A systematic review and prospective individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials supports early direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) initiation within 4 days for patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke without increasing bleeding risk. The analysis included four trials met inclusion […]
A Kenya panel study suggested that drinking water sodium-chloride may elevate blood pressure (BP) and kidney disease risk, even in populations with minimal traditional chronic disease risk factors. The two-year panel study was conducted in 2022 and 2023 among 327 Daasanach adults over 18 years old in northern Kenya (434 […]
A multicenter, prospective Chinese cohort study suggested that endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) plus best medical treatment (BMT) improved functional outcomes and survival in patients with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion treated beyond 24 hours after last known well time. Conducted between 2019 and 2024 across 11 comprehensive stroke centers in China, the study […]
A US randomized, 4-period crossover feeding study revealed that sodium reduction, especially when combined with a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style diet optimized for diabetes (DASH4D), can significantly lower blood pressure (BP) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and high BP, even among those already using multiple antihypertensive […]
A study revealed that stroke remains a major global health challenge, influenced by numerous risk factors that vary across regions and populations. The study analyzed stroke-related mortality from 1990 to 2021 using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, focusing on three primary stroke subtypes: ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid […]
A global study suggested that most patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) have Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels below risk-enhancing thresholds with wide geographical variations. The study assessed Lp(a) levels in 3,928 CHD patients across 13 countries in six World Health Organization regions. Median Lp(a) level was 32 nmol/L, with 17.6% […]
A Canadian study of adults with high blood pressure (BP) found no difference in health outcomes between taking BP medications in the morning versus at bedtime. A total of 3,357 adult patients with high BP (56.4% female; median age, 67 years; 53.7% on monotherapy) were randomly assigned to take their […]
Two randomized, controlled trials evaluated the efficacy and safety of obicetrapib, an oral cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor, in lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Both trials show that obicetrapib is effective in reducing LDL cholesterol, with enhanced efficacy when […]
A UK longitudinal associations study revealed that hyperlipidemias and inflammation independently and together raise the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The risk is more closely tied to the actual blood levels of these markers than to the use or not of cholesterol-lowering medication. Data were from 322,922 participants (55.9% […]
Two recent studies highlight the importance of physical activity volume and intensity in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and improving longevity. The first study analyzed data from over 24,000 middle-aged and older non-exercisers in the UK Biobank, examining the effects of incidental physical activity (IPA)—unstructured daily movement outside formal exercise—on […]