June 9th, 2012
Transient Glucose Regulation Helps Prevent Progression to Diabetes in Prediabetics
Larry Husten, PHD
Prediabetics — people with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance — can reduce their high risk for progressing to diabetes if they achieve even a transient return to normal glucose regulation, according to results of the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS), presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting and published simultaneously online in the Lancet. Leigh […]
June 7th, 2012
Growing Popularity of Dabigatran Leads to Increased Complications
Larry Husten, PHD
Since its approval in the United States in October 2010, dabigatran (Pradaxa) has been prescribed 3.2 million times to more than 600,000 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), according to its manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim. The company also announced that, based on the pivotal RE-LY trial, the “Clinical Studies” section of the drug’s prescribing information now includes the statement […]
June 6th, 2012
Real-World Bleeding Risk with Aspirin in Primary Prevention Examined
Larry Husten, PHD
A new study published in JAMA provides substantial new evidence about the real-world effects of aspirin, including the risk for bleeding, in a broad population. The study also sheds important new light on the effects of aspirin in a diabetic population. Giorgia De Berardis and colleagues analyzed data from more than 4 million people in Puglia, […]
June 6th, 2012
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: June 6th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include cIMT and clinical outcome, CVD risk scores, door- vs. onset-to-balloon times, and dark chocolate consumption in people with high CVD risk.
June 5th, 2012
Troponin T Test Helps Assess Mortality Risk Following Noncardiac Surgery
Larry Husten, PHD
A new study in JAMA finds that postoperative troponin T (TnT) tests can independently improve 30-day-mortality risk assessment among patients who have undergone noncardiac surgery. The VISION (Vascular Events in Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation) study investigators evaluated the prognostic power of postoperative fourth-generation TnT testing in 15,133 patients. Overall mortality at 30 days was 1.9%. Some 11.6% […]
June 5th, 2012
Subway Meals Get American Heart Association Endorsement
Larry Husten, PHD
The American Heart Association (AHA) announced yesterday that it had initiated a new program to help people choose healthy meals at restaurants. The Subway restaurant chain will be the first to display the Heart-Check Meal Certification logo next to certain selected meals. In a press release the AHA’s president, Gordon Tomaselli said the program would make “it […]
June 5th, 2012
Data, Drugs, and Deception – A True Story
D H Newman, MD
A skeptic looks at a recent meta-analysis of trials of statins for primary prevention and concludes that the authors cleverly buried a statistical deception. The study may have answered an interesting question, but it did not answer a much different and bigger question.
June 4th, 2012
Observational Study Finds Possible Long-Term Mortality Advantage for Rhythm Control Drugs in Atrial Fibrillation
Larry Husten, PHD
Challenging a decade-old influential trial, a large observational study of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) suggests that rhythm control drugs may outperform rate control drugs after 4 years. Raluca Ionescu-Ittu and colleagues analyzed data from 26,130 patients 66 years or older diagnosed with AF in Quebec, Canada. Patients were followed for a mean of 3.1 […]
June 1st, 2012
Reality Check: Stop Exercising and Eat Chocolate?
Larry Husten, PHD
Two recent studies may add value to the academic literature, but what’s their public health value?