Apr
20

Statins in primary prevention and all-cause mortality

Ray KK, et al. Statins and all-cause mortality in high-risk primary prevention: a meta-analysis of 11 RCTs… Archives of Internal Medicine, 2010; 170(12): 1024-31 Statins were not associated with a benefit to all-cause mortality in a primary prevention setting.

Apr
13

Proton pump inhibitors with clopidogrel

van Boxel OS, et al. Cardiovascular and gastrointestinal outcomes in clopidogrel users on proton pump inhibitors: results of a large Dutch cohort study. Am J Gastroenterol 2010; 105: 2430–6
Concurrent proton pump inhibitors may increase the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients taking clopidogrel.

Mar
14

Conventional CPR vs chest compression only

Ogawa T, et al. Outcomes of chest compression only CPR versus conventional CPR conducted by lay people… BMJ 2011; 342: c7106
Conventional CPR may be associated with better rates of survival than chest compression only CPR when conducted by lay people in out of hospital arrests.

Mar
07

Cardiovascular safety of NSAIDs

Trelle S, et al. Cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: network meta-analysis. BMJ 2011; 342:c7086
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appear to be associated with increased cardiovascular risks.

Feb
28

B-vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids on vascular disease

Galan P, et al. Effects of B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases: a RCT. BMJ 2010; 341:c6273
B-vitamin and low dose omega-3 fatty acid supplements are not associated with better vascular outcomes in people with ischaemic heart disease and stroke.

Feb
14

Statins, coronary heart disease and abnormal LFTs

Athyros VG, et al. Safety and efficacy of long-term statin treatment for cardiovascular events in patients with CHD and abnormal LFTs in GREACE Study: a post-hoc analysis. Lancet 2010; 376: 1916–22
Statin are effective and safe in patients with established coronary heart disease but with mild-to-moderate abnormal liver function tests.

Jan
21

Chronic kidney disease and risk of cardiovascular disease

Di Angelantonio E, et al. CKD and risk of major CVD and no-vascular mortality: prospective population based cohort study. BMJ. 2010;341:c4986
Even the earliest stages of CKD seem to be independently associated with an increased risk of subsequent CHD.

Jan
12

Severe hypoglycemia and risk of vascular events and death

Zoungas S, et al. Severe hypoglycemia and risk of vascular events and death. N Engl J Med 2010;363:1410-8
Severe hypoglycaemia is strongly associated with increased risk of vascular events and death (~ 350% ↑ risk).

Jan
05

Subclinical hypothyroidism and coronary heart disease

Rondondi N, et al. Subclinical hypothyroidism and the risk of coronary heart disease and mortality. JAMA. 2010;304(12):1365-1374.
Subclinical hypothyroidism (elevated TSH with normal thyroxine levels) is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events and mortality.