Browse Cardiology General Articles by Topic

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for Cardiovascular Disease

A meta-analysis of systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials to analyze the role of commonly used dietary supplements for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease suggests no significant effect on cardiovascular outcomes or all-cause mortality, although some B vitamins appear to reduce stroke incidence, and B3 appears to increase all-cause mortality.

ECG Abnormalities in Elite Male and Female Athletes

A study of elite international soccer athletes of both sexes revealed women more often recorded what would be considered abnormal ECGs — only to return normal echocardiograms. This knowledge is especially valuable when treating those who have recovered from COVID-19.

Misdiagnosis Top Allegation in Aortic Dissection Malpractice Claims

Failure to timely diagnose, failure to order diagnostic tests, and failure to interpret diagnostic tests were the most frequent allegations in malpractice claims involving aortic dissection, according to an analysis of claims filed between 1994 and 2019.

Cardiology-Related Misdiagnoses Frequently Alleged in ED Malpractice Claims

In an analysis, 58% of claims against emergency physicians resulted from misdiagnosis. Diagnosis-related allegations were more common in emergency medicine-related claims (58% of claims) than in claims involving internists (42% of claims). The most common final diagnoses were myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus, and cardiac arrest.

Transitioning Patients from ECLS to Durable MCS

A registry of patients transitioned from extracorporeal life support to durable mechanical circulatory support was used to derive a tool predicting one-year survival.

Nuts and Heart Health

This long-term, prospective study looks at changes in quantity of nut consumption and relative risk of cardiovascular disease and finds significantly lower risk when nut consumption increases by > 0.5 servings daily.

When Aortic Stenosis Is Almost Severe: What Happens Next?

A study of patients with normal flow, low gradients, normal left ventricular systolic function but with calculated aortic valve areas <1.0 cm² showed that about half of them progressed to severe aortic stenosis during the 25-month median follow-up period.

Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation: Is It Important?

A large epidemiologic study with validated endpoints of patients with atrial fibrillation after non-cardiac surgery demonstrated such patients experience a higher incidence of subsequent atrial fibrillation, stroke, transient ischemic attacks, and all-cause mortality over five years of follow up.

Take to Heart the Best Opportunities for ASCs

Two of the most desirable procedures for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in 2020 and beyond are cardiology and vascular procedures, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has just blessed for ASC reimbursement. Setting up a cardiac lab in an ASC requires some homework. They are not necessarily difficult or terribly expensive, but there are fine details worth understanding well.

Benefits of Exercise in Established Atrial Fibrillation

A large, long-term, prospective, Norwegian population study of patients with established atrial fibrillation revealed physical activity at or above recommended levels reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality vs. atrial fibrillation patients who are inactive.