Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for March 2020. 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.
CVD May Play Role in Link Between Air Pollution, Dementia
TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with a higher risk for dementia, with the association enhanced by heart failure and ischemic heart disease, according to a study published online March 30 in JAMA Neurology.
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Doctors, Hospitals, Pharmacies Warned Not to Stockpile Meds
TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In a joint statement released by the American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the professional groups "strongly oppose" physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals prophylactically prescribing medications or purchasing excessive amounts or stockpiles of potential treatments for COVID-19.
Joint Statement
Inconsistent Bedtime May Affect Cardiovascular Health
TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Variability in bedtimes may be detrimental to cardiovascular health, according to a study published online March 23 in npj Digital Medicine.
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Extreme High Temps More Than Double Cardiovascular Deaths
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The risk for cardiovascular death is more than doubled during extreme high temperatures, according to a research letter published online March 30 in Circulation.
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U.S. Army Opens Field Hospital in New York City
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The first U.S. Army field hospital for civilian patients opened in New York City Monday and could be the first of many across the nation as it struggles with the coronavirus pandemic.
CBS News Article
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Chronic Kidney Disease Linked to Uncontrolled Blood Pressure
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP), while ambulatory BP patterns are not associated with cognitive impairment or frailty in non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients, according to two studies published online March 26 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Abstract/Full Text - Mwasongwe (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text - Ghazi (subscription or payment may be required)
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Concomitant Myocardial Injury With COVID-19 Infection Linked to Fatal Outcome
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Myocardial injury is associated with fatal outcome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to research published online March 27 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Moderate Maternal Fish Intake May Aid Child Metabolic Health
FRIDAY, March 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate fish intake during pregnancy (one to three times per week) is associated with improvements in the subsequent metabolic health of children, according to a study published online March 16 in JAMA Network Open.
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PPE Negative for SARS-CoV-2 After Patient Contact
FRIDAY, March 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Samples collected from personal protective equipment (PPE) from health care workers (HCWs) caring for patients positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were negative for SARS-CoV-2, according to research published online March 26 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
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BP Load No Aid to Prognosis in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
FRIDAY, March 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Blood pressure (BP) load does not provide additive value in predicting outcomes in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online March 11 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Workers at Risk for COVID-19 Exposure Can Access Online Training
THURSDAY, March 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The National Institutes of Health has launched a new website with educational resources for hospital employees, emergency first responders, and other workers at risk for exposure to COVID-19.
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Prospective, Randomized Studies of AI Lacking in Medical Imaging
THURSDAY, March 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In the field of medical imaging, there are few prospective studies and randomized trials of deep learning, according to a review published online March 25 in The BMJ.
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Cardiac Injury Linked to Increased Mortality in COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiac injury is associated with increased mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a study published online March 25 in JAMA Cardiology.
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National Health Spending Expected to Increase Through 2028
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- National health expenditures are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent for 2019 to 2028, representing almost 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product by 2028, according to a study published online March 24 in Health Affairs.
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More Steps in a Day Tied to Lower Risk for Death
TUESDAY, March 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A greater number of daily steps -- 8,000 or more -- is associated with a significantly lower risk for all-cause mortality, according to a study conducted in U.S. adults published in the March 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Plant-Based Proteins Can Help Cut Risk for Coronary Heart Disease
TUESDAY, March 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Higher intake of foods like tofu with isoflavones is associated with a moderately lower risk for developing coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study published online March 23 in Circulation.
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Frailty Predicts Adverse Outcomes After Mitral Valve Replacement
MONDAY, March 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR), frailty is an independent predictor of morbidity, death, and increased hospitalization costs, according to a study published online March 18 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
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Cumulative Dose of Oral Steroids Associated With HTN Incidence
MONDAY, March 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with any of six chronic inflammatory diseases, a cumulative dose of oral glucocorticoids is associated with an increased incidence of hypertension, according to a study published online March 23 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Homeless Patients With AMI Have Distinct Risks, Outcomes
FRIDAY, March 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Homeless patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have a distinct cardiovascular risk profile, in-hospital care, and rehospitalization rates compared with nonhomeless patients, according to a study published online March 19 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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Statement Addresses Concerns About Heart Meds and COVID-19
FRIDAY, March 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Patients already prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) should continue taking their medications, according to a joint statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), issued in response to a research letter published online March 11 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Statement
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Serial Interval of COVID-19 Estimated at 3.96 Days
FRIDAY, March 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The serial interval of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), defined as the time between a primary case and secondary case developing symptoms, is 3.96 days, according to a study published online March 19 in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Poor Sleep Quality Linked to Greater Food Intake, Worse Diet
THURSDAY, March 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Poor sleep quality is associated with increased food intake and a lower-quality diet among women, according to a study published in the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Bariatric Surgery Tied to Lower Long-Term Risk for Major CV Events
THURSDAY, March 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with obesity, bariatric surgery is associated with a lower long-term risk for major cardiovascular events and incident heart failure, according to a study published online March 18 in the European Heart Journal.
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Per-Capita Medical Radiation Exposure Down in United States
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From 2006 to 2016, there was a decrease in per-capita exposure to medical radiation in the United States, according to a study published online March 17 in Radiology.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Graphic Health Warnings Coming for U.S. Cigarette Packs
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Graphic new health warnings must appear on cigarette packages and in cigarette ads beginning next year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
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Noncitizens Undertreated for Cardiovascular Risk Factors
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Noncitizens are undertreated for cardiovascular risk factors in the United States, according to a study published in the March issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Climate Similar in Cities With Biggest Outbreaks of COVID-19
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Cities that have experienced significant outbreaks of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) have similar winter climates, according to a study published online March 9 on the open-data site SSRN.
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Nonsmoker Mortality Showcases Harm of Secondhand Smoke
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From 1990 to 2016, the number of individuals who smoke associated with the death of one individual who died from secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure increased to 52.3, according to a study published online March 17 in JAMA Network Open.
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Dual Therapy Linked to Lower Bleeding Risk in A-Fib After PCI
MONDAY, March 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), dual therapy is associated with a reduced risk for bleeding compared with triple therapy, according to research published online March 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Guidance Issued for Interventional Radiologists Treating Frostbite
MONDAY, March 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For interventional radiologists, intraarterial (IA) administration and intravenous (IV) administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are both useful strategies for treating severe frostbite injuries, according to a review and meta-analysis recently published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
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All-Cause Mortality Up in Female Domestic Abuse Survivors
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Women who survive domestic abuse (DA) are more likely to have type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to die from any cause, according to a study published in the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Current Access to Endovascular Thrombectomy Centers Limited
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Less than one in five of the U.S. population has access to endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) centers within 15 minutes, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Stroke.
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Function, Cognition, Psych Well-Being Linked to Postop Death
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Poor function, cognition, and psychological well-being are associated with mortality among older adults undergoing major surgery, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Surgery.
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National Dietary Guideline Adherence Lowers Cardiovascular Risk
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Higher adherence to the 2015 to 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 [HEI-2015]) is associated with lower risks for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
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Safety, Effectiveness of VKAs, DOACs Similar in General Practice
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients receiving anticoagulants, arteriovenous events and major bleeding events do not differ for those receiving vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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Romosozumab Added to Guideline for Management of Osteoporosis
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In an Endocrine Society guideline update, published online in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, recommendations are presented for the use of romosozumab in the pharmacological management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
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Anticholinergic Burden Tied to Adverse Effects in Middle Age
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Anticholinergic burden (ACB) is associated with adverse outcomes in a middle- to older-aged population, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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Apixaban Seems Safer Than Rivaroxaban for A-Fib
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Among adults with atrial fibrillation, the rates for ischemic stroke or systemic embolism and bleeding are lower with apixaban compared with rivaroxaban, according to a study published online March 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Excess Mortality Observed for Older Adults With BP Below 130/80 mm Hg
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, blood pressure (BP) <130/80 mm Hg is associated with excess mortality, according to a study published online March 5 in Age and Ageing.
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2018 Health Care Spending Up Due to Higher Prices
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Average employer-sponsored insurance spending rose to $5,892 per person in 2018, according to the Health Care Cost Institute annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report.
Health Care Cost and Utilization Report
Guidelines Detail Management of Liver Failure in ICU Patients
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In an executive summary of a new guideline from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, published in the March issue of Critical Care Medicine, a set of evidence-based recommendations are presented for the management of liver failure in critically ill patients.
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Family Hx of Early MI Modifies Ovary Removal, CVD Link
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women with both bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) and a family history of premature myocardial infarction (FHPMI) have an increased risk for heart disease (HD) mortality, especially those who underwent BSO at an earlier age, according to a study published online March 2 in Menopause.
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FDA: Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities May Affect Medical Devices
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- SweynTooth cybersecurity vulnerabilities may affect medical devices, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety communication.
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Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Similar Regardless of Obesity Onset
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The treatment benefits of bariatric surgery in adults are similar regardless of early- or adult-onset obesity, according to a study recently published in Diabetes Care.
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Long-Term Endurance Exercise Tied to Aortic Enlargement
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Clinically relevant aortic dilatation is common among aging endurance athletes, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Americans' Protein-Rich Diets May Up Heart Disease Risk
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Plant-based diets lower in sulfur amino acids (SAA) are associated with a reduced risk for cardiometabolic diseases, according to a study published online Feb. 3 in EClinicalMedicine.
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Secondary Prevention Guideline Adherence Cuts Death Post-AMI
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Adherence to secondary prevention guidelines for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with reduced mortality, according to a study published online March 5 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids Seem Not to Protect Against Cancer
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Omega-3 fatty acids do not appear to protect against cancer and may only have a small beneficial effect in coronary heart disease, according to two reviews published online Feb. 29 in the British Journal of Cancer and the Cochrane Library.
Abstract/Full Text - Hanson (subscription or payment may be required)
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Female Clinical Chairs Paid Significantly Less Than Men
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- There are significant sex differences in salaries of clinical department chairs in public medical schools in the United States, according to a research letter published online March 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Moderate Egg Consumption Not Linked to CVD Risk Overall
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate egg consumption is not associated with the risk for cardiovascular disease overall, according to a study published online March 4 in The BMJ.
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Habitual Fish Oil Supplements Linked to Lower CVD Risk
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Habitual supplementation with fish oil is associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and all-cause mortality, according to a study published online March 4 in The BMJ.
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Racial/Ethnic Insurance Coverage Disparity Down Since ACA
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Since the implementation of coverage expansions associated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the disparities in insurance coverage related to race and ethnicity have decreased, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
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Considerable Increase Seen in List, Net Prices of Branded Drugs
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From 2007 to 2018, there were substantial increases in list and net prices of branded drugs in the United States, according to a study published in the March 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Short-Term Medications May Cut Risk for 'Broken Heart' Syndrome
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In early bereavement, low-dose metoprolol and aspirin reduce physiological and psychological surrogate measures of cardiovascular risk, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Heart Journal.
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Serum Folate Tied to CV Mortality Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a serum folate level of at least 4.3 ng/mL is associated with lower cardiovascular (CV) mortality risk, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
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1996 to 2016 Saw Increases in U.S. Spending on Health Care
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From 1996 to 2016, there were considerable increases in U.S. spending on health care, according to a study published in the March 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Ambient Air Pollution Causes Decreased Life Expectancy
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Ambient air pollution is a leading cause of excess mortality and loss of life expectancy (LLE), according to a study published online March 3 in Cardiovascular Research.
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Irregular Sleep Duration and Timing Linked to CVD Risk
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Irregular sleep duration and timing are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published in the March 10 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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2003 to 2016 Saw Changes in Characteristics of PCI, CABG Patients
MONDAY, March 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Between 2003 and 2016, there were decreases in in-hospital mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) but not after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published online Feb. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
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