Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for December 2019. 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.
Machine Learning System Makes More Alerts for Med Errors
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A machine learning system can generate clinically valid alerts for medication errors that might be missed with existing clinical decision support (CDS) systems, according to a study published in the January issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
Exposure to Pyrethroid Insecticides Linked to Mortality
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Environmental exposure to pyrethroid insecticides is associated with an increased risk for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Multiple Health Benefits Reported for Intermittent Fasting
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Intermittent fasting has multiple health benefits, according to a review article published in the Dec. 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Poor Diet Contributes Substantially to Cardiometabolic Disease Costs
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Suboptimal diet accounts for 18.2 percent of all cardiometabolic disease (CMD) costs in the United States, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in PLOS Medicine.
High Lipoprotein(a) Is Risk Factor for CVD in Type 1 Diabetes
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 1 diabetes, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a significant risk factor for macrovascular disease, albuminuria, and calcified aortic valve disease, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in Diabetes Care.
Machine Learning Model Helps Predict Risk for MI, Cardiac Death
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A machine learning (ML) model improves the prediction of long-term risks for myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac death, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Cardiovascular Research.
Recall of Pacemaker in Nov. 2015 Was Delayed Unnecessarily
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Recall of a cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker, which occurred in November 2015, was delayed unnecessarily, according to a report published online Dec. 20 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Magnesium Inversely Linked to Risk for Coronary Heart Disease
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For postmenopausal women, dietary magnesium is inversely associated with fatal coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Women’s Health.
Regular Cannabis Use May Cause Adverse Cardiac Changes
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Regular recreational cannabis use is associated with alterations in cardiac structure and function, according to a letter to the editor published in the December issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Many Hospitals Fail to Provide Instructions for Patient Portals
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many hospital patient portals fail to educate patients fully and set expectations for secure messaging, according to a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Palliative Care Services Lagging Worldwide
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Greater palliative care development and implementation is needed worldwide, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
Patient Share of Out-of-Network Costs Rising
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network (OON) care grew rapidly for privately insured Americans from 2012 to 2017, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.
Healthy Sleep Pattern May Reduce Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A healthy sleep pattern is associated with reduced risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the European Heart Journal.
Obesity May Up Cardiotoxicity Risk From Breast Cancer Therapy
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is associated with an increased risk for cardiotoxicity among patients receiving treatment for breast cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in PLOS Medicine.
Biomarker May Predict Cardiac Risk in Noncardiac Surgery
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The preoperative level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is associated with vascular death and myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), according to a study published online Dec. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Enrollment in Affordable Care Act Holds Steady for Third Straight Year
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage for next year has surpassed 8 million, a sign that many Americans still turn to the government health insurance program to help pay for their medical care.
Long Working Hours May Up Risk for Masked, Sustained HTN
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Long working hours are an independent risk factor for masked and sustained hypertension, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Hypertension.
Aspirin May No Longer Have Effect in Primary CVD Prevention
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Aspirin may not be effective for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality, according to research published online Nov. 21 in Family Practice.
Congress Approves Raising Age to Buy Tobacco Products to 21
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A measure to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco and electronic cigarettes to 21 has been approved by the U.S. Congress and is expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The New York Times Article
HbA1c Minimally Adds to CVD Risk Prediction in Prediabetes
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with prediabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) minimally adds to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Diabetes Care.
Low Education Link to CVD Risk Partly Due to Income, Job Strain
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The correlation between low education and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is partly due to income and work stress, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in the European Heart Journal.
Some U.S. Adults Unaware of Any Myocardial Infarction Symptoms
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of U.S. adults are unaware of some or all of the symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Network Open.
Private Care Program for U.S. Vets Gets $8.9 Billion in Budget Deal
THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A controversial program meant to get more U.S. veterans to use private health care received $8.9 billion as part of a government spending bill approved by the House.
AP News Article
Being Born in Spring, Summer May Increase CVD Mortality Risk
THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Women born in the spring and summer may have a slightly higher risk for cardiovascular disease mortality than women born in autumn, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in The BMJ.
Heavy Drinking May Up Marker Levels for Cardiac Damage
THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Heavy drinking has an adverse effect on biomarkers of cardiac damage and inflammation, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Risk Score Developed to Help ID Heart Failure Risk in Leukemia
THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In a study published in the December issue of JACC: CardioOncology, authors investigated the occurrence and developed a risk score to determine the risk for heart failure in patients with acute leukemia treated with anthracyclines.
Obesity Projected to Affect Almost One in Two by 2030
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of adults are projected to have obesity by 2030, according to a study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
FDA to Allow States to Import Prescription Drugs From Other Countries
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Federal health officials have unveiled plans to allow prescription drug imports from Canada and other foreign nations.
Pregnancy-Related Heart Failure Tied to Higher Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are more likely to have cancer before PPCM diagnosis and more likely to develop cancer after PPCM, according to a study published in the December issue of the JACC: CardioOncology.
Fenfluramine Reduces Convulsive Seizures in Dravet Syndrome
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with Dravet syndrome, the reduction in frequency of convulsive seizures is greater with fenfluramine than with placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in The Lancet.
Cannabis Use Disorder May Up Risk of Perioperative Heart Attack
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Active cannabis use disorder is associated with an increased perioperative risk of myocardial infarction, according to a study published in the December issue of Anesthesiology.
Congress Could Raise Age to Buy Tobacco Products to 21
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A provision to raise the U.S. minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 years has been inserted into the end-of-year spending bill in Congress.
CBS News Article
New Rules Seek to Increase Organ Transplants in U.S.
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Two new rules meant to increase organ transplants in the United States have been proposed by the federal government.
AP News Article
FDA Approves Sale of Low-Nicotine Cigarettes
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the sale of two reduced-nicotine cigarettes.
Hospital-Level Home Acute Care Can Cut Costs, Health Care Use
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For acutely ill adults, hospital-level care at home is associated with reduced costs, health care use, and readmissions compared with usual hospital care, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Outcomes Worse for Rural Residents With Chronic Conditions
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Rural Medicare beneficiaries with complex chronic conditions have higher preventable hospitalization and mortality rates than their urban peers, which is partially explained by reduced access to specialists, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
Many Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors Die From Other Causes
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Non-breast cancer (non-BC) causes of death represent a considerable proportion of deaths among patients diagnosed with BC, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in Cancer.
Many Lung Cancer Patients Receive Meds That Prolong QTc Interval
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of patients with lung cancer are prescribed medications that prolong the corrected QT (QTc) interval, limiting their eligibility for clinical trials, according to a study published online Nov. 23 in Clinical Lung Cancer.
Palliative Care Reaching More Inpatients With Serious Illness
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Inpatient palliative care teams are reaching a broader mix of patients earlier in the course of their illness, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in JAMA Network Open.
Mindfulness Program May Help Lower Blood Pressure
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Participants in a mindfulness program have significant improvements in self-regulation skills and reductions in blood pressure, according to a small study published online Nov. 27 in PLOS ONE.
Five-Year Mortality Up in Older Adults With Unplanned Admission
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Death within five years of first unplanned hospital admission is common among older adults, according to a study published in the Dec. 16 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Hahn Confirmed as New FDA Chief
FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Stephen Hahn, M.D., was confirmed as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a 72-18 Senate vote on Thursday.
The New York Times Article
Labeling Exercise Needed to Burn Food May Cut Calories Consumed
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Labeling foods, drinks, and menus with the amount and type of exercise needed to burn off the calories might be a more effective way of encouraging people to make healthier dietary choices, according to a review published online Dec. 10 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Non-HDL Cholesterol Levels Linked to Long-Term ASCVD Risk
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Elevated concentrations of non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol are associated with an increased long-term risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in The Lancet.
Stroke Risk Up With Long Sleep Duration, Long Midday Napping
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The risks for incident stroke are increased with long sleep duration, long midday napping, and poor sleep quality, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Neurology.
Fewer Blacks Use Aspirin Therapy for Primary Prevention of CVD
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Low-dose aspirin is used less consistently by blacks than whites for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and its impact on ischemic cardiac disease varies by race, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Aerobic Exercise May Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among older adults who have cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and cognitive impairments with no dementia (CIND), cognitive function was better at one-year follow-up in participants compared with controls after a six-month exercise intervention, with or without the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
U.S. Primary Care Doctors Face Challenges in Coordinating Care
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians from the United States and other high-income countries report difficulties with care coordination, with a substantial proportion of U.S. physicians not receiving timely notification or the information needed from specialists or other sites of care, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in Health Affairs.
USPSTF Advises AAA Screening Based on Sex, Age, Smoking History
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening vary by sex, smoking status, and family history. These recommendations form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Dec. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Final Recommendation Statement
Evidence Report
Editorial 1
Editorial 2
Editorial 3
Model Predicts Six-Month Post-AMI Mortality for Older Adults
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A newly developed model has good discriminatory ability for six-month post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
U.S. Health Care Spending Up 4.6 Percent in 2018
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, U.S. health care spending increased 4.6 percent, a faster rate than that seen in 2017, according to a report published online Dec. 5 in Health Affairs.
2016 to 2019 Saw Increase in Medical Students With Disabilities
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2016 to 2019, there was an increase in the proportion of medical students reporting disabilities, according to a research letter published in the Nov. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Exposure to Air Pollution May Up Mortality After Heart Transplant
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to air pollution is associated with increased mortality risk after heart transplantation, according to a study published in the Dec. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Half of U.S. Physicians Recommend Complementary Health Approaches
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than half of office-based physicians recommend complementary health approaches (CHAs) to their patients, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
New Cardiogenic Shock Staging System IDs Mortality Risk
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The new Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) cardiogenic shock (CS) classification scheme provides risk stratification for hospital mortality, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Many Patients Overestimate the Benefits of PCI
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many patients do not understand or remember the information given to them during the informed consent process for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published online Nov. 27 in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.
Receipt of Anticoagulant Rx in ED Linked to Use at Six Months
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients aged 65 years or older with atrial fibrillation, receipt of a prescription for an oral anticoagulant in the emergency department is associated with increased use of oral anticoagulants at six months, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Retail Prescription Drug Prices Fall for First Time in 45 Years
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Retail prescription drug prices in the United States fell by 1 percent last year, a new government report shows.
AP News Article
Rural Population Underrepresented Among Medical Students
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2017, less than 5 percent of all incoming medical students were rural students, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
Pharmacist-Led Interventions Cut Cardiovascular Risk Factors
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacist-led interventions in general practice can significantly reduce medical risk factors associated with cardiovascular events, according to a review published online Nov. 27 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Reductions in Air Pollution Yield Substantial Health Gains
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Reductions in air pollution yield prompt and substantial health benefits, according to research published in the December issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Cancer Tied to Higher Risk for Deadly Stroke
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The risk for a deadly stroke is higher in cancer patients and cancer survivors than the general public, according to a study published online Nov. 15 in Nature Communications.
Racial Differences Seen With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Racial differences in disease expression and adverse clinical outcomes exist between black and white patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Cardiology.
Early-Onset CVD Rate Up for Children of Moms With Diabetes
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Children of mothers with diabetes have increased rates of early-onset cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Dec. 4 in The BMJ.
Services Affected by Rural Hospitals Joining Health Systems
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — While affiliating with health systems may boost a rural hospital’s financial viability, the affiliation is often associated with reductions in critical services, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
Adults Not Living in Metro Areas Have Reduced Access to Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Adults not living in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are more likely to have reduced access to or use of health care services, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Physician Depressive Symptoms Tied to Higher Risk for Medical Errors
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians showing depressive symptoms are at higher risk for medical errors, according to a review published Nov. 27 in JAMA Network Open.
Deportation Worry May Raise Risk for Hypertension in Women
TUESDAY, Dec. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Deportation worry is associated with an increased risk for incident hypertension in women, according to a study published online Nov. 27 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
T1DM May Up Progression of CAC During Menopausal Transition
TUESDAY, Dec. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For women going through menopause, type 1 diabetes is associated with higher coronary artery calcium (CAC) volume and accelerated progression of CAC over time, according to a study published in the December issue of Diabetes Care.
Obesity Mediates Response to Antiarrhythmic Drugs in A-Fib
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Obesity may cause a differential response to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) used to suppress atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online Nov. 27 in JAMA Cardiology.
Risk for Hospital Admission Up With Short-Term PM2.5 Exposure
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) is associated with increased hospital admission risks and costs, according to a study published online Nov. 27 in The BMJ.
Improved Oral Hygiene May Cut Risk for Heart Failure, A-Fib
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Improved oral hygiene care is associated with a reduced risk for atrial fibrillation and heart failure, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Copyright © 2020 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
