Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Arrhythmia/EP

Female heavy drinkers have increased risk of AF

Dec 2, 2008 16:00 EST

Beware that extra glass of wine—women consuming more than two alcoholic drinks per day are at increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation compared with their nondrinking counterparts, a new US study has found. (Conen D et al. JAMA 2008; 300:2489-2496.)

Lipid/Metabolic

New research reveals how binge drinking could drive atherosclerosis

Dec 2, 2008 13:30 EST

It's not just the amount of alcohol is drunk, but the way that it is drunk that is important when it comes to cardiovascular health. New research suggests a precise mechanism by which binge drinking might contribute to atherosclerosis. (Redmond EM et al. Atherosclerosis; published online before print October 18, 2008.)

Arrhythmia/EP

GASP! Agonal breathing common, predicts survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Nov 26, 2008 16:30 EST

It tripled the patient's chances for surviving to hospital discharge in a retrospective study; discharge was five times more likely if there was also bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (Bobrow BJ et al. Circulation; published online before print November 24, 2008.)

Lipid/Metabolic

Diabetics with poor glycemic control and 9p21 variant at high risk of CAD

Nov 25, 2008 17:00 EST

New research has found that type 2 diabetics who carry two copies of the variant 9p21 allele are at higher risk of coronary artery disease and that this risk is amplified if they also have poor glycemic control. The findings may have prognostic implications for such patients, say the researchers. (Doria A et al. JAMA 2008; 300:2389-2397.)

Heart failure

Older patients face higher mortality, CHF hospitalizations with rosiglitazone over pioglitazone

14 COMMENTS - Nov 24, 2008 18:00 EST

A retrospective analysis of Medicare beneficiaries found all-cause mortality to be increased by 15% in patients taking rosiglitazone, while congestive heart failure hospitalizations were 13% higher. Stroke and MI, however, were no different between the treatment groups. (Winkelmayer WC et al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2368-2375.)

Hypertension

LVEF data refine ALLHAT message to favor diuretic as HTN monotherapy

3 COMMENTS - Nov 21, 2008 10:15 EST

Chlorthalidone and lisinopril as initial antihypertensive agents were about equally effective at reducing the risk of new systolic heart failure, an analysis suggests; the thiazide was superior at preventing heart failure with preserved EF. (Davis BR et al. Circulation; published online before print November 10, 2008.)

Thrombosis Risk

Bevacizumab significantly increases venous thromboembolism

Nov 18, 2008 16:00 EST

The risk of venous thromboembolism was increased by 33%, compared with controls, concludes a new meta-analysis of 15 cancer trials. (Nalluri SR et al. JAMA 2008; 300:277-2285.)

Interventional/Surgery

New meta-analysis of beta blockers in noncardiac surgery: Time to abandon their use, or not?

3 COMMENTS - Nov 12, 2008 14:00 EST

The use of beta blockers perioperatively to prevent cardiovascular events in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery is not justified by current evidence, according to the authors of a new meta-analysis. An update to the guidelines on this issue is under way, says one member of the writing committee, who incidentally does not agree with this overall conclusion. (Bangalore S et al. Lancet; published online before print November 12, 2008. American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

Lipid/Metabolic

JPAD: No effect of aspirin primary-CV-event prevention in diabetics

11 COMMENTS - Nov 9, 2008 21:30 EST

Low-dose aspirin didn't cut the risk of cardiovascular events but may have reduced CV mortality, a secondary end point, in the randomized but open-label trial conducted in Japan; clinical events were unexpectedly few, compromising the study's statistical power. (Ogawa H et al. JAMA 2008; 300:2180-2181. American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

Clinical cardiology

No benefit of vitamin C or E for prevention of major cardiovascular events: Physicians' Health Study II

8 COMMENTS - Nov 9, 2008 17:45 EST

Randomized results from the Physicians' Health Study II found no effect of either supplement on a composite of nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death after eight years of treatment. (Sesso HD et al. JAMA 2008; 300:2123-2133. American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Flu shot linked to reduced risk of VTE

Nov 9, 2008 17:45 EST

The link between influenza vaccination and reduced pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis was particularly marked in younger subjects, researchers say. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

Prevention

Eliminating inequalities in CHD: Focus on classic risk factors

Nov 6, 2008 18:30 EST

Focusing on the classic risk factors for coronary heart disease and ensuring that best-practice interventions to reduce absolute risk are implemented across the board could largely eliminate socioeconomic differences in CHD deaths, a new British study predicts (Kivimäki M et al. Lancet 2008; 372:1648-1654.)

Lipid/Metabolic

Mixed findings cast doubt on HRT timing hypothesis

1 COMMENT - Nov 5, 2008 12:45 EST

A new study has shown mixed results with regard to the effects of hormone-replacement therapy on lipids in women around the time of menopause and also shows that HRT unfavorably affects inflammatory markers. The results muddy the waters somewhat for the so-called "time window" for the use of HRT, say the researchers. (Sowers MR et al. Arch Int Med 2008; 168:2146-2153.)

Clinical cardiology

Endocarditis twice as likely to kill the elderly

Oct 29, 2008 18:30 EDT

The largest prospective multicenter study of infective endocarditis ever conducted has found that elderly patients with the disease have distinctive characteristics compared with their younger counterparts and that they are twice as likely to die from it. (Durante-Mangoni E et al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2095-2103.)

Clinical cardiology

FDA warns Bayer about "unlawful" marketing of aspirin-supplement combinations

9 COMMENTS - Oct 28, 2008 16:15 EDT

An aspirin-calcium combination marketed for women and an aspirin-phytosterol combination that purports to reduce heart-disease risk are illegal, the FDA says. Bayer, in response, says it "stands behind" its claims but is working with the FDA.

Clinical cardiology

Beta blockers up risk of MI, death after noncardiac ops

6 COMMENTS - Oct 28, 2008 16:00 EDT

A new retrospective cohort study has found that those taking beta blockers prior to noncardiac surgery had higher rates of MI and death at 30 days than those not taking beta blockers. The findings are similar to those of the landmark POISE study, says the senior author, although he acknowledges that there are some differences and that the new study has limitations. (Kaafarani HMA et al. Arch Surg 2008; 143:940-944.)

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Promising percutaneous CoreValve data from Europe leave US trialists itching for green light from the FDA

Oct 24, 2008 18:00 EDT

New data from 18 European countries on the fully percutaneous aortic valve speak to low 30-day mortality and improved valve function sustained over the longer term. So why the holdup in the US, where nary a feasibility study has been conducted? (TCT 2008.)

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Drug maker agrees to suspend rimonabant marketing in Europe

1 COMMENT - Oct 23, 2008 15:30 EDT

European regulators say rimonabant's benefits no longer outweigh its risks. Its manufacturer, however, says it remains committed to the drug and hopes to provide evidence to support its reevaluation in the future.

Hypertension

Reducing heart rate in hypertension is harmful—or is it just atenolol?

4 COMMENTS - Oct 22, 2008 14:15 EDT

Slowing the heart rate with beta blockers in people with hypertension is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death, a new systematic review shows. But one expert points out the analysis was done mainly with studies that used atenolol and that it remains to be determined whether it is this drug per se or the reduction in heart rate that is harmful. (Bangalore S et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 52:1482-1489.)

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

COOL-RCN: Hypothermia does not prevent contrast-induced nephropathy during cath procedures

Oct 21, 2008 18:00 EDT

The COOL-RCN investigators used a catheter that essentially acts as an "intravenous refrigerator," cooling the body from the inside out, but it failed to decrease the risk of acute kidney damage caused by iodinated contrast agents. (TCT 2008.)

Interventional/Surgery

New trial results support broader role for carotid stenting, but CMS again refuses to expand Medicare coverage (updated)

Oct 21, 2008 17:15 EDT

Critics say the CMS should have waited for pending publications of the SAPPHIRE, CAPTURE 2, and EXACT data before announcing its decision, especially as new results from PROTECT, EMPIRE, and EPIC indicate that stroke, death, and MI rates are continuing to decline. (TCT 2008.)

Lipid/Metabolic

Aspirin: Should it be used for primary prevention in diabetics?

4 COMMENTS - Oct 17, 2008 13:45 EDT

A new study, POPADAD, has found no evidence that aspirin or antioxidants are of any benefit in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease. The authors and accompanying editorialist say guidelines should be changed; others say more evidence is needed. (Belch Jet al. BMJ; published online before print October 16, 2008.)

MediaPulse

Cheney's AF recurs, electrical defibrillation scheduled

1 COMMENT - Oct 15, 2008 13:00 EDT

Arrhythmia/EP

Continuous amiodarone for sinus-rhythm maintenance upheld in randomized AF trial

1 COMMENT - Oct 15, 2008 10:30 EDT

An "episodic" amiodarone regimen was less safe and effective and didn't reduce complications from the drug's toxicity. (Ahmed S et al. JAMA 2008; 300:1784-1792.)

Clinical cardiology

New rofecoxib data will help inform treatment decisions with other coxibs, NSAIDs

1 COMMENT - Oct 13, 2008 18:30 EDT

New results from the extended follow-up of the APPROVE trial provide a more complete assessment of the cardiovascular toxicity of the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib than previously reported. The findings are still very relevant, because this is a class effect, say the researchers and editorialists. (Baron JA et al. Lancet; published online before print October 13, 2008.)

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