This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Cardiology Today's top 5 articles posted in October
Cardiology Today compiled a list of the top 5 stories posted to Healio.com/Cardiology in October.
This month, Cardiology Today readers were most interested in the reduction of residual CVD risk by targeting lipids and proteins, reducing CV risk through meditation, interaction between newer anticoagulants and certain drugs, clinical trials and FDA updates further the efforts of CVD risk reduction, tai chi for patients declining cardiac rehabilitation and much more.
Targeting certain lipids, proteins may reduce residual CVD risk
BOSTON — Targeting lipoprotein(a) and other lipids and proteins known to be associated with CVD may benefit patients who remain at high CVD risk despite LDL lowered to an optimal level, according to a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress.
Genetically validated targets beyond LDL include Lp(a), apolipoprotein B, triglycerides, ApoC-III, ApoA-I and ANGPTL3, said Sotirios Tsimikas, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, vice president of global cardiovascular development at Ionis Pharmaceuticals and professor of medicine and director of vascular medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
AHA: Meditation may reduce CV risk
Meditation may be a cost-effective and low-risk way to reduce CV risk, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
“Although studies of meditation suggest a possible benefit on cardiovascular risk, there hasn’t been enough research to conclude it has a definite role,” Glenn N. Levine, MD, FAHA, professor of medicine-cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine and chair of the writing group, said in a press release.
Interaction between newer anticoagulants, certain drugs increases major bleeding in AF
In patients with atrial fibrillation taking non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants, some concurrently prescribed drugs increased the risk for major bleeding compared with oral anticoagulants alone, study data show.
“Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are being used more frequently because of their ease of administration and comparative efficacy compared with warfarin in reducing thromboembolism and major bleeding,” Shang-Hung Chang, MD, PhD, of the cardiovascular department at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, and colleagues wrote. “However, for patients with atrial fibrillation, NOACs still pose a major bleeding risk, which is particularly problematic when multiple morbidities, high-risk medications, polypharmacy or drug-drug interactions are present.”
Clinical trials, FDA updates further progress of lowering CVD risk
BOSTON — Ongoing and late-breaking clinical trials throughout 2017 have made progress on CVD risk reduction and affected clinical practice, according to a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Health Conference in Boston.
Tai chi viable option for patients declining cardiac rehabilitation
Tai chi may be a safe and effective alternative option for the improvement of physical activity among patients with CHD who decline enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation, according to data published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
According to the study background, nearly one-quarter of patients who survive an acute coronary event will experience another CV event or are at risk for mortality in the next 5 years. Despite this, more than 60% of patients decline participation in cardiac rehabilitation after MI.