Heart Failure

Misdiagnosis of smoker's chest pain

David S. Starr, MD, JD January 12, 2010

The patient seemed to have GERD and responded to treatment. But then he had a fatal heart attack.

PCPs on the front line for atrial fibrillation

June 05, 2009

Diagnosing atrial fibrillation could sharply reduce strokes in the United States, and primary-care providers have a key role to play.

Heart failure strikes young blacks hardest

June 03, 2009

Young African Americans are developing heart failure (HF) before age 50 years at a rate 20 times higher than whites.

Exercise after heart attack helps—until it stops

May 22, 2009

Exercise improves blood vessel function after myocardial infarction—but only as long as the patient sticks with it.

Perioperative beta blockers reduce rate of nonfatal MI

Brian S. Alper, MD, MSPH April 10, 2009

But increase stroke and may increase mortality

Diet tips for heart failure, COPD updated

March 06, 2009

Registered dietitians have some new advice for your patients with heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Clinicians puzzled by an unusual, elusive postsurgical sequela

Sailatha Padmanabhan, MD, and Rajan Krishnamani, MD January 13, 2009

Fatigue, fever, and chills plague a patient following valve replacement. The solution requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Aspirin and first heart attacks in diabetics

December 16, 2008

A large study has shown that aspirin and antioxidant supplements are ineffective in the primary prevention of heart attacks in people with diabetes and asymptomatic arterial disease

Fibrate used in combination with statin approved

December 16, 2008

The FDA has approved Trilipix (fenofibric acid), a delayed-release capsule for use along with diet to treat dyslipidemia. Trilipix is the first fibrate to be approved for use in combination with a statin.

Stopping meds post atrial fibrillation flutter

December 09, 2008

Ambulatory BP betters office reads for CV risk

Delicia Yard November 25, 2008

A recent report found that office BP has no value in predicting cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in patients with resistant hypertension. Higher ambulatory measurements, however, are good indicators of these outcomes, according to the same report.

Noninvasive ventilation may improve respiratory distress in acute heart failure

Brian S. Alper, MD, MSPH November 12, 2008

The Three Interventions in Cardiogenic Pulmonary Oedema (3CPO) trial evaluated ventilation strategies for patients with respiratory distress due to acute heart failure...

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure

Brian S. Alper, MD, MSPH November 12, 2008

The GISSI-HF randomized placebo-controlled trial also evaluated n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in 357 cardiology or internal medicine centers in Italy...

Rosuvastatin does not reduce morbidity/mortality in chronic heart failure

Brian S. Alper, MD, MSPH November 12, 2008

The Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Insufficienza Cardiaca (GISSI-HF) randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated rosuvastatin (Crestor) in 357 cardiology or internal medicine centers in Italy.