Opinion based guideline recommendations less likely to stand the test of time

Limited data exists on how frequently guidelines change over time. This study examined how frequently class I recommendations (“procedure/treatment should be performed/administered”) in ACC/AHA guidelines were downgraded to a lower class over time. Four independent reviewers examined 619 class I ACC/AHA recommendations in 11 guidelines released between 1998-2007 and revised between 2006-2013. Overall, 495 recommendations […]

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BNP guided therapy for heart failure

Although a number of studies have previously investigated the utility of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to guide treatment for heart failure, these studies were limited by their small size and limited follow-up.  The Trial of Intensified vs Standard Medical Therapy in Elderly Patients With Congestive Heart Failure (TIME-CHF) aimed to overcome these limitations. […]

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