Statins and the risk of interstitial lung disease: a cohort study
Source: Thorax
Area: News
A large cohort study Published early online in Thorax has concluded that there is no association between statin use and the incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Previously, case reports have suggested that the use of statins may be associated with an increase in the risk of ILD. Data from the Quebec health administrative databases during 1990-2005 was evaluated, and a nested case-control analysis of the relationship between statins and the risk of ILD as defined by specialist visits or hospitalisations were identified. The cohort included over 1.4 million patients, of which 66...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 8, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
The debate for generics: a view on statin therapy
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine
Area: News
Related to the results of a survey of US Physicians in which researchers sought to determine how frequently physicians comply with requests for brand-name drugs or the factors predicting this behaviour, JAMA Internal Medicine has featured a review of the case for generics when considering statin therapy.
The review considers the following:
. Comparing statin efficacy
. The choice of generic statins
The authors conclude that "lowering LDL-C level does not always reduce cardiovascular risk, although risk reduction is the appropriate goal of the...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 8, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
RCT: Omega-3 fatty acids for prevention of recurrent symptomatic atrial fibrillation (FORWARD)
Source: J Am Coll Cardiol
Area: News
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have been reported to reduce ventricular arrhythmias and it has been speculated that some of these antiarrhythmic properties might also be translated to a decrease of atrial arrhythmias. However, results of RCTs have been conflicting.
The FORWARD (Randomized Trial to Assess Efficacy of PUFA for the Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation) trial assessed the efficacy of n-3 PUFA for the prevention of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with normal sinus rhythm. The study was conducted at 42 Argentinean ce...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 4, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Concomitant use of antiplatelet therapy with dabigatran or warfarin in the randomised evaluation of long-term anticoagulation therapy (RE-LY®) trial: subgroup analysis
Source: Circulation
Area: News
RE-LY showed that dabigatran etexilate 150 mg bid (DE150) was superior, and 110 mg bid (DE110) non-inferior to warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolism (SSE) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). A common clinical dilemma regarding treatment of patients with AF is the need to use concomitant antiplatelets for a variety of reasons. While the combination of OAC and antiplatelets carry the potential of additive benefits, they also carry the danger of increased risk of bleeding.
With the emergence of dabigatran, questions on its efficacy and safety in patients receivi...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 4, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
RCT: Omega-3 fatty acids for prevention of recurrent symptomatic atrial fibrillationFORWARD)
Source: J Am Coll Cardiol
Area: News
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have been reported to reduce ventricular arrhythmias and it has been speculated that some of these antiarrhythmic properties might also be translated to a decrease of atrial arrhythmias. However, results of RCTs have been conflicting.
The FORWARD (Randomized Trial to Assess Efficacy of PUFA for the Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation) trial assessed the efficacy of n-3 PUFA for the prevention of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with normal sinus rhythm. The study was conducted at 42 Argentinean ce...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 4, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Lipid lowering efficacy of atorvastatin
Source: Cochrane
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Background
Atorvastatin is one of the most widely prescribed drugs and the most widely prescribed statin in the world. It is therefore important to know the dose-related magnitude of effect of atorvastatin on blood lipids.
Objectives
To quantify the dose-related effects of atorvastatin on blood lipids and withdrawals due to adverse effects (WDAE).
Search methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2011, MEDLINE (1966 t...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 3, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Optimal loading dose of warfarin for the initiation of oral anticoagulation
Source: Cochrane
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Background
Warfarin is used as an oral anticoagulant. However, there is wide variation in patient response to warfarin dose. This variation, as well as the necessity of keeping within a narrow therapeutic range, means that selection of the correct warfarin dose at the outset of treatment is not straightforward.
Objectives
To assess the effectiveness of different initiation doses of warfarin in terms of time in-range, time to INR in-range and effect on serious adverse events.
...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 3, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Systematic review and meta-analysis assesses risk of venous thromboembolic events associated with VEGFR-TKIs
Source: Int J Cancer
Area: News
There have been concerns about the risk of venous thromboembolism with the use of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) but the risk has not been clearly defined. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the incidence and relative risk (RR) of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) associated with these agents.
The review included phase II and III prospective trials evaluating pazopanib, sunitinib, sorafenib and vandetanib that included data on VTEs. Overall, 14 studies (n= 4430) were selected for the meta-analysis and the following find...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 3, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
FDA approves lomitapide (Juxtapid) for treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia
Source: BioSpace
Area: News
The FDA has approved lomitapide (Juxtapid) to reduce LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and non-HDL cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Lomitapide is intended for use in combination with a low fat diet and other lipid-lowering treatments. It is taken as a capsule once a day, without food, and at least two hours after the evening meal. Patients should take supplements that contain fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids daily while on this treatment.
The safety and effectiveness of lomitapide have been evaluated in ...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 3, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
In search of the right word: a statement of the HEART Group on scientific language
Source: European Heart Journal
Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References
Editorial calling for the use of precise terminology when describing observational studies as opposed to randomised trials - see also editorial statement, Eur Heart J Jan 2013;34(1):20-21. (Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 2, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Statement on matching language to the type of evidence used in describing observational studies vs. randomized trials
Source: European Heart Journal
Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References
Observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) provide different types of evidence for the evaluation of a therapeutic intervention. Each has advantages and disadvantages. As illustrated in a series of examples in a separate review, interpretation of observational studies, which are relatively descriptive, can be confounded and rendered ambiguous by the fact that many variables impacting outcomes can differ between studies. See also a related editorial (Eur Heart J Jan 2013;34(1):7-9). (Source: NeLM ...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 2, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
