Low Statin Use in
People Who Need It
Thyroid
Hormones
Linked to
Cardiac Death
2.5x
2 out of 5
The number of patients with diabetes who could benefit from statin therapy
to decrease the risk of future heart attack, stroke, and related death despite
not being prescribed a statin.
The increased likelihood that individuals with higher thyroid
hormone levels—free thyroxine hormone levels—were to die of
sudden cardiac death compared to patients who had lower levels.
“In this study, we found 38 percent of patients with diabetes were not on a
statin, which can be lifesaving,” Salim Virani, MD, PhD, cardiologist at the
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and senior author.
“Our study suggests more caution is warranted in the treatment
of thyroid hormone replacement. Replacement therapy is often
aimed at the high normal range which carries a risk of overtreatment,” said Layal Chaker, MD, MSc, study lead author.
Source: American College of Cardiology. News release. Sept. 12, 2016.
Source: American Heart Association. News release. Sept. 6, 2016.
Poor Medication Adherence
Means Higher Risks
5 million
The number of Medicare Part D enrollees—age 65 and older—who do not take their blood
pressure (BP) medicine as prescribed, skipping doses or ceasing the medication all together, putting them at high risks for heart attack, stroke, and death. Racial/ethnic groups
and those enrollees living in Southern U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
have higher percentages of enrollees who do not take their BP medication properly.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. News release. Sept. 13, 2016.
30%
Ups and Downs for
CV Drug Trials
The increased percentage of novel cardiovascular (CV) drugs entering Phase 3 trials between 1990 and 2012. Study authors sought
to evaluate the trends of CV drugs in clinical trials over roughly a
20-year period. Their findings also showed that, between 1990 and
1995, 16% of Phase 1 trials were initiated by CV drugs, compared to
only 5% of Phase 1 trials between 2005 and 2012.
Source: American College of Cardiology. News release. Aug. 30, 2016.
ACC.org/CSWNInterventions
CardioSource WorldNews: Interventions
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