Researchers report that mortality rates for coronary heart disease in young adults are levelling off, and in women, they have even risen, bucking a 2-decade long trend towards declining death rates. Medscape Medical News
This program discusses some outstanding questions from the COURAGE trial regarding the use of an invasive vs medical strategy in patients with coronary artery disease. Medscape Cardiology
The US health secretary will acknowledge that genetic data from the study could help lead to a new level of personalization and effectiveness in medical care. Heartwire
Vascular risk factors linked with metabolic stress, including diabetes, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated homocysteine predict slower stroke recovery. Medscape Medical News
A new analysis of 61 prospective observational studies has failed to show any association of total cholesterol with stroke mortality. But the researchers and an accompanying comment stress that statins have been shown to reduce stroke in randomized studies. The new study also showed that the total-cholesterol/HDL ratio may be the best lipid measurement to take. Heartwire
The American Heart Association has issued a scientific statement on the safety of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cardiovascular devices. Medscape Medical News
The unanimous decision for the axial-flow HeartMate 2, which is already available in Europe, was subject to a list of conditions involving labeling restrictions and further data to be collected. Heartwire
Dr. George Lundberg and Dr. Raymond Gibbons discuss the factors that influence physician decisions about how to treat stable angina pectoris. Medscape General Medicine
Observational studies may take on a life of their own in the literature, hanging on even after they have been discredited by randomized controlled trials, an analysis suggests. Heartwire
