January 3rd, 2012
Measuring In-Hospital Mortality Favors Hospitals with Short Stays
Larry Husten, PHD
As a measure of performance and quality, in-hospital mortality systematically favors hospitals with shorter overall length of stay (LOS) times, according to a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. This finding may have important implications for quality improvement initiatives that use mortality as a performance measure. Elizabeth Drye and colleagues (including senior author Harlan Krumholz, […]
January 3rd, 2012
A Look Back at 2011
CardioExchange Editors, Staff
CardioExchange invited several members and participants to give us a list of what they consider the top three most important developments in cardiology in 2011. The same CardioExchange members offer predictions for 2012, which you can view here. Also, for comparison, check out last year’s predictions for 2011 to see which came to fruition. What […]
January 3rd, 2012
A Look Forward to 2012
CardioExchange Editors, Staff
CardioExchange invited contributors and members to offer predictions for 2012. Several of these folks also offered predictions for last year and helped assess the most important developments in cardiology in 2011. What are your predictions for the year? Where have our Nostradamus’ gone wrong? Steven E Nissen, MD 1. In a 5:4 vote, the U.S. […]
January 3rd, 2012
Bariatric Surgery Cuts Cardiovascular Deaths and Events
Larry Husten, PHD
Bariatric surgery results in significant reductions in cardiovascular deaths and events, according to a new study from Sweden published in JAMA. But one expert cautions that the results do not mean that obese patients without other weight-related complications should undergo surgery. Analyzing data from more than 4000 obese patients enrolled in the ongoing Swedish Obese Subjects […]