In a nutshell The aim of this study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of 3 different drug-releasing stents for the heart blood vessels (biodegradable stents versus new permanent stents versus older permanent stents) after 10 years. The main finding of the study was that biodegradable and new permanent stents showed similar results and were...
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Happy Heart Health Day!
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched–they must be felt by the heart.” ~Helen Keller “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” ~Confucius Today celebrates the heart. Today also celebrates heart donors. “In Living On Through Organ Donation,” we shared the story of an amazing...
Read MoreVitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular health: is there an increased risk of injury?
In a nutshell This study investigated if vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with subclinical myocardial injury (SC-MI) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). They found that VDD is linked to SC-MI, particularly in men. Some background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can be caused by a number of factors. Poor diet is a risk factor...
Read MoreCan a big first dose of atorvastatin lower poor outcomes in patients with heart attacks?
In a nutshell The aim of this study was to investigate if a large first dose (loading dose) of atorvastatin (Lipitor) can reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with heart attacks and unstable angina. Some background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term which describes heart attacks and unstable angina A heart attack is a...
Read MoreDiastolic blood pressure can predict the size of plaque in heart blood vessels
In a nutshell The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood pressure and plaque size in coronary (heart) blood vessels. The main finding of the study was that diastolic (the second number in the blood pressure reading) blood pressure can predict the size of the coronary plaque. Some background High blood pressure is a major...
Read MoreThe FIREHAWK: a new stent for patients with coronary artery disease
In a nutshell The aim of this study was the compare the safety and effectiveness of the new FIREHAWK stent to the XIENCE stent in the management of coronary artery disease. The study found that the FIREHAWK was not inferior to the XIENCE stent at 12 months. Some background Coronary artery disease (CAD) means that the blood vessels to the heart become...
Read MoreAerobic exercise reduces the amount of fat in the blood in patients with heart disease
In a nutshell The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between aerobic exercise and fat in the blood (triglycerides) in patients with heart disease. The main finding of the study was that aerobic exercises reduced triglycerides in these patients. Some background It was previously thought that LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) was...
Read MoreCholesterol levels and management of high cholesterol in patients with heart disease
In a nutshell The purpose of this study was to investigate the cholesterol levels and the management of high cholesterol in patients with acute coronary syndrome (heart attack/angina). Patients who had a STEMI (a specific type of heart attack) had worse cholesterol levels but had better cholesterol levels after 12 months of statin therapy. Some...
Read MoreWhich blood pressure lowering drug better protects the heart after a heart attack in patients with diabetes?
In a nutshell The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in protecting the heart in patients with diabetes that have had a heart attack and who had stents placed. The main finding of the study was that ACEI reduced the risk of major adverse...
Read MoreShort-term anti-platelet therapy: can it prevent cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
In a nutshell This study investigated if short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) improves outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). They found that short-term DAPT did not increase the risk of heart attacks or clots after PCI. Some background Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) may have blockages in the arteries supplying...
Read MoreDoes heart rate predict the success of percutaneous coronary intervention?
In a nutshell This study investigated if heart rate can predict the success following a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). They found that a higher heart rate (HR) before PCI was linked to a short-term risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE; stroke, heart attack or death due to heart disease). Some background Coronary artery disease...
Read MoreCombining clopidogrel and aspirin in coronary artery disease
In a nutshell This study investigated if clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin are effective when taken together for treating coronary artery disease (CAD). They found that clopidogrel and aspirin improved CAD symptoms compared to aspirin alone. Some background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. This leads...
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