Cardiovascular Diseases


Early Rhythm-Control Beat Rate-Control in AF

An international, investigator-initiated, parallel-group, open, blinded-outcome-assessment trial concluded that early rhythm-control therapy was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes than usual care among patients with early atrial fibrillation (AF) and CV conditions. A total of 2789 patients who had early AF (diagnosed ≤1 year before enrollment, median […]


Colchicine Reduced CVD Risk

A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial showed that 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily significantly reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in patients with chronic coronary disease in Australia and the Netherlands. The trial included 5522 patients, >80% male, 35 to 82 years of age (2762 assigned to colchicine and 2760 to […]


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 […]


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 […]