Payal Kohli, MD, FACC

Four updates to the guidelines are important for primary care physicians to review.

A wide-ranging meta-alaysis found that brief, intense outbursts of anger triggered onset of acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, and dangerous ventricular arrhythmias.

The authors investigated changes in specific proinflammatory genes associated with neutrophil activation in patients with known coronary artery disease or with significant risk factors.

In clinical scenarios where warfarin is still the drug of choice for anticoagulation, it is still a challenge to achieve optimal time in therapeutic range. Is there promise in a new dosing paradigm?

Results of a new study suggest that number of LAA lobes may one day be useful as an element of the CHADS2 scoring system for embolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Comprising 15,400 patients from 46 countries, the RE-LY AF registry offers a notable opportunity to study variations in presentation of atrial fibrillation and its risk factors.

At-hand reminders to check blood sugar or refill a prescription may be just what the doctor needs to order.

Overnight continuous positive airway pressure is still the gold standard treatment for OSA; but for those who cannot use CPAP, this effective new technology may be an option.

In dialysis patients, anticoagulation for AF may be cause for clinical equipoise, regardless of bleeding risk score. New research, reported here, may begin to shift the balance.

A new systematic review and meta-analysis of existing data supports what we've been telling patients for years: an apple (or 2) a day is certainly better than no apple at all.

Just when the health benefits of green tea seemed entrenched in mainstream thought, a study prompts caution for green-tea drinkers with hypertension. Details, here.

A new study reveals the extent to which milk-processing procedures lower the drink's level of naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids. More, here.

An observational study of patients with atrial fibrillation suggests that routine screening for depression at office visits may help augment treatment.

Warning: The maximum daily dose of a single dispersible medication may itself contain more sodium than is recommended from all sources in a day.

Risk factor control is essential to reduce the symptom burden and severity of atrial fibrillation. A new study finds that weight loss is a highly effective tool in an overall mitigation strategy.

A new study finds a lower incidence of AF in non-White races even though these groups have a higher risk of comorbidites that predispose to AF.

Nuts have long been associated with health benefits, including protection against coronary disease. Now, it seems, nuts might also help postpone death.

The revised guidelines relax some BP targets, incorporate daytime ambulatory and nocturnal BP measures, and recommend that the decision to treat be based on a patient's overall cardiovascular health.

Many years in the making, the revised guidelines on preventing elevated blood cholesterol depart in significant ways from the last version of the NHLBI's ATP III. Here, the top 3 differences primary care physicians will want to know more about.

Andexanet alfa is a recombinant factor Xa molecule that binds to and sequesters factor Xa inhibitors in the blood, making them unavailable to bind to native factor Xa.

In new-onset atrial fibrillation there is good evidence for obtaining a troponin T level. High levels are associated with highest rates of stroke, embolism, and cardiac mortality.

Dabigatran was shown in post-hoc analysis of the RE-LY trial to be associated with an increased risk of MI compared with warfarin.

Rivaroxaban when used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation who have had a previous MI is associated with higher risk for adverse events.

Whether to prescribe an antiplatelet or antithrombotic agent for a patient who has AF but is otherwise healthy can be a difficult decision.

Cardioversion for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation must include pre- and post-procedure anticoagulation to avoid thromboembolic risk.

Only one agent can be used for anticoagulation in individuals with mechanical valves.

Nearly three-quarters of patients who are initially "statin-intolerant" are able to re-start therapy on a graduated-dosing schedule and continue on an intermittent dosing regimen.

Vitamin D supplementation in the VitDISH study did not improve isolated systolic hypertension in elderly patients who were deficient.

Electronic cigarettes may be the next big thing in helping smokers who want to quit. But, they may also be a new "gateway" product for youngsters who have yet to pick up. More, here.