Cardiology

All-cause mortality was 80% lower among subjects who maintained normal weight, ate moderately, exercised, and did not smoke compared with those who followed none of these habits.

Oral apixaban for acute VTE was superior to enoxaparin followed by warfarin.

Novel anticoagulants have a half life much shorter than warfarin and so adherence and medication error are significant issues.

Oral anticoagulation with rivaroxaban must continue while initiating a switch to warfarin. Duration of overlap will be variable.

The “infectious” hypothesis of atherosclerosis (including bacterial and viral etiologies) may have new support.

New oral anticoagulants require careful initiation and follow-up. A new guide is offered by the European Heart Rhythm Association.

HAS-BLED, HEMORRHAGES, OBRI: Risk calculators to assess potential for bleeding in AF patients before anticoagulation.

Periprocedural dabigatran increases the risk of bleeding and thromboembolic complications compared with warfarin during radiofrequency ablation of AF.

Among the NSAIDs used for relieving the pain of inflammatory arthritis, naproxen may have the best benefit to risk ratio on cardiovascular disease.

Among many considerations when ordering or interpreting a stress test are the limitations and adequacy of the stress modality (exercise, vasodilator, ionotrope) as well as the imaging modality used. Here, top-line reminders for primary care practice.

Aldosterone antagonists, eg, eplerenone, decrease adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF and AF.

Colesevelam helps reduce serum glucose levels and also lowers LDL-C in patients with type 2 diabetes. Bromocriptine reduces the relative risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Metformin and the class of sulfonylureas are the "work horses" of therapy for type 2 diabetes. Metformin even confers some protection from vascular complications. But, how do they stack up against newer agents? Here, a closer look.

Every-other-day dosing, especially of statins with longer half-lives is shown to preserve lipid-lowering benefits.

CD4+ count and viral load were complementary and were independently associated with increased incidence of AF.

Recommendations consider the whole patient, the spectrum of risks and complications for the patient, and evidence-based approaches to treatment.

Lp(a) is an LDL-like particle that exists in plasma in the VLDL range; its density lies between that of LDL and HDL. Lp(a) increases CV risk.

The ankle-brachial index is a noninvasive screening tool that can improve cardiovascular event risk stratification.

Patients who stop taking statins when rechallenged 1 year later are able to resume the same or a different statin with durable results.

Interruption of anticoagulation with rivaroxaban or warfarin should be bridged with an agent such as low-molecular weight heparin.

Could the left atrial appendage closure device, known as the Watchman, become an alternative to oral anticoagulation for select patients? Here, more on the 2 trials that have introduced the possibility.

Cardiovascular diseases here are patent foramen ovale, interatrial septal aneurysm, myocarditis, aoritis, internal carotid artery dissection, heart-hand syndrome.

Diabetic myonecrosis; Persistent bacterial bronchitis; basal cell carcinoma; statin-drug pleiotropy; spinal epidural abscess

High-potency statin therapy may increase risk of new onset diabetes but also reduces cardiovascular events.

Elevated levels of the biomarker C-reactive protein in patients with HIV infection increased the risk of MI approximately 2-fold.

This condition is a more important risk factor than previously thought and should not be taken lightly.

Some calcium is good for the heart, but too much--through diet or a combination of diet and supplements--can increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

Goals for HbA1C, blood pressure, and LDL-C among diabetes patients are being met by more, according to the NIH.

Patients with documented atrial fibrillation given intensive yoga instruction had a reduction in symptomatic and asymptomatic AF episodes.

It has been predicted that costs for cardiovascular disease will increase to more than $1 trillion dollars annually in the US by 2030. If statins are effective in preventing heart disease, why are costs still rising?