No Need to Select Specific Antihypertensive Drugs According to Age
General Medicine Summary and Comment
These study results should simplify clinical decision making.
By Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
June 12, 2008
Covering:
Turnball F et al. for the Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration., BMJ 2008 May 17; 336:1121
Beyond Blood Pressure Control: Targeting Proteinuria with Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Inhibitors
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
A combination of aliskiren and losartan reduced albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy — at least in the short term.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
June 4, 2008
Covering:
Parving H-H et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Jun 5; 358:2433
Ingelfinger JR., N Engl J Med 2008 Jun 5; 358:2503
Prevention of Heart Failure
Cardiology Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
AHA experts summarize heart failure epidemiology, describe evidence-based preventive interventions, and outline initiatives to advance awareness and understanding.
Coexisting Conditions and Management of Hypertension
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a population-based cohort, the more unrelated comorbidities patients had, the less likely they were to receive intensified treatment for uncontrolled hypertension.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
May 21, 2008
Covering:
Turner BJ et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Apr 15; 148:578
Do Statins Decrease Risk for Cancer?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A multivariate analysis of observational data suggests that some of them might.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
May 21, 2008
Covering:
Karp I et al., Am J Med 2008 Apr; 121:302
How Low Should We Go (with BP and Cholesterol in Diabetic Patients)?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Lower might be better, but more clinical data are needed.
Which Came First — Kidney Dysfunction or Hypertension?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Renal dysfunction could have an etiologic role in essential hypertension, at least in some people.
Should We Treat Hypertension in Very Old People?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In the HYVET, relatively healthy octogenarians benefited from antihypertensive therapy.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 17, 2008
Covering:
Beckett NS et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Mar 31
Kostis JB., N Engl J Med 2008 Mar 31
Are Antihypertensive Drugs Neuroprotective in Parkinson Disease?
Neurology Summary and Comment
A large case-control study suggests that calcium channel blockers are the only antihypertensives that reduce the risk for Parkinson disease.
By Robert L. Rodnitzky, MD
April 15, 2008
Covering:
Becker C et al., Neurology 2008 Feb 6
Is It Too Late to Have a Drink?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Individuals who began consuming alcohol in middle age had no increased mortality risk and had lower rates of cardiovascular events than did persistent nondrinkers.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
April 9, 2008
Covering:
King DE et al., Am J Med 2008 Mar; 121:201
Aggressive Treatment of High LDL Levels and Hypertension in Patients with Diabetes
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Three-year results from SANDS supply much-needed information but no definitive answer to the question of how low to set targets in primary prevention of CVD.
Effects of Statins and ACE Inhibitors in CAP and Influenza
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
An analysis of VA data indicates that, at least in men, statin or ACE inhibitor use is associated with decreased mortality from community-acquired pneumonia or influenza.
By Thomas Glück, MD
April 2, 2008
Covering:
Mortensen EM et al., Eur Respir J 2008 Mar; 31:611
You’re Never Too Old to Start Treatment for Hypertension
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from a randomized trial suggest that antihypertensive therapy lowers risk not only for stroke, but also for death from any cause.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
March 31, 2008
Covering:
Beckett NS et al. for the HYVET Study Group., N Engl J Med 2008 May 1; 358
Pioglitazone vs. Glimepiride for Atherosclerosis in Diabetes
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Pioglitazone comes out on top in this randomized trial, but we still need outcomes data.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
March 31, 2008
Covering:
Nissen SE et al. for the PERISCOPE Investigators., JAMA 2008 Apr 2; 299:1561
"Do I Have to Take Off My Shirt?"
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Reading blood pressure on a sleeved arm might be fine, but one expert urges caution.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 13, 2008
Covering:
Ma G et al., CMAJ 2008 Feb 26; 178:585
McKay DW., CMAJ 2008 Feb 26; 178:591
High BP in the Emergency Department: Stress or Hypertension?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients who are hypertensive in the ED should be advised to get follow-up blood pressure measurements.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 13, 2008
Covering:
Tanabe P et al., Ann Emerg Med 2008 Mar; 51:221
Hypertension Vaccine: A New Therapeutic Strategy?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In a phase II study, immunization against angiotensin II lowered blood pressure.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
March 12, 2008
Covering:
Tissot AC et al., Lancet 2008 Mar 8; 371:821
Choice of Antihypertensive Agents for Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: ALLHAT Results
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Diuretics should continue to be first-line agents for treating patients with hypertension.
Declining MI and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The age-adjusted hazard for MI declined by 62% among British men who were followed for 25 years.
Risk Factor Control in Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis
Neurology Summary and Comment
Rx: Aggressive blood pressure and cholesterol control, and a glass of wine?
By David C. Hess, MD
March 11, 2008
Covering:
Chaturvedi S et al., Neurology 2007 Nov 27; 69:2063
Blood Pressure and Risk for Developing Diabetes
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Elevated BP as well as BP escalations over time — even if only in the high-normal range — puts women at increased risk for diabetes.
By Marian C. Limacher, MD
February 14, 2008
Covering:
Conen D et al., Eur Heart J 2007 Dec; 28:2937
Nilsson PM., Eur Heart J 2007 Dec; 28:2832
Glucose-Control Arm of ACCORD Trial Halted Early
Cardiology News in Context
Free
Increased mortality associated with aggressive glucose reduction raises safety concerns.
Patient Adherence and Treatment Intensification in Hypertension Management
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In an observational study, patients whose blood pressure remained persistently elevated were likely to be nonadherent to their therapy.
Predicting the Development of Hypertension
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A new tool derived from the Framingham Heart Study targets a modifiable risk factor for heart disease.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
February 6, 2008
Covering:
Parikh NI et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Jan 15; 148:102
Genetic Variance and Hypertension Therapy
Cardiology Summary and Comment
An <$EMPH_O>NPPA<$EMPH_C> genotype was associated with differences in treatment response and outcome in patients treated with diuretics versus other drug classes.
