May 8th, 2022
Podcast 290: USPSTF’s new take on aspirin and primary prevention of CVD
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently issued its sixth set of guidelines on using daily aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease. The guidelines appeared in JAMA — whose editors asked our guest, Dr. Allan Brett, to write an editorial evaluation. This edition carries Brett’s advice on using the new guidelines in daily clinical practice. Brett’s JAMA editorial USPSTF […]
November 1st, 2019
Podcast 240: Overuse of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular events
Running time: 23 minutes Paula Byrne set out to understand what the available data tell us about how many people are taking statins for primary prevention — and how much good is it likely doing them? Also, how do you discuss their possible harms and benefits with patients? Links: Paula Byrne and colleagues’ analysis in The BMJ Kausik Ray […]
November 9th, 2015
Podcast 189: Blood Pressure Target Should Be 120, SPRINT Data Show
The SPRINT study, suggesting that we aim for a systolic BP target of 120 mm Hg in high-risk hypertensive patients, has been published with much fanfare. Dr. Paul Whelton — one of the SPRINT investigators — is our guest. He warns against setting 120 as a performance measure, observing that roughly half the patients in the […]
August 16th, 2015
Podcast 182: Dietary fat studies meta-analyzed — trans fat still a bad bet
The BMJ’s meta-analysis of several large cohorts finds no association of saturated fat with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality or total coronary disease. Trans fat, on the other hand, increased risk in all those categories. The first author on the paper, Dr. Russell de Sousza, isn’t ready to give a free pass to saturated fat, though. Listen […]
August 29th, 2014
Podcast 173: Sensible Sodium Levels in View at Last
Running time: 9 minutes In the light of the New England Journal of Medicine‘s recent publication three papers on sodium intake and its implications for cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, and excess mortality, we thought we’d speak again with Dr. Jan Staessen, who surprised a lot of people 3 years ago with a paper in JAMA warning […]
November 12th, 2013
Podcast 169: New guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention
Running time: 11 minutes The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology have released four sets of guidelines — all aimed at the lowering of risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. For perspective, we’ve asked Harlan Krumholz, editor-in-chief of NEJM Journal Watch Cardiology and CardioExchange to chat. Links: Risk calculator (free) CardioExchange (free) Circulation homepage New York Times piece by Krumholz on […]
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