In a nutshell This study looked at which antiplatelet drug is better in patients who had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It found that patients who had maintenance treatment with clopidogrel (Plavix) were less likely to suffer from a heart attack, bleeding, stroke, or death over the following 24 months compared to those...
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Which heart procedure has better outcomes in patients with diabetes and heart disease?
In a nutshell This study compared two heart interventions for people with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D). It found that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) led to better long-term outcomes than placing a stent in these patients. Some background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a condition in which the arteries which supply blood to...
Read MoreCan biodegradable stents improve heart outcomes?
In a nutshell This trial compared outcomes for sirolimus-eluting biodegradable stents (Orsiro) to everolimus-releasing durable stents (Xience) in patients with a need for more than 1 stent. It found that for patients having several stents placed after a heart attack, biodegradable stents had better outcomes. Some background While all heart...
Read MoreEvaluating long-term outcomes of rosuvastatin treatment to prevent heart complications
In a nutshell This study evaluated the long-term effects of rosuvastatin (Crestor) compared to placebo in reducing heart complications. This study concluded that rosuvastatin helped lower the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) in the long-term. Some background Most MACEs such as heart attack and stroke happen in people who do...
Read MoreCould the flu vaccine improve the outcomes of patients with heart disease?
In a nutshell This study looked at the use of the flu vaccine in patients with heart disease. It found that patients who had the flu vaccine were more likely to have better cardiovascular outcomes. Some background The flu can be especially dangerous for patients with heart disease. It can lead to further heart disease or even death. The...
Read MoreWhich treatment is best for patients with stable ischemic heart disease?
In a nutshell This study compared the treatment of stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) with percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI) or with medication alone. It found that the risk of mortality was the same in both groups. Some background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is when the blood vessels in the heart become blocked and the heart muscle...
Read MoreDoes low dose colchicine reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in high risk patients?
In a nutshell This study looked at the use of colchicine (Colcrys) in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). It found that patients treated with colchicine had a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease-related death. Some background CAD is a disease in which the blood vessels in the heart become blocked. It can...
Read MoreCan aspirin used to reduce heart disease problems help to prevent COVID-19 infection?
In a nutshell This study compared the rate and duration of COVID-19 infection in patients taking aspirin compared to those not taking this drug. They found that patients taking aspirin were less likely to get COVID-19 infection and had a lower duration of disease compared to those not taking aspirin. Some background Aspirin is...
Read MoreWhich beta blocker is best after a heart attack?
In a nutshell This study compared the use of two beta-blockers, carvedilol (Coreg) and metoprolol (Lopressor), after a heart attack. It found that they had similar results on most patient groups. However, carvedilol improved survival in patients with reduced heart function. Some background Beta-blockers are a group of medications that...
Read MoreWho is most likely to have bleeding problems after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
In a nutshell This study looked at the risk of bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It found patients who had chronic kidney disease, low body weight, diabetes, or who were aged over 80 were most likely to have bleeding problems. Some background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a procedure commonly used to treat...
Read MoreWhich statin is best for preventing cardio-cerebrovascular disease?
In a nutshell This study compared several statin medications for the prevention of cardio-cerebrovascular (CCV) events such as strokes, heart attacks of death. It found that atorvastatin (Lipitor), pitavastatin (Livalo), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor) were all equally effective at preventing CCV...
Read MoreDoes long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) increase the risk of bleeding after a PCI?
In a nutshell This study looked at the outcomes of patients treated with single or double long-term antiplatelet therapy (APT) after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). It found that single APT (SAPT) resulted in a lower risk of bleeding compared to dual APT (DAPT). Some...
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