Top in cardiology: Atrial fibrillation in firefighters, Pfizer recall of BP medications

Firefighters who responded to a higher number of fires per year had a significantly greater risk for developing atrial fibrillation than those who responded to fewer fires, according to a recent study.

Researchers also found that the prevalence of atrial fibrillation increased with age, with firefighters aged at least 61 years reporting a higher incidence vs. those aged 60 years or younger. It was the top story in cardiology last week.

Another top story was about Pfizer’s voluntary recall of certain lots of BP medications due to high levels of a nitrosamine. Although nitrosamines are common in water and certain foods, exposure to higher than acceptable levels over long periods of time may increase the risk for cancer, according to the FDA.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Job exposures may raise AF risk for firefighters

Firefighters who reported responding to at least 31 fires per year were more than twice as likely to have a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation compared with those who responded to five or fewer fires per year, survey data show. Read more.

Pfizer recalls certain lots of blood pressure medications due to carcinogen risk

Pfizer has issued a voluntarily recall of certain lots of quinapril HCl/hydrochlorothiazide tablets and additional lots distributed by Greenstone due to high levels of a nitrosamine known to be carcinogenic in high doses. Read more.

Antiplatelet agents fail to benefit critically ill adults with COVID-19

Compared with no antiplatelet therapy, aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors did not improve the number of organ support-free days in critically ill patients with COVID-19, according to results of the REMAP-CAP trial published in JAMA. Read more.

Shortness of breath, fatigue may signal worse outcomes after non-STEMI

In adults with non-STEMI, those presenting with shortness of breath or fatigue were more likely to die or be readmitted for cardiovascular complications at 1 year compared with those presenting with chest pain, researchers reported. Read more.

Resmetirom plus maximally tolerated therapy lowers LDL in heterozygous FH vs. placebo

In patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia already taking maximally tolerated lipid-lowering medication, resmetirom (Madrigal) lowered LDL, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) levels vs. placebo, researchers reported. Read more.