TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for November 2018
News from the AHA 2018 Scientific Sessions accounted for half of our top 10 this month, with the new cholesterol guidelines taking the lead.
News from the American Heart Association 2018 Scientific Sessions accounted for half of our top 10 this month, with a story on the new cholesterol guidelines taking the lead. Rounding out the rest of the list were European recommendations for PFO closure, an irbesartan recall, a trial of heparin dose and radial artery occlusion, a statistical mistake found in the SORT-OUT IX results, and an international investigation into medical device safety.
1. New Cholesterol Guidelines Make Room for Non-Statin Therapy and CAC Screening
While the guidelines don’t recommend a specific target for treatment, they do suggest additional therapy in high-risk patients with an LDL level of 70 mg/dL or higher.
2. European Guidelines Represent First Intersocietal Position on Percutaneous PFO Closure
Questions remain as to how to treat older patients and what exactly defines optimal medical therapy, but overall the paper is a helpful tool, experts say.
3. FDA: Contaminated Irbesartan Now Under Voluntary Recall
Not unlike the prior valsartan recalls, one company is recalling irbesartan lots because of contamination with a possible carcinogen.
4. PIONEER-HF: Sacubitril/Valsartan Safe and Effective in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
One expert believes that starting stabilized acute heart failure patients on the drug combo is simpler given they’re going to take it long-term.
5. DECLARE-TIMI 58 Supports HF Benefit of SGLT2 Inhibitors
Dapagliflozin did not reduce MACE, one of the co-primary endpoints, but it cut the risk of hospitalization for heart failure by a relative 27%.
6. REDUCE-IT: Prescription Fish Oil Prevents CV Events in Patients With High Triglycerides
Benefits of the pharmaceutical grade omega-3s were seen across patient types, including both primary and secondary prevention cohorts.
7. Higher Dose of Heparin Prevents Radial Artery Occlusion After Transradial Angiography
Results from the SPIRIT OF ARTEMIS trial are compelling and should inform practice, Sunil Rao says.
8. SORT-OUT IX: Statistical Mix-up Turns Trial’s Primary Endpoint Around
Investigators, who had presented the results at the recent TCT meeting, found the statistical mistake while preparing the paper for publication.
9. Global Investigative Journalism Initiative Takes Aim at Medical Device Industry
Journalists from 36 countries make the case that “health authorities . . . have failed to protect millions of patients from poorly tested implants.”
10. Sit Less, Move More: New Physical Activity Guidelines Stress Movement at All Ages
The amount of exercise mandated weekly hasn’t changed, but gone are the 10-minute blocks that marked bouts of physical activity.
Shelley Wood is Managing Editor of TCTMD and the Editorial Director at CRF. She did her undergraduate degree at McGill…
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Oscar Berg