• Danish Findings Show Neither Benefit nor Harm...

    Added On : 14th April 2012

    Danish Findings Show Neither Benefit nor Harm of HRT After Myocardial Infarction

    However, population-wide observational data are potentially useful for estimating risk in individual patients.

  • Between-Arm Systolic Blood Pressure Differences...

    Added On : 27th April 2012

    Between-Arm Systolic Blood Pressure Differences and Adverse Outcomes

    In a prospective cohort study, differences in systolic blood pressure were associated with excess risk for cardiovascular events and death.

  • Hospital Strategies for Decreasing AMI Mortality

    Added On : 12th May 2012

    Five specific organizational practices significantly associated with lower risk-standardized mortality rates

    In-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has decreased significantly over the past several decades but varies considerably among U.S. hospitals. In a quantitative analysis building on previous qualitative research (JW Cardiol Mar 30 2011), these investigators sought to identify specific strategies associated with low 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates (RSMRs) after AMI.

  • Personalized Antiplatelet Treatment: Coming Soon?

    Added On : 26th May 2012

    A new point-of-care genetic test could rapidly identify CYP2C19*2 carriers who might benefit from nonclopidogrel antiplatelet therapy.

    The CYP2C19*2 allele is a common variant associated with high platelet reactivity and increased rates of adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients taking clopidogrel. So far, the inability to perform bedside genetic testing has prevented prospective patient assessment for this allele. Now, a simple point-of-care genetic test (validated by conventional genetic testing) has emerged that identifies CYP2C19*2 carrier status within 60 minutes of activation. Results classify individuals as homozygous for the wild-type allele (*1/*1), heterozygous (*1/*2), or homozygous for the *2 allele (*2/*2).

  • Accept No Substitute: Progression...

    Added On : 8th June 2012

    Accept No Substitute: Progression of Carotid Intima–Media Thickness and Cardiovascular Risk

    A patient-level meta-analysis suggests no association between change in cIMT and risk for cardiovascular events.

    Although increased carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, it is uncertain whether a change in cIMT is associated with a change in risk. To assess such an association, investigators pooled patient-level data from 16 longitudinal studies including 36,984 participants with a mean follow-up of 7 years.

  • Postoperative Troponin Levels Predict 30-Day Mortality...

    Added On : 21st June 2012

    Postoperative Troponin Levels Predict 30-Day Mortality After Noncardiac Surgery

    However, the clinical value of routine postoperative monitoring of troponin levels remains unclear.

  • Depression and AF in Women...

    Added On : 4th July 2012

    Depression and AF in Women: Don't Worry, Be Happy

    Psychological distress was not linked to atrial fibrillation in the Women's Health Study.

  • The Verdict Is In: Endoscopic Vein-Graft Harvest...

    Added On : 13th August 2012

    The Verdict Is In: Endoscopic Vein-Graft Harvest Is as Safe as Open Harvest

    A large contemporary, observational study allays concerns about long-term safety.

  • Can We Safely and Effectively Vaccinate Patients...

    Added On : 14th August 2012

    Can We Safely and Effectively Vaccinate Patients Receiving Biologic Therapies for Immune-Mediated Disease?

    Indications are promising but not definitive; nevertheless, we should discuss results with patients who request the herpes zoster vaccine.

  • HAS-BLED for Assessing Bleeding Risk...

    Added On : 27th August 2012

    HAS-BLED for Assessing Bleeding Risk with Anticoagulation: Best of the Mediocre

    Notwithstanding a lackluster performance, HAS-BLED beat two other scoring systems in a comparative analysis of trial data.

    Bleeding continues to be the Achilles heel of systemic anticoagulation, whether the agent used is warfarin or any of the new anticoagulants entering the market. Predictive models for bleeding include the following:

    HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol)