Hypertension news, trials, articles & opinions | theheart.org

Data gathering for Sunshine Act delayed

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:15:19 EDT

The CMS says that drug and device makers will not have to start collecting data on payments to physicians until 2013.

Moderate coffee intake protects against stroke

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:45:51 EDT

A new meta-analysis finds that one to three cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of stroke in the general population and that an even higher intake of up to six cups a day also seems to offer some protection.

Telemonitoring by pharmacists boosts BP control

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:45:00 EDT

Initial findings from a US study employing an unusual approach to blood-pressure management—whereby pharmacists monitor patients by phone and can make alterations to their therapy—are proving encouraging.

Waist-hip ratio excels at SCD risk prediction in ARIC cohort

Thu, 10 May 2012 08:45:07 EDT

Greater waist-to-hip ratio—but not two more common obesity measures—meant a higher sudden death risk independently of diabetes, CV disease, and heart failure in the community-based cohort study.

BP and lipid tests in pharmacies could boost risk-factor control

Tue, 08 May 2012 14:15:25 EDT

A nationwide campaign in Portugal—whereby pharmacy customers were encouraged to have their BP, cholesterol, and BMI assessed in-store—has demonstrated that this kind of approach is feasible and that pharmacists can act as good go-betweens for patients and physicians, says one of the researchers.

Pulse-pressure amplification study reveals gender differences in cardiovascular risk

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:30:22 EDT

A new large-scale study shows peripheral pulsatility amplification is independently associated with cardiovascular mortality and that aortic stiffness is a more important factor in women's cardiovascular risk than men's.

EUROACTION PLUS: Varenicline aids in smoking cessation

Mon, 07 May 2012 09:45:00 EDT

In a follow-up to EUROACTION, with the exception that the patients had the option of receiving varenicline, researchers show that a comprehensive, family-based program can reduce smoking rates in high-risk patients and those with vascular disease.

Cheese, please: Could a little Grana Padano drop your BP?

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:15:25 EDT

Contrary to the idea that cheese, conventionally quite high in sodium and fat, is not that good for cardiovascular health, a small Italian study finds that Grana Padano might lower blood pressure.

WHF defends Dubai WCC, reimburses Israelis denied visas

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:35:21 EDT

The World Heart Federation is apologizing to Israeli cardiologists who, at the last minute, were denied visas to attend the WCC 2012 in Dubai. One of the Israelis who attended, however, has spoken out to clarify that he and his colleagues "only have good words to say" about their visit to the Emirate city.

New ESC cardiovascular disease guidelines emphasize primary prevention

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:21 EDT

The guidelines are intended to keep the car engine running before any problems occur, according to the experts. Prevention and education should ideally start with young parents and continues with children through kindergarten and as they advance through the school system. For adults, secondary prevention can be coordinated through nurse-based activities and by the efforts of general practitioners and cardiologists.

Energy drinks up BP and heart rate; calls for regulation

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:00 EDT

UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // A small study illustrates that energy drinks can cause increased blood pressure, tachycardia, and arrhythmias, with those who consume these beverages on a habitual basis being most at risk. The author calls for more research and believes sales of these products should be regulated.

Ideal blood-pressure goals? "We have no idea"

Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:36 EDT

Evidence is lacking for many of the issues that need to be addressed in the field of hypertension, not least the ideal blood-pressure goal for different groups of individuals, experts told the ESH meeting this past weekend.

Mixed findings with vitamin D in hypertension

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:30:18 EDT

A small, short-term study looking at the effects of high-dose vitamin D on blood pressure in hypertensive subjects in Denmark during the winter months has shown somewhat discrepant results.

Friend or foe? Uric acid a "probable cause" of CVD

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:00:47 EDT

Using a unique approach, Israeli researchers have shown that people with so-called "normal" levels of uric acid have a 50% higher risk of hypertension and an almost doubling of diabetes, compared with those with naturally very low uric-acid levels.

Topol is most influential physician executive in new US poll

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:09 EDT

Dr Eric Topol, editor in chief of theheart.org, has been voted the number one most influential physician executive of 2012 in a poll run by Modern Healthcare, a US publication covering healthcare business news and research.

Mall rates? Silent CV risk factors abound in Dubai shoppers

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:30:23 EDT

Physicians in Dubai have leveraged the Gulf city's best-known asset to shine a light on what they say is a sweeping lack of awareness about cardiovascular risk factors and how to keep them in control.

ACE inhibitors better ARBs in new meta-analysis in hypertensives

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:45:41 EDT

UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // ACE inhibitors reduced deaths by 10% in a new meta-analysis in hypertensive patients already receiving good, contemporary therapy. In contrast, ARBs had a neutral effect on all-cause mortality. The researchers say the findings provide additional support for the use of ACE inhibitors as first-line treatment for high blood pressure.

Cutting, taxing salt would trim CVD deaths by 3% in half the world

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:30:10 EDT

A new study modeling the impact of a mere 10% reduction in sodium content in processed foods, combined with adding a 40% tax to salty products in 19 low- and middle-income countries, could lead to 250�000 fewer deaths per year.

No aliskiren with ACE inhibitors, ARBs in some patients: FDA

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:30:56 EDT

Aliskiren-containing BP drugs in combination with ACE inhibitors and ARBs are now contraindicated for patients with diabetes based on the aborted ALTITUDE study, the FDA announced.

TIPS 2: Full-dose polypill boosts efficacy, with no increased side effects

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:15:07 EDT

The polypill tested in the large, primary-prevention TIPS trial included half-dose formulations of blood-pressure and lipid-lowering drugs, in the hopes of boosting tolerance. Now TIPS 2 shows that a full-dose combination may be feasible in secondary prevention.

SCD risk increased in blacks with HTN, genetics may be key: LIFE analysis

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:30:18 EDT

Their elevated sudden-death risk was independent of a range of clinical and ECG risk factors, suggesting that "other factors must be playing a role," concluded researchers from the decade-old trial.

Tough sell: WCC 2012 course coaxes trainees toward preventive cardiology

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:15:57 EDT

How to convince young doctors to get involved in CVD prevention, when other areas of cardiology are so alluring—and more lucrative? That's a central conundrum underpinning a trainee course that kicked off this year's meeting, in a region where soaring CV risk factors make it a life-and-death question.

Salt content variable in fast food in different countries

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EDT

Large variations were observed in the salt content between different products, as well as between the same products in different countries.

No mortality risk for losartan vs candesartan seen in heart failure

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:00:24 EDT

UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // Nothing is rotten in the state of Denmark when it comes to the ARB losartan, compared with candesartan, in patients with heart failure—unlike what had seemed true in Sweden.

Hospitals launch medical practices to lure well-insured

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EDT

America's hospitals are busier than ever expanding into new and affluent geographic markets to lure well-insured patients, a strategy that could drive up costs as well as jeopardize independent physician practices, according to a new study.

Dr Gary Gibbons named director of the NHLBI

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EDT

Currently at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Gibbons will begin his new role as director of the NHLBI this summer. He is taking over for Dr Susan Shurin, who was named acting director after Dr Elizabeth Nabel left in January 2010.

Medical societies list 45 dubious tests, therapies

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EDT

The American College of Cardiology is one of nine societies that each identified five tests and procedures that are common but often unnecessary, running up the cost of care and sometimes harming a patient's health.

heartwire's Lisa Nainggolan picks up AHCJ award

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EDT

Nainggolan's feature story "Lost in transition: The looming epidemic of grown-up congenital heart disease" has placed third in the Association of Health Care Journalists' annual journalism awards in the trade-publication category.

Waist measurements linked with lipids, BP, in youth

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:45:35 EDT

In multivariate regression models that adjusted for age and sex, increasing waist-to-height ratios were significantly associated with worsening lipid profiles across BMI strata, with the strongest association observed in obese patients.

MOPETT: Is half-dose thrombolysis feasible for moderate PE?

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:30:08 EDT

New results from a pilot trial suggest that a half dose of the thrombolytic tPA, in combination with a reduced anticoagulation regime, could be used to successfully treat around 70% of patients presenting to the emergency room with pulmonary embolism, resulting in improved outcomes with no severe adverse effects. But others were not convinced.

ISSUE-3: DDD pacing can help suppress asystolic neurally mediated syncope

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:10:00 EDT

Patient selection was likely the key to the success of pacemaker therapy, according to researchers: all randomized patients had shown what was considered likely to be that form of syncope during implantable-loop-recorder monitoring.

Renal-denervation debate centers on response time

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EDT

CORRECTED // A session updating attendees on the latest findings from studies on renal denervation for severe resistant hypertension attracted much attention today.

Cardiologists are happy(ish), married non-tweeters, survey reveals

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EDT

Cardiologists, for the most part, drive Japanese cars, believe in a higher power, and are moderately savvy when it comes to social media. Those are just some of the cardiology pearls from a recent "lifestyle survey" of physicians.

Poor prognosis for big between-arm BP differences in primary care

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:30:29 EDT

The first research to look specifically at how interarm differences in systolic blood pressure in a primary-care setting relate to future outcomes has found that those with a double-digit difference have a threefold increased risk of death over 10 years.

Orthostatic hypotension ups risk of HF by 50%

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:00:44 EDT

New data from the ARIC study show that those with orthostatic hypotension have a higher risk of developing heart failure over 17 years of follow-up.

Nonphysicians pinpoint those at high CVD risk in rural India

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EDT

Employing nonphysician healthcare workers to go into villages in India, spot those at high risk of CVD, and recommend appropriate therapies holds promise as a way of tackling the CVD epidemic affecting the country, say the authors of a new study.

What's going to be hot at ACC 2012

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:00:51 EDT

There are 18 late-breaking clinical trials, many addressing unresolved issues with already-approved products or procedures. Outside the main tent, the program offers debates, live and taped cases, a new Q&A series with "legends" in cardiology, plus a novel gambit for attracting attendees to the exposition: a "thought leaders' theater" located in the exhibit hall.