The HCPLive Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...
May 9th 2024
Compass Pathways reports positive results for psilocybin in PTSD treatment, showing safety and symptom improvement in an open-label phase 2 study.
Elevating Care for PAH: Applying Recommended Management Approaches to Maximize Outcomes
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‘REEL’ Time Patient Counseling™: Navigating the Complex Journey of Diagnosing and Managing Fabry Disease
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Expert Illustrations & Commentaries™: Envisioning Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Managing ANCA-associated Vasculitis
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Prior studies have shown an association between heart failure and the presence of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We investigated the relationship between regression of electrocardiographic (ECG) LVH by Cornell product with antihypertensive regimens and new-onset heart failure in subjects with hypertension and baseline LVH.
As clinical cardiologists, we face an ever-changing landscape with regard to the management and care of hypertensive patients.
Sex differences in the development of higher systolic blood pressure during adolescence
We evaluated the differences in higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) between boys and girls in a longitudinal adolescent cohort. Results showed that although boys have a 19% relative increase in the risk of higher SBP annually between the ages of 13 and 17 years, girls do not experience the same risk increase. Among both boys and girls, being overweight increases the likelihood of high SBP almost 3-fold, and every 5 additional hours of "screen time" (television viewing, video game playing, Internet use) is associated with a 4% relative increase in the likelihood of higher SBP levels. For every 5 additional sports-related or other active behaviors over a 7-day recall, there was an 8% relative reduction in high SBP risk. Annual blood pressure assessment in teens that continues into adulthood may facilitate early detection of adult hypertension. Weight control, increased physical activity, and reduced screen time may reduce the likelihood of higher SBP levels developing in adolescents.
The link between lifestyle factors and hypertension in adolescents
Dasgupta has demonstrated that adolescent Canadian boys experience an increased risk of hypertension during longitudinal follow-up compared with girls.
Failing with women: How clinical trials fail our largest subgroup
The current guidelines for the management of heart failure in women are based upon data collected from studies predominantly enrolling men. However, because important differences exist in the sex-based pathogenesis of and prognosis for heart failure, the current risk-benefit analyses that guide the evidence-based management of heart failure in women demands prospective assessment.
Iatrogenic dilated cardiomyopathy and spectrum of current treatment modalities
September 4th 2008Our increasing ability to intervene in high-risk patients—with lower risks and greater chances for successful outcomes—is felt across the broad spectrum of cardiovascular disease. This is particularly evident in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Comprehensive lifestyle modification and blood pressure control
September 4th 2008Lifestyle recommendations for the prevention and treatment of hypertension include weight loss, reduced sodium intake, increased physical activity, limited alcohol intake, and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The 18-month results of the Prospective Registry Evaluating Myocardial Infarction: Events and Recovery (PREMIER) randomized clinical trial showed that individuals with prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension can make and sustain many of these lifestyle changes over the long term, thereby reducing their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Are statins cardioprotective in patients undergoing major vascular surgery?
September 4th 2008We evaluated the cardioprotective effects of intensive statin therapy before major vascular surgery in a prospective study of 359 subjects. After multivariate analysis, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was associated with decreased myocardial ischemia, troponin T release, and 30-day and late cardiac events. Furthermore, higher doses of statins were associated with better cardiac outcome, even after adjusting for LDL cholesterol.
Combining warfarin and antiplatelet therapy after coronary stenting
We conducted an observational study to compare singleantiplatelet therapy with dualantiplatelet therapy among patients requiring long-term warfarin therapy after coronary stenting. Results showed that there was no difference in mortality or myocardial infarction between the 2 treatment regimens at 6 months, with no excess in-hospital bleeding; however, larger trials are needed to determine firm recommendations.
The vegetarian paradox: Low HDL cholesterol levels and low cardiovascular risk
Ever since the observation in the 1950s that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was inversely correlated with coronary artery disease, there have been confounding data that have not been reconciled.
What is heparin rebound? Exploring the parallel meanings that have existed for over 45 years
In journals for cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists, the term heparin rebound has predominantly described an anticoagulant condition. In journals for cardiologists and internists, however, the term has been used to describe a procoagulant state. Because precision is one of the fundamental rules in medicine, it may be helpful to foster a more precise understanding of this term.
High clopidogrel maintenance dosage in patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease
Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have decreased platelet inhibition and decreased responsiveness to standard doses of clopidogrel compared with patients without diabetes. In this pilot study, we showed that increasing the maintenance dose of clopidogrel to 150 mg leads to enhanced platelet inhibition compared with the standard dose of 75 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes with suboptimal responsiveness. The clinical implications of these findings are unknown, however, and need to be evaluated in large-scale clinical trials.
Should metformin be used to prevent diabetes in high-risk patients?
As outlined by the authors, use of metformin is an appealing option because it is safe, produces few side effects, and is a cost-effective way to target some of the defects known to contribute to the metabolic defects associated with diabetes.
The effect of diabetes on death and hospitalization in heart failure patients
In the cohort study conducted by Ahmed and colleagues, the investigators assessed whether diabetes was associated with worse outcomes in heart failure regardless of the associated risk factors and comorbidities.