Cardiology

A new study finds a lower incidence of AF in non-White races even though these groups have a higher risk of comorbidites that predispose to AF.

Nuts have long been associated with health benefits, including protection against coronary disease. Now, it seems, nuts might also help postpone death.

The young athlete is otherwise healthy but his ECG tracing and family history may suggest a different story.

Myocardial rupture is the most feared and often lethal complication of acute MI. It was a potential diagnosis for this patient who presented with sinus tachycardia, ST-segment elevation from V1 to V4, II, III, and aVF with associated Q waves. Follow the workup and outcome here.

The revised guidelines relax some BP targets, incorporate daytime ambulatory and nocturnal BP measures, and recommend that the decision to treat be based on a patient's overall cardiovascular health.

Many years in the making, the revised guidelines on preventing elevated blood cholesterol depart in significant ways from the last version of the NHLBI's ATP III. Here, the top 3 differences primary care physicians will want to know more about.

New ACC/AHA guidelines abolish specific lipid targets, reclassify populations at risk, and recommend statins for their pleiotropic effects.

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.

Andexanet alfa is a recombinant factor Xa molecule that binds to and sequesters factor Xa inhibitors in the blood, making them unavailable to bind to native factor Xa.

In new-onset atrial fibrillation there is good evidence for obtaining a troponin T level. High levels are associated with highest rates of stroke, embolism, and cardiac mortality.

Prevention guidelines focus on assessment of CV risk, lifestyle modifications to reduce CV risk, and management of elevated blood cholesterol and body weight in adults.

Dabigatran was shown in post-hoc analysis of the RE-LY trial to be associated with an increased risk of MI compared with warfarin.

Rivaroxaban when used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation who have had a previous MI is associated with higher risk for adverse events.

OSA is associated with subclinical myocardial injury as indicated by increased high-sensitivity troponin T levels, according to this study.

Whether to prescribe an antiplatelet or antithrombotic agent for a patient who has AF but is otherwise healthy can be a difficult decision.

Cardioversion for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation must include pre- and post-procedure anticoagulation to avoid thromboembolic risk.

Only one agent can be used for anticoagulation in individuals with mechanical valves.

The real impact of nutritious menu changes at fast food chains like McDonalds remains to be seen, but these-along with modifying the dosage schedules of patients who appear to be statin-intolerant-may prove to have long-term salubrious effects.

I was taught how to take blood pressures early in medical school. If a few “dos and don’ts” were respected, things seemed to proceed uneventfully (with attention to cuff placement and size, Korotkoff sounds, etc).

Nearly three-quarters of patients who are initially "statin-intolerant" are able to re-start therapy on a graduated-dosing schedule and continue on an intermittent dosing regimen.

Vitamin D supplementation in the VitDISH study did not improve isolated systolic hypertension in elderly patients who were deficient.

Electronic cigarettes may be the next big thing in helping smokers who want to quit. But, they may also be a new "gateway" product for youngsters who have yet to pick up. More, here.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide, TMAO, is a by-product of the metabolic breakdown of certain foods; elevated levels have been correlated with coronary atherosclerosis.

A new study finds that intermittent dosing of a statin can be an effective treatment option for some patients who previously demonstrated intolerance to statins.