Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for April 2015. 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.
Low Health Literacy Ups Mortality Risk Post Heart Failure Admission
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with low health literacy hospitalized for acute heart failure have an increased mortality risk, according to a study published online April 29 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Metabolic ‘Map’ May One Day Help Predict Obesity Risk
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Researchers say they have successfully linked certain byproducts of digestion to the risk of excess body fat. The findings were published in the April 29 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Age-, Sex-Specific Thresholds Should Guide Statin Therapy
THURSDAY, April 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of age- and sex-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk thresholds could improve the sensitivity and specificity of statin treatment recommendations, according to a study published in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Vena Cava Retrievable Filters No Help in Pulmonary Embolism
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute, symptomatic pulmonary embolism, the use of retrievable vena cava filters with anticoagulation does not offer any benefit over anticoagulation alone, according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
COPD May Increase Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is already the third leading cause of death in the world, and the condition might also raise a patient’s odds for sudden cardiac death, according to a new study published online April 28 in the European Heart Journal.
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Long-Term Post-CABG Mortality Increased With Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have increased long-term risk of death after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), with higher risk among those with T1DM, according to a study published in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Physician Compensation Up for Most Specialties
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physician compensation has gone up for almost all specialties, according to a 2015 report published by Medscape.
CDC: Surveillance System Can Help Reduce Health Care Injuries
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A surveillance system for health care facilities can be used to identify and help reduce the number of preventable injuries among health care personnel, according to research published in the April 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Motion-Tracking MRI May Help ID Stroke Risk in A-Fib
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Motion-tracking magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the heart can help identify people with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are at high risk for stroke, a new study indicates. The study also calls into question the mechanism linking AF with higher stroke risk, says a team reporting the findings online April 27 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
High Sodium Intake Does Not Appear to Raise BP in Teen Girls
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Consuming higher-than-recommended amounts of salt appears to have no ill effect on teenage girls’ blood pressure, according to new research published online April 27 in JAMA Pediatrics.
PCSK9 Inhibitors Cut LDL Cholesterol, CVD Risk
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new class of cholesterol medication could sharply cut low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients who don’t fare well on statins, a new research review confirms. The findings were published online April 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Higher CV Risks Seen for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivors
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians and patients should be aware of the persistently increased risk of cardiovascular diseases throughout life after Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to a report published online April 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Fine Particulate Air Pollution Linked to Changes in Brain
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution may be linked to subtle changes in the brain that could lead to cognitive impairment, a new study suggests. The report was published online April 23 in Stroke.
Benefits of Moderate Drinking Differ According to Race
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Moderate drinking appears to offer greater health benefits to whites than to blacks, according to a study published online April 23 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Proximal, Distal Filter Embolic Protection Devices Comparable
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing elective carotid artery stenting (CAS), stroke/death rates are similar with use of proximal embolic protection devices (P-EPDs) and distal filter embolic protection devices (F-EPDs), according to a study published in the April 20 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Cigar Smoking Poses Much the Same Danger As Cigarettes
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Smoking cigars carries the same health risks as smoking cigarettes, according to a new review published online April 24 in BMC Public Health.
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Over Half of Middle-Age, Older Americans Take Daily Aspirin
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Slightly more than half of middle-aged adults and seniors in the United States take aspirin daily, with most taking it for primary prevention, according to survey findings published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Hemoglobin Glycation Index IDs Harms, Benefits of T2DM Tx
MONDAY, April 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The effect of intensive versus standard type 2 diabetes treatment varies according to the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI: observed hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] − predicted HbA1c), according to a study published online April 17 in Diabetes Care.
Focus on Calories Versus Quality of Food Misdirected
FRIDAY, April 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — All calories are not created equal and some foods are not as bad for weight management as many believe, according to new research published online April 8 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Exercise Can’t Fix the Damage of a Bad Diet
FRIDAY, April 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Although physical activity is important for health, a healthy diet is essential for weight loss — and regular exercise will not make up for a poor diet, according to an editorial published online April 22 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Radial Access Cuts Vascular Complications in Angiography
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women undergoing coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have a higher rate of vascular complications than men, which are significantly reduced with radial access, according to a study published in the April 20 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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One in 10 AMI Patients Have Unrecognized Incident Diabetes
THURSDAY, April 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — One in 10 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients without a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) have underlying DM, according to research published online April 21 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
EHR Data Mining Helps With Quality Improvement
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Electronic health records (EHRs) are a valuable source of data that can be mined to help practices with quality improvement performance, according to a study published in Medical Economics.
Impact of Sodium, Potassium Intake Varies With BP
WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In normotensive young adults, an increase in sodium/potassium ratio correlates with an increase in atrial filling fraction, while in individuals with prehypertension or hypertension it is related to an increase in left ventricular (LV) mass, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
EHR Decision Support Ups Radiologic Test Appropriateness
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Computerized clinical decision-support (CCDS) capabilities of electronic health records may improve appropriate use of diagnostic radiologic test ordering and reduce test use, according to a review published in the April 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Drug-Eluting Beat Bare Stents in Older Patients Undergoing PCI
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For older patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), drug-eluting stents (DES) offer clinical benefit over bare metal stents (BMS), according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Sports Participation Seems Safe for Children With LQTS
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is no evidence of cardiac events or deaths occurring in treatment-compliant genotype-positive long QT syndrome (LQTS) pediatric patients who participate in sports, according to research published in the March 1 issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
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Statins Tenuously Cost-Effective for Primary Prevention in Seniors
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. adults aged 75 to 94 years, primary prevention with statins appears to be cost-effective, but even small increases in geriatric-specific adverse effects could offset the cardiovascular benefit, according to a study published in the April 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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AHA Issues Guidelines for Adults With Congenital Heart Dz
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued guidelines for health care providers treating patients older than 40 with congenital heart disease. The guidelines were published online April 20 in Circulation.
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CPAP Tied to Improved A-Fib Outcomes for Those With OSA
TUESDAY, April 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with both atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea are less likely to have a recurrence of atrial fibrillation if they use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, a new report says. The results were published in the March 1 issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
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Guidance Offered for Managing Conflict With Patients
MONDAY, April 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Good communication is key to managing conflict with patients, according to an article published April 1 in Medical Economics.
Age, Creatinine, Ejection Fraction Predict Post-MI Survival
MONDAY, April 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A simple age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF) score can predict one-year mortality risk in myocardial infarction 30-day survivors who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Higher Risk of Cardiac Arrest in Dialysis May Be Genetic
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Genes may play a role in cardiac arrest risk among kidney patients who are on dialysis, new research suggests. The study was published online April 16 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
A-Fib Recurrence Common Five Years After Ablation
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and systolic heart failure who undergo ablation have AF recurrence at five years, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
Suboptimal Prescribing Attitudes Could Signal Personal Distress
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical students in personal distress may be more likely to have suboptimal attitudes about self-prescribing and personal responsibility for reporting impaired colleagues, according to a study published in the April issue of Academic Medicine.
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Hydroxychloroquine May Reduce Hyperlipidemia Risk in Early RA
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hydroxychloroquine appears to be associated with lower risk of hyperlipidemia in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published in the April issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Hydration During PCI Cuts Risk of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy
FRIDAY, April 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Hydration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is associated with a reduction in the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
FDA Approves Corlanor for Chronic Heart Failure
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Corlanor (ivabradine) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic heart failure, the agency said in a news release.
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Apple HealthKit App Facilitates Doctor-Patient Communication
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The latest version of Apple’s operating system iOS 8 allows physicians to connect with patients in many ways using the HealthKit app that collects user health and fitness data, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Medicare Spending Down in Year One of Pioneer ACO
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medicare spending is down in year one of the Pioneer accountable care organization (ACO) program, according to a study published online April 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Prolonged ADT Ups Diabetes, CVD Risk for Older Men
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For men diagnosed with prostate cancer aged older than 70 years, prolonged androgen deprivation therapy is associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, especially among those with comorbidities, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Fish Oil Supplementation Tied to Lower Atherothrombotic Risk
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fish oil supplementation (FOS) is associated with atherothrombotic risk reduction in suspected coronary artery disease (sCAD), according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Ethical Implications for Looking Up Applicants on Facebook
THURSDAY, April 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Looking up students on Facebook and other social networking sites (SNS) is associated with ethical concerns, according to a perspective piece published in the March issue of the Journal of Graduate Medical Education.
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AMA Announces End of Sustainable Growth Rate Formula
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Recently adopted legislation has repealed the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Anticoagulation Both Over- and Under-Prescribed in A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As many as one-quarter of people with atrial fibrillation who have a low risk of stroke are prescribed anticoagulation unnecessarily, a new study contends. The findings were published in a research letter online April 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Divorce Tied to Increased Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — People who divorce face a higher risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than those who remain married, but remarriage may not be the remedy, at least not for women, according to a new study published online April 14 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Longevity of Bioprosthetic Valve Replacement Assessed
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fifteen-year survival is comparable for bioprosthetic and mechanical prosthetic valve replacement, according to a study published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Survey Looks at Patient Attitudes Regarding Informed Consent
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most U.S. adults would prefer to be asked for permission to participate in studies assessing usual medical practices, according to a study published online April 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Pharmacist Support Boosts Anticoagulation Adherence
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The intervention of a local pharmacist could help improve adherence to newer anticoagulants, according to research published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Security Breaches of Health Records Up Over Past Decade
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Breaches in data security exposed more than 29 million health records to potential criminal misuse between 2010 and 2013, according to a new study. Security breaches involving hacking have nearly doubled in recent years, rising to 8.7 percent in 2013 compared with 4.7 percent in 2010, according to the study, published as a research letter in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Placebo Response May Depend on Individual DNA
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The strength of the placebo effect may depend on particular DNA, according to a report published online April 13 in Trends in Molecular Medicine.
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Visit-to-Visit LDL-C Variability Predicts Cardiac Event Risk
TUESDAY, April 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Visit-to-visit variability in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can independently predict cardiovascular events in individuals with coronary artery disease, according to a study published in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Gratitude Linked With Better Outcomes in Heart Patients
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Higher levels of gratitude are associated with better mood, better sleep, less fatigue, and less inflammation in heart failure patients, according to a study published in the March issue of Spirituality in Clinical Practice.
Single-Dose Injection Rx Ups Bone Density in Frail Elderly
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Frail, older women may only need a single dose of the osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid (Reclast) to build bone strength, a new study suggests. But greater bone density did not translate into fewer fractures among these high-risk women, who were living in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities during the study. The research was published online April 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Mortality Up With Spontaneous Bleeding After PCI
MONDAY, April 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), spontaneous bleeding is associated with increased risk of death, comparable to that associated with myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Medical Debt Burden Higher in Texas, Florida
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Significantly more adults in Florida and Texas struggle to pay medical bills or pay off medical debt over time compared with residents of New York and California, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report released Friday.
Many Doctors Haven’t Started Dealing With ICD-10 Revision
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most physicians have barely begun to deal with issues relating to documentation associated with the transition to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), according to an article published in Medical Economics.
ACEi/ARB Use Lowers Incidence of Appropriate ICD Shock
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with cardiomyopathy, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) is associated with significantly lower incidence of appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) shocks, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Art Program Hones Med Students’ Visual Observation Skills
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An innovative interdisciplinary program, Art Rounds, is effective for improving medical and nursing students’ physical observation skills, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Nursing Education.
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Almost One in 10 Readmitted After Carotid Revascularization
FRIDAY, April 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Almost one in 10 Medicare patients undergoing carotid revascularization are readmitted within 30 days, according to a study published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Pharmacists Raise Concerns for Patient Access to Generic Drugs
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly all pharmacists have experienced upswings in the acquisition costs of generic drugs, with price spikes reported to be worse since 2013, according to a report published by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).
Higher Risk of Heart Disease Seen With Shorter Stature
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Short people may be more likely to have coronary artery disease (CAD), and that increased risk could be linked to the genetics that also determine height, new research suggests. The study was published online April 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Older Blood May Be an Option for Cardiac Surgery Patients
THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing cardiac surgery, using transfused red blood cells stored for 21 days or more is as good as using blood cells stored for 10 days or less, according to research findings reported in the April 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Additional Attention to Modifiable Risks in DM Could Benefit Greatly
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For adults with diabetes, inadequately controlled risk factors account for a considerable proportion of cardiovascular events and death, according to a study published online in Diabetes Care.
Limited Time Available to Review Sunshine Act Data
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians have only 45 days to review and dispute reports regarding their financial ties to drug and medical device manufacturers reported under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Model Predicts Cardiac Death After Life Support Withdrawal
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new model accurately identifies potential organ donors following cardiac death in neurocritical patients removed from life support. The findings were published online March 21 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
One Extra Stroke Risk Factor Ups Risk in Nonvalvular A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The presence of one additional stroke risk factor is associated with a significant increase in event rates among nonanticoagulated low-risk patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (CHA2DS2-VASc = 0 [male], 1 [female]), according to a study published in the April 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Risk of Cardiac Arrest During Sports Low for Fit Middle-Aged
TUESDAY, April 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physically active middle-aged men and women have little chance of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while participating in sports, according to a new study published online April 6 in Circulation.
Med Students, Residents Rarely Perform Stethoscope Hygiene
TUESDAY, April 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Stethoscope hygiene is rarely performed by trainee physicians, according to a research letter published online April 2 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Two Commercial Weight Loss Plans Come Out on Top
TUESDAY, April 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Only two out of 32 major commercial weight-loss programs marketed nationwide — Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig — can boast scientific evidence showing their clients maintain weight loss for at least a year, according to a new study published in the April 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Targeted Body Temp Mgmt Post Cardiac Arrest May Benefit Brain
MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Targeted body temperature management after cardiac arrest might help prevent or lessen brain damage, according to a study published online April 6 in JAMA Neurology.
Lower Extremity Revascularization in Elderly Found Lacking
MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Lower extremity revascularization in frail nursing home residents rarely improves their ambulatory status, according to a study published online April 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Youth Guidelines Would Significantly Up Statin Rates
MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — If all physicians followed new cholesterol guidelines aimed at children, almost half a million Americans aged 17 to 21 would be prescribed a statin, new research predicts. The study was published online April 6 in JAMA Pediatrics.
More Vigorous Physical Activity May Offer More Benefits
MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Middle-aged or older people who get at least some high-intensity exercise may reduce their chances of dying early by up to 13 percent, according to a new study. The findings were published online April 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Article Highlights Legal Issues Linked to Physician Extenders
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The use of physician extenders (PEs; mainly physician assistants and nurse practitioners) may bring added legal risks to a practice, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Sodium Content Too High in Over Half of Packaged Foods
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More than half of packaged grocery store foods included in a new study contained too much added salt, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. The report was published April 2 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.
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Contemporary PCI Outcome Predictors Defined
FRIDAY, April 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), predictors of outcome include previous anemia, previous chronic kidney injury, and previous moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Cardiovascular Disease Deaths Increasing Worldwide
THURSDAY, April 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Despite medical advances, new research indicates that more people are dying of heart disease and stroke worldwide than did a quarter century ago because the global population is growing, and growing older. The study is published in the April 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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ER Visits for Ischemic Stroke, TIA Down Over Past Decade
TUESDAY, March 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fewer people are being treated in U.S. emergency departments for ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, which experts read as a sign that current stroke prevention methods are working. Such visits declined 35 percent for adults 18 and older, and 51 percent for those 55 to 74, according to a March data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Patients May Be Modifying Meds Due to Trouble Swallowing
THURSDAY, April 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some patients experience difficulties swallowing and modify medication dosage forms, without necessarily consulting health professionals, according to research published in the March issue of the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Legal Issues of Removing Patient From Practice Explored
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The legal and ethical responsibilities of removing a patient from practice are discussed in an article published March 16 in Medical Economics.
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New Guidelines Issued for BP Mgmt in Coronary Artery Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Three leading groups of heart experts have issued updated guidelines that set blood pressure goals for people with coronary artery disease. The updated guidelines, from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Society of Hypertension, were published online March 31 in Hypertension.
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Amiodarone Linked to Lowest Risk of Hospitalization in A-Fib
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For younger patients with atrial fibrillation, amiodarone is associated with the lowest risk of atrial fibrillation hospitalization, while dronedarone has the greatest risk, according to a study published online March 31 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
FDA Approves New Miniature Blood Pump System
TUESDAY, March 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Impella 2.5 System has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to maintain stable heart function and blood circulation during high-risk cardiac operations, the agency said in a news release.
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