Yearly Archives: 2019


Do MI Women Commonly Present with Atypical Symptoms?

Do MI Women Commonly Present with Atypical Symptoms? Not really, according to a prospective study in Scotland. The study included 1941 patients (39% women) with suspected acute coronary syndrome. Standardized criteria defined typical and atypical presentations based on pain nature, location, radiation, and additional symptoms. Diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) […]


BP across Adulthood Linked to Late-life Brain Volume and Pathology

A UK epidemiological study revealed that high and increasing blood pressure (BP) from early adulthood into midlife seems to be associated with increased white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) and smaller brain volumes at 69–71 years of age. The study included 502 individuals from a cohort born throughout mainland Britain in […]


Omega-3 Fatty Acids Recommended for Hypertriglyceridemia; Dapagliflozin Effective in HF; Plant‐Based Diets Linked to Lower CVD Risk

A science advisory from the American Heart Association recommended that prescription n-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]+docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] or EPA-only) at a dose of 4 g/d (>3 g/d total EPA+DHA) are an effective and safe option for reducing triglycerides as monotherapy or as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering agents […]


Lipophilic Statins Linked to Reduced HCC Risk

A nationwide Swedish prospective propensity score–matched cohort study suggests that lipophilic statins were associated with significantly reduced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence and mortality. The study included 16 668 adults (8334 who initiated statin use [6554 lipophilic and 1780 hydrophilic] and 8334 nonusers) among 63 279 eligible adults with chronic hepatitis B or […]


Brain and BP

Two US studies showed that more intensive blood pressure (BP) management was associated with less progression of cerebral small vessel ischemic diseaseand a greater decrease in total brain volume; BP patterns in midlife and late life may be associated with differing risks for incident dementia. The substudy of a randomized […]


Poultry Consumption Linked to Lower Risk of Breast Cancer

A US prospective cohort study found that while eating more red meat is associated with a greater risk of developing invasive breast cancer, eating more poultry is linked to a lower risk. The study enrolled 42,012 participants from 2003 to 2009 with a mean follow up of 7.6 years. A […]


24-Hour and Nighttime BP Linked to CVD Risk

A longitudinal population-based cohort study showed that higher 24-hour and nighttime blood pressure (BP) measurements were significantly associated with greater risks of death and a composite cardiovascular (CV) outcome. The study included 11 135 adults from Europe, Asia, and South America (median age, 54.7 years, 49.3% women) with baseline observations collected […]


Hemoglobin Levels and Liver Function Markers Linked to AD

Two observational cohort studies revealed that altered levels of hemoglobin and liver function markers were associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). The first study included 12,305 participants without dementia of the population-based Dutch cohort (mean age 64.6 years, 57.7% women). During a mean follow-up of 12.1 years, 1,520 individuals developed dementia, […]


Plant-based Diet Linked to Lower T2D Risk

A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies suggested that plant-based dietary patterns were associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), even after adjustment for body mass index. The analysis included 9 studies, totaling 307 099 participants with 23 544 cases of incident T2D. A significant inverse association was […]


Both Systolic and Diastolic Hypertension Contribute to Cardiovascular Risk

A US retrospective cohort study concluded that both systolic and diastolic hypertension contribute significantly to cardiovascular risk. The study included 1.3 million adults in a general outpatient population. The burdens of systolic and diastolic hypertension each independently predicted adverse outcomes. In survival models, a continuous burden of systolic hypertension (≥140 […]