Cardiology news: award winning coverage by heartwire

Hypertension

Physician inertia to blame for small BP changes in BARBER-1

May 17, 2013 11:45 EDT

A new analysis of BARBER-1 suggests that physician inertia might be the reason African-American men failed to reduce their blood pressure lower than hoped.

Prevention

How low should you go? Experts debate latest salvo in the war on sodium

6 COMMENTS - May 16, 2013 09:30 EDT

Earlier this week, the Institute of Medicine stirred up controversy when it stated the data are insufficient to recommend lowering sodium levels beyond 2300 mg per day. The AHA came out against the IOM report, but hypertension experts heartwire spoke with say the recommendations are right on the money.

Prevention

IOM: No clear benefits to slashing sodium intake to 1500 mg/day

4 COMMENTS - May 15, 2013 11:40 EDT

Citing a lack of evidence linking lower sodium targets to a reduction in hard events, the IOM concludes that while Americans are consuming more sodium than required for health, the low limits set for certain high-risk groups are not supported by current evidence. The AHA respectfully disagrees.

Interventional/Surgery

Gene-mutation discovery in congenital heart disease spells major shift in care

May 15, 2013 09:15 EDT

The finding will fundamentally alter how congenital cardiac defects are categorized and potentially treated, say the authors of a new report.

Prevention

Rover Rx? Pet ownership may lower CVD risk, says AHA

May 14, 2013 16:00 EDT

The data suggest that owning a dog increases physical activity, but there are also good data on pets decreasing mental stress and decreasing blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.

Prevention

Sodium levels through the restaurant roof—no reductions in past six years

2 COMMENTS - May 13, 2013 16:30 EDT

A new study published today showed that while the sodium content of processed foods declined from 2005 to 2011, the overall reduction was just 3.5%. Restaurants, on the other hand, fared even worse, with researchers reporting that sodium levels actually increased by 2.6% over the same six-year period.

Lipid/Metabolic

Diabetes increases stroke risk, particularly in under-65s

1 COMMENT - May 6, 2013 16:00 EDT

A new study shows up to a 12-fold increase in risk of stroke in younger patients with diabetes compared with nondiabetics of similar age.

<i>Lancet</i> antitobacco series launches as ACC chides FDA inaction

Prevention

Lancet antitobacco series launches as ACC chides FDA inaction

2 COMMENTS - May 2, 2013 18:30 EDT

One of the Lancet papers reviews the successes, failures, and ongoing challenges in beating back the "global tobacco epidemic," including a report from FDA scientists touting the impact of the 2009 Tobacco Control Act in the US.

Lipid/Metabolic

Case made for metabolic bariatric-surgery eligibility criteria

May 1, 2013 11:15 EDT

Current eligibility criteria for gastric bypass and other bariatric surgeries mean it isn't offered to many patients for whom it might provide remission from diabetes, say researchers presenting at the PDMS sessions.

News

Stopping dabigatran ups stroke risk: New boxed warning

1 COMMENT - Apr 30, 2013 13:30 EDT

It raises the profile of a caution already in the oral anticoagulant's prescribing information.

Hypertension

ESC supports renal denervation as an option for treating resistant hypertension

2 COMMENTS - Apr 26, 2013 10:00 EDT

The ESC says that catheter-based renal denervation can be considered a therapeutic option in patients with drug-resistant hypertension who cannot get to goal with a combination of lifestyle and pharmacologic therapy.

News

US cardiologists see incomes climb in changing healthcare climate

5 COMMENTS - Apr 26, 2013 09:00 EDT

Salaries for US cardiologists climbed in 2012, making them the second-highest paid specialty, according to the 2013 Medscape Physician Compensation Report. Some intriguing new numbers suggest changes to healthcare delivery in the US may be influencing income.

Lipid/Metabolic

Bariatric surgery in type 2 diabetes: Half in complete or partial remission at six years

Apr 25, 2013 17:15 EDT

Experience at a single busy center over a recent four-year period suggested one-fourth of patients are cured of diabetes. But there are limitations on the definition of "cure," and that's only one way diabetes-management-response terminology isn't straightforward.

Lipid/Metabolic

Progress in diabetes care in US, but still a way to go

2 COMMENTS - Apr 24, 2013 17:00 EDT

A new "snapshot" of how the US is faring in terms of risk-factor control and preventive practices for patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes shows there is much room for improvement.

Prevention

Binge drinking impairs vascular function

Apr 23, 2013 16:30 EDT

Individuals with a history of binge drinking, an average of four years drinking to excess six times per month, had reduced flow-mediated dilation and flow-independent nitroglycerin-mediated dilation, as well as impairments in microvascular arterial beds.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Overall stroke rates decline in Sweden, but uptick in younger victims raises concerns

2 COMMENTS - Apr 19, 2013 12:50 EDT

Overall ischemic stroke rates have declined sharply in Sweden over the past 25 years, as have overall mortality rates after a first stroke. But some troubling trends among young Swedes are cause for alarm.

Prevention

Best targets, biggest hurdles in Europe's war on CVD

1 COMMENT - Apr 18, 2013 14:45 EDT

Cardiovascular disease is declining across Europe, but researchers have ambitious plans that could cut CV deaths much further—if only policymakers acted upon the science.

Hypertension

New guidelines to reduce "alarm fatigue"

1 COMMENT - Apr 16, 2013 15:45 EDT

The Joint Commission seeks to solve a chronic problem that endangers patient safety.

Hypertension

Beet this: More evidence of BP-lowering effects of dietary nitrate

7 COMMENTS - Apr 16, 2013 14:00 EDT

The small, proof-of-principle study suggests that the blood-pressure-lowering effects of dietary nitrates—already documented in normotensives—are also seen in subjects with established hypertension, but with a much lower dose of biologically inert nitrite.

Prevention

CV risks prompt recommendations for EU strontium ranelate restrictions

Apr 15, 2013 10:15 EDT

An EU regulatory committee has recommended restricting the use of the osteoporosis drug strontium ranelate to reduce the risk for adverse cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women.

Prevention

Risk of sitting, benefit of running: Disconnect disclosed in WHI analysis

5 COMMENTS - Apr 11, 2013 10:00 EDT

Exercise isn't the only heart-healthy alternative to being sedentary; simply standing up more frequently can benefit those who can't be very active, suggest Women's Health Initiative data.

Prevention

Fiber-rich diet may protect against stroke

Apr 9, 2013 14:00 EDT

Pooled data suggest that every 7-g increase in total daily fiber intake is associated with a 7% lower risk for first stroke.

Hypertension

Hypertension and use of BP medications on the rise in US, says CDC

Apr 4, 2013 14:15 EDT

From 2005 to 2009 the overall age-adjusted prevalence of self-reported hypertension increased from 25.8% to 28.3%. Nearly every state experienced an increase in the prevalence of hypertension, with absolute percentage-point increases from as small as 0.2% in Virginia to as large as 7.0% in Kentucky.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

Aspirin self-prescribing persists in primary CVD prevention

11 COMMENTS - Mar 28, 2013 11:45 EDT

Almost 40% of patients surveyed in the waiting rooms of two primary-practice clinics said they were taking aspirin regularly, mostly for prevention of CV events. Most were taking it for primary prevention.

Prevention

Most prepared meals, salty snacks for toddlers too high in sodium

1 COMMENT - Mar 25, 2013 13:15 EDT

A taste for salt, acquired as a toddler, may be putting young Americans at risk for later hypertension. The first study to review salt content in commercial foods for babies and toddlers identified prepared meals and salty snacks for toddlers as the main culprits.