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Lancet 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Background: Some studies, mainly from high-income countries (HICs), report that women receive less care (investigations and treatments) for cardiovascular disease than do men and might have a higher risk of death. However, very few studies systematically report risk factors, use of primary or secondary prevention medications, incidence of cardiovascular disease, or death in populations drawn from the community. Given that most cardiovascular disease occurs in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), there is a need for comprehensive information comparing treatments and outcomes between women and men in HICs, middle-income countries, and low-income countries from community-based population studies. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2020 Jun 22;9(11):e015157. Epub 2020 May 22.

Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute Kansas City MO.

Background Effective management of cardiovascular risk factors is the foundation of secondary prevention in coronary artery disease. The physician under whose sphere these are managed can vary, primary care physicians, cardiologists, or both, and the optimal management strategy for risk factor control is unknown. Methods and Results The APPEAR (Angina Prevalence and Provider Evaluation of Angina Relief) study was a cross-sectional cohort study of outpatients with coronary artery disease (stable angina, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, or myocardial infarction) from 25 US cardiology practices. Read More

JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2020 May 26;6(5):574-582. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Institute of Cardiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

Objectives: This study sought to assess long-term arrhythmic risk in patients with myocarditis who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Background: The arrhythmic risk of patients with myocarditis overtime remains poorly known.

Methods: The study enrolled 56 patients with biopsy-proven myocarditis who received an ICD for either primary (57%) or secondary prevention (43%) according to current guidelines. Read More

Cardiol J 2020 May 21. Epub 2020 May 21.

I Department of Cardiology, Interventional Electrocardiology and Hypertension, Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.

Background: The highest priority in preventive cardiology is given to patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the study was to assess the current implementation of the guidelines for secondary prevention in everyday clinical practice by evaluating control of the main risk factors and the cardioprotective medication prescription rates in patients following hospitalization for CAD.

Methods: Fourteen departments of cardiology participated in the study. Read More

BMJ Open 2020 May 17;10(5):e034585. Epub 2020 May 17.

Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

Introduction: Reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) improves clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. However, rates of lipid-lowering medication adherence are far from ideal. Reducing dosage frequency from multiple dosing to once-daily dosing may improve patients' medication adherence. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 May 15;10(1):8105. Epub 2020 May 15.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested for cardiovascular health. This study was conducted to investigate the prognostic impacts of the PUFA metabolites, oxylipins, on clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 2,239 patients with stable CAD were prospectively enrolled and followed up regularly. Read More

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 2020 May;58(5):350-355

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Cardiovascular Hospital, Nanjing 210006, China.

To examine the overall status of the Jiangsu Province Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Registry database. The patients date of Jiangsu Province Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Registry database from October 2017 to December 2019 was collected retrospectively.Risk factors, history, cardiac function (New York Heart Association class), extent of coronary artery lesion, European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation Ⅱ (EuroSCORE Ⅱ), cardiopulmonary bypss, arterial grafts, the numbers and flow of grafts and postoperative major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event(MACCE) information were analyzed. Read More

Lancet 2020 05;395(10235):1487-1495

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; Cardio Center, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: Antiplatelet therapy is recommended among patients with established atherosclerosis. We compared monotherapy with a P2Y inhibitor versus aspirin for secondary prevention.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, all randomised trials comparing P2Y inhibitor with aspirin monotherapy for secondary prevention in patients with cerebrovascular, coronary, or peripheral artery disease were evaluated for inclusion. Read More

Heart 2020 May 7. Epub 2020 May 7.

Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia

Circ Res 2020 Apr 23;126(9):1159-1177. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA; and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

An individual's susceptibility to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is influenced by numerous clinical and lifestyle factors, motivating the multifaceted approaches currently endorsed for primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention. With growing knowledge of the genetic basis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-in particular, coronary artery disease-and its contribution to disease pathogenesis, there is increased interest in understanding the potential clinical utility of a genetic predictor that might further refine the assessment and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. Rapid scientific and technological advances have enabled widespread genotyping efforts and dynamic research in the field of coronary artery disease genetic risk prediction. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 21;300:10-18. Epub 2020 Mar 21.

Department of Cardiology, Fukang Hospital of T.C.M, Fukang, Xinjiang Province, China.

Background And Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a well-recognized independent risk factor for ASCVD, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin, on prevention of progression of coronary atherosclerosis assessed by three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) in T2DM patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-center, open-label, blinded end point, controlled 18-month study in patients with CAD and T2DM. A total of 149 patients, who had at least 1 atherosclerotic plaque with 20%-80% luminal narrowing in a coronary artery, and had not undergone intervention during a clinically indicated coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention, were randomized to sitagliptin group (n = 74) or control group (n = 75). Read More

Georgian Med News 2020 Feb(299):78-82

1Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia.

The treatment of coronary arteries disease (CAD) and the prevention of their complications, intervention on the coronary arteries is usually recommended. In this review, with the aim of improving the treatment outcomes of patients with CAD, requiring percutaneous coronary intervention and/or coronary artery bypass grafting,risk factors of developing coronary syndrome are discussed. Understanding the causes of the disturbance of coronary artery conduction will provide a new perspective for improving patient treatment outcomes. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2020 Apr;75(13):1551-1561

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

Background: Given the shortage of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs in India and poor uptake worldwide, there is an urgent need to find alternative models of CR that are inexpensive and may offer choice to subgroups with poor uptake (e.g., women and elderly). Read More

N Engl J Med 2020 04 30;382(17):1608-1618. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

From the New York University Grossman School of Medicine (S. Bangalore, H.R.R., J.S.B., J.D.N., J.S.H.), Mount Sinai Hospital (G.W.S.), the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (G.W.S., Z.A.A.), and Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital (Z.A.A.), New York, Albany Medical College and Albany Medical Center, Albany (M.S.S.), and St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn (Z.A.A.) - all in New York; the Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (D.J.M., G.M.C.); Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC (S.M.O., S. Broderick, Z.H., D.B.M., K.P.A.); the National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD (J.L.F.); E.N. Meshalkin National Medical Research Center, Novosibirsk (E.I.K.), and Bakulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Moscow (O.B.) - both in Russia; Mediterranea Cardiocentro, Naples, Italy (C.B.); Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, New Delhi, India (U.K.); Medical University of Warsaw (T.M.) and the Department of Coronary and Structural Heart Diseases, Institute of Cardiology (R.P.) - both in Warsaw, Poland; Columbia Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, Columbia, SC (R.O.M.); Hennepin Healthcare, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (C.A.H.); VA New England Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston (W.E.B.); and Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute/University of Missouri-Kansas City (J.A.S.) and St. Louis University School of Medicine Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care, St. Louis (B.R.C.).

Background: Clinical trials that have assessed the effect of revascularization in patients with stable coronary disease have routinely excluded those with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Methods: We randomly assigned 777 patients with advanced kidney disease and moderate or severe ischemia on stress testing to be treated with an initial invasive strategy consisting of coronary angiography and revascularization (if appropriate) added to medical therapy or an initial conservative strategy consisting of medical therapy alone and angiography reserved for those in whom medical therapy had failed. The primary outcome was a composite of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Read More

Heart 2020 Mar 16. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Achieve Centre for Applied Research, Faculty of Health, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Objective: To compare the treatment effect on lifestyle-related risk factors (LRFs) in older (≥65 years) versus younger (<65 years) patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in The Randomised Evaluation of Secondary Prevention by Outpatient Nurse SpEcialists 2 (RESPONSE-2) trial.

Methods: The RESPONSE-2 trial was a community-based lifestyle intervention trial (n=824) comparing nurse-coordinated referral with a comprehensive set of three lifestyle interventions (physical activity, weight reduction and/or smoking cessation) to usual care. In the current analysis, our primary outcome was the proportion of patients with improvement at 12 months follow-up (n=711) in ≥1 LRF stratified by age. Read More

Echocardiography 2020 Mar 16;37(3):399-403. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Background: Constrictive physiology is a transitory condition that could lead to constrictive pericarditis, which is a rare complication after open-heart surgery. Anti-inflammatory drugs like colchicine are recommended for prevention of constrictive pericarditis; however, there is no evidence about the effect of colchicine on constrictive pericarditis. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the preventive effect of colchicine on the incidence of echocardiographic constrictive physiology after open-heart surgery. Read More

Heart 2020 Mar 13. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Aim: To determine the relationship between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and smoking and the risk of major adverse limb events (MALE) and the combination with major adverse cardiovascular events (MALE/MACE) in patients with symptomatic vascular disease.

Methods: Patients with symptomatic vascular disease from the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort - Secondary Manifestations of ARTerial disease (1996-2017) study were included. The effects of non-HDL-c, SBP and smoking on the risk of MALE were analysed with Cox proportional hazard models stratified for presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Read More

CJC Open 2019 Nov 30;1(6):271-281. Epub 2019 Oct 30.

Division of Endocrinology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

South Asians (SAs), originating from the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan), represent one quarter of the global population and are the largest visible minority in Canada. SAs experience the highest rates of coronary artery disease in Canada. Although conventional cardiovascular risk factors remain predictive in SA, the excess risk is not fully explained by these risk factors alone. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Mar;99(10):e19473

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.

Background: Renal insufficiency is an important predictor of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). We performed a meta-analysis to examine the effects of short-term statin therapy on the incidence of CI-AKI, particularly in patients with renal insufficiency.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the impact of statin pretreatment before administration of contrast media on the development of CI-AKI in patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency. Read More

Am Heart J 2020 04 28;222:166-173. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany.

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), or both remain at risk of cardiovascular events (including peripheral ischemic events), even when they receive the current guideline-recommended treatment. The phase III COMPASS trial demonstrated that treatment with rivaroxaban vascular dose 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin (dual pathway inhibition [DPI] regimen) significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (including peripheral ischemic events) and increased the risk of major bleeding, but not fatal bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage, versus aspirin alone in patients with CAD, PAD, or both. Read More

J Clin Lipidol 2020 Mar - Apr;14(2):e1-e13. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Cardiac Care Centre, South Extension, Part-2, New Delhi, India.

Background: Rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are strikingly high in India compared to Western countries and are increasing. Moreover, ASCVD events occur at a younger age with only modest hypercholesterolemia, most commonly with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The course of ASCVD also appears to be more fulminant with higher mortality. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 31;10:1606. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous entity with relevant long-term major cardiovascular events. Several trials have demonstrated that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), β-blocker, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor and statin therapy improve the prognosis in patients with obstructive myocardial infarction (ob-MI). However, evidence on the best medical therapy for secondary prevention in MINOCA patients is lacking. Read More

Diabetes Care 2020 Apr 20;43(4):726-733. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

European Society of Cardiology, Sophia Antipolis, France.

Objective: Dysglycemia, in this survey defined as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes, is common in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and associated with an unfavorable prognosis. This European survey investigated dysglycemia screening and risk factor management of patients with CAD in relation to standards of European guidelines for cardiovascular subjects.

Research Design And Methods: The European Society of Cardiology's European Observational Research Programme (ESC EORP) European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) V (2016-2017) included 8,261 CAD patients, aged 18-80 years, from 27 countries. Read More

Trials 2020 Feb 17;21(1):192. Epub 2020 Feb 17.

Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.

Background: Ticagrelor is a reversibly binding, direct-acting, oral, PY antagonist used for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Ticagrelor blocks adenosine reuptake through the inhibition of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT-1) on erythrocytes and platelets, thereby facilitating adenosine-induced physiological responses such as an increase in coronary blood flow velocity. Meanwhile, adenosine plays an important role in triggering ischemic preconditioning through the activation of the A1 receptor. Read More

J Am Geriatr Soc 2020 Apr 13;68(4):725-735. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Objectives: Continuation of aspirin for secondary prevention in persons with limited life expectancy (LLE) is controversial. We sought to determine the incidence and predictors of aspirin discontinuation in veterans with LLE and/or advanced dementia (LLE/AD) who were taking aspirin for secondary prevention at nursing home admission, stratified by whether their limited prognosis (LP) was explicitly documented at admission.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using linked Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare clinical/administrative data and Minimum Data Set resident assessments. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2020 Feb 5;20(1):61. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Department of Medicine, Drammen Hospital, Drammen, Norway.

Background: The relative importance of lifestyle, medical and psychosocial factors on the risk of recurrent major cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE) in coronary patients' needs to be identified. The main objective of this study is to estimate the association between potentially preventable factors on MACE in an outpatient coronary population from routine clinical practice.

Methods: This prospective follow-up study of recurrent MACE, determine the predictive impact of risk factors and a wide range of relevant co-factors recorded at baseline. Read More

JMIR Res Protoc 2020 Jan 27;9(1):e15022. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.

Background: Alternative evidence-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) delivery models that overcome significant barriers to access and delivery are needed to address persistent low utilization. Models utilizing contemporary digital technologies could significantly improve reach and fidelity as complementary alternatives to traditional center-based programs.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the effects and costs of the innovative Smartphone Cardiac Rehabilitation, Assisted self-Management (SCRAM) intervention with usual care CR. Read More

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2020 04 6;30(4):574-580. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele and Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.

Background And Aims: The Mediterranean diet (MD) affects the risk of myocardial infarction and long-term prognosis after a coronary event. Limited data are available regarding the influence of MD on short-term prognosis. We assessed the impact of the MD adherence on in-hospital and short-term outcome in patients with first ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Read More

Wiad Lek 2019 Oct;72(10):1966-1973

Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine,

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases remain a problem of the modern medical community. Mortality from cardiovascular disease is at the forefront in the structure of the causes of mortality, so active support for the prevention and treatment of this group of diseases is the most effective measure as it will affect the continuation of life expectancy. The aim: To analyze features and patterns of cardiovascular disease in the Carpathian region. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 02 13;295:1-7. Epub 2020 Jan 13.

Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan; Department of Information Management and Institute of Healthcare Information Management, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Prompt detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is essential for optimal secondary stroke prevention, but routine long-term cardiac monitoring of all ischemic stroke patients is neither practical nor affordable. We aimed to develop and validate a risk score to identify patients at risk for newly diagnosed AF (NDAF) after ischemic stroke.

Methods: Information on adult patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke without known AF was retrieved from a nationwide database. Read More

Curr Cardiol Rep 2020 Jan 16;22(1). Epub 2020 Jan 16.

Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist Debakey Heart & Vascular Center, 6550 Fannin Street, Suite 1901, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are a powerful tool in preventing sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic cardiomyopathy. ICD indications and timing in acute coronary syndromes are unclear. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We reviewed several trials that delineated the indications for a cardiac defibrillator in patients with coronary artery disease. Read More

Stroke 2020 Mar 2;51(3):938-943. Epub 2020 Jan 2.

Division of Cardiology, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada (S.J.C., J.S.H.).

Background and Purpose- Atrial cardiopathy and atherosclerotic plaque are two potential mechanisms underlying embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS). The relationship between these two mechanisms among ESUS patients remains unclear. A better understanding of their association may inform targeted secondary prevention strategies. Read More

Eur Heart J 2020 May;41(17):1636-1649

Department of Population Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Emmanuel Kaye Building, Manresa Road, London SW3 6LR, UK.

Aims: Most reports estimating national incidence rates of coronary (CAD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have focused on stable outpatients or acute or elective hospital admissions, but not on the overall burden of disease. In this study, we report the changing trends in the population-level incidence of CAD and PAD, respectively from 2006 to 2015, statin utilization for secondary prevention and survival outcomes using multiple nationally representative data sources from the UK (primary care encounters, hospital admissions, and procedure-level data).

Methods And Results: A nationally representative study of linked primary and secondary care electronic health records of 4. Read More

Herz 2020 Feb;45(1):39-49

Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Lifestyle modifications and drug treatment of cardiovascular risk factors are able to effectively prevent CAD. The basis of prevention is the assessment of the individual cardiovascular risk, e. Read More

Complement Ther Med 2019 Dec 9;47:102209. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Cardiovascular Diseases Center, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aim: Despite optimal secondary preventive treatment, patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) remain at high risk of cardiovascular events. This multicenter, double-blinded, randomized trial sought to determine whether the addition of Qing-Xin-Jie-Yu Granule (QXJYG), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, to standard therapy would further reduce risk of cardiovascular events in patients with SCAD.

Methods: A total of 1500 patients with documented SCAD were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to QXJYG or placebo for 6 months, and followed up for another 6 months. Read More

Cardiovasc Ther 2019 21;2019:7372129. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Cardiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, China.

To investigate the contemporary status of stroke risk profile, antithrombotic treatment, and quality-of-life (QoL) of patients with all types of atrial fibrillation (AF) in China. This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Tertiary (80%) and Tier 2 hospitals (20%) were identified in different economic regions (Northeast, East, West, and Middle) by using a simple random sampling. Read More

Cardiovasc Ther 2019 6;2019:1582183. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China.

Background: Decreased graft patency after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) leads to substantial increases in cardiac events. However, there is paucity of data on efficacy and safety of perioperative statin therapy for OPCAB populations.

Methods: 582 patients undergoing OPCAB in a single-institution database (October 1, 2009-September 30, 2012) were stratified by perioperative continuation of statin therapy (CS group, n=398) or not (DS group, n=184). Read More

Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2019 Oct;9(5):431-438

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral & Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are high-risk subjects who more frequently have micro- and macrovascular diseases including coronary artery disease (CAD). Since impaired glycemic homeostasis directly influences the formation and propagation of atherosclerotic plaques, optimal management of glycemic status is required for the prevention of diabetic atherosclerosis. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides not only average glucose level but also the degree of glucose fluctuation and hypoglycemia. Read More

Am J Med 2020 May 9;133(5):605-612.e1. Epub 2019 Nov 9.

Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. Electronic address:

Background: Despite significant progress in primary prevention, the rate of myocardial infarction has not decreased in young adults. We sought to compare the risk factor profiles and outcomes between individuals who experienced a first myocardial infarction at a very young (≤40 years) and a young (age 41-50 years) age.

Methods: We evaluated all patients ≤50 years of age admitted with a Type 1 myocardial infarction to 2 large academic hospitals from 2000 to 2016. Read More

J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 2020 Jan;40(1):29-34

Physiotherapy Unit, Department of Cardiac Surgery (Mr Jamal Uddin), Department of Cardiac Surgery (Drs Siraj and Jalal Uddin), and Department of Cardiology (Drs Rashid and Karim) Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute, Shagbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Danish Knowledge Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care (REHPA), Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark (Messrs Jamal Uddin and Joshi, Ms Rossau, and Drs Taylor and Zwisler); Department of Noncommunicable Disease, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh (Mr Moniruzzaman and Dr Jalal Uddin); Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom (Dr Taylor); and Institute of Health and Well Being, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (Dr Taylor).

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in lower-middle income countries (LMICs), including Bangladesh. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) as part of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity and improve quality of life and exercise capacity. However, to date, very few controlled trials of CR have been conducted in LMICs. Read More

Am Heart J 2019 12 20;218:46-56. Epub 2019 Oct 20.

Heart Research Institute of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia.

Because patients with stable coronary artery disease are at continued risk of major atherosclerotic events despite effective secondary prevention strategies, there is a need to continue to develop additional safe, effective and well-tolerated therapies for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. RATIONALE AND DESIGN: The LoDoCo (Low Dose Colchicine) pilot trial showed that the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine 0.5 mg once daily appears safe and effective for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 12 26;124(12):1869-1875. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address:

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition by monoclonal antibodies has been shown to reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) but its effects on cardiovascular (CV) outcomes have not been fully described. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of PCSK9 inhibition on mortality and CV outcomes by pooling data from all available randomized clinical trials (RCT) of PCSK9 inhibitors. We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases, up to December 1, 2018, for all RCTs comparing PCSK9 inhibition to placebo or ezetimibe in patients with hypercholesterolemia or coronary artery disease receiving maximally tolerated statin for primary or secondary prevention of mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2019 Oct 30;55(11). Epub 2019 Oct 30.

University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020021 Bucharest, Romania.

Elderly patients are a special category of patients, due to the physiological changes induced by age, the great number of comorbidities and drug treatment and last, but not least, to the cognitive dysfunction frequently encountered in this population. Cardiovascular disease is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly individuals worldwide. The rate of cardiovascular events increases after 65 years in men and after 75 years in women. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 10 28;9(10):e031213. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes are well established, and their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are proven. In spite of this, CR remains underused, especially in lower-resource settings such as Latin America. There is an urgent need to create more accessible CR delivery models to reach all patients in need. Read More

Coron Artery Dis 2020 May;31(3):284-288

Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of nicorandil on the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with coronary heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: This study randomized 300 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to receive conventional treatment in the control group (hydration only; n = 150) vs. nicorandil therapy (nicorandil 10 mg three times daily plus hydration; n = 150). Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 8;10:1112. Epub 2019 Oct 8.

Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and more efforts should be made to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to investigate the impact of clinical pharmacist intervention on the prognosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Chinese patients with CHD. Two hundred and forty patients who had ACS were recruited. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 09 30;9(9):e026686. Epub 2019 Sep 30.

Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Objectives: To assess the effect of antihypertensive treatment in the 130-140 mm Hg systolic blood pressure range.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Information Sources: PubMed, CDSR and DARE were searched for the systematic reviews, which were manually browsed for clinical trials. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2019 Oct 13;18(4):3100-3108. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Department of Internal Diseases No. 1, Professor V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University of The Ministry of Healthcare of The Russian Federation, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russian Federation.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the susceptibility of two coronary artery disease (CAD)-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms on 9p21 ( and ) to myocardial infarction (MI) in a primary (stratification of high risk group for MI) and secondary prevention setting. The prospective observational study included 500 patients with MI [411 males (82.2%) and 89 females (17. Read More

World J Cardiol 2019 Jul;11(7):171-188

Division of Cardiology, Sankuro Hospital, Aichi-ken, Toyota 4710035, Japan.

Aerobic capacity, which is expressed as peak oxygen consumption (VO), is well-known to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular prognosis. This is true even for people with various coronary risk factors and cardiovascular diseases. Although exercise training is the best method to improve VO, the guidelines of most academic societies recommend 150 or 75 min of moderate- or vigorous- intensity physical activities, respectively, every week to gain health benefits. Read More