Cardiology Topics
RSSArticles
-
Absorb Stent Disappoints Again in 5-Year Data
In this long-term follow up of the ABSORB IV trial, the five-year rate of target lesion failure was significantly higher with the everolimus-eluting bioabsorbable scaffold compared with its metallic counterpart, despite strict adherence to recommended implantation techniques.
-
Timing of Anticoagulation Administration Following Atrial Fibrillation-Associated Stroke
A prospective, blinded, randomized study of early vs. later administration of oral anticoagulation after ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation calibrated by cerebral imaging showed no significant difference in 30-day outcomes.
-
Is Screening First-Degree Relatives of Cardiomyopathy Patients Worthwhile?
An observational study of screening first-degree relatives of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy revealed 14% will show either dilated left ventricles, low left ventricular function, or both. These findings are more common if the relatives have been diagnosed with hypertension or are obese, but their frequency is not altered by sex or race.
-
The Best Use of Statins in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
A randomized, multicenter study of high-intensity statin therapy to a treat-to-target approach in coronary artery disease patients showed no difference in three-year outcomes. These results suggest treating to a target may be more suitable to individual patients compared to blanket high-intensity statin use.
-
Direct Oral Anticoagulants vs. Warfarin When Treating Renal Dysfunction
A patient-level meta-analysis of five pivotal trials of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) vs. warfarin for patients with atrial fibrillation and creatinine clearance levels ranging from normal to 25 mL/min revealed standard-dose DOACs exhibit superior safety and efficacy compared to adjusted-dose warfarin and lower-dose DOACs.
-
Momentum Continues for Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair
A flurry of recently released study data provided more evidence supporting the efficacy of the minimally invasive heart procedure.
-
Cardiovascular Outcomes with Bempedoic Acid, a New Statin Alternative
A trial of bempedoic acid vs. placebo for statin-intolerant patients showed bempedoic acid significantly lowered LDL cholesterol levels and prevented more major adverse cardiovascular events after a median follow-up of 41 months. Although nonserious side effects were numerically higher for those on bempedoic acid, serious adverse events were not significantly different from placebo.
-
Sitting, Standing, and Walking: The Effect on Cardiometabolic Markers
The authors of this meta-analysis explored the effects of interrupting sitting with either light-intensity walking or standing. They found light-intensity walking was associated with the most significant effect on several markers of cardiometabolic health.
-
A Hidden Rhythm
The only clinical information available for this tracing is that the ECG was obtained from an older woman. Without any other background, where should we go from here?
-
Improving Statin Tolerance in Elderly Patients
In a post-hoc analysis of the RACING trial, researchers found the combination of moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe therapy vs. high-intensity statin therapy alone in older subjects resulted in similar reductions in cardiovascular events over three years, but fewer adverse effects with the combination therapy.