Calculating Patients' Lifetime Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Is it more practical than the 10-year risk estimates we're accustomed to using?
Overweight and Obese Children Have Excess CV Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Meta-analysis reveals associations between high body-mass index and multiple adverse cardiovascular risk factors.
Mortality Increases as Renal Function Declines, Regardless of Comorbid Diabetes or Hypertension
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Kidney function is an important prognostic indicator.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
October 23, 2012
Covering:
Mahmoodi BK et al., Lancet 2012 Sep 24
Fox CS et al., Lancet 2012 Sep 24
Kids Consume Too Much Salt
High sodium intake is associated with elevated risk for high blood pressure, especially in obese and overweight children.
Biologics and Methotrexate Lower Rates of Cardiovascular Death, Myocardial Infarction, and Stroke in Patients with Severe Psoriasis
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Results suggest that systemic inflammation is an important link between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease.
Long-Term Health Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Diabetes remission rate was 62% at 6 years — almost 10-fold higher than in severely obese patients who did not have bariatric surgery.
Beta-Blockers and CAD: Think Treatment, Not Prevention
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In a registry study, the agents did not reduce the risk for events in patients with — or at risk for — stable coronary artery disease.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
October 2, 2012
Covering:
Bangalore S et al. for the REACH Registry Investigators., JAMA 2012 Oct 3; 308:1340
Low Blood Pressure Isn't Associated with Lower Mortality in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Type 2 diabetic patients whose blood pressure was <110/75 had excess risk for mortality at 3.5 years.
Long-Term Health Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Diabetes remission rate was 62% at 6 years, almost 10-fold higher than in severely obese patients who did not have bariatric surgery.
Which Elders with Systolic Hypertension Should We Treat?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Those with fast walking speeds reap more benefit.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
August 30, 2012
Covering:
Odden MC et al., Arch Intern Med 2012 Aug 13/27; 172:1162
Patients Taking Antihypertensive Drugs Show Increase in Lip Cancer
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ-triamterene, and nifedipine were associated with a higher incidence of lip cancer.
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
August 30, 2012
Covering:
Friedman GD et al., Arch Intern Med 2012 Aug 6
Snapshots of 15 Years of STEMI Care in France
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Changes in both patient characteristics and disease management have resulted in improved survival.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
August 28, 2012
Covering:
Puymirat E et al., JAMA 2012 Aug 27
Many Elders Don't Receive Primary Preventive Treatment for Cardiovascular Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Statins were unlikely to be prescribed for patients 75 or older.
Medical Risk Factors for Depression in the Elderly
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a large prospective study, obesity, but not hypertension, was associated with an elevated risk for depression in patients 65 and older.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 13, 2012
Covering:
Godin O et al., Am J Epidemiol 2012 Aug 1; 176:204
Does Spironolactone Raise Breast Cancer Risk?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a large cohort study, risk was not higher in women who used this drug.
Patients' Understanding of Hypertension Affects Drug Adherence
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In all ethnic groups and geographical regions, stress was perceived to be both a factor for and a consequence of hypertension.
Extreme Obesity in Adolescents Linked with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
IIH should be considered in obese adolescent girls with headaches or blurred vision.
Pediatric Blood Pressures Hold Steady as Prevalence of Obesity Increases
The Bogalusa Heart Study revealed that from 1974 to 1993, secular trends in blood pressure did not parallel the increasing prevalence of obesity
What Can Adenosine Tell Us About Neurocardiogenic Syncope?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Adenosine plasma levels and A2A adenosine receptor expression seem to correlate with different responses to different provocation tests.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
June 27, 2012
Covering:
Deharo J-C et al., Heart 2012 Jun; 98:855
Elevated Serum Uric Acid Predicts Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents
Male adolescents with the highest uric acid levels at baseline were 6 times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome after 3 years than those with the lowest levels.
Incident Hypertension in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure attenuated risk in severely affected patients.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
May 31, 2012
Covering:
Marin JM et al., JAMA 2012 May 23/30; 307:2169
Barbé F et al., JAMA 2012 May 23/30; 307:2161
Kapur VK and Weaver EM., JAMA 2012 May 23/30; 307:2197
Effects of Thiazide Diuretics on Glucose Metabolism
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Two crossover studies confirm adverse effects of thiazide diuretics — but not of potassium-sparing diuretics or beta-blockers — on short-term glucose tolerance.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
May 23, 2012
Covering:
Stears AJ et al., Hypertension 2012 May; 59:934
Elliott WJ., Hypertension 2012 May; 59:911
Angiotensin-Receptor Blocker Use Is Not Associated with Excess Cancer Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Overall cancer risk was similar in patients exposed to ARBs and those exposed to ACE inhibitors, which are not associated with elevated cancer risk.
Long-Term Outcome of Open vs. Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
In older adults, AAA-specific and all-cause mortality were lower with endovascular repair.
Pregnancy Complications as an Omen for Cardiovascular Disease
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Women who delivered small-for-gestational-age babies were more likely to experience ischemic heart disease in later life.
