How does sleep duration impact cardiometabolic risk? Read the week’s top stories in cardiology

Sleep duration was a significant predictor of cardiometabolic risk and several other causes of mortality, and children who were exposed to a parent’s secondhand smoke were at significantly higher risk for developing atrial fibrillation and to start smoking themselves.

These stories and more topped the week’s cardiology news.

Sleep duration may be predictive of cardiometabolic risk factors, cerebrovascular disease mortality

Sleep duration was found to be a significant predictor of cardiometabolic risk factors and cerebrovascular disease mortality as well as cancer mortality. Read more.

Children exposed to secondhand smoke at home at greater risk for atrial fibrillation

Children who were exposed to secondhand smoke by a parent not only had a significantly higher risk for developing atrial fibrillation but also were more likely to begin smoking themselves. Read more.

Pesticides may impact development of CVD

High occupational exposure to pesticides may play a role in the development of CVD, according to findings from the Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Read more.

Bias against higher recommended drug doses for heart failure may be present

The uptitration of drugs used to treat patients with chronic systolic heart failure was more likely to be stopped as the dosage became further away from the recommendation dose, especially with higher recommended dosages compared with lower recommended dosages, according to a brief research report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more.

High-fiber diet improves CV risk factors in hypertension, diabetes

A high-fiber, low-glycemia index diet showed a strong protective role against CVD and CV risk reduction in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes, according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiology Middle East Conference. Read more.