A new study by Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that MRIs can be safely performed on patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. The study evaluated 212 MRI studies in 178 patients and did not find any problems requiring remediation.
A study of 645 ARDS survivors identified subgroups with varying degrees of impairment, including permanent lung damage and long-term effects on quality of life. Researchers aim to develop tailored rehabilitation programs to guide patients through the recovery process.
A new study finds that depression in heart patients significantly increases the risk of death, with depressed heart patients having twice the risk as non-depressed heart patients. The study emphasizes the importance of continued screening for depression in all heart disease patients.
A new international study involving 3,500 patients found that removing all lymph nodes in the area closest to the melanoma may not provide a significant survival advantage. The study suggests that patients can be spared from complications and repeat hospitalizations if only their sentinel lymph node is removed.
A new drug, sofosbuvir, has been found to significantly reduce liver transplant and mortality rates in patients with advanced stages of liver disease due to hepatitis C. This study involving nearly 1,900 patients showed a 40% reduction in the need for transplants after treatment with sofosbuvir.
A study by Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that long-term aspirin therapy does not lower the risk of stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation who are considered low-risk for stroke. Instead, it increases the risk of gastrointestinal and genitourinary bleeding.
A new study has found that delayed treatment with anticoagulation therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation increases the risk of dementia. The study, conducted by researchers at Intermountain Medical Center, included over 76,000 patients and found a significant increase in dementia rates among those who received delayed treatment.
Researchers have identified a microRNA biomarker that shows a strong association with atrial fibrillation incidence. The study found that low levels of miR 21 are strongly linked to the development of atrial fibrillation, which can increase stroke risk and negatively impact quality of life.
A new study combines traditional CHA2DS2-VASc risk score with the Intermountain Mortality Risk Score to provide more accurate evaluations of atrial fibrillation patients' individual risks. This allows for better decision-making regarding blood thinners use, taking into account both clinical and biological factors.
Researchers found combining Intermountain Mortality Risk Score (IMRS) with traditional CHA2DS2-VASc score improves identification of atrial fibrillation patients at higher risk of dementia. This study used data from nearly 75,000 AFib patients with no history of dementia.
A novel treatment has been successfully used to treat patients with a rare disorder that causes kidney failure, allowing targeted elimination of abnormal proteins and improving kidney function. The treatment, Daratumumab, targets plasma cell clones in the bone marrow, offering a new way to specifically treat the problem.
A new anti-rejection drug, Everolimus, has been found to reduce weight gain and enhance outcomes for liver transplant recipients. Researchers compared Everolimus to Tacrolimus in a randomized international multi-center study of over 700 patients, finding that those taking Everolimus gained less weight.
Researchers combined two independent risk measurements to improve stroke and mortality predictions in atrial fibrillation patients. The new tool provides a more accurate scale of low and high risk, helping physicians determine the need for blood thinners in treatment.
Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute have identified three microRNA molecules linked to AFib recurrence after ablation therapy. These molecular markers hold promise as screening tools to help determine which patients will benefit from various therapies.
A new study by Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute researchers suggests that calcified plaque is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, contradicting previous assumptions about soft plaque. The study found that patients with more calcified plaque were more likely to experience major adverse coronary events.
Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute identified GlycA as a novel marker of inflammation that predicts heart attack risk. High levels of both GlycA and C-reactive protein independently predict future cardiovascular events, with combined levels being the worst scenario.
A large community-based study found that antithrombotic therapy does not decrease stroke risk in low-risk atrial fibrillation patients, but rather increases the risk of significant bleeding and death. The study contradicts current standards and highlights the need for more research on optimal therapies for these patients.
A new study has developed a score called the Intermountain Chronic Disease Risk Score (ICHRON) that uses routine blood tests and age to measure future risk of chronic disease. ICHRON predictions are 77-78% accurate in identifying patients who'll be diagnosed with a chronic disease within three years.
A new study by Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that depression is the strongest predictor of death in patients with coronary heart disease, doubling the risk compared to those without depression. The study analyzed health records from nearly 25,000 patients and found half with depression died during the study period.
A new study from Intermountain Medical Center found that using longitudinal data improves predictive accuracy for kidney transplant patients. Four predictive models were developed by layering available data, achieving accuracy improvements of nearly 16% and up to 83.8% in predicting kidney loss or death.
Patients with atrial fibrillation who use warfarin are two to three times more likely to develop dementia compared to those without atrial fibrillation. Erratic blood levels of warfarin contribute to the risk, suggesting that managing abnormal heart rhythm may also lower dementia risk.
A new study found that cardiac PET/CT imaging can detect calcium in arteries, a sign of plaque buildup, reducing the risk of future heart attack and stroke. Researchers discovered that patients with high levels of calcification were more likely to experience adverse cardiac events.
A new study by Intermountain Medical Center found that cardiac rehabilitation significantly reduces the risk of death in heart patients with moderate to severe depression after heart surgery. The study, conducted on 118 patients, showed a nearly 75% decrease in mortality rates among those who attended rehab.
Researchers found that catheter ablations lower the long-term risk of recurrent stroke by 50% in atrial fibrillation patients with a prior history of stroke. The procedure creates scar tissue to prevent rapid electric currents from causing abnormal heart rhythms.
A new study by Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that two different blood clot prevention medications are just as safe and effective for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The risk of major bleeding after 30 days was low and not significantly different between the two treatment methods.
The Intermountain-Stanford grant program aims to accelerate research and improve patient care through seven seed grants focused on genomics, machine learning, biomarkers, and more. The grants will support innovative projects in research, education, and medical education.
A first-of-its-kind study of 900,000 hospital admissions found a significant increase in ESBL positive organisms (322%) and C. difficile cases (222%), while MRSA rates decreased by 32%. The study highlights the need for new diagnostic tests to address the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A new study from Intermountain Medical Center found that antibiotic use rates in small community hospitals are similar to those in large hospitals. The lack of antimicrobial stewardship programs in smaller facilities poses a significant challenge in addressing the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Patients with septic shock who experience bradycardia (lower heart rate) have a 21% lower mortality rate compared to those without. A 13% decrease in mortality risk was observed among patients with average lower heart rates below 80 beats per minute.
A 10-year study shows that integrating mental and physical healthcare results in higher screening rates, more proactive treatment, and better clinical outcomes for patients. Patients in team-based practices had lower rates of healthcare utilization and costs compared to traditional practices.
A new study found that lifestyle factors such as obesity and smoking are associated with a worse quality of life rating for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients. The study suggests that incorporating smoking cessation education into the critical care setting may be beneficial in improving patient outcomes.
A new study found that catheter ablation does not reduce the long-term risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Adult patients with the condition continue to have a significant risk of developing atrial fibrillation regardless of age at procedure.
A new study of over 10,000 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and those without found that AF patients treated with warfarin had higher rates of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia. The study suggests that the efficacy of therapy is strongly associated with dementia risk.
A new study from Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that atrial fibrillation patients taking warfarin require proper management to prevent kidney failure. The study showed that patients with low anticoagulation levels were at risk of developing kidney dysfunction and failure.
A new study from Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute shows that testosterone supplementation reduced major adverse cardiovascular events in elderly men with low testosterone levels and pre-existing coronary artery disease. The study found that patients receiving testosterone therapy had a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, ...
A study from Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that low levels of both total vitamin D and bioavailable vitamin D are associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks. The research evaluated 4,200 participants and discovered that measuring these two components is crucial in predicting major adverse...
A new study found that effectively treating depression can reduce a patient's chance of having a stroke, heart failure, a heart attack, or death. Effective treatment for depression reduces a patient's heart risks to the same level as those who never had short-term depression.
A recent study of nearly 3,000 patients found that elevated levels of glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA) offset the benefits of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in preventing heart disease. Inflammation of artery walls is a contributing factor to heart attacks and strokes.
A new study from Intermountain Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital found that abdominal obesity, or having an apple-shaped body, is a strong predictor of serious heart disease in diabetic patients. Waist circumference was also shown to be a stronger predictor of left ventricular dysfunction than total body weight or BMI.
A new study of 1,472 healthy men found that testosterone supplementation did not increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death. Testosterone therapy was shown to reduce these risks compared to non-supplemented individuals.
Researchers found a link between vitamin D levels and heart problems, with patients at risk if their level is below 15 nanograms per milliliter. The study evaluated over 230,000 patients and found that those above 15 ng/ml had a 35% increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Researchers found that weight loss significantly improves ablation success rates for patients with atrial fibrillation, with those who lose 10 pounds or more experiencing better outcomes. Maintaining weight and avoiding weight regain are also crucial for preventing AF recurrence.
A major new study found that people with heart disease face an increased risk of a serious heart attack during poor air quality days. Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute identified a strong association between bad air quality days and a higher risk of STEMI, the most dangerous type of heart attack.
A new study found that promptly diagnosing and treating diabetes in heart attack patients significantly improves their cardiac outcomes. Researchers identified 707 patients who met criteria for a diabetes diagnosis but were only clinically diagnosed 30% of the time.
Intermountain Healthcare implemented a blood ordering and tracking system, reducing blood transfusions by 30% and infections by 50%, saving $2.5 million over two years. The program also decreased the need for dual-unit blood orders, a common practice that suppressed recipients' immune systems.
A comprehensive lung cancer screening program utilizing CT scan technology at Intermountain Medical Center has been developed to detect lung cancer more accurately. The program, based on the National Lung Screening Trial, showed patients with CT scans had a 15-20% lower risk of dying compared to those with standard chest X-rays.
The study found that cardiac PET/CT imaging diagnosed heart problems with certainty 88% of the time, while SPECT imaging gave a clear diagnosis only 30% of the time. This technology reduces unnecessary invasive procedures and radiation exposure by a factor of 10.
A new study by Intermountain Medical Center researchers found that using advanced clinical decision support tools reduces mortality for pneumonia patients. The tool, which analyzes 40 different factors to calculate a patient's risk of having pneumonia, saved up to 12 lives in hospitals where it was used.
A new study found that antidepressants may be more important than statins in reducing the risk of heart disease in patients with moderate to severe depression. Patients who took antidepressants alone had a 53% lower risk of death, coronary artery disease, or stroke during a three-year follow-up period.
Researchers found minimal increased risk in one study and a 50% reduced risk in another, leading to continued use of calcium channel blocker medications. The study's results contradict a previous report suggesting a higher risk of breast cancer among women taking the medication.