April 22nd, 2011
Podcast 119: Calcium supplements and risk
Most clinicians, when asked, say they will routinely recommend calcium supplements for their postmenopausal patients. A meta-analysis from BMJ shows that this well-intentioned advice seems to lead to a moderate increase in cardiovascular risk in these women. We talk with Prof. Ian Reid, whose re-analysis of Women’s Health Initiative data confirms earlier work he’d done. Listen in. […]
April 8th, 2011
Podcast 118: Opioid prescribing patterns and accidental overdoses
Two authors of a JAMA study published earlier this week discuss how prescribing patterns for opioids figured in the rates of unintentional overdose. The work was done using data from Veterans Administration records. Briefly, they found that the risk for overdose was directly related to the maximal dose prescribed, however, patients who received only “as […]
April 1st, 2011
Podcast 117: Atorvastatin and new-onset diabetes
Statins, according to a 2010 meta-analysis in Lancet, are associated with a slightly increased risk for new-onset type 2 diabetes. One, atorvastatin (marketed as Lipitor), was underrepresented in that analysis. Researchers, along with the manufacturer, decided to have a look at data from three trials to see whether atorvastatin also conferred that risk. And, indeed […]
March 25th, 2011
Podcast 116: What do more sensitive troponin measurements mean for diagnosing ACS?
Troponin I levels can now be measured much more accurately and assays have a greater sensitivity. In Edinburgh, the diagnostic level for acute coronary syndrome was lowered from 0.20 ng/mL to 0.05. As a result, when patients presented with suspected ACS they were more likely to be diagnosed — and a year later were more […]
March 10th, 2011
Podcast 115: Talking about the real-world use of dabigatran with Drs. Elaine Hylek and Samuel Goldhaber
Clinical Conversations, in a collaboration with CardioExchange, has interviewed two expert working clinicians on how best to use dabigatran — a drug poised to supplant warfarin in the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. The wide ranging discussion with Drs. Elaine Hylek and Samuel Goldhaber includes sections on who should be […]
March 2nd, 2011
Podcast 114: Guidelines for preventing cardiovascular disease in women
We think you’ll find this of interest. The American Heart Association last month issued revised guidelines for preventing cardiovascular disease in women. The change that hits you right off is the title’s shift from “Evidence-Based” to “Effectiveness-Based,” emphasizing the writing committee’s belief that the way things go in clinical trials doesn’t always hold in the more […]
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