Cardiology

Oral anticoagulation with rivaroxaban must continue while initiating a switch to warfarin. Duration of overlap will be variable.

The “infectious” hypothesis of atherosclerosis (including bacterial and viral etiologies) may have new support.

Simvastatin 40 mg once daily can attenuate increases in cardiorespiratory fitness in response to exercise training.

New oral anticoagulants require careful initiation and follow-up. A new guide is offered by the European Heart Rhythm Association.

HAS-BLED, HEMORRHAGES, OBRI: Risk calculators to assess potential for bleeding in AF patients before anticoagulation.

Periprocedural dabigatran increases the risk of bleeding and thromboembolic complications compared with warfarin during radiofrequency ablation of AF.

Among the NSAIDs used for relieving the pain of inflammatory arthritis, naproxen may have the best benefit to risk ratio on cardiovascular disease.

Among many considerations when ordering or interpreting a stress test are the limitations and adequacy of the stress modality (exercise, vasodilator, ionotrope) as well as the imaging modality used. Here, top-line reminders for primary care practice.

Aldosterone antagonists, eg, eplerenone, decrease adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF and AF.

Colesevelam helps reduce serum glucose levels and also lowers LDL-C in patients with type 2 diabetes. Bromocriptine reduces the relative risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

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.

Every-other-day dosing, especially of statins with longer half-lives is shown to preserve lipid-lowering benefits.

CD4+ count and viral load were complementary and were independently associated with increased incidence of AF.

Recommendations consider the whole patient, the spectrum of risks and complications for the patient, and evidence-based approaches to treatment.

Lp(a) is an LDL-like particle that exists in plasma in the VLDL range; its density lies between that of LDL and HDL. Lp(a) increases CV risk.

The ankle-brachial index is a noninvasive screening tool that can improve cardiovascular event risk stratification.

Patients who stop taking statins when rechallenged 1 year later are able to resume the same or a different statin with durable results.

Interruption of anticoagulation with rivaroxaban or warfarin should be bridged with an agent such as low-molecular weight heparin.

Could the left atrial appendage closure device, known as the Watchman, become an alternative to oral anticoagulation for select patients? Here, more on the 2 trials that have introduced the possibility.

Female CV mortality lags behind male mortality; lifetime risk assessment, not 10-year risk, is a better estimation tool for women

Cardiovascular diseases here are patent foramen ovale, interatrial septal aneurysm, myocarditis, aoritis, internal carotid artery dissection, heart-hand syndrome.

Diabetic myonecrosis; Persistent bacterial bronchitis; basal cell carcinoma; statin-drug pleiotropy; spinal epidural abscess

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

Patients who consumed a Mediterranean-style diet had a 30% reduction in major cardiovascular events compared with patients who ate a diet low in saturated fat.

Elevated levels of the biomarker C-reactive protein in patients with HIV infection increased the risk of MI approximately 2-fold.