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Your essential source for clinically relevant perspectives – from physician opinion leaders – on the most important research and guidelines in cardiovascular medicine
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Featured Article
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Catheter Ablation Bests Antiarrhythmic Drugs for Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal AFib
- February 3, 2010
- Mark S. Link, MD
Radiofrequency pulmonary-vein ablation outperformed drug therapy in limiting AF recurrence and improving quality of life. CME
- Reviewing:
- Wilber DJ et al. for the ThermoCool AF Trial Investigators. JAMA 2010 Jan 27; 303:333
Recent Cardiology Articles
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Does the Choice of Antihypertensive Agent Affect Risk for AFib?
- February 3, 2010
- Joel M. Gore, MD
In a case-control study, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and beta-blockers were associated with a reduction in incident AF compared with calcium-channel blockers.
- Reviewing:
- Schaer BA et al. Ann Intern Med 2010 Jan 19; 152:78
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Risks of Pregnancy in Women with Cardiomyopathy
- February 3, 2010
- Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
Data from a small case series suggest that advanced symptoms, low LVEF, or both are associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
- Reviewing:
- Grewal J et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010 Jan 5; 55:45
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Cardiovascular Benefit of Glycemic Control Is Limited to Those with Low Comorbidity
- January 26, 2010
- Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
- General Medicine
Does an HbA1c level of 7% remain an appropriate goal?
- Reviewing:
- Greenfield S et al. Ann Intern Med 2009 Dec 15; 151:854
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Population-Based Benefits of Salt Reduction
- February 2, 2010
- Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
- General Medicine
Daily intake of 3 g less per person could lower annual U.S. cardiac-related deaths by as many as 92,000.
- Reviewing:
- Bibbins-Domingo K et al. N Engl J Med 2010 Jan 20
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
What Is the Best Approach to Lipid Management?
- January 27, 2010
- Joel M. Gore, MD
In a simulation study, basing statin treatment on overall cardiovascular risk produced better outcomes than basing treatment on target LDL levels.
- Reviewing:
- Hayward RA et al. Ann Intern Med 2010 Jan 19; 152:69
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Supported with the Impella 2.5 Device
- January 27, 2010
- Howard C. Herrmann, MD
Data from a European registry are encouraging, but more research is needed on patient selection and for comparison with other LV assist methods and devices.
- Reviewing:
- Sjauw KD et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Dec 15/22; 54:2430
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Early Repolarization: Not Just an Innocent Bystander?
- January 20, 2010
- Mark S. Link, MD
Findings from a large observational study link early repolarization in inferior leads to increased risk for cardiac and arrhythmic death.
- Reviewing:
- Tikkanen JT et al. N Engl J Med 2009 Dec 24; 361:2529
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
How Rigorous Is the Premarket Approval Process for Cardiovascular Devices?
- January 20, 2010
- Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
A review of FDA data raises concerns about the strength of the evidence supporting the use of many approved devices.
- Reviewing:
- Dhruva SS et al. JAMA 2009 Dec 23/30; 302:2679
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Smoking Cessation: The Benefits of Doing Your Best
- January 20, 2010
- Joel M. Gore, MD
In survivors of acute MI, quitting smoking improved mortality risk, and so did reducing the number of cigarettes smoked.
- Reviewing:
- Gerber Y et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Dec 15/22; 54:2382
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Combined Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Drugs Raise Bleeding Risk
- January 12, 2010
- Bruce Soloway, MD
- General Medicine
Use of dual or triple therapy requires caution.
- Reviewing:
- Sørensen R et al. Lancet 2009 Dec 12; 374:1967
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Measurements of Physician Performance and Quality
- January 5, 2010
- By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
- General Medicine
Most practices are too small to generate meaningful data.
- Reviewing:
- JAMA 2009 Dec 9; 302:2444
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Perimenopausal Changes in Cardiac Risk Factors
- January 12, 2010
- By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
- General Medicine
Lipid levels are particularly sensitive to the menopausal transition.
- Reviewing:
- J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Dec 15/22; 54:2366
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Incidental Findings on CT Angiography for Evaluation of PEFree
- January 8, 2010
- By J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP
- Emergency Medicine
In a study of CT angiography in ED patients, incidental findings were more than twice as common as PE.
- Reviewing:
- Arch Intern Med 2009 Nov 23; 169:1961
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Costs to Expand Healthcare Coverage Might Be Offset Partially by Savings
- January 5, 2010
- By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
- General Medicine
Medicare spending was higher for people between the ages of 51 and 61 who lacked insurance.
- Reviewing:
- Ann Intern Med 2009 Dec 1; 151:757
Journal Watch Cardiology summarizes important medical journal articles about a wide variety of cardiovascular subjects including angina, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stents, stroke and ventricular fibrillation.
