Cardiovascular Diseases


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 […]


Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to CVD

A US prospective cohort study supports that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. The study included 3,003 adults free from CVD with valid dietary data at baseline and followed from 1991 to 2014/2017. Ultra-processed foods were defined according to […]


Cancer and CVD Share Risk Factors

A prospective study revealed that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, 10-year atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk score, and natriuretic peptide concentrations are associated with increased risk of future cancer. Conversely, a heart healthy lifestyle is associated with a lower risk of future cancer. The study included 20,305 participants, mean age 50 […]


Fish Intake Linked to Lower Risk in CVD Patients

A pooled analysis of individual participant data of 4 international cohort studies suggested that fish intake of 2 servings weekly is associated with lower risk of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality among patients with prior CVD. The analysis involved 191 558 participants with a mean age of 54.1 years, 47.9% […]


Muscle Pain with Statin and Nocebo Effect

A series of randomized, placebo-controlled n-of-1 trials (a randomized trial in individual patients) found no overall effect of atorvastatin 20 mg on muscle symptoms compared with placebo in participants who had previously reported severe muscle symptoms when taking statins. A total of 200 participants who had recently stopped or were […]


Glycemic Index Linked to CVD and Death Globally

A global study concluded that a diet with a high glycemic index was 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 a median follow-up of 9.5 years. Country-specific food-frequency […]