Clinical Cardiology Alert – September 1, 2016

September 1, 2016

• Should We SPRINT to Lower Blood Pressure Targets?

  ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: Here's insight into an intensive treatment that resulted in 33% fewer major adverse cardiovascular events.

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• Is There HOPE for Blood Pressure Targets in Primary Prevention?

  A large randomized trial of fixed-dose antihypertensive treatment in patients at intermediate risk of cardiovascular events with systolic blood pressure < 160 mmHg showed no difference in outcomes vs. placebo.

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• The Double-edged Sword of Public Mortality Reporting

  Since the exclusion of cardiogenic shock from public mortality reporting in New York in 2006, rates of intervention in these patients have risen dramatically. However, these rates remain below those in non-reporting states, suggesting continued reluctance to treat the highest-risk patients due to public reporting.

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• Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation vs. Escalation of Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

  Among patients with an ischemic cardiomyopathy and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), catheter ablation was more effective than escalated antiarrhythmic drug therapy in reducing the rate of death at any time or ventricular tachycardia storm or ICD shocks after a 30-day blanking period.

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• Screening for Coronary Artery Disease Is Underused in Heart Failure

  In a large retrospective cohort of patients hospitalized for new-onset heart failure, the majority did not receive testing for ischemic heart disease.

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