Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is an increasingly common condition occurring more frequently in men than women; over the last three decades the overall prevalence in the US population has risen to 8.8%. Links between nephrolithiasis and other systemic diseases have been noted, including subclinical atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. However, previous studies looking […]
Category: General cardiology
CARDIA – Abdominal obesity and coronary artery calcium
Over the past three decades, obesity rates for adults have doubled and rates for adolescents have tripled. Therefore, younger people are experiencing a greater cumulative exposure to excess adiposity over their lifetime, however the long-term effects of this have been poorly studied to date. In particular, abdominal obesity is known to cause the development of […]
Blood pressure telemonitoring leads to improved control
Only half of US adults have blood pressure levels that are controlled to recommended levels. Home blood pressure monitoring has previously been shown to be a useful adjunct to team-based care for hypertension, and home BP readings can predict cardiovascular risk more accurately than office BP measurements. Recent studies have suggested that a combined approach […]
Gut microbiota linked to coronary outcomes
There is a growing awareness in many fields of medicine that intestinal microbial organisms, collectively termed microbiota, play a crucial role in the global metabolism of their host. Recent animal studies have demonstrated mechanistic links between intestinal microbial metabolism of the choline moiety in dietary phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and coronary artery disease through the production of […]
Biventricular pacing for bradycardia
Right ventricular (RV) pacing is used in patients presenting with high degree atrioventricular block, both to relieve symptoms related to bradycardia and improve prognosis. The majority of these patients are elderly and many of them will have a degree of co-existing left ventricular dysfunction which may be exacerbated by the electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony that […]
BNP-based screening for heart failure
The increasing prevalence of heart failure emphasises the need for effective prevention strategies; brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been found to identify those at highest risk of cardiovascular events and heart failure. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine whether using BNP and collaborative care could reduced newly diagnosed heart failure cases and […]
Escitalopram for the treatment of mental-stress induced myocardial ischaemia (MSIMI)
Over the last three decades a large body of research has investigated the link between emotional distress and myocardial ischaemia; mental stress-induced myocardial ischaemia (MSIMI) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death. Recent studies on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has show that they may reduce the mental stress-induced haemodynamic response, […]
Fish oils for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease?
Polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from fish oils have been shown to confer benefit following myocardial infarction, and in patients with heart failure. They are thought to be pleiotropic, effecting atherosclerosis, inflammation, thrombosis and arrythmogenesis with a minimal side effect profile. However, the role of these potentially attractive drugs in primary prevention remains unknown. […]
Does warfarin need to be stopped for device insertion?
Over 1.6 million pacing or cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devices are implanted worldwide annually and up to 1/3 of this cohort have an indication for long-term anticoagulation therapy. Current guidelines suggest discontinuing the oral anticoagulant and initiating bridging therapy with heparin but this strategy is associated with increased costs, a short but high risk period of […]
Beta-blockers lower mortality after non-cardiac surgery
The use of preoperative beta-blockade to minimise the cardiovascular risks of noncardiac surgery has remained controversial for some time, and recent studies have suggested that preoperative beta-blockade may be now decreasing as a result. The purpose of this study was to determine whether early preoperative exposure to beta-blockers could influence 30-day postoperative outcomes in patients […]