Cardiology

Though rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population, results from a pair of studies show that the biologic disease modifier Actemra (tocilizumab) may actually improve the cardiovascular (CV) profiles of RA patients.

Doctors treating patients for COPD exacerbations may have recourse to a variety of treatments, including some off-label applications of existing drugs, and smoking cessation may result in a reduction of repeat occurrences.

Presentation at CHEST 2013 reviewed key considerations surrounding the treatment of pulmonary embolism and other venous thromboembolic events with the newer class of oral anticoagulant agents.

Providers who don't use social media are missing valuable opportunities to learn from and educate their peers, recruit patients, and repudiate misinformation.

Presenters at CHEST 2013 reported that preliminary study results suggest that an accurate exhaled breath biomarker could be developed for use as a clinical test to detect lung cancer.

Study results presented at CHEST 2013 show that patients given beta-blockers may actually be at increased risk of having an adverse cardiac event during a noncardiac surgical procedure.

Study results presented at CHEST 2013 show that the use of ultrasound testing rather than x-rays or CT scans in the ICU reduces patient radiation exposure and lowers costs of care.

Patients on antithrombotic therapy must be monitored for increased risk of upper GI bleeding.

Middle-aged adults who engage in up to two and a half hours of moderate physical activity aren't at an increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Mechanical prophylaxis for pulmonary embolism (PE) in the form of an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) is an option for surgical patients who can't undergo chemical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has released a scientific statement on severe obesity in children and adolescents highlighting the health risks, challenges, and limitations of treatment for this issue.

A review of clinical evidence shows pharmacological agents that inhibit bone loss could slow the progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Study results show that daptomycin cleared MRSA infections within four days of treatment in 80% of patients and was particularly effective against extra-vascular infections.

Study results show that patients treated with Stribild had significantly reduced viral load and increased CD4 counts after 96 weeks, with fewer patients discontinuing treatment due to side effects.

A study examines the potential for an increased risk of coronary heart disease because of skipping breakfast.

Does consumption of omega-3 (n−3) fatty acids reduce cardiovascular outcomes in patients without myocardial infarction who have multiple cardiac risk factors?

Rethinking medical education about obesity and more news that your patients are reading.

A review of the ACCOAST, ASSURE, Edoxaban Hokusai-VTE, EXAMINE, PRAMI, RE-ALIGN, and SAVOR-TIMI 53, and TAO studies presented at the European Society of Cardiology 2013 Congress.

Aparna M. Bhagavat, MD, FACC, says gliptins have a promising role in the control of type 2 diabetes, as they decrease A1C without hypoglycemia, weight gain, or any obvious adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes.

In pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, riociguat serves as a reasonable first-line alternative to PDE-5 inhibitors or in combination therapy with an endothelin antagonist or inhaled prostacyclin analogues.

Examining data from the National Health and Nutrition Exam Survey tells physicians a great deal about childhood obesity and risk factors for high blood pressure.

Diana Fancher, DNP, MBA, RN, says replacing the fee-for-service model with bundled payments has its own set of problems.

The wide variation in geographic utilization of coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, despite reimbursement structure, suggests that capitation alone may not lead to reductions in variation.

Rabab Mohsin, MD, reviews adverse outcomes among women from the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study.

Have the Appropriate Use Criteria for transthoracic echocardiography achieved their goal of having a significant clinical impact on physician decision making?