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How does cannabis affect the heart? Read the week’s top stories in cardiology
Researchers found that cannabis use can cause changes in cardiac structure and function, although the reasons are unknown. The discovery was one of the top stories in cardiology last week.
Other top stories included the FDA approval of the first generic versions of apixaban and data that suggested alirocumab reduced stroke risk without increasing the risk for hemorrhage.
Cannabis use may confer structural changes, impairment to heart
Patients who regularly used cannabis were more likely to have adverse changes in subclinical dysfunction and left ventricular size compared with those who rarely or never used the substance, according to a study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. Read more.
FDA approves first generic versions of apixaban
The FDA announced it approved two applications for the first generic versions of apixaban tablets to reduce risk for stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Read more.
Alirocumab may reduce stroke risk without increasing odds of hemorrhage
New data from the ODYSSEY Outcomes trial show that alirocumab is effective at reducing risk for any stroke without increasing risk for hemorrhagic stroke. Read more.
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels may predict death, myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels before noncardiac surgery was strongly linked to myocardial injury and vascular death within 30 days after the procedure and may improve cardiac risk prediction along with the Revised Cardiac Risk Index, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more.
Obese women with breast cancer at elevated risk for cardiotoxicity
Patients with breast cancer treated with anthracyclines and/or trastuzumab who are also obese have significantly greater incidence of risk-related cardiotoxicity compared with nonobese counterparts, according to research published in PLoS Medicine. Read more.