Cardiovascular Health

The first reversal agent approved for the anticoagulant dabigatran (Pradaxa) has shown promise in patients with brain hemorrhage.

Diabetes and other conditions are also influenced by a person’s height.

Merck has received a complete response letter from the FDA regarding its supplemental new drug applications for ezetimibe and ezetimibe and simvastatin.

Rapid ventricular response in atrial fibrillation patients is a daily occurrence in the emergency department.

Most clinicians deem treatment response variability among direct oral anticoagulants which include direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors clinically insignificant.

With the increase in the number of patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation or needing stroke prevention treatment, roughly 3 million Americans currently take warfarin, while a lesser number takes direct oral agents.

Although warfarin is time-tested, the use of novel oral anticoagulants are a topic of interest to improve health outcomes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Patient self-management is an emerging anticoagulation delivery model that capitalizes on patients' willingness for in-depth warfarin education to help treat their atrial fibrillation.

Seven in 10 patients report some extent of nonadherence prior to a hospitalization caused by a cardiovascular event such as acute cardiac failure.

The FDA has determined that entacapone, a drug used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, does not increase patients' risk of heart attacks, stroke, or other cardiovascular events.

Health care providers walk a tightrope when they employ oral anticoagulants in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Contrary to the findings of a previous study, patients with atrial fibrillation who are admitted to the hospital on the weekend face no greater risks than those admitted on a weekday.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in America, but the disease rates for African-Americans are especially high.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and another antiplatelet agent such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor is the go-to preventive therapy for patients who have experienced certain cardiovascular events.

A target systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120 mm Hg has outperformed the recommended 140 mm Hg target in the landmark SPRINT study.

Despite the most recent meta-analysis published this week in the British Medical Journal, digoxin use in atrial fibrillation remains limited.

Gout patients may be at greater risk for atrial fibrillation.

Colchicine (Colcrys) is a promising adjunctive option in secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, probably because of its ability to stop or slow neutrophil reaction to intravascular cholesterol crystals.

Many patients with atrial fibrillation who lack an established risk factor for stroke are prescribed blood thinners despite guidelines recommending against their use in these low-risk patients.

Losing weight may help patients who are obese and have atrial fibrillation achieve long-term freedom from the heart disorder.

When a screening program is proposed, policymakers have some questions: does screening improve detection of the target diagnosis; is systematic screening better than opportunistic identification?

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are increasingly being prescribed to prevent and treat venous thromboembolism and avert stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Six patient deaths and other serious adverse events have been linked to SentreHeart's Lariat Suture Delivery Device, the FDA is warning health care professionals.

Here are new drugs for 2015 that pharmacists can expect to handle.