Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for June 2017. 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.
Poll Finds Seniors Struggling With Drug Costs Don't Seek Help
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Many older Americans who have difficulty paying for their medications don't seek help in finding more economical options, according to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
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Dutasteride Associated With Metabolic Safety Concerns
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Dutasteride for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia may induce imbalance in metabolic function, according to a study published online June 21 in Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation.
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EPO Doping Has Little Effect on Real-World Cycling Performance
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For well-trained cyclists, erythropoietin improves a laboratory test of maximal exercise, but does not affect submaximal exercise or road race performance, according to a study published online June 29 in The Lancet Haematology.
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ICD Treatment Cuts Sudden, All-Cause Death in Cardiomyopathy
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is associated with reduced incidence of sudden and all-cause death compared with conventional care, according to a review published online June 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Review Links Flaxseed Consumption to Weight Reduction
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Whole flaxseed consumption is associated with significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference, according to a review published online June 21 in Obesity Reviews.
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Health of the Nation Presented in 40th Annual CDC Report
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The health of the United States is summarized in the 40th annual report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Doctors Urged to Take Care With Electronic Communications
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Care should be taken when conveying electronic messages to patients, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Metformin Therapeutic As Post-Ischemic Conditioning Agent
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Metformin has therapeutic potential as a post-ischemic conditioning agent, according to a study published online June 23 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
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Robotic Navigation Noninferior for CVPI in Atrial Fibrillation
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI), use of robotic navigation (RN) systems is noninferior to manual ablation (MN), according to a study published online June 28 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
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ACA Health Insurance Expansion Tied to Fewer Cardiac Arrests
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A dramatic decrease in cardiac arrest has occurred among Oregon residents who gained access to health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a study published online June 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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FDA Seeks to Increase Number of Generic Drugs on Market
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- New measures to increase the number of generic prescription drugs available to Americans have been taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Number of Hospitalizations for Heart Failure Declining
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The number of Americans hospitalized for heart failure has dropped substantially since 2002, but blacks still face higher risks, according to a study published online June 27 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Persistent Mental Distress Ups Mortality in Heart Patients
TUESDAY, June 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The cumulative burden of psychological stress increases mortality risk in patients with stable coronary heart disease, according to a study published online June 26 in Heart.
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Reduced Cancer-Independent Life Expectancy in Head, Neck Cancer
TUESDAY, June 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with head and neck cancer have reduced life expectancy, independent of cancer, according to a study published online June 22 in Head & Neck.
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Better Outcomes for Cardiology Care in Newly Diagnosed A-Fib
TUESDAY, June 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiology care is associated with improved outcomes versus primary care, according to a study published in the July 4 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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More Racial Disparity With Medicare Advantage
MONDAY, June 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare Advantage is associated with more racial disparity than traditional Medicare for hospital readmissions, according to a study published online June 21 in Health Affairs.
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Review Links Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation to CRP
FRIDAY, June 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation is associated with an increase in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, according to a review and meta-analysis published online May 29 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
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Occupation Tied to Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Shiftworkers, healthcare workers, and indoor workers are at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency, according to a review published online June 22 in BMC Public Health.
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1991-2014 Saw Minimal Change in Health Spending Per State
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- From 1991 to 2014 there was minimal change in health spending by state, according to a study published online June 14 in Health Affairs.
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Clonal Hematopoiesis Linked to Coronary Heart Disease
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The presence of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is associated with coronary heart disease, according to research published online June 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Adjusted One-Year Mortality Similar for On-, Off-Label TAVR
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Adjusted one-year mortality is similar for individuals undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for on-label or off-label indications, according to a study published online June 21 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Early Loop Diuretic Tx Tied to Lower Mortality in Heart Failure
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with acute heart failure, early treatment with loop diuretics is associated with lower in-hospital mortality, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Education Can Promote Self-Management in CVD Conditions
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Therapeutic patient education interventions can promote self-management in selected cardiovascular conditions, according to a scientific statement published online June 19 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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More Americans Using High-Doses of Vitamin D Supplementation
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Rising numbers of Americans may be getting too much vitamin D via supplementation, according to a research letter published in the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Age a Factor in Patients Leaving Hospital Against Medical Advice
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Although patients aged 65 and older are four times less likely to leave the hospital against medical advice than adults under 65, race/ethnicity and poverty appear to increase this risk in elderly inpatients, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Embolic Protection Device Useful Post Carotid Artery Stenting
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with carotid stenosis, use of an embolic protection device is associated with reduced risk for in-hospital stroke or death, major stroke or death, and stroke after carotid artery stenting, according to a study published in the June 26 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Risk of Cardiovascular Events Similar With, Without Diabetes
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG), those with and without diabetes without coronary artery disease (CAD) have the same risk of death, cardiac death, and myocardial infarction, according to a study published online June 8 in Diabetes Care.
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VKA Monotherapy Linked to Reduced MI, Stroke Risk in A-Fib
MONDAY, June 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), vitamin K antagonist (VKA) monotherapy is associated with reduced risk of first-time myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke compared with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) monotherapy, according to a study published in the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Health Insurers Recruiting Former Pharma Reps to Cut Costs
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Health insurers are recruiting former pharmaceutical company representatives to educate doctors and help save money on prescription medications, according to a report published June 8 in Kaiser Health News.
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Risk Factors Explain Most Heart Failure Risk in Incident A-Fib
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Four modifiable factors account for most of the population attributable risk of heart failure among women with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online June 14 in JACC: Heart Failure.
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Replacing Saturated Fats With Healthy Fats Lowers CVD Risk
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats can reduce cardiovascular disease risk as much as statins, according to a new American Heart Association (AHA) advisory published online June 15 in Circulation.
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Horseback Riding May Improve Function in Late-Phase Stroke
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Two unconventional therapies -- horseback riding and music-and-rhythm therapy -- can help stroke survivors regain lost mobility and balance years later, according to a study published online June 15 in Stroke.
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AMA Endeavors to Increase Transparency of Rx Pricing
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) is calling for more transparency in drug pricing amid rising costs that are putting some lifesaving medications out of reach for patients and communities.
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Nomogram Predicts Survival for Adults Undergoing CAC Scoring
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A simple-to-use nomogram can predict five-, 10-, and 15-year survival among adults undergoing coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS), according to a study published online June 14 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Many PCI Operators Performing Fewer PCIs Than Recommended
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Many U.S. percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) operators are performing fewer than the recommended number of PCI procedures, according to a study published in the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Limited Change With Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program, started in 2013, has not improved clinical-process and patient-experience measures, according to a study published in the June 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Antiplatelet Bleeding Risk Higher Than Expected for Older Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term daily aspirin use is linked to a higher-than-expected risk of disabling or fatal bleeding in patients aged 75 and over, according to a study published online June 13 in The Lancet.
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Value of Prolonged DAPT Varies With DAPT Score in PCI Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), prolonged dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) results in harm for those with low DAPT scores but reduces risk for ischemic events for those with high scores receiving paclitaxel-eluting stents, according to a study published online June 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Drones Could Up Response Times for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
TUESDAY, June 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Drones could be used to quickly deliver automated external
defibrillators (AEDs) to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, according to a research letter published in the June 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Beta-Blockers Cut Mortality for Patients in Sinus Rhythm
TUESDAY, June 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in sinus rhythm, beta-blockers reduce mortality regardless of pre-treatment heart rate, according to a study published in the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Food Cravings Down With Extended Calorie Restriction
TUESDAY, June 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Extended calorie restriction is associated with a reduction in food cravings, according to a review and meta-analysis published online May 30 in Obesity Reviews.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine May Benefit Some CVD Patients
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might have a role to play in treating or preventing cardiovascular disease in the West, according to a review published in the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Medical Students Lacking Proficiency in BP Measurements
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Medical students frequently do not achieve mastery of the skills necessary for accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP), according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
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Review: Depression Screening As Inpatient Important, Feasible
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Depression affects about one-third of hospital patients and could slow their recovery, according to research published recently in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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New Bill With Tort Reforms Will Protect Iowa Physicians
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A new bill with tort reforms to protect Iowa physicians will take effect July 1, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Type of Hospital Doesn't Impact Thrombolysis Outcomes in Stroke
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults with acute stroke, treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is associated with similar outcomes, irrespective of hospital characteristics, according to a study published online June 2 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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U.S. Leads in Income-Based Health Care Inequalities
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The United States has larger income-related differences in perceptions of health and health care than other middle- and high-income countries, according to a report published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
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Lithium's Risk to Fetus May Be Lower Than Previously Thought
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Lithium is linked to an increased risk of heart malformations in infants born to women taking the drug during pregnancy, but the risk is smaller than once believed, according to research published in the June 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Health System Sees Success With E-Visits Via Patient Portal
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Patient portals can successfully offer access to physicians without office visits, according to a report published online May 30 by the American Medical Association.
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Lifespan Up With Adoption of Four Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Adoption of four healthy lifestyle behaviors is associated with increased lifespan for men and women, according to a study published online May 31 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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CDC: High-Deductible Health Plan Use Rising Among Employers
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- High-deductible health plans are becoming more common among U.S. adults with employer-sponsored health insurance coverage, according to a report issued June 6 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
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Combo of Several Meds at Smaller Doses May Boost HTN Care
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Combining low doses of several different antihypertensive medications may be better than using a standard dose of just one drug, according to a review published online June 5 in Hypertension.
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Many Taking NOACs for A-Fib May Not Be Getting Right Dose
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly one in six Americans taking non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation may not be receiving the proper dose, according to a study published in the June 13 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Americans Are Getting Less Sodium From Packaged Food
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- As food manufacturers gradually cut amounts of salt in their products, consumers are now buying foods containing less sodium, according to a study published online June 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Non-Shivering Thermogenesis Can Activate Metabolic Pathways
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Non-shivering thermogenesis can transform storage adipose tissues into metabolically active tissue, according to research published online May 25 in Obesity Reviews.
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U.S. Emergency Departments Commonly Overcharging Patients
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are routinely overcharged for emergency department care, and minority and uninsured patients are most likely to face this issue, according to a study published online May 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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2011 to 2014 Saw Increase in Use of High-Intensity Statins After MI
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- From 2011 to 2014 there was an increase in the use of high-intensity statins following hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the June 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Cool Water Works As Well As Hot for Ridding Hands of Germs
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For effective hand hygiene, water temperature matters less than time, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Food Protection.
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Model Predicts Acute GI Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients taking oral anticoagulants, a new model can predict acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, which is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, according to a study published online May 19 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Reducing SBP Targets Below Current Guidelines Cuts Risk
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with hypertension treated with antihypertensive medication, reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels to 120 to 124 mm Hg is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, according to a review published online May 31 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Post-Op A-Fib Down With Low-Level Vagus Nerve Stimulation
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing cardiac surgery, low-level vagus nerve stimulation (LLVNS) is associated with a reduction in postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and with lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, according to a study published online May 31 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
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Medication Adherence Up With Refill Synchronization Model
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- An appointment-based model (ABM) which synchronizes medication refills to improve medication adherence is associated with improvement in medication-taking behavior, according to a review published online May 8 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
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Excess Weight Increases Costs Across Health Care Settings
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Excess weight is associated with increased costs across health care settings, with the highest percentage increases seen in costs for medications, according to research published online May 22 in Obesity Reviews.
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Intra-Arterial Treatment Effective With Extracranial Carotid Disease
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Acute intra-arterial treatment (IAT) seems to be as effective for patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by intracranial proximal occlusion with, versus those without, extracranial carotid disease (ECD), according to research published online May 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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β-Blocker Use Not Linked to Reduced Mortality After AMI
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- β-blocker use is not associated with reduced mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), according to a study published in the June 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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