In a nutshell This study investigated the effect of acupuncture on angina management. They found that acupuncture reduced the rate of angina attacks. Some background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Angina is the term used to describe chest pain due to reduced blood flow. Many patients with CAD...
Read MoreCoronary artery disease Posts on Medivizor
A review of the effectiveness and safety of alirocumab and evolocumab in coronary artery disease
In a nutshell This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha) in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). They found that these drugs are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs). Some background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by a...
Read MoreTicagrelor vs. clopidogrel – what are the effects on aortic stiffness?
In a nutshell This study investigated the effects of ticagrelor (Brilique) and clopidogrel (Plavix) on aortic stiffness (AS). They found that ticagrelor was more effective at reducing AS. Some background Aortic stiffness (AS) is a common feature of coronary artery disease (CAD). AS can also be a predictor of...
Read MoreCoronary events are associated with increased cognitive decline
In a nutshell This study investigated the cognitive decline (CD; decreased functioning of reasoning and thinking) before and after a coronary event in patients with coronary heart disease. Researchers suggested that coronary events are associated with CD. Some background Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The rate of...
Read MoreSmoking cessation after a first cardiovascular event lowers the risk of a second event
In a nutshell This study investigated the relationship between smoking and the risk of a second cardiovascular event (CVE). Researchers suggested that after a first CVE, smoking cessation (SC; quit smoking) lowers the risk of a second CVE. Some background Cardiovascular events (CVEs) include stroke, heart attack or death due to damage to the...
Read MoreElectronic cigarette use and myocardial infarction: is there a link?
In a nutshell This article investigated the relationship between electronic cigarette (EC) use and myocardial infarction (MI; heart attack). The authors concluded that EC use is associated with an increased risk of having had an MI. Some background People who smoke normal cigarettes are 2 to 5 times more likely to have an MI. It is...
Read MoreP2Y12 inhibitors – is monotherapy a safe management strategy after percutaneous coronary intervention?
In a nutshell This study investigated the effect of dual antiplatelet therapy (APT) compared to P2Y12 inhibitors on outcomes after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). They found that the rate of cardiac events was similar in patients treated with P2Y12 inhibitors or dual APT. Some background Coronary artery disease (CAD)...
Read MoreEzetimibe vs evolocumab for the prevention of cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes
In a nutshell This article investigated the treatment cost of ezetimibe (Zetia) vs evolocumab (Repatha) in treating major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The authors concluded that treatment with ezetimibe is the most cost-effective option for these patients. Some background T2D is a disorder where the body...
Read MoreEvaluating the safety and effectiveness of the COMBO bio-engineered stent
In a nutshell This article investigated the safety and effectiveness y of the COMBO stent for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The authors concluded that the COMBO stent is safe and effective in these patients. Some background In patients with CAD, one or more of the blood...
Read MoreBioabsorbable versus permanent stents – what are the long-term clinical benefits?
In a nutshell This study investigated if bioabsorbable polymer (BP) or permanent polymer (PP) drug-eluting stents (DES) are more effective. They found that BP- and PP-DES are similarly effective. Some background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common and serious condition. It leads to blockages in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the...
Read MoreNo Salt, Please
A recent commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine describes what is really happening with the US food supply. In 2010, a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM–now called the National Academy of Medicine) stated that, salt intake is actually a factor that is out of our personal control. This is because only 5% of sodium is coming from the...
Read MoreDrug-eluting stent vs bypass grafting in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease
In a nutshell This article investigated the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent (PCI-DES) vs coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The authors concluded that CABG was better than PC-DES in these patients. Some background DM is a disorder where the...
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