Cardiology

Antiretroviral drug regimens have been implicated as factors in the increased risk of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction in those with HIV infection. Here: practical measures for prevention and screening.

Does the HIV epidemic represent primarily a failure of the public health system--or is it more likely a result of failure on an individual level to take steps necessary to prevent infection?

Now that HIV infection is largely a chronic disease, cardiovascular disease has become a leading cause of death in this patient group. Here: a look at just how common LDL-C dyslipidemia, hypertension, and coronary heart disease really are.

Myocarditis, postpericardiotomy syndrome, double aortic arch, heart-hand syndromes, stroke, cardiac valvulopathy, hemochromatosis, myocardial rupture-these visual presentations cover a range of heart diseases and related problems.

Certain modifiable risk factors-ncluding heart rate, smoking status, and antihypertensive medications-affect blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. And variability in blood pressure has an important role in progression of organ damage.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus should be monitored with ABPM if they are at high risk for cardiovascular complications, according to the results of a new study.

Persons with type 2 diabetes are at risk for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation and subsequent cerebrovascular events.

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.

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

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

A fourth dipetidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor is approved as monotherapy and in combinations with metformin and pioglitazone.

The follow-up risk of death or an ischemic cardiovascular event that requires hospitalization is about 10-fold higher than the risk of hospitalization for major bleeding.

The safety profile correlates with lower observed risk of stent thrombosis, according to an analysis of insights from a nationwide coronary intervention registry.

Here: a battle plan to address obesity-the root problem of our current epidemic of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus-that involves kicking a sedentary lifestyle.

A new analysis of data from a large international registry finds that use of beta-blockers in patients with and without a history of coronary artery disease does not reduce cardiovascular events.

In 2000, MI was defined as any necrosis in the setting of myocardial ischemia. The 2007 update to this definition recognized that different conditions can lead to myocardial necrosis and 5 types of myocardial infarctions were defined.

Omega-3 fatty acids used to treat patients with dysglycemia in the ORIGIN trial failed to reduce cardiovascular death or ischemic events. Follow-up was 6 years.

The popular media recently took a look at the connection between systemic inflammation and the many human diseases it’s responsible for. A lengthy article in the Wall Street Journal focused on the role of daily diet in the development and modulation of inflammation and noted the clinical use of biomarker C-reactive protein to measure inflammation levels. Harvard cardiologist Christopher Cannon offered tips on eating to beat inflammation and shed pounds at the same time from his new book titled The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Anti-Inflammation Diet. Alarming health news paired with a new book on diet can create a perfect storm of questions from you patients.

Ticagrelor is the newest P2Y12 inhibitor approved to treat patients with unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. AHA/ACC guideline update.

Novel anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban) are gaining wide acceptance over warfarin, for their simplicity of use and proven efficacy.

Statin medications were associated with significant tiredness and exertional fatigue in men and women without cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Azithromycin has been linked to sudden cardiac death in patients with cardiovascular disease that require an antibiotic.

A genetic analysis questions the benefits of raising HDL-C levels to reduce the risk of MI and of the value of HDL-C as a surrogate marker of risk.

Use of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease must be based on individual risk-benefit analysis and is not appropriate for patients at low risk.

Frequent coffee drinkers have a lower risk than those who drink little or no coffee, of death related to heart and respiratory disease, stroke, and infections.

The European Society of Cardiology just weighed in on the 3 new alternatives to warfarin for oral anticoagulation. The response is tempered enthusiasm.

Are these findings another green light for dark chocolate? Some experts say “yes” as they also point to a recommended upper daily “dose.” What does this new research add to the current data on the health benefits of the flavinoid-rich sweet? Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon discuss study results and what you should tell your patients.

The Los Angeles county coroner’s office recently ruled that singer Whitney Houston drowned in her hotel bathtub but that other factors contributed to her demise. Did the 48-year-old have preexisting cardiovascular disease? Did cocaine abuse trigger a deadly cardiac event? Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon put the autopsy results and the pop star’s final moments in context.

Bariatric surgery nearly cures type 2 diabetes-at least that’s what results of a new study, presented at the recent ACC meeting, seem to imply.

It’s a known fact that regular consumption of red meat increases the risk of many chronic diseases-including diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer. Now, data from 2 large, long-term studies link daily consumption of red meat with death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Drs Kohli and Cannon discuss what to tell your patients.