Cardiovascular

Mortality Higher for MI Admissions at Night, on Weekends
A BMJ meta-analysis adds to the evidence that patients who present with acute myocardial infarction at night or on weekends (i.e., off-hours) fare worse than those presenting on weekdays during regular hours. Journal Watch

UCLA researchers develop risk calculator to predict survival in heart failure patients
A UCLA team has developed an easy-to-use "risk calculator" that helps predict heart failure patients' chances of survival for up to five years and assists doctors in determining whether more or less aggressive treatment is appropriate.
 
Given that heart failure impacts more than 5 million Americans and numerous variables affect patient outcomes, this type of risk-assessment tool can be very helpful to physicians and patients in assessing prognosis over time and guiding medical decision-making, the researchers say. Their new risk model is featured in the January edition of the journal Circulation: Heart Failure. Eurekalert!

Cleveland Clinic researchers discover process that turns 'good cholesterol' bad
Apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) is the primary protein present in HDL, providing the structure of the molecule that allows it to transfer cholesterol out of the artery wall and deliver it to the liver, from which cholesterol is excreted. It's apoA1 that normally gives HDL its cardio-protective qualities, but Dr. Hazen and his colleagues have discovered that in the artery wall during atherosclerosis, a large proportion of apoA1 becomes oxidized and no longer contributes to cardiovascular health, but rather, contributes to the development of coronary artery disease. Eurekalert!

Heart Attack Signal Found for Spiriva in COPD
The TIOSPIR trial was used to support safety of the mist inhaler version of tiotropium (Spiriva) compared with the dry powder version, but the pooled data actually showed something else -- a worrying signal for heart attack risk, researchers argued.

Adjudicated fatal myocardial infarction (MI) was 3.48 times more likely among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients on either dose of the tiotropium Respimat Soft Mist inhaler than among those using the dry powder HandiHaler (P = 0.04), Yoon K. Loke, MBBS, MD, of England's University of East Anglia, and colleagues found. MedPage Today

Testosterone therapy might increase heart attack risk
The increased risk was found in men younger than 65 with a history of heart disease, and in older men even if they didn't have a history of the disease. In both groups, heart attack risk doubled in the 90 days after the men began testosterone therapy, said researcher William Finkle, CEO of Consolidated Research, in Los Angeles. MedicalXpress

Short bursts of exercise may cut heart disease risk
A University of Queensland study has found high-intensity short-duration exercise provides better results than the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise. Researchers are looking at the benefits of high intensity interval training as the most effective way of reducing the risk of heart disease in people with metabolic syndrome. MedicalXpress