Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for February 2020. 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.
Varenicline Seems Safe for Adults Without Depression
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For adults without a recent history of depression, use of varenicline for smoking cessation does not appear to be associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) or neuropsychiatric hospitalizations when compared with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Addiction.
Regardless of Weight, Metabolic Health Tied to New Diabetes
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is a significant increased risk for diabetes mellitus (DM) in postmenopausal women who are metabolically unhealthy, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in Menopause.
Vegetarian Diet Linked to Reduced Ischemic Stroke Risk in Taiwan
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a population from Taiwan, vegetarian diet was associated with a reduced risk for overall, ischemic, and hemorrhagic stroke, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in Neurology.
CDC: Prevalence of Obesity 42.4 Percent in 2017 to 2018
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of obesity was 42.4 percent among U.S. adults in 2017 to 2018, according to a February data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Fewer Women in Cardiovascular Trials, but Representation Improving
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Men still dominate participation in cardiovascular clinical trials, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in Circulation.
Intensive BP Control Has Positive Impact on Residual Life Span
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For middle-aged and older adults at high cardiovascular risk without diabetes, intensive blood pressure (BP) control improves projected survival by six months to three years, according to research published online Feb. 26 in JAMA Cardiology.
No Compensatory Smoking Seen With Low-Nicotine Cigarettes
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Smokers do not appear to engage in compensatory smoking when using low-nicotine cigarettes, according to two studies published online Feb. 26 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Abstract/Full Text 1 (subscription or payment may be required)
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Age at Period Cessation Not Linked to CVD Risk Trajectories
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is little evidence for associations between age at period cessation and trajectories of anthropometry, blood pressure, lipids, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measures, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Heart.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages May Adversely Affect Lipid Profile
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is associated with adverse changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Influence of Politics Has Not Waned in Opinions About ACA
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Public opinion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains divided 10 years after its passage, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Health Affairs.
Mistreatment, Discrimination Still Common for Medical Students
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mistreatment of medical students remains common for women, racial/ethnic minorities, and sexual minorities, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Liraglutide Enhances Weight Loss With Intensive Behavioral Therapy
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) produces clinically meaningful weight loss in a primary care setting, which is enhanced in combination with liraglutide, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in Obesity.
Wearable Sensor Data Predict Heart Failure Rehospitalization
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients discharged from heart failure admission, analysis of physiological telemetry data from a wearable sensor can detect worsening heart failure and predict impending rehospitalization, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Circulation: Heart Failure.
Different Foods Linked to Risk for Ischemic, Hemorrhagic Stroke
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Different foods are associated with the risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the European Heart Journal.
Author to Fight Retraction of Study Linking Vaping to Heart Attack Risk
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A journal’s retraction of a study linking electronic cigarettes with an increased risk for heart attack is being challenged by the author.
USA Today Article
Racial/Ethnic Disparity Seen for Stroke in Dialysis Patients With A-Fib
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among hemodialysis patients with atrial fibrillation, racial/ethnic disparities in all-cause stroke are partially mediated by lower anticoagulant use, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Image Reading on Mobile Devices Feasible for Stroke Decisions
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mobile devices may be reliable and accurate for interpreting images needed in making the clinical decision to administer intravenous (IV) thrombolysis in patients with acute stroke, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
AI Imaging Analysis Prognostic in Coronary Artery Disease
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Reduced myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) are prognostic for patients with coronary artery disease, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Circulation.
Chronic Kidney Disease Poses Major Global Health Burden
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of morbidity and mortality and as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in The Lancet.
More Side Effects Seen With Guideline-Recommended Chlorthalidone
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In real-world practice, chlorthalidone use is not associated with significant cardiovascular benefits versus hydrochlorothiazide, but it is associated with a greater risk for renal and electrolyte abnormalities, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Dietitians Effective for Weight Loss in Obese Medicare Patients
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Delivery of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity (IBTO) by registered dietitian nutritionists is effective and beneficial for Medicare beneficiaries, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Family Practice.
Polymer-Based Stents Noninferior for Patients With High Bleeding Risk
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Polymer-based zotarolimus-eluting stents are noninferior to polymer-free drug-coated stents among patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published online Feb. 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Many Transgender Youth Intentionally Avoid Disclosure
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most transgender youth voluntarily disclose their gender identity to health care providers (HCPs) outside of a gender clinic; however, almost half report having intentionally avoided disclosure, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Ethnic Differences in Sitting Behaviors ID’d in Older Women
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Overweight/obese postmenopausal women have ethnic differences in sitting behavior and in the deleterious association between sitting behavior and cardiometabolic risk, according to a study published in the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Risk of Major Heart Complications Up Shortly Following Stroke
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ischemic stroke is independently associated with an increased risk for incident poststroke major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in both men and women, according to a study published in the February issue of Stroke.
Person-to-Person Resting Heart Rates Found to Be Highly Variable
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Resting heart rate (RHR) differs greatly between people, while individual rates are more consistent, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in PLOS ONE.
Risk for Adverse Events Up With Low-Dose Methotrexate
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of low-dose methotrexate (LD-MTX) is associated with increased risks for adverse events (AEs), including skin cancer, and gastrointestinal, pulmonary, infectious, and hematologic AEs, according to research published online Feb. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Amlodipine Better BP Drug for Lower Long-Term Risk for Gout
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The antihypertensive medication amlodipine is associated with a lower risk for gout compared with other antihypertensive agents, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Hypertension.
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors Protect the Heart
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors protect against cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a review published in the Feb. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Telemarketer Access to Medicare Information to Be Investigated
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An investigation into how telemarketers may be obtaining seniors’ personal Medicare information will be launched by the U.S. Health and Human Services inspector general office.
AP News Article
More Information: HHS
FDA Requests Market Withdrawal of Belviq Due to Cancer Risk
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial of the weight-loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin) shows an association with an increased risk for cancer, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting that its maker withdraw the drug from the U.S. market.
U.S. Life Expectancy to Reach 85 by 2060
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly a quarter of all U.S. residents will be older than 65 by 2060, and life expectancy will reach an all-time high of 85 by that year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
AP News Article
Cocoa Consumption May Improve Walking Performance in PAD
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cocoa consumption may improve walking performance in individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Circulation Research.
Exposure to PM2.5 Tied to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), according to a study published in the January issue of The Lancet Planetary Health.
Orthostatic Hypotension During HTN Tx Not Tied to CVD Events
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Orthostatic hypotension (OH) during hypertension treatment is not associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease events, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Hypertension.
Use of Revascularization Up for Critical Limb Ischemia in Veterans
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For veterans, the incidence of critical limb ischemia decreased from 2005 to 2013, while use of revascularization increased from 2005 to 2014, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.
2011 to 2018 Saw Decline in Problems Paying Medical Bills
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2011 to 2018, there was a decrease in the percentage of families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months, according to a February data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Short-Term Mortality Link Identified for Increased Ozone Exposure
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An increase in ozone is associated with short-term mortality risks, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in The BMJ.
Empathy Declines as Students Progress Through Medical School
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Students become less empathic toward patients throughout medical school, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in Academic Medicine.
Seniors Have Concerns About Affording Health Insurance
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many adults aged 50 to 64 years are concerned about their ability to afford health insurance, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Higher Birth Weight May Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness Later
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher birth weight for births at-term are associated with greater cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in young adulthood regardless of body mass index, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Arterial Stiffness Increased Within Year of Final Menstrual Period
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Changes in arterial stiffness are greater within one year of a woman’s final menstrual period (FMP), according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
Radiologist Workforce Becoming Increasingly Subspecialized
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The national radiologist workforce is becoming increasingly subspecialized, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Number of Nurse Practitioners More Than Doubled 2010 to 2017
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2010 to 2017, there was a substantial increase in the number of nurse practitioners in the United States, with a corresponding reduction in the size of the registered nurse workforce, according to a report published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
GI Bleeding in OAC-Treated A-Fib Patients Indicates CRC Risk
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Lower-gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is associated with high risks for colorectal cancer in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in the European Heart Journal.
Meta-Analyses Link Rosiglitazone to Increased Cardiovascular Risk
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Rosiglitazone seems to be associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, particularly heart failure, according to data from a systematic review and meta-analyses published online Feb. 5 in The BMJ.
Aneurysm Diameter, Intraluminal Thrombus Predict AAA Growth
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Maximum diameter and presence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) are independent predictors of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in Radiology.
Many Americans Misinformed About Heart Disease Prevention
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many Americans are misinformed about the risk for heart disease, particularly in women, and are confused about modifiable risk factors, according to a survey released by the Cleveland Clinic to coincide with American Heart Month.
Cleveland Clinic Press Release
Repeated Measures of 9/11-Related PTSD Tied to Mortality
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Based on repeated measures, 9/11-related probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with an increased mortality risk, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
Reference Pricing Linked to Lower Prices Paid by Employers
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Reference prices are associated with lower prices paid by employers and lower cost sharing by employees, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
Seasonal Sun Variation Tied to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Seasonal variation in vitamin D status may explain seasonal variation in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
New Study Finds an Egg a Day Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One egg per day is not tied to an increase in the risk for heart disease, including cholesterol levels, according to a study published onlune Jan. 21 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Some Lifestyle Changes Suffer With Start of Meds to Cut CV Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Initiation of antihypertensive and statin medication is associated with favorable and unfavorable lifestyle changes, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Meat, Poultry, Not Fish, May Up Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among U.S. adults, intake of processed meat, unprocessed red meat, and poultry, but not fish, is associated with an increased risk for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Feb. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Five-Year Outcomes Comparable for TAVR, Surgical AVR
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is no significant difference in the incidence of death or disabling stroke at five years among patients with aortic stenosis at intermediate surgical risk who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Cigarette Use Down, E-Cigarette Use Up Among Teens
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cigarette use is dropping among teens, but electronic cigarette use is on the rise, according to a study published online Feb. 3 in Pediatrics.
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