Top stories in cardiology: New trials to further assess hydroxychloroquine, safety of BP medications in COVID-19
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A new study led by the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit will evaluate whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent COVID-19 in health care workers and first responders. This was the top story in cardiology last week.
In other COVID-19-related news, a randomized trial will further investigate the safety of using renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors to control BP in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:
New study to provide insight on hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 prevention in health care workers
The Henry Ford Health System in Detroit recently announced it is leading the WHIP COVID-19 study, which will assess whether hydroxychloroquine will prevent or impede COVID-19 in health care workers and first responders. Read more.
Randomized trial underway to assess RAAS inhibitors in COVID-19
Many international medical societies have endorsed the continuation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists to control BP in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic despite concerns about the drugs’ relationship to ACE2, the receptor that helps the virus bind to cells. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine recently started the REPLACE COVID trial to provide more information about the effects of these medications in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Read more.
Pulmonary embolism twice as prevalent in COVID-19 in case series report
A case series published in Circulation by physicians at Lille University Hospital in France reported twice the prevalence of pulmonary embolism among patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU compared with patients admitted to the ICU the same time in 2019. Read more.
Aerobic fitness impact on autonomic BP control varies by age in women
Aerobic exercise may have little or no part in parasympathetic BP control among fit postmenopausal women, according to research published in Hypertension. Read more.
Dietary salt reduction initiative effective, with modest BP benefits
A province-wide campaign to reduce salt intake in Shandong, China, resulted in significant decreases in dietary sodium, modest reductions in BP and improved attitude and knowledge about salt intake among participants. Read more.