Cardiovascular Diseases


Long Naps Risky

A meta-analysis suggested that long naps (more than 60 mins) were associated with a 30% greater risk of all-cause death and 34% higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to no napping. When night-time sleep was considered, long naps were linked with a higher risk of death only in those […]


State-of-the-Art for Saturated Fats and Health

A state-of-the-art review for saturated fats and health challenges current guideline recommendation to limit dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake. Food sources of SFAs contain different proportions of various fatty acids in addition to other nutrients that can substantially influence their observed physiological and biologic effects. Most recent meta-analyses of […]


Taking BP-lowering Drugs at Night Beneficial

A multicenter, controlled, prospective endpoint trial confirmed that routinely taking blood pressure (BP)-lowering medications at bedtime, as opposed to upon waking, resulted in improved ambulatory BP control (significantly enhanced decrease in asleep BP and increased sleep-time relative BP decline, i.e. BP dipping) and markedly reduced major cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. […]


Aspirin Increases GI Bleeding Risk in the Elderly

Data extracted from a primary prevention trial showed that aspirin significantly increases overall gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding risk in the elderly. The trial was conducted throughout 2010–2017 (n=19 114) in community-dwelling persons aged ≥70 years with low-dose enteric-coated aspirin or placebo. Over a median follow-up of 4.7 years (88 389 person years), there […]


LDL-C Targets Called into Question

An analysis with critically reviewing the clinical outcomes of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cholesterol reduction challenges the current approach to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention through targeted reductions of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Drug treatment to reduce LDL-C to target levels (30% and 50% or more reduction for individuals […]


Predictors of Brain Function in the Oldest-Old

A US longitudinal observational cohort study suggests that APOE*2 allele and lower pulse pressure predicts resistance to amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition in advanced aging. Of 100 participants, mean age at last cognitive evaluation was 92.0 years (range 86-100). Mean follow-up time from baseline to last measured Aβ status was 12.3 years […]


Plant Protein Linked to Lower Mortality

A US prospective observational cohort study revealed that higher plant protein intake was associated with reductions in risk of overall and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. The study included 237 036 men (57%, median ages 62.2) and 179 068 women (median age 62.0). Based on 6 009 748 person-years of observation, 77 614 deaths (18.7%; 49 297 […]


Shifted Global Epicenter of High Cholesterol

A global analysis of pooled population-based studies showed the global repositioning of lipid-related risk over the past nearly four decades, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania. The analysis included 1,127 population-based studies that measured […]


Adherence to Healthy Eating Matters

A US study of 3 prospective cohorts suggests that greater adherence to various healthy eating patterns was consistently associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The final study sample included 74 930 women in the 1st cohort (mean baseline age, 50.2 years), 90 864 women in the 2nd cohort (mean baseline […]


CVD Risk Increased with Normal Range SBP

A US cohort study revealed that beginning with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) level of 90 mm Hg, there was a stepwise increase in the prevalence of traditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk factors, coronary artery calcium, and the risk of ASCVD. The study included 1457 participants free of ASCVD […]