Air pollutants up heart-failure deaths, hospitalizations, costs
Modest reductions in air pollution could prevent almost 8000 hospitalizations for heart failure and save hundreds of millions of healthcare dollars in the US alone, authors of a new study estimate. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - July 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Adverse events with statins uncommon, meta-analysis shows
In a new meta-analysis of nearly a quarter million individuals treated with statin therapy, the lipid-lowering drugs were associated with a small but statistically significant increased risk of diabetes, but there was no evidence of an increased risk of cancer. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - July 9, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Studies highlight variations in CV care by region and by payment program
In two studies, researchers identified differences in the overall rate of coronary interventions that could not be explained by patient characteristics, leading one expert to emphasize the importance of learning how to make patient-sensitive, high-quality medical decisions. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - July 9, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
New PCI programs cost billions, fail to improve timely access
In a recent four-year period, US hospitals were more likely to set up a PCI program if they were new or large or faced competition from a nearby hospital with a catheterization laboratory—which resulted in duplicated services and a lack of improvement in access to timely emergency care. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - July 9, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
Obesity as disease? Physicians debate the pros and cons of AMA decision
When the American Medical Association voted at its annual meeting to classify obesity as a disease, it set off conversations nationwide on how this might affect doctors in a variety of specialties. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - July 9, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
