Cardiology (all articles)
Therapeutic Patient Education Interventions to Promote Cardiovascular Patient Self-Management
20 Jun, 2017 | 12:47h | UTCNews Release: Healthcare providers should individualize patient education (free)
AHA statement: Doctors’ orders should include tailored health education for patients (free)
Commentary: Sharpening the Focus on Therapeutic Patient Education and Self-management (free)
Top Ten Things to Know: Evidence for Therapeutic Patient Education Interventions to Promote Cardiovascular Patient Self-Management (free PDF)
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy may cause lasting damage
20 Jun, 2017 | 12:28h | UTCAlterations in Cardiac Deformation, Timing of Contraction and Relaxation, and Early Myocardial Fibrosis Accompany the Apparent Recovery of Acute Stress-Induced (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy: An End to the Concept of Transience – Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Broken heart syndrome may have lasting damage, say researchers – BBC Health News (free) AND Broken heart syndrome may cause permanent damage – News Medical (free) AND ‘Octopus pot’ syndrome: why a broken heart can be as bad as cardiac arrest – The Guardian (free)
Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association
19 Jun, 2017 | 13:00h | UTCDietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association (free PDF)
Invited Commentary: Trimming the Fat on Diet Recommendations for a Healthy Heart: Emphasis on Eating Patterns over Dietary Restrictions (free)
Top Ten Things to Know: Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory from the American Heart Association (free PDF)
AHA News: Advisory: Replacing saturated fat with healthier fat could lower cardiovascular risks (free)
News release: Replacing saturated fat with healthier fat may lower cholesterol as well as drugs in context of a healthy diet (free)
AHA no longer recommends decreasing total fat, but to replace saturated fats with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats. “Replacing saturated fat with healthier fat in the diet lowers cardiovascular disease risk as much as cholesterol-lowering statin drugs”
Evolocumab for Treatment of High Cholesterol: Clinical Effectiveness
19 Jun, 2017 | 12:55h | UTCEvolocumab for Treatment of High Cholesterol: Clinical Effectiveness (free PDF) (RT @AnilMakam see Tweet 1, Tweet 2, Tweet 3 and Tweet 4)
News release: Institute for Clinical and Economic Review’s “New Evidence Update” on PCKS9 Inhibitors Highlights Lack of Mortality Benefit With Evolocumab (free)
Lack of mortality benefit in a recent large trial is highlighted in this updated review. Se more on the FOURIER trial and commentaries in our March 20th issue, see #2.
Pathophysiology of Takotsubo Syndrome
16 Jun, 2017 | 00:57h | UTCReview: Pathophysiology of Takotsubo Syndrome – Circulation (free)
Age-specific risks, severity, time course, and outcome of bleeding on long-term antiplatelet treatment after vascular events
15 Jun, 2017 | 00:47h | UTCInvited commentary: Preventing major gastrointestinal bleeding in elderly patients (free)
Commentaries: Aspirin Bleeding Risk in Over 75s Higher Than Thought – Medscape (free registration required) AND Aspirin linked to higher risk of serious bleeding in the elderly – Reuters Health News (free)
In this cohort, the risk of major bleeding increased sharply in patients above 75 years.
Non–Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Dosing in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Renal Dysfunction
15 Jun, 2017 | 00:50h | UTCNon–Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Dosing in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Renal Dysfunction – Journal of The American College of Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: NOAC Doses: Just Stick to the Label – MedPage Today (free registration required)
“Among the 1,473 patients with a renal indication for dose reduction, 43.0% were potentially overdosed, which was associated with a higher risk of major bleeding”
Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Events in Type 2 Diabetes
14 Jun, 2017 | 00:43h | UTCCommentary: CANVAS: Canagliflozin Reduces CV Events, but at Cost of Amputations – Medscape (free registration required)
Patients treated with canagliflozin had a lower risk of cardiovascular events than those who received placebo but a greater risk of amputation and fractures. The benefits and harms were likely small. See interesting commentaries on the trade-offs by @AnilMakam, see Tweet 1; Tweet 2; Tweet 3; Tweet 4; Tweet 5; Tweet 6; Tweet 7; Tweet 8; and Tweet 9.
A Test in Context: Fractional Flow Reserve: Accuracy, Prognostic Implications, and Limitations
14 Jun, 2017 | 00:37h | UTCA Test in Context: Fractional Flow Reserve: Accuracy, Prognostic Implications, and Limitations – Journal of The American College of Cardiology(link to abstract – $ for full-text)
10 key points to remember: FFR: Accuracy, Prognostic Implications, and Limitations – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free)
Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension
13 Jun, 2017 | 20:03h | UTC
Lower Risk of Heart Failure and Death in Patients Initiated on SGLT-2 Inhibitors?
12 Jun, 2017 | 19:52h | UTCCommentaries: Risk of HF and Death in Patients on SGLT-2 Inhibitors – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free) AND SGLT2 inhibitors may have class effect for reduction of cardiac risk – ACP Diabetes Monthly (free)
Observational data suggests these class of drugs may be associated with lower risk of heart failure and deaths compared to other drugs.
Serum uric acid levels and multiple health outcomes
8 Jun, 2017 | 15:57h | UTCObservational studies suggest that high serum uric acid levels are associated with multiple health outcomes, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This review findings suggest there is a clear association only for gout and nephrolithiasis.
Pharmacologic Management of Newly Detected Atrial Fibrillation
7 Jun, 2017 | 15:25h | UTCKey Recommendations: Pharmacologic Management of Newly Detected Atrial Fibrillation (free)
Thirty-Year Mortality After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
7 Jun, 2017 | 15:05h | UTCThirty-Year Mortality After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Danish Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study – Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Many good years after heart bypass surgery, but something happens after ten years – Aarhus University, via Science Daily (free)
“For patients who make it through the first month after the operation is close to that of the population in general. But 8-10 years after a heart bypass operation, mortality increases by 60-80 per cent” (from Science Daily)
Home blood pressure monitors inaccurate 70 percent of the time?
7 Jun, 2017 | 15:02h | UTCCommentaries: Home blood pressure monitors inaccurate 70 percent of the time, study finds – MedicalXpress (free) AND Home blood pressure monitors may not be accurate enough – Reuters Health (free)
Small study (85 patients) suggests many of the devices are too inaccurate to be useful.
Tricuspid Valve Dysfunction After Pacemaker or ICD Implant
6 Jun, 2017 | 14:57h | UTCKey points to remember from a recent review of tricuspid valve dysfunction following pacemaker (PPM) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement (link to original abstract – $ for full-text)
Carotid Artery Stenting Versus Endarterectomy for Stroke Prevention
5 Jun, 2017 | 14:41h | UTCCarotid Artery Stenting Versus Endarterectomy for Stroke Prevention: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials – Journal of the American College of Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: CAS vs. CEA for Stroke Prevention – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free)
“CAS and CEA were associated with similar rates of a composite of periprocedural death, stroke, MI, or nonperiprocedural ipsilateral stroke. The risk of long-term overall stroke was significantly higher with CAS, and was mostly attributed to periprocedural minor stroke”.
Chocolate intake and risk of clinically apparent atrial fibrillation
4 Jun, 2017 | 19:16h | UTCChocolate intake and risk of clinically apparent atrial fibrillation: the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study – Heart (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Weekly dose of chocolate lowers AFib risk? Oh how we wish it were true – HealthNewsReview (free) AND Chocolate Intake and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free)
Drug-Drug Interactions With Statins and HIV Medications
4 Jun, 2017 | 18:44h | UTC
Systolic Blood Pressure Reduction and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality
1 Jun, 2017 | 18:32h | UTCSystolic Blood Pressure Reduction and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis – JAMA Cardiology (free) (RT @GreenlandRohan see Tweet)
Commentaries: Reducing blood pressure below recommended targets significantly reduces CVD, mortality risk – Clinical Advisor (free registration required) And New Review Supports Aggressive BP Targets – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Ideal blood pressure targets are controversial and recommendations vary across hypertension guidelines. This new meta-analysis suggests the risk of cardiovascular disease would be lowest with a systolic blood pressure between 120-124 mmHg.
NTproBNP – A blood test threshold for diagnosing heart failure in general practice is reviewed
1 Jun, 2017 | 18:26h | UTCA blood test threshold for diagnosing heart failure in general practice is reviewed – NIHR Signal (free)
Original article: Primary care REFerral for EchocaRdiogram (REFER) in heart failure: a diagnostic accuracy study (free)
“Most accurate diagnosis for heart failure in general practice came from using NTproBNP level at a low cut-off of ≥125 pg/ml” (RT @NIHR_DCsee Tweet)
Recommendations for the Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support
31 May, 2017 | 16:37h | UTCSee also: News release (free) AND Top Ten Things to Know (free PDF)
Related: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Adults and Children With Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (free PDF) AND CPR in Patients With Mechanical Circulatory Support – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology(free)
Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of Anticoagulation in Pregnant Women With Mechanical Heart Valves
1 Jun, 2017 | 18:25h | UTCCommentaries: Warfarin OK in Expectant Moms with Mechanical Heart Valve – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Anticoagulation in Pregnant Women With Mechanical Valves – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free) (RT @keaglemd see Tweet)
In this meta-analysis, warfarin was associated with lower risk of adverse maternal outcomes, whereas LMWH was associated with lower risk of adverse fetal outcomes.
Current guidelines on prevention with a focus on dyslipidemias
30 May, 2017 | 15:33h | UTCReview: Current guidelines on prevention with a focus on dyslipidemias – Cardiovascular Diagnosis & Therapy (free)
Review comparing current recommendations for the treatment of dyslipidemia.
Management of pericardial disease
30 May, 2017 | 15:34h | UTCA New Renaissance in Pericardial Diseases – Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases (special issue with series of review articles on the management of pericardial disease).
Source: Hospital Medicine Virtual Journal Club
1 – Introduction: A New Renaissance in Pericardial Diseases (free)
2 – Structure and Anatomy of the Human Pericardium (free)
3 – Pathophysiology of the Pericardium (free)
4 – Acute Pericarditis (free)
5 – Recurrent Pericarditis (free)
6 – Constrictive Pericarditis: A Practical Clinical Approach (free)
7 – Pericardial Effusions: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management (free)
8 – Pericardial Masses, Cysts and Diverticula: A Comprehensive Review Using Multimodality Imaging (free)
9 – Congenital Absence of the Pericardium (free)
10 – Surgical Management of Pericardial Diseases (free)


