Low-dose colchicine seems to reduce the risk for new cardiovascular events in patients with a history of infarction. This drug is usually indicated for anti-inflammatory therapy in gout and pericarditis. Now, it could also reduce the rate of ischemic events as secondary prevention according to the COLCOT trial presented during the American Heart Association (AHA)…
Statins in Primary Prevention: As Questioned as Aspirin?
This new review, recently published in BMJ, questions the benefit of statins in low-risk primary prevention patients. Authors argue that statins should be more cautiously indicated in primary prevention, considering that their absolute benefit is almost marginal in low-risk patients. Changes in the European guidelines have translated into a wide expansion of patients eligible for…
What Is the Best Time to Take Antihypertensives?
Bedtime hypertensive therapy might reduce the risk of cardiovascular events according to this study soon to be published in Eur Heart J. However, despite showing significant risk reduction this hypothesis calls for further study before radically changing the usual upon awakening therapy. Taking the prescribed medication before bedtime could allow our bodies to naturally follow…
Pulmonary Illness and E-Cigarettes: New Devices with New Diseases
We are seeing patients with similar clinical characteristics that shared the used of e-cigarettes. Even though we have been unable to identify one single responsible component or a set of them, clearly the use of e-cigarettes has brought new pathologies. E-cigarettes are electronic battery powered devices that heat a liquid forming an inhalable aerosol. Several…
ESC 2019 | EVOPACS: Evolocumab to Reduce Cholesterol in Acute Coronary Syndromes
Eight weeks of treatment with evolocumab added to a regimen of high-intensity statins in patients with acute coronary syndrome reduced significantly LDL cholesterol levels and was safe, compared with statins + placebo, according to the EVOPACS study presented last Saturday at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2019 Scientific Sessions in Paris and simultaneously…
ESC 2019 | HOPE 4: Overcoming Obstacles to Treat Risk Factors in Developing Countries
Exhaustive intervention carried out by healthcare non-medical healthcare professionals with the support of community members resulted in a significant reduction of systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol levels and CAD risk in patients of Malaysia and Colombia, according to this study presented at ESC 2019 in Paris and simultaneously published in Lancet. This intervention translated into…
ESC 2019 | DAPA-HF: Dapagliflozin Shows Benefit for All Subgroups
Dapagliflozin (a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 [SGLT2] inhibitor), when indicated concomitantly with standard therapy, reduces significantly the risk of worsening heart failure events and cardiovascular events, and improves symptoms in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction according to this new work presented during last Sunday’s scientific sessions at the European Society of Cardiology…
ESC 2019 | PARAGON-HF: Sacubitril/Valsartan Somewhat Disappointing, though a Few Would Benefit.
The combination Sacubitril/valsartan did not reduce the risk of rehospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death in patients with cardiac failure symptoms and preserved ejection fraction, according to the new study presented on Sunday at ESC 2019 scientific session in Paris and simultaneously published in NEJM. Despite the negative results, we remain hopeful that this…
Must Post MI Patients Use B Blockers for Life?
Long-term use of B blockers after myocardial infarction has been questioned for a while now; in fact, admittedly, beyond the three year follow up its benefits remain unclear. It is particularly controversial in elderly patients and this recent study published in Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes sheds some light on the matter. The study followed 6893…
Heart and Brain: Risk Factors, Atrial Fibrillation and Dementia
For decades, physiologists have known what cardiologists often forget: heart and brain communicate intensely in a healthy person, and in a wide range of cardiovascular diseases they could damage one another. Multiple actions and immediate reactions in the brain adequately adapt heart function to bodily needs, such as anxiety and frustration, which might impair adequate…
Though Systolic BP Seems More Important, Diastolic BP Should Not Be Disregarded
Systolic hypertension is more often associated to cardiovascular events. However, diastolic blood pressure should not be disregarded, since it can also predict even worse outcomes. Although systolic blood pressure is very frequently associated to adverse cardiovascular events, by no means should diastolic blood pressure be considered unimportant. Such is the message of this study recently…