Latest research on cardiovascular disease for physicians

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women, according to the CDC, and approximately 610,000 people in the United States die from the disease every year.

To mark American Heart Month, Healio.com/Internal Medicine presents the latest CVD research, including associations with sodium, various risk factors and treatments.

Sodium intake not linked to mortality, incident CVD, incident HF in older adults

In older adults, sodium intake as assessed by a food frequency questionnaire was not associated with 10-year mortality, incident CVD or incident HF, researchers found. Read more.

Study: 30-year CVD risk high in homeless adults with mental illness

Homeless adults with mental illness, particularly men and those with substance dependence, have an elevated 30-year risk for coronary death, myocardial infarction and stroke, according to a new report. Read more.

CV risk factors, obesity common in women undergoing hysterectomy

In a recent study, women who underwent hysterectomy with ovarian conservation had a higher frequency of CV risk factors, particularly obesity. Read more.

Trauma, PTSD may be risk factors for CVD among women

Data from the Nurses’ Health Study II indicate that female nurses who experienced trauma and elevated PTSD symptoms were more likely to develop CVD. Read more.

TEXT ME: Program helps improve LDL, CVD risk factors in patients with CHD

Patients with CHD assigned a service providing text messages supporting healthy lifestyle behaviors lowered their LDL level and showed greater improvement in CVD risk factors compared with those assigned the usual care, according to results from the TEXT ME study. Read more.

CVD remains leading cause of mortality among patients with RA

Results of a recently published study identified CVD as the leading cause of death among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in São Paulo, Brazil, and highlighted infectious disease as an emerging cause of rheumatoid arthritis-associated death. Read more.

No association between CVD, Nordic diet

An analysis of Swedish women found no association between risk for CVD and a healthy Nordic food index, according to data published in the Journal of Internal Medicine. Read more.

Individuals at risk for CVD often mistakenly categorized as allergic to aspirin

Individuals with a moderate-to-high risk for CVD and a hypersensitive reaction to aspirin often are mistakenly categorized as allergic, according to data presented at the 2015 American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting. Read more.

Modest physical activity lowers CVD risk in older adults

Engaging in even modest physical activity was associated with lower risk for CHD, stroke and CVD in older adults, according to the results of a prospective cohort study. Read more.

Improving diet-quality scores can reduce risk for CVD

Improving diet-quality scores reduce risk for CVD in both the short and long term, according to study results published in Circulation. Read more.