012
- Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
- General Medicine
Diuretics, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitors, and non-losartan angiotensin-receptor blockers are associated with increased risk.
- Reviewing:
- Choi HK et al. BMJ 2012 Jan 12; 344:d8190
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Pulmonary Hypertension Is Different in Children Than in AdultsFree
- February 1, 2012
- F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Syncope is more common and functional activity is better preserved than in adults. Dyspnea on exertion and fatigue were the most common symptoms.
- Reviewing:
- Berger RMF et al. Lancet 2012 Jan 10
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Gout and Diuretics in Hypertensive PatientsFree
- January 26, 2012
- Allan S. Brett, MD
- General Medicine
Diuretic use raised risk for gout by several percentage points.
- Reviewing:
- McAdams DeMarco MA et al. Arthritis Rheum 2012 Jan; 64:121
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Lifetime Cardiovascular Risk: The More Things Change . . .
- January 25, 2012
- Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
- Cardiology
Risk factors are less prevalent than in the past, but they are just as predictive of outcome.
- Reviewing:
- Berry JD et al. N Engl J Med 2012 Jan 26; 366:321
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Childhood Dermatomyositis and Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adulthood
- January 13, 2012
- Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
- Dermatology
Adults with a history of JDM had more evidence of disease than matched controls.
- Reviewing:
- Eimer MJ et al. J Pediatr 2011 Nov; 159:795
CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE WATCH
Revised Guidelines: Secondary Prevention and Risk Reduction in Patients with Atherosclerotic DiseaseFree
- January 4, 2012
- JoAnne M. Foody, MD
- Cardiology
New recommendations for cardiac rehabilitation and risk reduction are welcome, but updated guidance is lacking on lipid and blood pressure management.
- Reviewing:
- Smith SC Jr et al. Circulation 2011 Nov 29; 124:2458
Which Strategies Are Best for Measuring BP and Diagnosing Hypertension?
- December 29, 2011
- Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
- General Medicine
New data on how and when blood pressure readings are most accurate
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Got Heart Disease? Don't Be Depressed
- December 19, 2011
- Steven Dubovsky, MD
- Psychiatry
Even in relatively young people, depression and suicidality can worsen outcomes from ischemic heart disease.
- Reviewing:
- Shah AJ et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Nov; 68:1135
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Sodium Excretion of >7 g or <3 g Daily Is Associated with Elevated Cardiovascular Morbidity
- December 13, 2011
- Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
- General Medicine
By comparison, higher potassium excretion was associated with lower stroke risk.
- Reviewing:
- O'Donnell MJ et al. JAMA 2011 Nov 23/30; 306:2229
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
What If MI Patients Got Their Follow-Up Meds for Free?
- November 14, 2011
- Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA
- Cardiology
In a cluster-randomized study, improvement in adherence — and in some outcomes — was significant but small.
- Reviewing:
- Choudhry NK et al. for the Post-Myocardial Infarction Free Rx Event and Economic Evaluation (MI FREEE) Trial. N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 14
