Cardiology: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

You'll Faint When You See the Bill

• August 12, 2009
• Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH

The most expensive tests for evaluating syncope usually don't influence diagnosis or management, and the least expensive — and most useful — test is underused. CME

• Reviewing:
• Mendu ML et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 27; 169:1299

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Active Commuting and Cardiovascular Risk

• August 5, 2009
• Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Walking or biking to work is associated with some favorable risk markers, but whether these practices confer a benefit is unclear.

• Reviewing:
• Gordon-Larsen P et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 13; 169:1216

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Cost-Effectiveness of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening

• August 5, 2009
• Beat J. Meyer, MD

Conflicting results in two different populations illustrate the difficulty of forecasting the effects of an intervention in a changing environment.

• Reviewing:
• Thompson SG et al., BMJ 2009 Jun 27; 338:1538 Ehlers L et al., BMJ 2009 Jun 27; 338:1542 Buxton MJ., BMJ 2009 Jun 27; 338:1509

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Statins for Primary Prevention: Homing in on Effectiveness

• August 5, 2009
• Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

A new meta-analysis bolsters the case for benefit.

• Reviewing:
• Brugts JJ et al., BMJ 2009 Jun 30; 338:b2376

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

PR Prolongation: Not Always Benign

• July 29, 2009
• Mark S. Link, MD

In a large population-based cohort, longer PR intervals were associated with significantly increased risks for AF, pacemaker implantation, and mortality.

• Reviewing:
• Cheng S et al., JAMA 2009 Jun 24; 301:2571

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Cardiovascular Events in Canada, 1994–2004

• July 29, 2009
• Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Findings from a nationwide study reveal significant declines in mortality and hospital admissions.

• Reviewing:
• Tu JV et al., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:e118

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

"Drive-By" Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale

• July 29, 2009
• Howard C. Herrmann, MD

In a retrospective, case-control series, repair of PFO found incidentally during cardiothoracic surgery conferred no short- or long-term benefit.

• Reviewing:
• Karsuski RA et al., JAMA 2009 Jul 15; 302:290

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

What Tests Should I Order for Suspected Arrhythmogenic RV Dysplasia?

• July 29, 2009
• Mark S. Link, MD

An international prospective study demonstrates the difficulty of diagnosing this rare disease.

• Reviewing:
• Marcus FI et al., Heart Rhythm 2009 Jul; 6:984

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Smoking Cessation: How Much Evidence Do We Need to Act?

• July 22, 2009
• Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

In patients hospitalized for MI or CABG, an intensive intervention produced higher abstinence rates than a typical intervention. CME

• Reviewing:
• Smith PM and Burgess E., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1297 Rigotti NA., CMAJ 2009 Jun 23; 180:1283

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Coronary Aneurysm After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation

• July 15, 2009
• Howard C. Herrmann, MD

A prospective case-series study enhances our understanding of a rare complication.

• Reviewing:
• Alfonso F et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Jun 2; 53:2053