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New data from the Symplicity HTN-2 study confirm the long-term efficacy of renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension. At 30 months, there was a sustained reduction in systolic blood pressure, but researchers say this is only the beginning in terms of understanding the potential of the procedure.
It calls for a reappraisal of health recommendations that focus on cutting saturated-fat intake levels, as "mechanisms for adverse health effects are lacking."
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.
If you don't use it, you're going to lose it—the old chestnut is supported by a new VA Medical Center study showing that fit elderly patients with hypertension had a lower risk of death than those with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness.
The EMA has issued a recommendation that the benefits of the hormonal acne treatment Diane and its generics outweigh the risks, provided that several measures are taken to minimize the risk of thromboembolism.
A survey of the society's physician members shows there is wide support for, although also some concerns about, the practice, which remains controversial in the US.
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.
New data from real-life experience of dabigatran for stroke prevention in AF shows that it is often used outside prescribing recommendations, and the risk of both thromboembolism and bleeding may be raised in patients switched from warfarin.
Applying only to primary-prevention patients with no pacing indications, an analysis suggests that more expensive dual-chamber implantable defibrillators, compared with single-chamber devices, pose a higher complication risk without any clinical advantage; yet they seem to be the ICD of choice for such patients, at least in the US.
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.
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.
Hormone therapy given to transsexuals during gender reassignment appears to be associated with a greater likelihood of cardiovascular disease in men who subsequently become women.
Dr Allen Anderson is the new medical director of the advanced heart-failure program and director of network development at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern University.
When they saw reports documenting shortfalls in their programming of ICDs to guidelines, clinicians cleaned up their act and shock rates safely fell; but this kind of teaching might not accomplish enough, researchers say.
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.
By plugging values for nine common variables into an online calculator, physicians can determine whether a patient with type 2 diabetes is at high risk of all-cause 2-year mortality, researchers report.
Analyzing individual patient data from the five largest trials of heparin in acute stroke has not been able to define a group of patients where the benefit outweighs the bleeding risk.
Cardiac-surgery patients without angina, MI, or diabetes show reduced risk of CAD and may be spared cost and comorbidities of conventional coronary angiography.
Hydration guided by left ventricular end-diastolic pressure significantly reduced the composite end point of death, MI, and the need for dialysis by 68% compared with a conventional hydration strategy.
It has limitations, but an analysis of St Jude registries suggests the Optim-insulated leads won't suffer the same issues that plagued the company's recalled Riata and Riata ST leads.
The Watchman left-atrial appendage occluder had previously been found noninferior to warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation; now, with an average of 45 months of follow-up, it's not only noninferior, it's superior, by some statistical measures.