Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for April 2008. 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.
Inflammation, Albuminuria Predict Heart Failure
WEDNESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Markers of inflammation and albuminuria serve as predictors of congestive heart failure, and the association between obesity and the condition may be related to inflammation, according to research published in the May 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Factors Affect Quality of Dual-Source Computed Tomography
WEDNESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Heart rate variability and calcification, but not heart rate, have significant effects on image quality in patients undergoing dual-source computed tomography for known or suspected coronary artery disease, researchers report in the May issue of Radiology.
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Doctors Overestimate Ability to Make Right Diagnosis
WEDNESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians have a tendency to underappreciate the scope to make wrong diagnoses and are overconfident in their diagnostic decisions, according to an article published in a supplement to the May issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
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Treating Hypertension Doesn't Halt Chronic Kidney Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic kidney disease in hypertensive black patients will still continue to progress when treated with antihypertensive and renin-angiotensin system-blocking therapy, according to research published in the April 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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FDA Clears Coronary Plaque Imaging Device
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it has cleared for marketing a device that physicians can use during cardiac angiography to assess the fat content of atherosclerotic plaques on coronary arteries.
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Blood Substitutes May Raise Risk of Heart Attack, Death
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Using hemoglobin-based blood substitutes increases the risk of death by 30 percent and the risk of myocardial infarction by 2.7 times, according to a report published online April 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Receptors Increase in Brain of Mouse Stroke Model
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- The expression of mineralocorticoid receptors increases in the brain in a mouse model of non-fatal stroke, and a drug that blocks the receptor is neuroprotective, according to study findings published online April 24 in Endocrinology.
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Physicians Lack Feedback on Accuracy of Diagnoses
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Clinical diagnosis is a largely open-loop system in which there is no systematic way for clinicians to obtain feedback on the outcome of their diagnoses, according to an article published in a supplement to the May issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Shown to Help Aging Rats
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Treating aging male rats with low doses of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is associated with increased testosterone levels, improved glucose and lipid metabolism, and reduced oxidative damage in the brain and liver, according to a report published in the May issue of Endocrinology.
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Fluvastatin Cuts Occurrence of Coronary Spasm
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Adding daily fluvastatin to conventional calcium-channel blocker therapy to treat coronary spasm reduced the occurrence of spasm compared to using conventional therapy only, according to research published in the May 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Secondhand Smoke's Cellular Effects Measured
TUESDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to secondhand smoke, at levels often found in the smoking areas of bars and restaurants, leads to acute vascular injury and an increased level of circulating dysfunctional endothelial progenitor cells, researchers report in the May 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Alendronate May Raise Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
MONDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Alendronate may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, according to an article published in the April 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Palliative Care Can Improve Patient Care Most, Poll Finds
MONDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- In an international poll conducted by BMJ to determine which area of health care would enable doctors to make the greatest difference to patients, palliative care for non-malignant disease received the most votes, the BMJ Group announced at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care in Paris this week.
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Changes in Use of Diagnostic Procedures for Heart Attack
MONDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction since 1987, mortality rates and the use of some diagnostic procedures have changed with time and differ based on gender and race, according to study findings published in the May issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Drug Prevents Restenosis in Coronary Syndromes
MONDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Abciximab modestly prevents restenosis compared with placebo in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, researchers report in the May issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Blood Pressure Predicts Survival for Coronary Patients
MONDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Diastolic blood pressure is an independent predictor of long-term survival after hospital discharge in patients with acute coronary syndromes, researchers report in the May issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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FDA Approves Drug for Opioid-Induced Constipation
FRIDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that it has approved Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) to help restore bowel function in patients with late-stage, advanced illness requiring chronic opioids for pain control.
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Gene Variants Linked to C-Reactive Protein Levels
FRIDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Variants of the HNF1A gene encoding hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-alpha are strongly associated with plasma C-reactive protein levels, according to two studies published online April 24 in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
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Aspects of Coronary Syndromes in India Studied
FRIDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- In India, patients who present with acute coronary syndromes have a higher rate of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) than patients in developed countries. In addition, patients with lower socioeconomic status are less likely to receive evidence-based treatments and have a higher 30-day mortality rate, according to a study published in the April 26 issue of The Lancet.
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Inequitable Access to Early Angiography Affects Outcome
FRIDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Although early access to coronary angiography for patients presenting with suspected angina reduces the risk of coronary events, it is underused in older people, women, South Asians and people from socially deprived areas, according to a study published online April 24 in the BMJ.
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Stem Cell Work Offers Insight Into Heart's Origins
FRIDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiovascular progenitors that show cardiac, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle potential during in vitro and in vivo experiments shed light on the earliest stages of human cardiac development, according to research published in the April 24 issue of Nature.
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Heparin Contaminant Activates Contact System
THURSDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- The serious allergic-type reactions recently reported in patients receiving intravenous heparin appear to be due to the presence of a contaminant, oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, which leads to activation of the contact system and release of vasoactive mediators, according to an article first published online April 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Drug Reduces Biomarkers in Coronary Heart Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Darapladib reduces lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity and other inflammatory markers in patients with coronary heart disease who are receiving statins, according to a study in the April 29 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. A related study found that statins have variable effects on oxidative stress markers in patients with high cholesterol.
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Statistics Reveal Mortality Inequalities Between Counties
WEDNESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- An investigation into trends of mortality and mortality disparities in the United States, focused on the county level, found that mortality inequality across counties rose between 1983 and 1999, according to research published in the April issue of PLoS Medicine.
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GRK5 Polymorphism Protects Against Death in Heart Failure
WEDNESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- A polymorphism in GRK5 (G protein-coupled receptor kinase) creates a type of genetic β-blockade that lowers β-adrenergic receptor signaling and offers protection against early death in black individuals with heart failure, according to research published April 20 in Nature Medicine.
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Link Between Obesity and Renal Dysfunction Explored
WEDNESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that adiponectin may protect the kidney against oxidant stress, and the lower levels of adiponectin seen in obese individuals may predispose them to kidney dysfunction and the development of albuminuria, according to an article published online April 22 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
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Since Medicare Part D, Seniors Less Likely to Skip Meds
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- While the Medicare Part D drug program appears to have had some success in reducing the financial burden of medications for seniors, many report confusion over their benefits and persistent financial difficulties, according to two articles published in the April 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Everolimus Stent Superior to Paclitaxel Stent
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- An everolimus-eluting stent has a lower late loss than a paclitaxel-eluting stent as well as a similar target vessel failure rate and fewer major adverse cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease, according to a study in the April 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Bivalirudin Improves Cardiac Outcomes for Diabetics
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes have higher rates of adverse clinical outcomes than non-diabetics, and treatment with bivalirudin results in a lower rate of adverse outcomes than treatment with heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition, according to a study in the April 29 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Insulin Resistance Differs Among Teenage Boys and Girls
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Insulin resistance develops differently in boys and girls as they transition from late childhood through adolescence, according to a study published online April 21 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Heart Screening Needed in Kids With Attention Deficit
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder should undergo cardiovascular screening prior to being started on stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall, according to an American Heart Association Scientific Statement published online April 21 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Black Individuals Receive Good Care for Heart Failure
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Black individuals hospitalized for heart failure have similar or better quality of care and outcomes than nonblacks, according to a study in the April 29 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Admission Time Does Not Affect Outcome of Heart Attack
TUESDAY, April 22 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who are hospitalized in off-hours after acute myocardial infarction do not have a higher risk of mortality than those who are admitted during regular hours despite the fact that they experience significantly longer door-to-balloon times and are less likely to undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention, according to a study published online April 21 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Heart Bypass Surgery Getting Safer Despite Drop in Cases
MONDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- The number of coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries being performed is declining, but mortality rates from the procedure continue to improve, particularly in hospitals with lower procedural volume, according to an article published in Archives of Surgery in April.
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Adiponectin Linked to Left Ventricular Dysfunction
MONDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- High serum levels of adiponectin -- a protein hormone exclusively secreted by fat cells -- may independently predict moderate to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients who have been referred for coronary angiography, according to a study published in the April 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Cesarean is Independent Risk Factor for Postpartum Stroke
MONDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) --
Women who undergo cesarean delivery have a higher risk of postpartum stroke than those who deliver vaginally, according to research published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Merits of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Debated
FRIDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- The recent decision by the United Kingdom's Department of Health to establish programs to screen all men aged 65 for abdominal aortic aneurysm within 10 years is based on data showing that screening reduces mortality, but some feel that screening may cause more harm than good. This controversy is covered in a Head to Head article published in the April 19 issue of BMJ.
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Better Outcomes Using 'Box' Lesion for Atrial Fibrillation
FRIDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Connecting the pulmonary veins by two lesions (the "box" lesion) rather than one to isolate the posterior left atrium in patients undergoing the Cox maze procedure for atrial fibrillation is associated with less early atrial tachyarrhythmias, less recurrence of atrial fibrillation and lower use of anti-arrhythmic drugs, according to a report in the April issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
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Two Methods Equal for Pulmonary Embolism Exclusion
FRIDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with suspected pulmonary embolism, D-dimer measurement and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is as effective as D-dimer measurement, venous compression ultrasonography of the leg and MSCT for exclusion of pulmonary embolism, researchers report in the April 19 issue of The Lancet.
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No Benefit to Self-Monitoring Glucose in Early Diabetes
FRIDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Self-monitoring of blood glucose in individuals with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes is associated with higher costs, worsened quality of life and little or no improvement in glycemic control, according to two articles published online April 17 in BMJ.
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Anemia Predicts Cardiac Events After Vascular Surgery
THURSDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- In patients who undergo elective vascular surgery, preoperative anemia is a significant predictor of perioperative and long-term cardiac events, researchers report in the April 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Diabetic Retinopathy a Risk Factor for Heart Failure
THURSDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetic retinopathy is an independent risk factor for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a report published in the April 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Combo Treatment Improves Lipid Profile in Hyperlipidemia
WEDNESDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- A combination of ezetimibe, simvastatin and extended-release niacin is more effective than the individual agents in improving the lipid profile of patients with hyperlipidemia, researchers report in the April 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Novel Stent Has High Revascularization Rates
WEDNESDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- A drug-eluting stent containing a novel bioresorbable polymer has similar rates of death and myocardial infarction as an otherwise similar stent in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, but much higher rates of target vessel revascularization, researchers report in the April 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Vioxx Court Documents Show Minimized Mortality Risk
TUESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Court documents related to Vioxx (rofecoxib) litigation and published clinical trials have shown that Merck minimized mortality risk and often recruited academically affiliated investigators as first authors even though the manuscripts were written by Merck employees, according to two studies published in the April 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Domestic Generic Drugs More Cost Effective Than Imports
TUESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- The most cost-effective way for U.S. consumers to obtain prescription drugs is not from international markets, but by appropriate purchase of domestic generic drugs, posits an article published in the April 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Plant Sterol Esters May Cause Harm As Well As Good
TUESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Plant sterol esters, used in foods such as margarine to reduce cholesterol, increase sterol concentrations in humans and may have a negative health impact, according to research published in the April 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Higher Pulse Pressure Linked to Lower Headache Risk
TUESDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- A study investigating the association between blood pressure and headache reports that a high pulse pressure appears to protect against both migraine and non-migraine headaches. The research is published in the April 15 issue of Neurology.
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Statins Reduce Blood Pressure in Normotensive Subjects
MONDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Statins modestly reduce blood pressure in men and women with normal blood pressure, according to a report in the April 14 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. A related study in the same issue notes that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, low in dairy products, and low in animal proteins is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in women.
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Loop Diuretics Linked to Bone Loss in Older Men
MONDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Loop diuretics may lead to accelerated hip bone loss in older men, researchers report in the April 14 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Glitazones Not Superior to Older Diabetes Drugs
MONDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- There is no convincing evidence that glitazones are superior as a monotherapy compared to older type 2 diabetes treatments, according to a review published in the April issue of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.
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Exercise Helps Elders Maintain Independence
FRIDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly people who stick to a regimen of regular aerobic exercise are more likely to retain functional independence and can reduce their biological age by 10 years or more, according to study results published online April 10 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Hyperthyroidism in Mice Linked to Lower HDL Cholesterol
FRIDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- Severe hyperthyroidism is associated with a 40 percent drop in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in mice, according to study findings published online April 3 in Endocrinology.
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Individualized Health Care Budgets Improve Care
FRIDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- The U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) should allow patients individual control of their health care budgets, an approach that has been shown in pilot studies to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction in a cost-effective manner, according to an analysis published April 12 in BMJ.
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Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral Does Not Boost Enrollment
FRIDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- Use of the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-based clinical pathway at one medical center resulted in a significantly higher referral rate to cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction than has been previously reported. But only about one in three referred patients enrolled in a rehabilitation program, and minority patients were especially unlikely to enroll, according to a report published in the April 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Maternal Smoking Linked to Congenital Heart Defects
THURSDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Women who smoke in the month before they become pregnant or at any time up to the end of the first trimester are more likely than their non-smoking counterparts to give birth to a baby with congenital heart defects, according to the results of a study funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the April issue of Pediatrics.
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Heart Function Unimproved After Stem Cell Stimulation
THURSDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Stem cell mobilization by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is no better than placebo at improving heart function after a heart attack, according to a pooled analysis in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Intake of Eggs Has No Impact on Cardiovascular Risk
THURSDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Although eggs are a significant source of dietary cholesterol, altering intake of eggs does not seem to have any impact on the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the results of a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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Consider Health Literacy Level When Writing for Patients
THURSDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Giving patients clearly written educational materials that convey key messages without resorting to jargon is an important part of engaging patient compliance with treatment and can contribute to health literacy, according to an article published in the April issue of Chest.
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Genetic Links to Childhood Heart Hypertrophy Uncovered
WEDNESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Gene mutations may underlie half of all cases of sporadic childhood-onset idiopathic cardiac hypertrophy, and two-thirds of cases in which there is a positive family history, according to study findings published online April 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Carotid Stenosis Treatments Similar in High-Risk Patients
WEDNESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Carotid artery stenting with an emboli-protection device and carotid endarterectomy result in similar three-year outcomes in high-risk patients with carotid artery stenosis, according to research published April 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Doctors Vote on the Ways to Make Biggest Difference
WEDNESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- The BMJ has begun accepting votes on which areas of health care allow doctors to make the biggest difference to patient care, with a shortlist of six areas each being championed by eminent doctors and researchers. The winning topic will gain special coverage in the BMJ and the BMJ Group's 24 other specialist journals and online education products.
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Lower Lipid and Blood Pressure Goals May Help Heart
TUESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and systolic blood pressure beyond traditional targets resulted in regression of atherosclerosis in individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the April 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Childhood Abuse May Raise Adult Inflammation Levels
TUESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Depressed adults with a history of maltreatment in childhood tend to have higher levels of C-reactive protein than their counterparts without a history of abuse, putting them at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a report published in the April issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
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AHA Advises on Resistant Hypertension Management
TUESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Resistant hypertension, defined as blood pressure that remains elevated despite the concurrent use of three or more antihypertensive medications, is often multifactorial in origin and requires a comprehensive management strategy, according to an American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Statement published online April 7 in advance of publication in the June issue of Hypertension.
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Factors Affecting Respiratory Distress Risk Identified
TUESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- A number of factors increase the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients on mechanical ventilation, including high airway pressures, positive fluid balance, plasma transfusion, sepsis and tidal volume, according to research published in the April issue of the journal Chest.
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Function Predicts Mortality in Peripheral Artery Disease
TUESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Office-based measures of walking ability can predict mortality independently of the ankle brachial index in patients with peripheral artery disease, according to the results of a study published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Kidney Function Predicts Risk of Cardiac Arrest in Women
TUESDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Impaired kidney function is an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death among women with heart disease, according to research published online April 7 in Hypertension.
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Drug Reduces Clotting Risk After Hip Replacement
MONDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- A synthetic oligosaccharide with anti-factor Xa and IIa activities reduces the rate of venous thromboembolism after hip replacement surgery, researchers report in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Symptoms of Unexplained Dyspnea Identified
MONDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Symptoms that can be used to discriminate between patients with medically unexplained dyspnea and patients with cardiopulmonary diseases have been identified, researchers report in the April issue of the journal Chest.
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Women's Heart Disease Risk Not Predicted By Sex Life
MONDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Although there is a modest association between dissatisfaction with sexual activity and prevalence of incident peripheral arterial disease in women, sexual dissatisfaction does not predict incident cardiovascular disease in women, according to a report published in the April issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
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Obese Teens Improve Cardiac Function After Weight Loss
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Obese adolescents who lose large amounts of weight due to bariatric surgery have better cardiac function and geometry, researchers report in the April 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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HIV Drugs May Increase the Risk of Heart Attack
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- HIV patients who have taken either abacavir or didanosine for six months or less may have an increased risk of heart attack, according to study findings published online April 2 in The Lancet.
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Adverse Effects of Shock Waves for Kidney Stones Studied
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Shock wave lithotripsy treatment of renal or ureteral stones does not appear to increase the rate of new-onset hypertension or diabetes mellitus, according to research published in the April issue of Urology.
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Psoriasis Linked to Multiple Comorbidities
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with psoriasis are likely to have comorbidities that should be assessed by their primary health care providers and addressed with health screening tests, preventative exams and referrals, according to a clinical consensus statement from the National Psoriasis Foundation published in April in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Adding Clopidogrel to Aspirin Reduces Cardiac Risk
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with aspirin plus clopidogrel reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients but has no effect on mortality compared with aspirin alone, although the risk of major bleeding is much higher with combination treatment, according to the results of a study published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Coronary Calcification Linked to Greater Statin, Aspirin Use
WEDNESDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- Men with coronary artery calcification are about three times more likely to take statin drugs or aspirin, researchers report in the April 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Lifestyle Changes Reverse Angina in Many Patients
TUESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Many patients with coronary artery disease and angina become angina-free after undergoing a lifestyle intervention program, according to study findings published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Hands-Only Compressions Beneficial in Sudden Heart Attack
TUESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Bystanders who witness an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and want to help need only perform continuous compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and do not need to have mouth-to-mouth contact, according to an article published online March 31 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Pulse Wave Velocity Predicts Increases in Blood Pressure
TUESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Pulse wave velocity, a non-invasive index of arterial stiffness, predicts longitudinal increases in blood pressure in hypertensive individuals as well as incident hypertension, researchers report in the April 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Kidney Damage May Lead to Hypertension
TUESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Hypertension and kidney disease commonly co-exist, and new research published in the April 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine points to kidney damage as a risk factor for subsequent hypertension.
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Diabetics Should Receive Cardiovascular Prophylaxis
TUESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetics aged 30 and older are at similar risk of cardiovascular disease as non-diabetics with a history of myocardial infarction, according to a report released online March 31 in advance of publication in the April 15 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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