Clinical Conversations

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 […]

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January 16th, 2020

Podcast 248: “Hotspotting” didn’t work in its home town — why?

The process of identifying super-users of healthcare and reducing the frequency of their hospitalizations — so-called “hotspotting” — was subjected to a randomized, controlled trial in Camden, NJ, the birthplace of the idea. It failed there. Those in the intervention group had a readmission rate within 6 months that was statistically identical to those getting usual care. […]

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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 […]

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