Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for January 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Review: Cardiopulmonary Event Rate Not Up With Propofol Use
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The risk of cardiopulmonary adverse events is similar for propofol sedation and traditional sedation agents for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, according to a review published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Cardiovascular Event Risks May Be Affected by Timing of Meals
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), published online Jan. 30 in Circulation, highlights what’s known — and what’s not — about meal timing and cardiovascular health.
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Smoking Imposes Heavy Burden on Global Economy
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 6 percent of the world’s health care spending is tied to smoking, according to research published online Jan. 30 in Tobacco Control.
CVD-Related Hospital Admissions Up Second Day After Snowstorm
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is a sharp increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular events two days after a major snowfall, according to research published online Jan. 30 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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Very Low LDL-C Levels Well Tolerated With Alirocumab
MONDAY, Jan. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients treated with alirocumab, very low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are not associated with increased treatment-emergent adverse event rates, according to research published in the Feb. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Mandibular Advancement Therapy Reduces OSA Severity
MONDAY, Jan. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Mandibular advancement therapy can improve symptoms in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, even with high treatment compliance the therapy has no effect on endothelial function and blood pressure, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Prediabetes Linked to Sedentary Lifestyle, Even in Slim Adults
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Inactivity is associated with greater risk of prediabetes and diabetes, even for healthy-weight adults, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Economic Benefit for Combo Statin/TG-Specific Tx in T2DM
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, there is a substantial economic benefit to treatment with statin-triglyceride (TG)-specific combination lipid therapy compared with monotherapy or no lipid pharmacotherapy, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Rates of Heart Failure Rising in the United States
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Heart failure rates are increasing in the United States, and cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, even as the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease is falling, according to a new report from the American Heart Association (AHA).
28% of Adults, 9% of Teens Use Tobacco Products in U.S.
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Despite the dangers, many American adults and teens still use tobacco products, according to a report published in the Jan. 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Most PCPs Oppose Complete Repeal of the Affordable Care Act
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A majority of primary care doctors oppose full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, according to a perspective piece published online Jan. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Strategies Presented for Addressing Uncompensated Time
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Strategies can be employed to help physicians deal with the increasing burden of uncompensated tasks, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
High Rates of Cerebral Emboli in Patients Undergoing LV Ablation
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The rate of cerebral embolism with left ventricular ablations for premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) appears much higher than that seen for similar procedures for other types of heart rhythm disturbances, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Circulation.
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Satisfactory Overall Success Rate for Catheter Ablation in A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The overall success rate of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation is satisfactory, but the complication rate remains considerable and a significant portion of patients remain on antiarrhythmic drugs, according to a report published online Jan. 18 in the European Heart Journal.
Diabetes Requiring Insulin Tied to Increased Stroke Risk in A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), diabetes requiring insulin, but not diabetes without insulin treatment, is associated with an increased risk of stroke/systemic embolism, according to a study published in the Jan. 31 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Safety Profile of Red Yeast Rice Found Similar to Statins
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The cholesterol-lowering supplement red yeast rice could pose the same health risks to users as statin drugs, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
ACA Has Increased Coverage, Access for Chronically Ill Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Millions of Americans with a chronic illness gained health insurance coverage after the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2010, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Nadir Platelet Counts Tied to AKI in Pediatric Open-Heart Surgery
MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), postoperative nadir platelet counts are associated with the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI), according to a review published online Jan. 18 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
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Age Modifies Impact of Resting Heart Rate on Death, CV Events
MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The effect of resting heart rate (RHR) on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events varies with age, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Obesity Underrepresented in Medical Licensing Exams
FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The most important concepts of obesity prevention and treatment are not adequately represented on the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step examinations, according to a study published recently in Teaching and Learning in Medicine.
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Report Highlights National Cardiovascular Trends in 2014
FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cardiovascular trends have been reported using data from four American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registries (NCDR). The report was published recently in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
17 Million U.S. Adults May Have Masked Hypertension
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Seventeen million American adults may have masked hypertension, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Soft Robotic Sleeve Can Replicate Heart’s Natural Rhythm
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Scientists are reporting some early success with a soft robotic device aimed at treating advanced heart failure. The findings have been published in the Jan. 18 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Less Sitting Time Can Be Initial Step in Total Fitness Plan
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The reduction and interruption of sitting time can be an initial step in the development of a total physical activity plan for male patients, according to the conclusions of a report published in the December issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.
Survival Rates High for Older Patients With ICDs
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Seniors who receive an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) have high survival rates, according to a study published in the Jan. 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Brief Bouts of Exercise Can Reduce Inflammation
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Just 20 minutes of moderate exercise may reduce inflammation in the body, according to research published online recently in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
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Hypertension Onset After Age 80 May Protect Against Dementia
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Developing hypertension in very old age may provide some protection from dementia, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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Physician Excess Charges Create Financial Burden for Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many doctors bill their private-paying patients two, three, even six times more than what Medicare pays for the same services, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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ACP, AAFP Raise BP Rx Threshold for Healthy Adults Over 60
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Two leading medical organizations are recommending a less aggressive target for the treatment of hypertension in adults 60 and older who are otherwise healthy. The new clinical practice guideline was published online Jan. 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Lower Inpatient Costs for Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban in A-Fib
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), inpatient costs are lower with dabigatran and rivaroxaban than with warfarin, according to a letter published online in the Jan. 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Health, Economic Impact of CVD Preventive Services Varies
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The health and economic impact of three cardiovascular disease (CVD) preventive services varies with demographic characteristics and clinical objectives, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Caffeine Found to Reduce Age-Related Inflammation
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Caffeine may help reduce the type of inflammation that’s linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in Nature Medicine.
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Heart Rate Variability Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Low resting short-term heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published in the Jan. 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
BNP, Gal-3 Levels Predict 60-Day Readmission in Heart Failure
MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) before discharge can predict hospital readmission within 60 days, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Tobacco Counseling for Youth, Adults Cuts Smoking Prevalence
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Tobacco counseling for youth or adults can reduce the prevalence of smoking cigarettes during adult years, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Left Ventricular Assist Device Ups QoL in Ambulatory Heart Failure
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improve quality of life in ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure, but increase lifetime costs, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JACC: Heart Failure.
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Heightened Activity in Amygdala Associated With CVD Events
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Heightened activity in a key part of the brain may explain why stress increase the odds for cardiovascular events, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in The Lancet.
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CDC: Higher Risk of Death From Leading Causes in Rural America
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Americans who live in rural areas have a higher risk of death from five leading causes than people who live in urban locations, according to research published in the Jan. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
β-Blockers Linked to Reduced Mortality in HFrEF, A-Fib
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — β-blockers are associated with significantly reduced mortality, but not hospitalizations, in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JACC: Heart Failure.
Sitagliptin Has Neutral CV Risk Effect in Elderly With T2DM, CVD
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Sitagliptin has a neutral effect on cardiovascular risk among older patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in Diabetes Care.
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Gut Metabolite May Help Predict Cardiovascular Mortality Risk
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A metabolite produced in the digestion of red meat, eggs, and dairy products — trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) — is linked to an increased risk of a fatal myocardial infarction or stroke, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in the European Heart Journal.
Achieving LDL-Particle Targets Deemed Cost-Effective
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Achieving targets of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), as measured by LDL particle number (LDL-P) compared with LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), is cost-effective, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Excessive FDA Regulation Driving High Drug Prices
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The excessive regulatory regime at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is an important driver of high drug prices, and should be curbed to introduce more competition and lower prices, according to a report published online Jan. 5 by the National Center for Policy Analysis.
Parathyroid Hormone Linked to Arterial Stiffness in T1DM
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In individuals with type 1 diabetes, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is associated with arterial stiffness, even after adjustment for multiple confounding variables, according to research published online Jan. 6 in Diabetes Care.
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Global Rates of Hypertension on the Rise
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The global rate of hypertension and prehypertension rose significantly between 1990 and 2015, according to a report published in the Jan. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Tobacco Control Plays Key Role in Saving Both Lives and Dollars
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Smoking kills about six million people a year, and costs the world more than $1 trillion a year in health care expenses and lost productivity, but billions of dollars and millions of lives could be saved through higher tobacco prices and taxes, according to a report from the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
Many Families Find High Health Care Deductibles Burdensome
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — High-deductible health plans have multiplied in recent years, and they may pose a significant financial burden on Americans with chronic conditions, according to two studies published online Jan. 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Many Ischemic Stroke Survivors Not Prescribed Anticoagulants
TUESDAY, Jan. 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many patients surviving ischemic stroke are not discharged with an oral anticoagulant (OAC), according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Dual Antiplatelet Tx Similar to Aspirin Post-CABG in Diabetes
TUESDAY, Jan. 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with diabetes, cardiovascular and bleeding outcomes do not differ significantly with use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) versus aspirin, according to a study published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Diabetes May Impair Myocardial Proangiogenic Response
MONDAY, Jan. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The amplitude of therapeutic revascularization associated with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) (5 × 1012 viral particles encoding thymosin beta 4 [Tβ4]) is reduced with diabetes mellitus, according to an experimental study published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Reduced Mortality Seen for ‘Weekend Warriors’
MONDAY, Jan. 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Weekend warriors may add almost as many years to their life span as those who work out all week long, according to research published online Jan. 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Continuing Warfarin Protective After Diagnosis of Dementia
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For veterans receiving warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, continuing warfarin after a diagnosis of dementia is associated with a protective effect in prevention of stroke and mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Recs Provided for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In a clinical expert consensus report published online Jan. 4 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a series of practice point-of-care checklists help provide guidance on the use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
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SBP <135 mm Hg Tied to Greater Mortality in Elderly With HTN
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For adults aged 80 years and older without comorbidity, systolic blood pressure (SBP) <135 mm Hg is associated with greater mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Too Few U.S. Young Adults Being Prescribed Needed Statins
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Too few American young adults are receiving needed statin medications, according to findings published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Cardiology.
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DASH Tops the 2017 Rankings for Best Diets
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For the seventh year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has named the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary plan as the best choice of diet overall, followed by the Mediterranean diet, up from fourth place last year.
Metformin Tied to Better Clinical Outcomes in CKD, CHF, CLD
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), congestive heart failure (CHF), or chronic liver disease (CLD) with hepatic impairment, metformin use is associated with improvements in clinical outcomes, according to a review published online Jan. 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Fenofibrate May Reduce CVD in Patients With DM, Dyslipidemia
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Fenofibrate therapy may reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) in statin-treated patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Anterior T-Wave Inversion in 2.3 Percent of Healthy Young Adults
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Anterior T-wave inversion (ATWI) occurs in 2.3 percent of young asymptomatic adults, usually in leads V1 and V2, according to a study published in the Jan. 3/10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
No Lasting Benefit for Follow-Up Coronary Angiography After PCI
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), routine follow-up coronary angiography (FUCAG) has no long-term clinical benefit, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Conventional Trials Can’t Detect Heterogeneity in BP Tx Effects
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Conventional clinical trials are unable to detect clinically important heterogeneity in intensive blood pressure (BP) treatment effects, according to a modeling study published online Jan. 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Arm Circumference May Be Useful Predictor of CVD Survival
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Mid upper arm circumference (AC) is an independent predictor of survival in older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Alcohol Abuse Ups Risk of Several Heart Conditions
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Alcohol abuse increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), and congestive heart failure (CHF) as much as other well-established risk factors, according to a study published in the Jan. 3/10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Greater Drop in Readmissions With ACA Program Penalties
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — There is a greater reduction in readmission rates at hospitals subject to penalties under the Affordable Care Act’s Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), according to a study published online Dec. 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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