Do Loop Diuretics Increase the Risk for Fractures in Postmenopausal Women?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from the Women’s Health Initiative suggest that they don’t, but many questions remain.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
February 11, 2009
Covering:
Carbone LD et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jan 26; 169:132
HYVET Shows Benefits for Treating Hypertension in Healthy Very Old Patients
But, how this finding applies to typical patients outside of studies is unclear.
Short Sleep Duration as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Events
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Sleeping less than 7.5 hours nightly and having nighttime rises in SBP were associated with excess cardiovascular risk in older patients with hypertension.
ACE Inhibitor Plus Calcium Blocker for Hypertension
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This drug combination bested a diuretic-containing regimen in a trial involving older high-risk patients.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
December 16, 2008
Covering:
Jamerson K et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 4; 359:2417
Chobanian AV., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 4; 359:2485
Beta-Blockers Should Not Be First in Line for Treating Hypertension
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a meta-analysis, lowering of heart rate was associated with increases in cardiac mortality, risk for nonfatal MI, and heart failure.
By Mark S. Link, MD
December 10, 2008
Covering:
Bangalore S et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Oct 28; 52:1482
Kaplan NM., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Oct 28; 52:1490
Cardiogenic Shock in Acute Coronary Syndromes: 10-Year Trends
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Data from a Swiss registry show improvements in in-hospital incidence and in overall mortality.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
December 10, 2008
Covering:
Jeger RV et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Nov 4; 149:618
Ethnicity and Incidence of Congestive Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a large U.S. cohort study, higher incidence of CHF in blacks than in other ethnic groups was largely explained by higher rates of diabetes and hypertension.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
December 10, 2008
Covering:
Bahrami H et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Oct 27; 168:2138
Combination Therapy for Hypertension
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In the ACCOMPLISH trial, a calcium channel blocker was more effective than a thiazide diuretic was when paired with an ACE inhibitor.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
December 3, 2008
Covering:
Jamerson K et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 4; 359:2417
Chobanian AV., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 4; 359:2485
Can Renin-Angiotensin Blockade Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Three 5-year trials yielded negative results for candesartan.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
November 20, 2008
Covering:
Sjølie AK et al., Lancet 2008 Oct 18; 372:1385
Chaturvedi N et al., Lancet 2008 Oct 18; 372:1394
Hypertension Screening: Not for the ED
False-positive high blood pressure is common in children presenting to the ED with nonurgent problems.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
October 22, 2008
Covering:
Stewart JN et al., J Pediatr 2008 Oct; 153:478
Friedman A., J Pediatr 2008 Oct; 153:452
More on Trends in Hypertension in the U.S.
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Data from different ethnic and gender groups show increases in hypertension prevalence in recent decades that are partly explained by increases in body-mass index.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
October 22, 2008
Covering:
Cutler JA et al., Hypertension 2008 Nov; 52:818
"Legacy Effect" of Intensive Control of Type 2 Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Even 10 years after an intensive glucose-control intervention ended, patients benefited from previous therapy.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 14, 2008
Covering:
Holman RR et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Oct 9; 359:1577
Holman RR et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Oct 9; 359:1565
Does Poor-Quality Sleep Equal Higher Blood Pressure?
Adolescents with poor sleep quality were more likely to have prehypertension.
Chronic Hypertension Associated with Fetal Growth Restriction
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Analysis of a large longitudinal sample of pregnancies showed that chronic hypertension raised risk for small-for-gestational-age births in both term and preterm pregnancies.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
September 30, 2008
Covering:
Catov JM et al., Obstet Gynecol 2008 Aug; 112:290
Telmisartan in ACE-Inhibitor–Intolerant Patients: A Disappointment
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a placebo-controlled trial, researchers found an unexpectedly low, statistically nonsignificant reduction in clinical outcomes.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
September 17, 2008
Covering:
The TRANSCEND Investigators., Lancet 2008 August 31
Should β-Blockers Be Continued for Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Continuation of β-blockers was associated with better outcomes than was discontinuation.
How Fat Am I? Or, How Am I Fat?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Two new studies address how obesity relates to cardiovascular risk factors.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
September 3, 2008
Covering:
Wildman RP et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Aug 11; 168:1617
Stefan N et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Aug 11; 168:1609
Preventing Stroke Recurrence: How Best to Control Hypertension?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In a randomized trial, use of an ARB to lower blood pressure in patients with recent stroke did not improve outcomes.
Renin-Angiotensin Inhibition for Renoprotection in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Monotherapy with an ACE inhibitor or an ARB improved major renal outcomes, but combination therapy worsened them, despite a greater reduction in proteinuria.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
August 27, 2008
Covering:
Mann JFE et al., Lancet 2008 Aug 16; 372:547
Prehypertension and Hypertension in Adolescents
An estimated 7% of prehypertensive adolescents develop hypertension annually.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
August 13, 2008
Covering:
Falkner B et al., Pediatrics 2008 Aug; 122:238
White-Coat Hypertension: A Caution
Findings of a small study suggest that left ventricular mass index is higher in children with white-coat hypertension than in those with normal blood pressure.
USPSTF Recommends Screening for Diabetes in Adults with Elevated Blood Pressure
General Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Evidence was insufficient to recommend screening of asymptomatic people with lower blood pressure.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
July 24, 2008
Covering:
Norris SL et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Jun 3; 148:855
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force., Ann Intern Med 2008 Jun 3; 148:846
Primary Hyperaldosteronism: Rare, but Important to Diagnose and Treat
General Medicine Summary and Comment
If roughly 10% of hypertension cases are resistant to treatment, and, if primary hyperaldosteronism accounts for about 10% of those cases, then the overall prevalence would be around 1%.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
July 23, 2008
Covering:
Douma S et al., Lancet 2008 Jun 7; 371:1921
Kaplan NM., Lancet 2008 Jun 7; 371:1890
Controlling Hypertension with Web-Based Communication
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Involvement of healthcare professionals — but not necessarily physicians — still was important.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
June 24, 2008
Covering:
Green BB et al., JAMA 2008 Jun 25; 299:2857
Jones DW and Peterson ED., JAMA 2008 Jun 25; 299:2896
Poor Adherence to Once-Daily Antihypertensive Drugs Is Common
General Medicine Summary and Comment
At 1 year, almost half of patients had quit taking prescribed antihypertensive medication.
