Drs. Kay, Ridker, and Simon discuss the increased risk for cardiovascular disease in RA patients, inflammatory markers, and approaches to limiting risks and optimizing outcomes. Medscape Rheumatology
In men with and without cardiovascular disease, the addition of several biomarkers of cardiovascular and renal dysfunction significantly improves risk stratification for death from cardiovascular causes beyond other models based only on established cardiovascular risk factors, according to the results of a new study. Heartwire
Madhav Rao, MD, and George Bakris, MD, from the University of Chicago review data demonstrating the benefits of ACEIs or ARBs in slowing CKD progression in those with advanced proteinuric nephropathy. Medscape Nephrology
The study designed to specifically answer whether or not ezetimibe reduces hard clinical end points, known as the IMPROVE-IT study, is expected to be delayed about one year, until 2012, because investigators have added more patients, increasing enrollment from the last target of 12 500 to 18 000. Heartwire
The ACCORD results were negative (for the primary endpoint), the ADVANCE results were positive. Dr. Black compares and contrasts these results with those of the AVOID study. Medscape Cardiology
The first head-to-head comparison of quality of care between hospitals participating in the AHA Get With the Guidelines program and nonparticipating hospitals shows the former provide superior care, resulting in better clinical outcomes for those with AMI. Heartwire
