Risk Stratification for CAD: What's Worth Doing?
Coronary artery calcium, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and coronary computed tomography angiography were all investigated as potential risk markers.
No Evidence of Adverse Outcomes from Long-Term Statin Therapy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Vascular benefits persist, without elevated risk for nonvascular morbidity or cancer.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
December 20, 2011
Covering:
Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group., Lancet 2011 Dec 10; 378:2013
Got Heart Disease? Don't Be Depressed
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even in relatively young people, depression and suicidality can worsen outcomes from ischemic heart disease.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
December 19, 2011
Covering:
Shah AJ et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Nov; 68:1135
Statins After Stroke or TIA: More Evidence of Benefits
Neurology Summary and Comment
A substudy of the SPARCL trial indicates that patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack benefit from statin therapy regardless of baseline diabetes.
By Hooman Kamel, MD
November 22, 2011
Covering:
Callahan A et al., Arch Neurol 2011 Oct; 68:1245
Reversing the Adverse Cardiovascular Effects of Childhood Obesity Later in Life
Results of four large long-term studies indicate that adults who were obese during childhood can lower their cardiovascular risk by not being obese as adults.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
November 16, 2011
Covering:
Juonala M et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 17; 365:1876
Rocchini AP., N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 17; 365:1927
Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin Equally Effective at Reducing Atheroma Volume
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
High doses of the drugs resulted in similar degrees of atherosclerosis regression, despite greater reductions in LDL levels with rosuvastatin.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
November 15, 2011
Covering:
Nicholls SJ et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 15
Evacetrapib Raises HDL and Lowers LDL — but Then What?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
The cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitor evacetrapib had very favorable lipid effects, but the trial was small and lasted only 12 weeks.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
November 15, 2011
Covering:
Nicholls SJ et al., JAMA 2011 Nov 16; 306:2099
Cannon CP., JAMA 2011 Nov 16; 306:2153
Niacin Is Ineffective in Patients with Established Cardiovascular Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Niacin plus simvastatin was no better than simvastatin alone.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 15, 2011
Covering:
The AIM-HIGH Investigators., N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 15
What If MI Patients Got Their Follow-Up Meds for Free?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a cluster-randomized study, improvement in adherence — and in some outcomes — was significant but small.
By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA
November 14, 2011
Covering:
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
Goldman L and Epstein AM., N Engl J Med 2011 Nov 14
Serum Cholesterol Might Not Affect Mortality in Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In healthy older persons, high cholesterol levels were associated with lower noncardiovascular-related mortality.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 8, 2011
Covering:
Newson RS et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2011 Oct; 59:1779
Inhibition of microRNA Raises HDL Cholesterol and Lowers Triglycerides in Monkeys
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Two microRNAs might be key conductors of an orchestrated multigene response that affects HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Isotretinoin Does Not Appear to Increase Acute Risk for Thromboembolic Disease
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Patients might have long-term risk that is manifested with the use of isotretinoin but not necessarily caused by it.
Xanthelasma, but Not Arcus Senilis, Predicts Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease and Death
Dermatology Summary and Comment
A relatively common clinical finding is a marker of increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
A Direct Comparison of Bariatric Surgery Types Yields No Clear Winner
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Reduction in some cardiovascular risk factors was greater with duodenal switch than with gastric bypass, but so was the incidence of adverse events.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
October 5, 2011
Covering:
Søvik TT et al., Ann Intern Med 2011 Sep 6; 155:281
Counseling Can Encourage Intake of Cholesterol-Lowering Foods
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Mean LDL-C levels fell significantly with only two counseling sessions.
Cardiovascular Risk: What Good Is Identifying the Lowest of the Low?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Coronary artery calcium may be better than hsCRP for stratifying cardiac risk, but the benefits of using either marker to guide statin treatment in low-risk patients remain unproven.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
September 14, 2011
Covering:
Blaha MJ et al., Lancet 2011 Aug 20; 378:684
Statins May Prevent Blocked Veins as Well as Blocked Arteries
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Atherosclerosis patients who received statins or antiplatelets had a lower incidence of VTE than those who did not, and the statin effect appeared to be dose-related.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
September 14, 2011
Covering:
Khemasuwan D et al., Am J Med 2011 Sep; 124:852
An Ounce of Prevention . . . Is Money in the Bank
Cardiology Summary and Comment
An economic modeling analysis based on U.K. data adds to the growing evidence base supporting population-wide initiatives to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
Coronary Artery Calcium Might Help Identify Low-Risk Patients Who Would Benefit from Statins
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
CAC might be more useful than high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
August 30, 2011
Covering:
Blaha MJ et al., Lancet 2011 Aug 20; 378:684
Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events: Disparities Between Rich and Poor
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
A worldwide survey of the use of evidence-based drugs in community settings reveals many gaps; bridging them will require tough decisions.
Switching Antipsychotics May Reduce Metabolic Problems
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even so, monitoring for new adverse effects and the possible loss of antipsychotic effectiveness is critical.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 22, 2011
Covering:
Stroup TS et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 Jul 18
Risk for Diabetes Increases with Statin Dose
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Risk was highest with intensive-dose therapy.
Don't Miss the New AHA Recommendations on Triglycerides
A new scientific statement raises the threshold for pharmacologic treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.
Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease: The Experts Speak
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Experts redefine an optimal triglyceride level and stress that lifestyle changes are required to reach it.
Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease: The Experts Speak
General Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Experts redefine an optimal triglyceride level and stress that lifestyle changes are required to reach it.
