Cardiology (all articles)

Randomized Trial: Effects of n−3 Fatty Acid Supplements in Diabetes Mellitus

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:58h | UTC

Effects of n−3 Fatty Acid Supplements in Diabetes Mellitus – New England Journal of Medicine (free for a limited period)

Commentaries: Fish oils do not prevent heart attack or strokes in people with diabetes – ESC News Releases (free) AND Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fail to Reduce CVD Events in Diabetic Patients: ASCEND – TCTMD (free)

Related Cochrane Review: Omega-3 fatty Acids for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (link to abstract and commentaries)

Related Meta-Analysis: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Don’t Reduce Cardiovascular Risk (free study and commentary)

CHEST Guideline: Antithrombotic Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:56h | UTC

Antithrombotic Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report (free PDF)

News Release: The American College of Chest Physicians updates their antithrombotic therapy guidelines for patients with atrial fibrillation (free)

Randomized Trial: High-Sensitivity Troponin in the Evaluation of Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:49h | UTC

High-sensitivity troponin in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome: a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial – The Lancet (free)

Commentaries: Diagnosing myocardial infarction: a highly sensitive issue – The Lancet (free) AND Hs-TnI in Suspected ACS: High-STEACS Trial – American College of Cardiology (free) AND Is High Sensitivity Troponin Too Sensitive? – NEJM Journal Watch (free)

“Introduction of a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I assay reclassified 1 in 6 patients with previously undetected myocardial necrosis, but did not lead to improved clinical outcomes in this large randomised trial” (via @chapdoc1 see Tweet)

“Very important study. What’s weird is that the “better” (more sensitive) troponin assays get, the less helpful the test becomes at the bedside. Look for a coming tsunami of iatrogenesis from overzealous evaluation of troponin bumps.” (via @drjohnm see Tweet)

Guideline: Management of Hypertensive Emergencies

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:45h | UTC

ESC Council on hypertension position document on the management of hypertensive emergencies – European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy (free) (@Abraham_RMI)

“Patients that lack acute hypertension-mediated end organ damage to the heart, retina, brain, kidneys, or large arteries do not have a hypertensive emergency and can be treated with oral BP-lowering agents and usually discharged after a brief period of observation.”

Evidence Review: Optimal Blood Pressure Target in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Hypertensive Patients

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:44h | UTC

Optimal Blood Pressure Target in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Hypertensive Patients – Circulation Research (free)

See counterpoint suggesting lower BP targets: Sprinting Toward the Optimal Blood Pressure Target for Hypertensive Patients – Circulation Research (free)

“We have reviewed the randomized trial evidence in favor of a target blood pressure (BP) around 130/80 mm Hg in hypertensive patients with and without diabetes mellitus”

Randomized Trial: Early vs. Standard Care Invasive Examination and Treatment of Patients with NSTE-ACS

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:29h | UTC

Early Versus Standard Care Invasive Examination and Treatment of Patients with Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: The VERDICT (Very EaRly vs Deferred Invasive evaluation using Computerized Tomography) – Randomized Controlled Trial – Circulation (free PDF)

Editorial: Timing of Intervention in Non ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes: And the VERDICT is? (free PDF)

Commentaries: VERDICT: Very Early Invasive Coronary Angiography vs. Standard Care in NSTE-ACS Patients- American College of Cardiology (free) AND ESC: Early Invasive Strategy in NSTEMI Does Not Improve Outcomes – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND VERDICT: Very Early Invasive Angiography No Help Overall for NSTE ACS – TCTMD (free)

Randomized Trial: Radial vs. Femoral Access in Invasively Managed Patients with ACS

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:27h | UTC

Radial versus femoral access and bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in invasively managed patients with acute coronary syndrome (MATRIX): final 1-year results of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: MATRIX: 1-Year Results Confirm Superiority of Transradial PCI – TCTMD (free) AND Radial vs. Femoral Access for Angiography with or Without Bivalirudin in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome – NEJM Journal Watch (free for a limited period) AND ESC: Radial Access Tied to Better 1-Year Outcomes in ACS – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Study: Imaging of Coronary Inflammation for Cardiovascular Risk Prediction

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:28h | UTC

Non-invasive detection of coronary inflammation using computed tomography and prediction of residual cardiovascular risk (the CRISP CT study): a post-hoc analysis of prospective outcome data – The Lancet (free)

Commentaries: Imaging of coronary inflammation for cardiovascular risk prediction – The Lancet (free) AND New Imaging Biomarker of Coronary Inflammation Shows Prognostic Value Exceeding All Current Noninvasive Measures – Cleveland Clinic (free) AND Imaging biomarker can predict coronary inflammation – UPI (free)

Study: Deep Forehead Wrinkles May Signal a Higher Risk for Cardiovascular Mortality

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:10h | UTC

Deep forehead wrinkles may signal a higher risk for cardiovascular mortality – ESC Press Releases (free)

Commentaries: Forehead wrinkles – an early sign of cardiovascular disease? – Medical News Today (free) AND Excessive forehead wrinkles may be early sign of atherosclerosis – Cardiovascular Business (free)

Cohort Study: Psychological Distress and Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:10h | UTC

Psychological Distress and Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke in the 45 and Up Study: A Prospective Cohort Study – Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes (free)

Commentaries: Distress boosts heart attack and stroke risk – Medical News Today (free) AND High Mental Distress Tied to Heart Troubles – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Randomized Trial: One-Year Outcomes after PCI Strategies in Cardiogenic Shock

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:05h | UTC

One-Year Outcomes after PCI Strategies in Cardiogenic Shock – New England Journal of Medicine (free for a limited period)

Commentaries: Less Is Still More in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock – NEJM Journal Watch (free for a limited period) AND 1-year outcomes still support culprit-only PCI for cardiogenic shock – Cardiovascular Business (free) CULPRIT-SHOCK: 1-Year Results Continue to Support Culprit-Only PCI for Shock Patients – TCTMD (free)

Randomized Trial: Telemedicine in Heart Failure Patients

31 Aug, 2018 | 02:04h | UTC

Efficacy of telemedical interventional management in patients with heart failure (TIM-HF2): a randomised, controlled, parallel-group, unmasked trial – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Telemedicine in Heart Failure Patients (TIM-HF2) – American College of Cardiology (free) AND ESC: Telemonitoring of HF Cuts Admissions, Mortality MedPage Today (free registration required)

Randomized Trial: Cardiovascular Safety of Lorcaserin in Overweight or Obese Patients

31 Aug, 2018 | 01:58h | UTC

Cardiovascular Safety of Lorcaserin in Overweight or Obese Patients – New England Journal of Medicine (free for a limited period)

Editorial: Lorcaserin — Elixir or Liability? (free for a limited period)

Commentaries: CAMELLIA-TIMI 61: Weight Loss Drug Lorcaserin Did Not Increase CV Events – American College of Cardiology (free) AND Weight-Loss Drug Lorcaserin Clears Cardiovascular Safety Hurdle: CAMELLIA-TIMI 61 – TCTMD (free) AND Weight loss drug lorcaserin found safe in large study – Reuters (free)

Cohort Study: No Survival Benefit with Beta-Blockers Beyond 1 Year Post-MI in Stable CAD

31 Aug, 2018 | 01:55h | UTC

CLARIFY: No Survival Benefit With Beta-Blockers Beyond 1 Year Post-MI in Stable CAD – TCTMD (free)

“The problem, said Sorbets, is that there have never been large randomized trials to test the prognostic effects of beta-blockers in this patient group and instead, recommendations have been drawn from meta-analyses using data extracted from the acute MI setting or from observational studies.”

Randomized Trial: Tafamidis Treatment for Patients with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

31 Aug, 2018 | 01:56h | UTC

Tafamidis Treatment for Patients with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy – New England Journal of Medicine (free for a limited period)

Editorial: Stabilizing Transthyretin to Treat ATTR Cardiomyopathy (free for a limited period)

Commentaries: Tafamidis, a Transthyretin Stabilizer, Offers Hope for Rare Cardiomyopathy – TCTMD (free) AND ATTR-ACT: Tafamidis Findings Offer Hope For Patients With ATTR-CM – American College of Cardiology (free) AND Drug reduces deaths and hospitalizations from underdiagnosed form of heart failure – Columbia University Irving Medical Center, via EurekAlert (free)

Study: Coronary CT Angiography and 5-Year Risk of Myocardial Infarction

31 Aug, 2018 | 01:55h | UTC

Coronary CT Angiography and 5-Year Risk of Myocardial Infarction – New England Journal of Medicine (free for a limited period)

Commentary: Five Reasons I Don’t Believe an Imaging Test Improves Outcomes – by Dr. John Mandrola, in Medscape (free registration required)

See also an interesting Tweetorial by @AnilMakam, also suggesting caution before adopting this study results in clinical practice.

Study: Association of Cardiovascular Health Level in Older Age With Cognitive Decline and Incident Dementia

23 Aug, 2018 | 23:45h | UTC

Association of Cardiovascular Health Level in Older Age With Cognitive Decline and Incident Dementia – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Study confirms that keeping the heart healthy also reduces dementia risk – NHS Choices (free) AND The Healthier Your Heart, the Healthier Your Brain May Be – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) AND Cardiovascular Risk Factors Also Linked to Dementia – MedicalResearch.com (free)

Commentaries: ‘Bad’ cholesterol can be deadly in otherwise healthy people – AHA News (free) AND LDL >160 Tied to Increased Mortality in Low-Risk Patients – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Study: Elevated LDL, non-HDL increase CVD mortality risk in young, healthy individuals – Cardiovascular Business (free) AND Moderate ‘bad cholesterol’ levels tied to early death for healthy people – Reuters (free)

AHA Guideline: Chagas Cardiomyopathy

23 Aug, 2018 | 23:20h | UTC

Chagas Cardiomyopathy: An Update of Current Clinical Knowledge and Management: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association – Circulation (free PDF)

AHA News Release: Chagas disease, caused by a parasite, has spread outside of Latin America and carries a high risk of heart disease (free)

Top Ten Things to Know: Chagas Cardiomyopathy: An Update of Current Clinical Knowledge and Management (free PDF)

Study: Clinical Chemistry Score to Identify Patients at Low or High Risk for Myocardial Infarction or Death

23 Aug, 2018 | 22:36h | UTC

Clinical chemistry score versus high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and T tests alone to identify patients at low or high risk for myocardial infarction or death at presentation to the emergency department – Canadian Medical Association Journal (free)

Commentaries: Simple score to diagnose heart attacks is safer, faster than current methods – McMaster University (free) AND Clinical Chemistry Score Helps Rule Out Diagnosis of Heart Attack – MedicalResearch.com (free)

Report: E-Cigarettes

23 Aug, 2018 | 22:33h | UTC

Report: E-Cigarettes – House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (free PDF)

Commentaries: Stop treating e-cigs like conventional cigarettes, MPs tell NHS – OnMedica (free) AND E-cigarettes can be key weapon against smoking, say MPs – BBC (free)

Study: Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Myocardial Infarction

23 Aug, 2018 | 22:35h | UTC

Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Myocardial Infarction – American Journal of Preventive Medicine (free for a limited period)

Commentary: Risk of heart attacks is double for daily e-cigarette users – University of California – San Francisco, via ScienceDaily (free)

“New analysis shows five-fold risk for people who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes daily” (from ScienceDaily)

Review: Airway and Ventilation Management During CPR and After Successful Resuscitation

23 Aug, 2018 | 22:27h | UTC

Airway and ventilation management during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and after successful resuscitation – Critical Care (free)