Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity Linked to Increased Mortality

Data from a population-based cohort study in the Netherlands suggested that sarcopenic obesity (SO) may be associated with worse survival, and screening for muscle function may help for early identification and prevent premature death among older people. From March 1, 2009, to June 1, 2014, 5888 participants (mean age, 69.5 […]

Prevailing Perspective of Processed/Red Meat and CAD/T2D Challenged

A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis did not find sufficient evidence to support a causal relationship between red/processed meat consumption and cardiovascular disease (CAD), hypertension, stroke, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The analysis used data of publicly published genome-wide association studies. The inverse-variance weighted analyses revealed no causal association between the […]

Concomitant SSRIs and OACs Use Linked to Higher Bleeding Risk

A UK nested case-control study suggested that concomitant use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and oral anticoagulants (OACs) was associated with bleeding risk and should be closely monitored, particularly within the initial months of treatment. Between January 1998, and March 2021, 42 190 atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with major bleeding […]

AF Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy Linked to Syncope and Pacemaker Implantation

A Korean population-based study suggests an association between antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) and risk of pacemaker implantation or syncope in patients of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). A total of 770,977 new-onset AF cases were identified from 2013 to 2019 and 142,141 patients were prescribed AADs within 1 year of AF diagnosis. […]

Effect of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements on Mortality

The post hoc analysis of postintervention follow-up of calcium and vitamin D (CaD) supplements suggested reduced cancer mortality and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. The multicenter trial across the US included 36 282 postmenopausal women randomized 1:1 to 1000 mg of calcium carbonate (400 mg of elemental calcium) with 400 IU […]

Beneficial Daily Steps Independent of Sedentary Time

A prospective dose–response analysis of total daily steps with all-cause mortality and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) by sedentary time levels revealed that any number of daily steps above 2200 steps/day was associated with lower mortality and incident CVD risk, with 9000–10 500 steps/day being associated with the lowest mortality risk independent […]

Hourly Heat Exposure Linked to Acute Ischemic Stroke

A case-crossover study in China suggests that hourly heat exposure is associated with increased risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The time-stratified case-crossover study used a nationwide registry and included 82 455 adult AIS patients (mean age, 65.8 years; males 63.4%) hospitalized in the warm seasons (from April 1 to September […]

A Niacin Metabolite Linked to CVD Risk

Studies suggested that terminal breakdown products of excess niacin (vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid) are associated with residual cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and provided a possible explanation for the ‘niacin paradox’—the observation that the LDL lowering induced by niacin fails to achieve the expected reduction in CVD risks. Untargeted metabolomics […]

Sublingual Edaravone Dexborneol Effective for Acute Ischemic Stroke

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group, phase 3 randomized clinical trial in China revealed that sublingual edaravone dexborneol improved functional outcome at 90 days compared to placebo in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Within 48 hours of diagnosis, 914 AIS patients (median age, 64.0 [56.0-70.0] years; male 66.5%) were randomly […]

Salt Substitute May Reduce High Blood Pressure

A post hoc analysis among older adults with normal blood pressure (BP) in a multicenter, cluster-randomized trial in China suggested that replacing usual salt with a salt substitute (62.5% NaCl, 25% KCl, and 12.5% flavorings) may reduce high BP incidence without increasing hypotension episodes. The analysis included 611 older adults […]