Cardiovascular Diseases


Heterogeneity in BP-Lowering Effects of 4 Drugs

A Swedish randomized, double-blind, repeated crossover trial revealed substantial heterogeneity in blood pressure (BP) response to drug therapy for high BP. There were 280 participants with grade 1 high BP at low risk for cardiovascular events (54% men; mean age, 64 years). Each participant was randomized to treatment with 4 […]


Different Genetical and Environmental Contributions in Obesity to CVD

National cohort data from Swedish twins indicate that genetically related obesity is not associated with negative health outcomes to the same extent as environmentally related obesity. A total of 17,988 twins born before 1959 were enrolled in sub-studies of the Swedish Twin Registry between 1984 and 2010 and followed on […]


Family History of Heart Disease Still Matters

A cross-sectional analysis suggested that a multivariable model of clinical and genetic risk factors explains only 36% of the likelihood of family history of heart disease (FHHD), with most of the risk of a FHHD unexplained. The analysis included 166,714 UK Biobank participants with 43.2% reported a FHHD. In the […]


Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis Linked to Higher MI Risk

A prospective Danish cohort study revealed that subclinical obstructive coronary atherosclerosis is associated with a more than 8-fold elevated risk for myocardial infarction (MI). The study included 9533 asymptomatic persons aged 40 years or older without known ischemic heart disease. Coronary atherosclerosis was assessed with coronary computed tomography angiography and […]


More Intensive Differential BP–Lowering Beneficial

A meta-analysis and a meta-regression of randomized clinical trials suggested that more intensive differential blood pressure (BP)–lowering may be beneficial for prevention of recurrent stroke and major cardiovascular events. The analysis included 10 randomized clinical trials comprising 40 710 patients (women 34%; mean age 65 years) with stroke or transient ischemic […]


Sex-Specific Changes of CVD Risk Factors from Childhood to Young Adulthood

A prospective UK birth cohort study demonstrate that marked changes in levels of risk factors and novel predictive biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) occur from childhood to early adulthood. The data were from 7065 to 7626 offspring of a birth cohort study with repeat assessments of 148 molecular cardiometabolic traits […]


Statin User’s CVD Risk Tied Stronger with Inflammation Than Residual Cholesterol

A collaborative analysis of 3 multinational trials suggested that inflammatory risk was a stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, CVD death, and all-cause death than residual cholesterol risk in statin users. The analysis included 31245 statin users with/or at high risk of atherosclerotic disease. The observed ranges for baseline […]


Better Cardiovascular Health Linked to Lower Cancer Risk

A French prospective cohort study concluded that better cardiovascular health (CVH) and the maintenance or improvement of CVH were associated with a lower risk of cancer. The study population included 13,933 participants (mainly Caucasian, mean age 45.3 years, 24% women). After a median follow-up of 24.8 years (19.4-24.9 years), 2,010 […]


Sleep Irregularity Linked to Subclinical Atherosclerosis

A US cross sectional and observational cohort study indicated that sleep irregularity was associated with several markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. The study included 2032 participants (mean age, 68.6±9.2 years; White 37.9%, Chinese 11.1%, Black 27.6%, Hispanic 23.4%) underwent assessments of coronary artery calcium, carotid plaque presence, carotid intima‐media thickness, and the […]


Free Sugar Intake Linked to Higher CVD Risks

A prospective UK cohort study suggested that higher free sugar intake was associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and higher triglyceride concentrations within all lipoproteins. Higher fiber intake and replacement of refined grain starch and free sugars with wholegrain starch and non-free sugars, respectively, may be protective for incident […]