Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Cardiology for March 2019. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Perception of E-Cigarettes as More Harmful Than Cigarettes Increased
FRIDAY, March 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2012 to 2017, the proportion of U.S. adults who perceived electronic-cigarettes to be as harmful as or more harmful than cigarettes increased, according to a study published online March 29 in JAMA Network Open.
Long-Term Phentermine Use Safe, Effective for Weight Loss
FRIDAY, March 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients taking phentermine for weight loss for more than three months experience greater weight loss without an increased risk for incident cardiovascular disease or death, according to a study published online March 21 in Obesity.
Lifetime HTN Risk High for Black Men and Women, White Men
THURSDAY, March 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Lifetime risks of hypertension under the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2017 threshold exceed 75 percent for white men and African-American men and women, according to a study published online March 27 in JAMA Cardiology.
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Doctors With Malpractice Claims More Likely to Leave Medicine
THURSDAY, March 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians with one or more paid malpractice claims are more likely to leave practice or shift into smaller practice settings, according to a study published in the March 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Many Eligible Patients Report Not Being Offered Statins
WEDNESDAY, March 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than half of patients eligible for statin therapy but not being treated report never being offered a statin, according to a study published online March 27 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Adding Transition Services Does Not Aid Heart Failure Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, March 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Additional transitional care services do not improve outcomes for heart failure patients discharged from the hospital, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Douglas County, Colorado, Ranked as Healthiest Community
TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 2019 healthiest community in America is Douglas County, Colorado, according to a report published online March 26 by U.S. News & World Report, in conjunction with the Aetna Foundation.
$775 Million Settlement Reached in Xarelto Lawsuits
TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A settlement of $775 million will be paid to settle lawsuits involving the blood thinner Xarelto, Johnson & Johnson and Bayer said Monday.
Mild Congenital Heart Defects Tied to CVD Events
TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with lower-complexity adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) have a higher burden of adverse cardiovascular events than the general population, independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors, according to a study published Feb. 28 in Circulation.
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Statins Cut Risk for Major Vascular Events in Older Patients
TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Statins reduce the rate of vascular events regardless of patient age, according to a meta-analysis recently published in The Lancet.
Blindfolding Leader Improves Pediatric Resuscitation Training
TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Team leaders who wear a blindfold during pediatric resuscitation simulation-based training show improved leadership skills compared with standard training teams, according to a study recently published in Frontiers in Pediatrics.
2019 Residency Match Day Was Largest in History
MONDAY, March 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 2019 Main Residency Match was the largest in history, with a record high of 38,376 applicants for 35,185 positions, according to 2019 Match Day results released by the National Resident Matching Program.
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Many Patients Still Employ Strategies to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs
FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The number of adults reporting the use of strategies, such as requesting a lower-cost medication or not using medication as prescribed, to reduce prescription drug costs remained stable in 2015 to 2017, according to a March data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Low, High Levels of Physical Activity Tied to Reduced Mortality
FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Both low and high levels of physical activity (PA) are associated with reduced all-cause mortality, according to a study published online March 19 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
More Vascular Risk Factors Tied to Worse Brain Health
FRIDAY, March 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A higher number of vascular risk factors (VRFs) is associated with poorer brain health across gray and white matter macrostructure and microstructure, according to a study published online March 11 in the European Heart Journal.
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FDA Approves New Device for Chronic, Moderate-to-Severe Heart Failure
THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The Optimizer Smart system was approved for treatment of patients with chronic, moderate-to-severe heart failure who are not eligible for treatment with other heart failure devices, including cardiac resynchronization therapy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today.
Statins Tied to Insulin Resistance, Higher Serum Fasting Insulin
THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Individuals using statins may be at higher risk for hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and eventually type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online March 5 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Trastuzumab Tied to Higher Long-Term Risk for Heart Failure
WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Compared with chemotherapy alone, trastuzumab is associated with a twofold increased long-term risk for heart failure in breast cancer survivors, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of JACC: Heart Failure.
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Sugary Drinks Tied to Cardiovascular Disease Mortality
WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with increased mortality, mainly cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, according to a study published online March 18 in Circulation.
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Overall, Physicians Are Happy and Enjoy Their Lives
WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Overall, physicians are happy and enjoy their lives, according to the 2019 American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)/CompHealth Physician Happiness Survey published online March 19.
2019 AAFP/CompHealth Physician Happiness Survey
Healthy Food Rx Could Be Cost-Effective for Medicare, Medicaid
WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Economic incentives for healthier foods through Medicare and Medicaid could generate substantial health gains and be highly cost-effective, according to a study published online March 19 in PLOS Medicine.
Light Physical Activity Tied to Lower CHD, CVD Risk in Women
TUESDAY, March 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Light physical activity (PA) is associated with reductions in coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among older women, according to a study published online March 15 in JAMA Network Open.
FDA Issues Update on Mortality Risk With Paclitaxel-Coated Products
MONDAY, March 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A preliminary analysis has revealed a “potentially concerning signal” of increased long-term mortality risk with paclitaxel-coated products indicated for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to a March 15 update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Outcomes for AMI Improved During 1995 to 2014
MONDAY, March 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Short-term mortality and readmissions improved from 1995 to 2014 for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to a study published online March 15 in JAMA Network Open.
Average of 8.8 Inactive Ingredients Found in Oral Medications
MONDAY, March 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Oral forms of medications contain an average of 8.8 inactive ingredients, many of which could cause adverse reactions, according to a perspective piece published in the March 13 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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MitraClip Device Approved for Patients With Secondary Mitral Regurgitation
FRIDAY, March 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new indication has been approved for the MitraClip Clip Delivery System in patients with normal mitral valves who develop heart failure symptoms and secondary or functional mitral regurgitation despite treatment with optimal medical therapy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday.
Physician Burnout Rate Increased From 2014 to 2017
FRIDAY, March 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2017, there was an increase in physician burnout, with early-career physicians being the most susceptible, according to a study published online March 15 in JAMA Network Open.
E-Cigarettes May Threaten Goal of Achieving Tobacco Endgame
THURSDAY, March 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable concern regarding the potential negative impact that electronic cigarettes and other new products may have on ending all tobacco use and nicotine addiction, according to a presidential advisory issued by the American Heart Association and published online March 13 in Circulation.
Troponin Assay Confusion May Cause Misdiagnosis of Acute MI
THURSDAY, March 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 99th centile of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) concentration is substantially higher in a hospital population than the manufacturer’s recommended upper limit of normal (ULN), according to a study published online March 13 in The BMJ.
Adding Bempedoic Acid to Statin Therapy Reduces LDL Cholesterol
WEDNESDAY, March 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Bempedoic acid, an inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), added to maximally tolerated statin therapy, significantly reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, according to a study published in the March 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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FDA Approves New Generic Valsartan to Ease Shortage
WEDNESDAY, March 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a new generic version of the high blood pressure/heart failure drug valsartan, saying the move might help ease the current medication shortage.
Head of National Cancer Institute Named Acting FDA Commissioner
WEDNESDAY, March 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will temporarily be overseen by the head of the National Cancer Institute when FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., leaves the post next month.
CDC: Most Americans Report Excellent, Good Health
WEDNESDAY, March 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Most Americans report having excellent or good health and have a usual place to go for medical care, according to a report published March 13 for the National Health Interview Survey Early Release Program.
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Third Leading Cause of DALYs
TUESDAY, March 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are 1,347 per 100,000 individuals, according to a study published online March 12 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Stress Test-Based Physiological Age May Be Superior Mortality Predictor
TUESDAY, March 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Estimated age based on exercise stress testing performance may be a better predictor of mortality than chronological age, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Tied to Coronary Heart Disease Risk
MONDAY, March 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Poor cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in a low-risk population, according to a study recently published in the European Heart Journal.
Becoming Active in Middle Age Still Offers Health Benefits
FRIDAY, March 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Becoming physically active in middle age may provide comparable health benefits to long-term participation in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), according to a study published online March 8 in JAMA Network Open.
GDM Linked to Increased Cardiovascular Event Risk Postpartum
FRIDAY, March 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an increased risk fir developing cardiovascular events postpartum, according to a review published online March 7 in Diabetologia.
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Water Pipe Tobacco Smoking Addictive, Harmful to the Heart
FRIDAY, March 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Smoking a water pipe is addictive and can increase the risk for initiating cigarette smoking, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association published online March 8 in Circulation.
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Endogenous Testosterone Linked to Cardiovascular Disease
THURSDAY, March 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In men, endogenous testosterone may have a causal role in thromboembolism, heart failure, and myocardial infarction, according to a study published online March 6 in The BMJ.
Preoperative Frailty Linked to Surgical Outcomes, Costs
WEDNESDAY, March 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative frailty is associated with surgical outcomes and costs in patients undergoing elective surgery, according to a study published online March 1 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
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Electronic Order Set May Reduce Inappropriate ECG Monitoring
WEDNESDAY, March 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Use of electronic order sets is a safe and effective way to enhance appropriate electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring of hospitalized patients, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Critical Care.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb Resigns
TUESDAY, March 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In what probably came as a surprise to many, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., announced his resignation on Tuesday. Gottlieb is leaving the FDA because he wants to spend more time with his wife and three young daughters — twins aged 9 and a 5-year-old — one official said. He currently commutes each week from the family home in Connecticut to his Washington, D.C., office.
Heat Alerts May Come Too Late in Northern States
TUESDAY, March 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Hospital admissions for heat-related health problems increase in northern states long before heat alerts are issued, and these higher admission rates occur at lower temperatures than in the South, where people are more used to heat, the Associated Press reported.
AP News Article
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2011 to 2015 Saw Drop in Delayed Discharge Rates After TAVR
TUESDAY, March 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2011 to 2015, there was a decline in the rates of delayed discharge following transcatheter aortic valve replacement, according to research published in the March 11 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Intraoperative Methylprednisolone During Bypass Not Renal Protective
MONDAY, March 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing cardiac surgery with a cardiopulmonary bypass pump, administration of intravenous methylprednisolone does not reduce the risk for acute kidney injury, according to a study published online March 4 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Tied to Stroke Risk
MONDAY, March 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have a greater long-term risk for stroke that is reduced by aspirin use, according to a study recently published in Neurology.
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Readmission for Patients With Sepsis Common and Costly
MONDAY, March 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Readmission after sepsis hospitalization is common and is associated with considerable costs, according to a study published in the March issue of CHEST.
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Oscillometric Devices Offer More Accurate Way to Measure BP
MONDAY, March 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Oscillometric devices allow accurate office blood pressure (BP) measurement while reducing human errors associated with the auscultatory approach, according to a scientific statement published online March 4 in Hypertension.
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Age, Race Impact Atherosclerotic Risk With Psoriasis
FRIDAY, March 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Some subgroups of patients with psoriasis are at greater risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), according to a research letter published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Dermatology.
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FDA Warns Americans Not to Buy Drugs From Canadian Company
FRIDAY, March 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A large Canadian drug distributor sells unapproved and mislabeled medicines to Americans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday. The distributor disputes the claim, however.
The New York Times Article
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Long-Term Cardiomyopathy Risk Varies by Chemo Agent
FRIDAY, March 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Long-term cardiomyopathy risk varies by chemotherapy agent for childhood cancer survivors, with a decreased risk for daunorubicin versus doxorubicin, according to a study recently published in JAMA Oncology.
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