Heart failure
MADIT-CRT results: CRT-D reduces mortality and morbidity in NYHA 1 or 2 HF
Jun 23, 2009 16:45 EDT
As announced by Boston Scientific today, so only the most preliminary data are currently available, CRT-D reduced death or heart-failure hospitalizations 29% compared with ICD therapy alone.

Natick, MA - The use of a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device that includes defibrillation (CRT-D) reduced the combined end point of all-cause mortality or heart-failure events in patients with mild heart failure when compared with implantable cardioverter defibrillation (ICD) therapy alone [1].

These are the preliminary results of the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial-CRT (MADIT-CRT), announced today by Boston Scientific, the sponsor of the study. The study included 1820 patients with New York Heart Association class 1 or 2 heart failure and was led by Dr Arthur Moss (University of Rochester, New York). Read full article »

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Clinical cardiology
Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Adults
6 COMMENTS - Mar 19, 2009 10:33 EDT
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) affects all age groups and can occur in any setting. While rare, sudden death among young adults is a devastating occurrence, diagnostic evaluation using echocardiography and ECGs as screening instruments in addition to a thorough history and physical examination may help identify young individuals at risk for SCD. Click to take the survey and compare answers. The results will help us create future CME programming.
 
Arrhythmia/EP
FDA approves dronedarone for atrial fibrillation
1 COMMENT - Jul 2, 2009 11:45 EDT
Dronedarone is envisioned as a safer alternative to amiodarone, a widely used antiarrhythmic agent in patients with AF.
Arrhythmia/EP
Survival after in-hospital CPR static since 1992
Jul 1, 2009 17:00 EDT
An analysis of Medicare records for over 433 000 patients who received CPR between 1992 and 2005 showed that the rate of survival to hospital discharge hovered at around 18%, in spite of efforts to improve CPR delivery.
Arrhythmia/EP
Barriers to optimal termination of resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest identified
Jul 1, 2009 10:30 EDT
Insurance-reimbursement rules, state laws, and the public's false perceptions of survival after cardiac arrest may impede emergency medical workers from using best resuscitation attempts, a study finds.
Murmurs
Mainly medical unknowns regarding Michael Jackson's apparent cardiac arrest
4 COMMENTS - Jun 29, 2009 17:45 EDT
With concerns raised about the use of prescription painkillers in Jackson's death, as well as the stress he was under with an impending world tour, Dr Douglas Zipes, from the ACC, and Dr Vinay Nadkarmi, from the AHA, both weigh in on some of the speculation for heartwire.
Arrhythmia/EP
Wide variations in EP practice across Europe
Jun 24, 2009 15:30 EDT
The way in which arrhythmias are treated varies greatly across Europe, a new survey of 40 countries has shown.
Arrhythmia/EP
PR-interval prolongation increases risk of atrial fibrillation and pacemaker implantation
Jun 23, 2009 16:00 EDT
These new findings, according to investigators, challenge previously held assumptions that PR prolongation or first-degree atrioventricular block is a benign prognosis.
Arrhythmia/EP
More details on arrhythmias associated with sleep apnea
1 COMMENT - Jun 23, 2009 14:45 EDT
A new study has found that increasing severity of sleep apnea is associated with a progressive increase in the risk of nocturnal arrhythmias. In addition, different types of sleep apnea were associated with different kinds of arrhythmias.
Arrhythmia/EP
ESC issues statement on driving restrictions for ICD patients
Jun 22, 2009 16:00 EDT
Hopes are that the recommendations will help European governments standardize such restrictions across Europe.
Heart failure
Framingham analysis: Look beyond LVEF in heart-failure management
Jun 19, 2009 17:30 EDT
Is it limiting to categorize heart failure simply in terms of low or preserved LVEF? An analysis points to a constellation of features apparent at the time of heart-failure onset that suggest a likelihood of preserved-LVEF heart failure and that may be etiologic and potentially modifiable.
Arrhythmia/EP
FDA urges caution in interpreting study linking stimulants to increased risk for sudden death in children
Jun 17, 2009 17:00 EDT
Study limitations mean it should not serve as a basis for decision to stop a child's stimulant meds, agency says.
Heart failure
Exercise training boosts benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy
Jun 16, 2009 17:45 EDT
The addition of an exercise program yielded improved functional and hemodynamic changes on top of those already observed with biventricular pacing, prompting investigators to suggest it is reasonable to provide exercise training to all patients after CRT.
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Editorial Programs
Editorial series
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, athletes, and screening
Jun 5, 2009 09:30 EDT
Is it possible and desirable to envisage a nationwide system to screen athletes for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Drs Ommen, Maron, and Thompson examine the Italian screening data and review the implications of this model for the US.
The Cardiology Show
ACC 2009: From the eye of the storm in Orlando
Apr 2, 2009 15:35 EDT
Join Drs Valentin Fuster, Anne Curtis, Timothy Gardner, Barry Greenberg, Cindy Grines, Bob Harrington, Sanjay Kaul, Harlan Krumholz, and Salim Yusuf as they unravel the STICH trial and debate the lessons learned from PROTECT-AF in Part 1 of the Cardiology Show. In Part 2 of the program, the JUPITER trial is back on the table and our experts give their opinion on the polypill following the results of the TIPS study.
HeartWire clips
Face-to-face with Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley: From the AHA with Dr Sidney Smith
Dec 16, 2008 13:00 EST
Join theheart.org's forum moderator in these in-depth interviews filmed on location at major congresses
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Poll
No major trial has directly compared dronedarone (Multaq, Sanofi-Aventis) against amiodarone. If dronedarone is approved for atrial fibrillation, would you recommend its use as a first-line agent, before attempting amiodarone?
See: FDA advisory panel recommends dronedarone approval for atrial fib
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