Cardiovascular Business

SSRIs reduce rate of ischemia triggered by mental stress

Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) who received selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for six weeks had a lower rate of mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia compared with those who took placebos, according to results of the REMIT trial published May 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Coronary Intervention & Surgery

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

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Prehospital stroke management key to timely treatment

Poor pill adherence? Tech to the rescue

Maquet buys LAA closure device developer

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