Cardiovascular Diseases


ARBs May Be Safer Than ACE Inhibitors

A retrospective, new-user comparative cohort study revealed that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) do not differ statistically significantly in effectiveness at the class level compared with ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors as first-line treatment for high blood pressure but present a better safety profile. The study included all patients with high blood […]


Diagnosis and Management of Myocarditis in Children

A scientific statement from the American Heart Association has been released for the diagnosis and management of myocarditis in children. Myocarditis remains a clinical challenge in pediatrics. Originally, it was recognized at autopsy before the application of endomyocardial biopsy, which led to a histopathology-based diagnosis. Given the invasive and low-sensitivity […]


Meal-Induced Inflammation

A UK single-arm dietary intervention study suggests that postprandial inflammation is largely driven by acute elevations in circulating triglyceride (TG). Glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA) after mixed meals may be a promising candidate biomarker for assessing the food-induced inflammatory response within typical dietary habits. The study included 1002 healthy adults aged 18–65 […]


A Novel Circulating MicroRNA for Myocarditis Diagnosis

A novel microRNA has been identified in mice and humans with myocarditis, and that the human homologue could be used to distinguish patients with myocarditis from those with myocardial infarction. The human homologue, designated hsa-miR-Chr8:96, was identified in four independent cohorts of patients with myocarditis. The area under the receiver-operating-characteristic […]


2021 Guideline for the Secondary Prevention of Stroke

The 2021 secondary stroke prevention guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: 1. Recommendations for the diagnostic workup to define ischemic stroke etiology. 2. Management of vascular risk factors remains extremely important, including (but not limited to) diabetes, smoking cessation, lipids, and especially hypertension. 3. Lifestyle factors: Low-salt and […]


Medication May Be Offered for Mild High Blood Pressure

Both a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and an individual participant-level data meta-analysis support that pharmacological blood pressure (BP) lowering is effective for primary and secondary prevention of major cardiovascular disease (CVD), even at BP levels currently not considered for treatment. The statement provides evidence suggesting that in […]


Thiazides Linked to Skin Cancer Risk

A Canadian population-based cohort study revealed dose-dependent increases in skin cancer risk associated with thiazides in people aged 66 years and older. The study included a total of 302 634 adults aged ≥ 66 years prescribed an antihypertensive medication and 605 268 matched unexposed adults. Increasing thiazide exposure was associated […]


High Glycemic Index Diets Linked to CVD and Death Risk

A study in a large, geographically diverse population confirmed that diets with a high glycemic index were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. The study included 137,851 participants between the ages of 35 and 70 years living on five continents, with 8780 deaths and 8252 […]


ACEIs/ARBs May Be Protective for COVID-19 Patients

A systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may be associated with protective effects for patients with COVID-19. The analysis included 52 studies that evaluated clinical outcomes among 101 949 total patients, of whom 26.0% were receiving ACEIs or ARBs. When adjusted for […]


Personalized Exercise Prescription for High Blood Pressure

The European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and the ESC Council on Hypertension have proposed that type of exercise can be prescribed according to initial blood pressure (BP) level to optimize lifestyle interventions for the prevention and treatment of high BP.  A systematic review of meta-analyses was performed to determine […]