Cardiology CME/CE List

Sudden Cardiac Death After MI Has Declined Over the Decades, but First 30 Days and Heart Failure Up Risks

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Clinicians and patients need to be aware that sudden death is more common in the first few weeks after a myocardial infarction and that heart failure increases the risk for sudden death in survivors.
Medscape Medical News

Endothelial Dysfunction Seen in "Minimally Symptomatic" Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Obstructive sleep apnea not accompanied by daytime sleepiness might still suggest increased cardiovascular risk, according to researchers.
Medscape Medical News

Highlights of the 2008 American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) Annual Meeting

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A new generation of agents for pharmacologic stress imaging are at the forefront of topics covered at ASNC 2008.

Platelet ADP-receptor Antagonists for Cardiovascular Disease: Past, Present and Future

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The routine use of clopidogrel has advanced secondary treatment of cardiovascular disease, and new agents may promote even better outcomes. The current review examines best practices in the use of antiplatelet medications.

Beta Blockers Up Risk of MI, Death After Noncardiac Operations

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A new retrospective cohort study shows that beta-blocker use perioperatively in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery should be confined to those at intermediate or high risk for cardiac events.
Medscape Medical News

A 26-Year-Old Female Presents With Palpitations

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

This interactive case study may help you to diagnose supraventricular tachycardia more precisely.

Metformin Top Oral Antidiabetic for CV-Risk Reduction, Says Meta-Analysis

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The widely prescribed metformin was alone among oral antidiabetic agents to show a significant effect on cardiovascular risk in a meta-analysis of 40 select controlled trials.
Medscape Medical News

Statin Use Reduces Mortality After Hospitalization for Pneumonia

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The decreased mortality rates in patients pretreated with statin therapy became evident during the first weeks of hospitalization for pneumonia and persisted to at least 90 days, report investigators.
Medscape Medical News

Reducing Heart Rate in Hypertension Is Harmful -- or Is It Just Atenolol?

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Slowing the heart rate with beta-blockers, particularly atenolol, in people with hypertension is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events and death, a new systematic review shows.
Medscape Medical News

Aspirin: Should It Be Used for Primary Prevention in Diabetics?

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A new study shows no evidence that aspirin or antioxidants are of any benefit in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease.
Medscape Medical News

The Expanding Role of Combination Therapy in Hard-to-Treat Hypertension

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The use of combination therapy with ACEIs or ARBs may be preferable to diuretics in hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk and may provide protection against end-organ damage and serious cardiovascular events, in addition to BP control.

More Than Half of Stable CAD Patients Go Straight to PCI Without Stress Test

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A study of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary artery disease indicates that more than half do not undergo a stress test to confirm that the intervention was necessary.
Medscape Medical News

Using All of the Lipoproteins to Reduce CVD Risk in Diabetes

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

W. Virgil Brown, MD provides up-to-date advances in CVD risk factors in patients with diabetes, and management of mixed dyslipidemia for reducing CVD risk.

Smoking Cessation Must Not Be an Afterthought, New Studies Say

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Two new studies suggest that smoking cessation advice within hospitals needs more structure. A related article finds that smoking in midlife shortens life expectancy and quality of that life.
Medscape Medical News

New Rofecoxib Data Will Help Inform Treatment Decisions With Other Coxibs, NSAIDs

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

New results from the extended follow-up of a rofecoxib trial provide a more complete assessment of the cardiovascular toxicity of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor than previously reported.
Medscape Medical News

Warfarin Warning: Shortfalls in Anticoagulation for AF Up Risks of ICH and Embolic Stroke

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Documentation of the care of patients in a nationwide health plan suggests that less than half of patients with atrial fibrillation are prescribed an anticoagulant.
Medscape Medical News

Ultrasound-Based Strategies Comparable for DVT Diagnosis, Treatment Guidance

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A randomized trial found that 2 ultrasound-based strategies were similarly effective at determining the need for anticoagulation in symptomatic patients with suspected deep-vein thrombosis.
Medscape Medical News

Societies Confront GI Risks of Antiplatelets, NSAIDs in Consensus Document

Tue, 7 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

In a consensus document, proton pump inhibitors should be the mainstay of treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal tract ulcers and bleeding in high-risk patients receiving antiplatelet therapy.
Medscape Medical News

New Study Finds Type of HRT Is Key With Regard to MI Risk

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A new study found that the type of hormone replacement therapy used could be key when it comes to the likelihood of a myocardial infarction.
Medscape Medical News

"Consider" Candesartan for Diabetic Retinopathy

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Despite meeting none of the primary endpoints in the 3 studies in diabetic retinopathy, candesartan could still be considered a treatment option in certain patients with this condition.
Medscape Medical News