Cardiology

The use of inhaled anticholinergics (IACs) is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias in children and young adults with asthma.

For patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) without daytime sleepiness, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) does not significantly affect the incidence of hypertension or cardiovascular events; however, regular use of CPAP may reduce the increased risk of incident hypertension seen among patients with OSA.

Prolonged QRS duration is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Statin use during hospitalization for ischemic stroke significantly improves the likelihood of being discharged to home or institution.

From 1999 to 2008 the prevalence of several cardiovascular disease risk factors remained stable among U.S. adolescents, but the burden of risk factors is still considerable.

Palpitations, hypertension, and body mass index (BMI) are predictive of future atrial fibrillation (AF) in both men and women.

Short-term exposure to low levels of secondhand smoke (SHS) results in a concentration-dependent decrease in endothelial function.

The first generic versions of Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Genetic mechanisms that are associated with high plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol do not reduce the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), adding question to causality of link.

Reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with statins is associated with a decrease in major vascular events, even for individuals with a five-year risk of less than 10 percent.

Baseline retinal vessel diameter is an independent predictor of incident hypertension, lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD), and any cardiovascular disease (CVD) at six years in African-American patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Azithromycin treatment is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

Patients with HIV/AIDS have a significantly increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

For asymptomatic patients who are identified as high-risk by exercise echocardiography (ExE) after coronary revascularization, repeated revascularization is not associated with improved outcomes.

Diagonal ear lobe crease (DELC) is independently and significantly associated with the prevalence, extent, and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Changes in air pollution levels during the Beijing Olympics were associated with changes in biomarkers linked to cardiovascular disease in healthy young people.

For patients presenting with dyspnea, the additional measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels increases the certainty of diagnosis of heart failure and accelerates initiation of appropriate treatment.

Based on the report of a patient who died after taking one dose of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Gilenya (fingolimod) and on clinical trial data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending extended monitoring for certain patients taking this drug.

Variation in regional hospital readmission rates for congestive heart failure is due more to the availability of care and socioeconomic factors than hospital performance or patients' degree of illness.

Treating acute ischemic stroke patients who are warfarin users with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) does not increase the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).