Cardiovascular Disease News and Research

Latest Cardiovascular Disease News and Research

Statins protect people against death from respiratory illness, infections

The death rate among patients prescribed a statin in a major trial that ended in 2003 is still lower than those given a placebo, even though most participants in both groups have been taking statins ever since. ASCOT, the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial, was stopped early because the statin was so effective at preventing heart attacks and strokes, but a new analysis has shown that eight years on, the most significant difference between the groups is a reduction in deaths from infection and respiratory illness.

29 Aug 2011

People with lower socioeconomic status more likely to develop heart disease

People with lower socioeconomic status are much more likely to develop heart disease than those who are wealthier or better educated, according to a recent UC Davis study.

29 Aug 2011

Strong link between leisure-time physical activity and AF among men

A Norwegian survey carried out between 1974 and 2003 showed that there was a graded independent increase in the risk of AF with increasing levels of physical activity in a population-based study among men with ostensibly no other heart disease. In women the data were inconclusive.

29 Aug 2011

New clinical data shows positive long-term performance of Medtronic's CoreValve system

New clinical data presented today at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2011 demonstrate positive long-term performance for the CoreValve transcatheter aortic valve replacement system from Medtronic, Inc.

From Medtronic 29 Aug 2011

ESC introduces update to HeartScore application

The number of heart attack and stroke incidents in Europe is likely to reduce with the imminent launch of an update to the HeartScore® application. HeartScore® was first developed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in 2004, and it helps clinicians rapidly estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individual patients using age, gender, basic health indicators, and lifestyle factors.

26 Aug 2011

New guidelines on management of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy

New ESC guidelines emphasise the importance of screening and risk assessment. Pre-existing heart disease is rarely a contraindication to pregnancy - indeed, many women with heart disorders tolerate pregnancy well - but it remains a "major concern" that complications are frequent and in some cases may be life-threatening for both the mother and her child. In Europe maternal heart disease has now become the major cause of maternal death during pregnancy.

26 Aug 2011

SuperSonic Imagine introduces UltraFast Doppler technology

SuperSonic Imagine, the ultrasound company that pioneered breakthrough ShearWave Elastography technology, today announced another major breakthrough in ultrasound imaging: UltraFast Doppler.

26 Aug 2011

People with disabilities more likely to experience poorer health

Compared to racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities are generally more likely to experience poorer health, according to a new report from the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability.

26 Aug 2011

Scientists identify cellular protein that plays a critical role in Ebola virus infection

Research published by two teams of Army scientists and collaborators has identified a cellular protein that plays a critical role in Ebola virus infection.

25 Aug 2011

Transradial cardiac catheterizations reduce complications, increase patient comfort

Each year, more than one million cardiac catheterizations are performed in the United States, and most of these procedures are performed through the groin to access the arteries that provide blood supply to the heart.

25 Aug 2011

Study finds biological indicators that help explain why obese people develop chronic diseases

UC Davis Health System researchers have discovered biological indicators that help explain why some obese people develop chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and others do not.

25 Aug 2011

Free Alzheimer's disease conference to take place on Sept. 17

University of Louisville faculty researchers and clinicians with expertise in polypharmacy, caregiving and more will join with a Washington-based geriatric researcher at a free conference examining Alzheimer's disease.

25 Aug 2011

Heart failure risk rises in people with diastolic dysfunction: Study

New research suggests that a common form of heart trouble called diastolic dysfunction appears to worsen over time and may lead to an increased risk of heart failure. In people with diastolic dysfunction, which often comes with advancing age, the heart's left ventricle fills with blood in an abnormal way and is accompanied by elevated filling pressures.

24 Aug 2011

Psoriasis drug and heart attack risk association unclear: Study

According to American researchers, although a review of published studies reveals that a new and highly effective class of psoriasis drugs does not appear to raise the risk of heart problems, the studies may not have been big enough to detect rare cases.

24 Aug 2011

Major new guideline on treatment of high blood pressure

The way blood pressure is diagnosed and treated is set to be revolutionised following new guidelines for the medical profession issued by NICE and developed in conjunction with the British Hypertension Society (BHS).

24 Aug 2011

Scientists aim to tackle Hawaii's liver cancer problem with improved detection

Two scientists from the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and The Queen's Medical Center have received a five-year $2.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop novel methods that can better detect liver cancer through the joint analysis of gene expression and imaging data of the liver.

24 Aug 2011

First international conference on developmental, translational and clinical pharmacogenomics

The first international conference hosted by the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy will focus on ways to improve health care by customizing drug prescribing and treatment based on an individual's genetic makeup.

24 Aug 2011

Health Canada accepts Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Canada's lurasidone NDS for review

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., formerly Sepracor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the New Drug Submission (NDS) for Lurasidone HCl, for the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia has been accepted for review by Health Canada. The NDS was submitted to Health Canada in June 2011 and will receive a standard review.

24 Aug 2011

Ceasing regular physical activity impairs glycemic control

79 million American adults have prediabetes and will likely develop diabetes later in life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow, researchers are focusing on discovering why the prevalence of the disease is increasing.

24 Aug 2011

New report: Molecular imaging market to reach $6 billion by 2015

By 2015, it is anticipated that the molecular imaging (MI) market will achieve a value of over $6 billion, according to a new report on companiesandmarkets.com.

23 Aug 2011