Cardiovascular

On December 5, 2017, FDA approved Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Todd Hobbs, MD, Novo Nordisk’s vice president and chief medical officer, spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® just ahead of FDA’s action.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a cardiovascular disease for which 45,000 operations are performed yearly in the United States, but a new study found that targeting lipids may improve long-term outcomes.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the healthcare and mainstream press.

Results from the FOURIER trial have provided convincing data that there is no downside to aggressively lowering cholesterol with PCSK9 inhibitors, and studies have shown there are cardiovascular benefits associated with Repatha, but reimbursement remains challenging, said Eliot A. Brinton, MD, FAHA, FNLA, president of the Utah Lipid Center.

Physical activity, even of a low-intensity, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults, according to a study published in The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Although the authors found similar associations for individuals under age 55 and individuals aged 55-65, the results were not statistically significant.

Physicians’ response to policy changes in the Affordable Care Act show that changing cost-sharing formulas can make a difference, according to results reported by Drs. Joseph Ladapo and Dave Chokshi.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that blood pressure (BP) lowering is associated with reduced risk of death and cardiovascular disease (CVD) if the baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) is 140 mm Hg or higher. Treatment may be considered in patients with coronary heart disease and SBP under 140 mm Hg, but not for primary prevention.

The authors evaluated whether the 2010 Affordable Care Act was associated with changes in physicians’ provision of preventive cardiovascular services.

The biggest challenge of implementing behavioral interventions to improve care for patients with cardiovascular disease is reimbursement models, said Justin Bachmann, MD, MPH, FACC, Cardiologist and Clinical Investigator, Instructor of Medicine and Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The analysis presented at the American Heart Association looks strictly at healthcare costs, but a broader cost-effectiveness study is planned that will consider drug costs as well as effect on patient quality of life.

Researchers presenting at the American Heart Association look at specific populations within 2 large diabetes drug trials, CANVAS and EMPA-REG OUTCOME.

Digital health, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and precision medicine are the areas where there is the most excitement in innovations for cardiovascular care, said John Rumsfeld, MD, PhD, chief innovation officer at the American College of Cardiology.

During a session at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, a cardiologist joined rheumatologists to give a detailed look at the relationship between rheumatic conditions and cardiovascular disease.

The biggest challenges in promoting cardiovascular prevention strategies is motivating people to change a lifetime of poor habits into healthier habits, explained Christi Deaton, PhD, RN, FAHA, FESC, of the University of Cambridge.

The digital transformation of the cardiology field in the coming years will have a huge impact on the delivery of healthcare, said John Rumsfeld, MD, PhD, chief innovation officer at the American College of Cardiology.

The authors find that sleep in teens fell after 2009, as smartphone use escalated. Lack of sleep has been linked to insulin resistance.

The University of Best Practices physician organization learning collaborative in San Diego County was associated with lower hospitalization rates for heart attacks.

A study has found that both recreational and non-recreational activity reduces the risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease, regardless of the country's economic status.

Excessively low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides is associated with a higher all-cause mortality among American Indians, according to a new study published online ahead of print in Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications.

Current drugs for pulmonary hypertension treat 3 pathways, but currently there aren't any new drugs to treat different pathways, although there likely will be some in the future, said Simon Gibbs, MD, Reader in Pulmonary Hypertension at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London.

There is an ongoing debate about how aggressively to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, but Steve Nissen, MD, of Cleveland Clinic, argues that studies have shown an aggressive approach to lowering LDL always shows benefits.

Experts said that the frequency and quality of social relationships have a greater effect on mortality than obesity or drinking alcohol, and this commands attention from health systems.

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Houston is expected to face a host of health challenges, including air pollution. Here are 5 facts about how air pollution affects people’s health.

The use of statin drugs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with benefits including decreased lung-related and all-cause mortality, according to a research.

Researchers have known for years: what happens to mom in pregnancy affects the baby. That holds true with prenatal exposure to air pollution, which has lingering cardiovascular effects, such as birth defects and a higher risk of obesity, explained Jeanette Stingone, PhD, of Mount Sinai Health System.