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Top news of November: AHA highlights, electrophysiology training ‘crisis’ and more
Healio and Cardiology Today have compiled a list of the most-viewed cardiology articles in November. This month, our readers were most interested in highlights from the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions including COLCOT and ISCHEMIA, the impact of vitamin D and fish oil on HF hospitalization risk, a commentary on the decline of cardiology fellows pursuing electrophysiology training and more.
Vitamin D, fish oil fail to reduce first HF hospitalization risk
Interventions with vitamin D or omega-3 failed to reduce rates of first heart failure hospitalization in a large cohort of healthy adults, although researchers observed a benefit for recurrent HF hospitalization with fish oil supplementation, according to findings from an ancillary study of the VITAL trial presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions. Read more
COLCOT: Low-dose colchicine reduces CV risk after MI
Adults with a recent MI were less likely to experience an ischemic CV event over 2 years when assigned the anti-inflammatory gout medication colchicine compared with assignment to placebo, according to new results of the COLCOT trial presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions. Read more
Commentary: Electrophysiology training in crisis
In a new Commentary published in Cardiology Today, Peter R. Kowey, MD, FACC, FAHA, FHRS, Victoria M. Robinson, MBChB, MRCP, Douglas Esberg, MD, FACC, FHRS, describe a sharp decline in the number of cardiology fellows who have chosen to pursue advanced training in cardiac electrophysiology over the past 5 years. Read more
ISCHEMIA: Invasive strategy, medical therapy yield similar CV outcomes in stable ischemia
In stable patients with moderate or severe ischemia, an invasive strategy and a conservative strategy of optimal medical therapy yielded similar long-term CV outcomes, according to long-anticipated results of the ISCHEMIA and ISCHEMIA-CKD trials presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions. Read more
Dapagliflozin confers consistent benefit in HF without diabetes: DAPA-HF
New analyses of the DAPA-HF trial suggest that the benefits of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin extend beyond its effects as a type 2 diabetes therapy. Read more
FDA: Risk for biotin interference with lab tests, troponin remains a concern
The FDA has updated its safety communication to remind the public, health care providers, lab personnel and lab test developers that biotin, or vitamin B7, can significantly interfere with certain diagnostic tests and cause incorrect results that may go undetected. The FDA remains concerned, in particular, with the potential for false results for troponin, which could result in missed diagnoses for MI. Read more
HF pharmacotherapy in midst of paradigm shift
Dramatic results of the recent DAPA-HF and PARAGON-HF trials have prompted the cardiology community to rethink pharmacotherapy for patients with HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Changes to clinical practice and to guidelines could be forthcoming, but there is a lot to sort out before that happens. Read more
ED visits spike, prescribing patterns change in wake of valsartan recall
When multiple generic valsartan products were recalled worldwide in July 2018 due to the presence of a carcinogenic contaminant, valsartan dispensing immediately decreased. However, there was an immediate spike in ED visits for hypertension and incomplete replacement with alternative products in some patients, according to new data presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions. Read more
Insomnia increases CVD risk
Symptoms of insomnia, specifically difficulties in falling and staying asleep, early morning awakening and daytime dysfunction, were independent risk factors for the incidence of CVD, especially in young adults or those without hypertension, according to a study published in Neurology. Read more
Evening eating may worsen heart health in women
Women who consumed a higher proportion of their daily calories after 6 p.m. had poorer overall CV health and higher BP, BMI and HbA1c levels, researchers reported at the AHA Scientific Sessions. Read more