Public-use blood pressure machines in pharmacies for identification of undetected hypertension in the community
Source: Journal of Clinical Hypertension
Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References
PharmaSmart PS-2000 (PharmaSmart Canada Corporation, Vancouver, BC, Canada) BP kiosks are validated devices measuring seated BP at the brachial artery. The kiosks also have Internet connectivity, allowing collection of anonymised results obtained. The writers of this letter obtained data from PharmaSmart on readings obtained from 341 locations of a Canadian chain pharmacy between Jan 2010 and Nov 2011. A total of 8,457,552 readings were taken in the observation period, with an average usage across all phar...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 22, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Impact of pharmacy outreach services on blood pressure management in the elderly community of Hong Kong
Source: Geriatrics and Gerontology International
Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References
Aim: To investigate the impact of the Pharmacy Outreach Service (POS) on blood pressure (BP) and disease knowledge among community-dwelling elderly patients with hypertension, and to evaluate the sustainability of such impact of POS.
Methods: A prospective open-labeled study of elderly adults (aged 65 years or older) with hypertension (BP 140/90 mmHg or higher for non-diabetics and 130/80 mmHg or higher for diabetics) was carried out at seven elderly community centres from Jul 2008 to Mar 2010....
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 22, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Efficacy of vitamin and antioxidant supplements in prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis
Source: BMJ
Area: News
According to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis, there is no evidence to support the use of vitamin and antioxidant supplements for the primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
The authors note that although several previous meta-analyses have evaluated the effect of vitamins and antioxidant supplements on CVD, they all involved individual vitamins or antioxidants, and none performed subgroup analyses by factors such as methodological quality or funding source. They sought to address these limitations in the current study. They identified a tota...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 21, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
CAS alert: Recall of Tredaptive® (nicotinic acid / laropiprant) modified-release tablets (Class 2 drug alert)
Source: CAS, MHRA
Area: News
The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) confirmed on Friday 18th January 2013 that it is recommending the suspension of the marketing authorisations of Tredaptive® (nicotinic acid / laropiprant) used to treat adults with dyslipidaemia, as its benefits no longer outweigh its risks (see link below for previous NeLM report).
Following on from this, the MHRA has now issued a Class 2 drug alert recalling all unexpired stock of Tredaptive® modified-release tablets, which has been supplied both as originator and parallel-distributed product. ...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 21, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
CHMP recommends approval of generic telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide medicines for essential hypertension
Source: European Medicines Agency
Area: News
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommending that the following two generic medicines be approved for the treatment of essential hypertension:
. Actelsar HCT (40mg/12.5 mg, 80mg/12.5 mg and 80mg/25 mg tablets)
. Tolucombi (40mg/12.5 mg, 80mg/12.5 mg and 80mg/25 mg tablets)
The active substances of these medicines are telmisartan (angiotensin II receptor antagonist) and hydrochlorothiazide (thiazide diuretic). Both are generics of MicardisPlus, which has been authorised in the EU since April 2002. Studies ha...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 21, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Drug adherence behavior among hypertensive out-patients at a tertiary health institution in Manicaland province, Zimbabwe, 2011
This study investigated the level of drug adherence among hypertensive outpatients at a tertiary hospital in Zimbabwe. Specific objectives included measurement of blood pressure (BP) control achievement, estimating prevalence of drug adherence behaviour, and establishing the association between drug adherence behaviour and achievement of BP control.
Methods and Materials: An analytical, cross-sectional design was applied on a convenience sample of 102 participants using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Self-reported adherence was assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale.
Findings: The...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 21, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Factors associated with adherence to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension
This study analysed pharmacy benefit claims of naive tadalafil (Adcirca) and sildenafil (Revatio) users between 1 Jan 2008 and 31 Dec 2010. Patients were considered adherent if their proportion of days covered (PDC) was 80% or more over a 6-month period. Logistic regressions were estimated to assess the factors associated with adherence. Analyses were stratified by use of a specialty pharmacy or retail pharmacy. A sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding individuals with 90-day supply.
Results: Of the total of 2143 patients included, 46.8% were adherent. Adherence was h...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 18, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
European Medicines Agency confirms recommendation to suspend Tredaptive (nicotinic acid/laropiprant)
Source: European Medicines Agency
Area: News
The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has confirmed the recommendation to suspend the marketing authorisations of Tredaptive (nicotinic acid / laropiprant) used to treat adults with dyslipidaemia, as its benefits no longer outweighed its risks. The results of the HPS2-THRIVE study, which are still preliminary, had indicated that taking Tredaptive together with a statin had no significant additional benefit in reducing the risk of major vascular events, compared with statin therapy alone; and it was also associated with a higher f...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 18, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Differences and time trends in drug treatment of atrial fibrillation in men and women and doctors' adherence to warfarin therapy recommendations
Source: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References
Background: Little is known about prescription trends in atrial fibrillation (AF) in primary health care in Sweden.
Objective: The aim was to study time trends in pharmacotherapy, in men and women with AF. We also aimed at studying doctors' adherence to CHADS2 for prescribing warfarin. CHADS2 assesses stroke risk by presence of known risk factors, i.e. congestive heart failure, hypertension, age over 75 years, diabetes, previous stroke and transient ischaemic attack.
Methods: Data were obtained from...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 18, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Decision on funding of dabigatran in Australia delayed
Source: National Prescribing Service (Australia)
Area: News
In Australia, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended dabigatran for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) for public funding in March 2011. Such a positive committee verdict usually ensures smooth passage into the national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), but the Australian Minister for Health announced in December 2012 that the PBAC decision is being delayed. This follows the release of a report reviewing anticoagulation therapies in AF which identified uncertainties regarding the magnitude of any incremental clinical and ...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Review: Drug-eluting coronary-artery stents
Source: New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
Area: News
This review on drug-eluting coronary-artery stents provides an overview of currently available devices, and covers the following topics:
. Platforms for drug-eluting stents
. Vascular biology
. Efficacy and safety
. Indications for use
. Antiplatelet therapy
. Cost-effectiveness
. Open issues and future directions (Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Phase III trial of darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) in heart failure fails to meet primary efficacy endpoint
Source: PharmaLive
Area: News
Amgen has announced that its phase III Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) RED-HF® (Reduction of Events With Darbepoetin Alfa in Heart Failure) trial has failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint.
The trial was initiated in 2006, and recruited 2278 patients with symptomatic systolic heart failure and anaemia (haemoglobin 9.0 to 12.0 g/dL) who were randomised to receive either treatment with darbepoetin to achieve a target haemoglobin of at least 13.0 g/dL (not to exceed 14.5 g/dL), or placebo. The study primary endpoint was a reduction in the composite endpoint of time to death from a...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Benefits of beta blockers in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: network meta-analysis
Source: BMJ
Area: News
Beta blockers have been shown in randomised trials to prolong survival, prevent arrhythmia, improve symptoms of heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction, and control ventricular rate, especially in patients with chronic heart failure. However, controversy exists as to the optimal selection of a particular agent for management of heart failure, as they differ in their selectivity for adrenergic receptors and their effects on the peripheral circulation.
This systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted of efficacy of different beta- blockers in heart failure to clar...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
AWMSG issues Final Appraisal Recommendation on eplerenone (Inspra®) in patients with NYHA class II heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Source: All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
In its Final Appraisal Recommendation, the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) is of the opinion that eplerenone (Inspra®) tablets may be an appropriate treatment option within NHS Wales, in addition to standard optimal therapy, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in adult patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II (chronic) heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF ? 30%). (Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
AWMSG issues Final Appraisal Recommendation on sildenafil (Revatio®) for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children
Source: All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
In its Final Appraisal Recommendation, the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) is of the opinion that sildenafil (Revatio®) 10mg/ml powder for oral suspension is appropriate for specialist only prescribing within NHS Wales as an option for the treatment of paediatric patients aged 1 year to 17 years old with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Efficacy in terms of improvement of exercise capacity or pulmonary haemodynamics has been shown in primary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital ...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
