Cardiovascular Business

Doctors, hospitals to shoulder rate cuts to sustain plan

The federal government will reduce rates paid to physicians and hospitals treating patients with cardiovascular diseases and other serious illnesses in an effort to stem the tide in cost overruns in its Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP).

Healthcare Economics

No difference in cardiac risk between 2 bronchodilators

It’s a toss-up: In a comparison of their relative cardiovascular risk, neither of two long-acting bronchodilators for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease appeared to be safer than the other.

Prevention

IOM, AHA at odds over sodium guidelines

Authors of a report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on sodium intake by the American public failed to be persuaded that lowering daily consumption below 2,300 mg a day affected outcomes. The American Heart Association (AHA) countered the report missed the mark in its conclusions.

Prevention

ICD duel: Lower complication rates with single-chamber devices

Patients implanted with dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) had higher rates of complications at one year than did patients who received single-chamber devices, with no apparent benefits in hospitalization or mortality. The results were published in the May 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Electrophysiology & Arrhythmia

One-stop CT, MR imaging: Future in diabetic care?

Quantifying body fat and other clinical factors in obese patients with diabetes using CT or magnetic resonance (MR) may help physicians detect and manage comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, according to a review published in the May issue of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. But is that enough to justify “one-stop shop” imaging?

Imaging

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OR in 3-D

Aspiration catheter gets cleared in Europe

From pumps to pumps

FDA green lights LVAD pocket controller

Shades of gray

Smart phone tech called into duty for stroke rehab

Practice changes cut staff’s radiation exposure

Big brother, big business

App outperforms email for sending ECG images

Stent option for left main disease launched in Europe