Hypertension

Clinical cardiology

Generic drugs in CVD: Just as effective as brand-name pills

5 COMMENTS - Dec 2, 2008 16:00 EST

Twenty years of research show that generic CVD drugs across nine classes are just as good as brand-name agents, yet editorials often boost superiority of brand-name agents. (Kesselheim AS et al. JAMA 2008; 300:2514-2526.)

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.)

MediaPulse

New York Times looks back at minimal impact of massive ALLHAT trial

10 COMMENTS - Nov 28, 2008 15:30 EST

Six years after the 44 000-patient trial was reported, use of generic diuretics never reached the levels that investigators expected. Reasons include patents ending, new drugs emerging, and the advent of combination pills, but also the millions of dollars spent by companies making brand-name antihypertensives.

Hypertension

Off-target toxicity of torcetrapib explained, but questions about future of CETP inhibition linger

Nov 27, 2008 17:00 EST

Two new studies published online this week help shed light on the off-target toxicity of the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib, but the studies conflict regarding the atheroprotective functionality of the HDL cholesterol resulting with the drug. (Vergeer M et al. Nicholls SJ et al. Circulation; published online before print November 25, 2008.)

Hypertension

ABPM should be used in resistant hypertension

Nov 26, 2008 13:00 EST

In the largest study of its kind to date, Brazilian researchers have shown that ambulatory BP monitoring is a predictor of future cardiovascular events in patients with resistant hypertension, but office BP is not. (Salles GF et al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2340-2346.)

Heart failure

An emerging picture of heart failure in Africa

Nov 24, 2008 16:00 EST

One of the largest and most comprehensive studies of heart failure to date in Africa has shown that the disease is a big problem and that although the traditional causes of HF—which differ from those seen in Western nations—still predominate, there are signs that the range of etiologies is broadening (Stewart S et al. Circulation 2008; published online before print November 24, 2008.)

Clinical cardiology

Change in heart rate over time predicts mortality

Nov 21, 2008 13:00 EST

The first study to ever assess the prognostic value of a change in heart rate over a number of years has found that increasing HR over time can increase mortality, by around 20%. Conversely, a decline in HR was accompanied by reduced rate of death over the five-year study period. (Jouven et al. Am J Cardiol; published online before print November 7, 2008.)

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.)

Prevention

Cardiovascular effects of air pollution, even in the comfort of home

Nov 14, 2008 16:45 EST

Researchers who fitted study subjects with "air-pollution vests" to continuously monitor exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollutants say that people are probably exposed to much higher levels of pollutants than community monitoring stations typically indicate and that this exposure affects both endothelial function and systolic blood pressure. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

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.)

Heart failure

I-PRESERVE: Strike three for RAAS inhibition in preserved-LVEF heart failure

7 COMMENTS - Nov 12, 2008 10:45 EST

Four years of treatment with irbesartan, usually on top of other drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, didn't improve outcomes in patients with the common but poorly understood form of heart failure. The trial follows previous negative studies of an ACE inhibitor and a different angiotensin-receptor blocker, respectively, in similar populations. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)

Hypertension

Hibiscus tea reduces blood pressure

7 COMMENTS - Nov 11, 2008 13:30 EST

Results of a small randomized trial show that hibiscus tea given three times daily reduced systolic blood pressure by about 7 mm Hg in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive subjects. (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.)

Acute Coronary Syndrome

New ranolazine indication in US allows first-line use in angina

4 COMMENTS - Nov 6, 2008 17:45 EST

Clinical cardiology

Endothelial dysfunction seen in "minimally symptomatic" obstructive sleep apnea

5 COMMENTS - Oct 31, 2008 18:15 EDT

OSA not accompanied by daytime symptoms might still suggest increased cardiovascular risk, according to researchers. (Kohler M et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008; 178:984-988.)

Heart failure

MESA ties diabetes, HTN to new heart-failure risk in African Americans

Oct 30, 2008 18:00 EDT

Race per se shouldn't be a barrier to lowering the risk of new heart failure in African Americans, because the main causes are treatable, according to investigators for the longitudinal cohort study. (Bahrami H et al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2138-2145.)

Prevention

MIs linked to daylight saving time may also help explain MI spikes on Mondays

Oct 29, 2008 17:00 EDT

Rest easy for now: MI rates appear to increase in the spring but dip marginally with the end of DST in autumn, due likely to the extra hour of sleep. (Janszky et al. N Engl J Med 2008; 359:1966-1967.)

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.)

Hypertension

Hydrogen sulfide discovered to be a major player in the regulation of blood pressure

2 COMMENTS - Oct 23, 2008 14:00 EDT

Nitric oxide, it turns out, is not alone in controlling blood-pressure levels. A new study points to hydrogen sulfide, a gas responsible for some noxious smells, as a major physiologic vasodilator and regulator of blood pressure. (Yang G et al. Science 2008; 322:587-590.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Hypertension

Good and bad news on hypertension in US

Oct 13, 2008 16:00 EDT

A new report shows that more US adults have hypertension than ever before, and the increase is primarily due to the rising rates of obesity in recent times, say the NHLBI researchers. However, awareness, treatment, and control of blood pressure have also improved. Nevertheless, much work remains, specifically with certain subgroups, they say. (Cutler JA et al. Hypertension; published online October 13, 2008.)

Prevention

India attempts to impose world's biggest smoking ban

1 COMMENT - Oct 3, 2008 11:30 EDT

The Indian government appears to have heeded the warnings of medical experts highlighting the immense problem of smoking in the country, with the introduction this week of a nationwide ban on smoking in public places.

Clinical cardiology

Pfizer to drop development of drugs for hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and heart failure

15 COMMENTS - Oct 2, 2008 17:00 EDT

UPDATED // Forbes reported the news online after obtaining an internal Pfizer memo.

	Elderly (>75 years of age)
	African American
	Diabetic
	other