Cardiology
RSSArticles
Risks of Hookah Smoking
An average hookah contains as much tobacco as 20 filtered cigarettes. The nicotine hit from a hookah is every bit as real and as addictive as smoking cigarettes. The temperature of the smoke when heated electronically in newer hookahs, rather than by older charcoal versions, may be cidal to lung cells.
Stroke Risk: COVID-19 vs. Influenza
During the early surge in COVID-19 infections in New York City, many neurologists observed an unusual frequency of ischemic stroke. Researchers investigated further. Read on to learn what they discovered.
The Relationship Among Step Count, Step Intensity, and Mortality in Adults
Investigators found an association between higher number of steps taken daily and lower all-cause mortality, lower mortality from cardiovascular disease, and lower mortality from cancer, but no association between intensity of steps and mortality in any of those areas.
A Combination of Both SIRS and SOFA Scores Enhances Recognition of Sepsis in the Emergency Department
Compared with either score alone, using both SIRS and SOFA scores led to earlier and more complete recognition of sepsis in patients presenting to the emergency department.
Effect of Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis Choice on Mortality in Mechanically Ventilated Adults
Proton pump inhibitors reduce the risk of clinically important bleeding, but they may have no effect on the risk of 90-day mortality compared to histamine-2 receptor antagonists.
Palliative Care and Ethical Considerations in the COVID-19 ICU
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an ICU environment different from what we have ever seen in our lifetimes that has deep palliative care and ethical repercussions.
Is Isolated Diastolic Hypertension a Disease?
An analysis of three large prospective databases showed the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association revised definition of isolated diastolic hypertension as > 80 mmHg rather than the previous definition of > 90 mmHg resulted in a 5% higher prevalence of diastolic hypertension. This was not significantly associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes.
What to Do with Large Pericardial Effusions
An observational study of patients with chronic, large, hemodynamically insignificant, C-reactive protein-negative, idiopathic pericarditis in which the majority were treated by pericardiocentesis or surgical drainage showed most patients treated conservatively remained stable. The invasive approach did not reveal an etiology for the effusions.
Achieving AV Synchrony Without Wires
In the MARVEL 2 prospective study of patients with atrioventricular block treated with a leadless ventricular pacemaker, atrial sensing via an accelerometer-based algorithm was largely successful in establishing atrioventricular synchronous pacing.
Who Benefits from Primary Prevention ICDs?
Long-term follow-up of SCD-HeFT did not show any benefit in installing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices in patients with New York Heart Association class III symptoms or nonischemic cardiomyopathy.