Articles tagged with Myocardial Infarction
A new study reveals women with heart attacks wait significantly longer than men to receive emergency angioplasty, resulting in higher death rates. Patients who received treatment within 90 minutes of arrival had a 50% lower risk of dying in the hospital.
Researchers found that injections of bone marrow stem cells into damaged heart muscle produced nearly full recovery after two months. The study showed no recovery in the control group, with worsened conditions leading to congestive heart failure.
A study found that higher levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intake were associated with a significantly lower risk of dying from sudden cardiac death or coronary heart disease in women. Women who consumed the most ALA had a 46% reduced risk of dying from sudden cardiac death compared to those with the lowest intake.
Duke University researchers found that heart surgery patients receive less aggressive discharge care, with gaps in the use of life-saving medications and behavior modifications. The study, based on data from a national registry, revealed underuse of aspirin, beta-blockers, and statins among surgical patients.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ACE inhibitors do not provide added cardiovascular protection for patients with coronary heart disease who have normal or only mildly reduced heart function. These findings suggest that many patients with this condition may not need to take ACE inhibitors, potentia...
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes are not being optimally managed for their cardiovascular risk. Fewer than 25% of patients were on medication needed to control high cholesterol and less than 50% received treatment for high blood pressure.
A systematic review of studies found that atenolol had no significant effect on reducing death from all causes, cardiovascular causes, or incidence of heart attack. However, it showed a trend towards reduced stroke incidence and increased mortality compared to other antihypertensive drugs.
Researchers found that patients who were diagnosed with non-cardiac chest pain and then had heart events were older, more likely to be men, and had high-risk features such as high cholesterol. Further evaluation should be considered for these patients, says lead researcher Chadwick Miller.
A new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that intra-abdominal fat is a significant predictor of heart attack risk. Researchers discovered that as people age, fat tends to accumulate in the abdomen more than other areas, increasing the risk of heart attacks.
A recent study reports four cases of angiographically-confirmed stent thrombosis after elective implantation of drug-eluting stents, resulting in myocardial infarction. The authors emphasize the need for careful long-term follow-up to assess late thrombosis risk
A study found that hormone therapy can limit heart muscle damage to 5% or cause permanent damage to 35%. Researchers are exploring how estrogen alone and other anti-inflammatory treatments may impact muscle damage. The study suggests different hormone therapies may have varying effects on postmenopausal women.
A study published in JAMA Network found that heart attack patients who received blood transfusions had a significantly higher death rate compared to those who did not. The study included 24,111 participants and showed that blood transfusion was associated with nearly four times increased risk for 30-day death.
A study of over 110,000 heart attack patients found that Hispanic and African American patients experience longer treatment times due to hospital quality. The findings emphasize the need to improve care at lower-performing hospitals to reduce racial disparities in healthcare.
Research suggests that cardiac arrest can cause structural changes in neurons, leading to memory deficits and behavioral changes. The study found that mice with a heart attack had difficulty learning new spatial tasks compared to healthy mice.
A study suggests exercise testing may benefit intermediate to high-risk asymptomatic men by identifying those with increased coronary risk, but also finds that greater exercise capacity predicts lower CHD risk. The results support using the Framingham Risk Score to inform exercise test ordering in these patients.
A study led by Mayo Clinic cardiologist Veronique Roger found that cardiac rehabilitation can improve survival rates for heart attack patients by almost 50%. However, women and elderly patients were less likely to participate in exercise programs due to factors such as lack of transportation and support networks.
Women with diabetes having acute coronary syndrome are at a higher risk of presenting with ST-elevation-ACS and dying in hospital, compared to men. Diabetes has a differential effect on the pathophysiology of ACS based on patient sex.
A recent study found that immediate statin therapy in hospitalized heart attack patients significantly reduced the risk of death and additional heart attacks. The study, which involved 3,605 patients at 260 medical centers, confirms earlier findings that early statin treatment is beneficial for heart health.
The trial found that early and aggressive statin use can reduce the long-term incidence of heart attacks, death from heart attack, stroke or readmission to the hospital for a cardiac event. However, benefits only became evident longer term, with no differences in endpoints during the first four months.
A study found that about 21% of middle-aged Americans have both high blood pressure and high LDL-cholesterol, significantly increasing heart attack risk. The combined effect was 51 cases per 10,000 person-years, much higher than expected.
A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that treating patients with recent acute coronary syndromes with higher doses of statins soon after experiencing heart-attack symptoms leads to a reduction in subsequent death, congestive heart failure, and other cardiac events compared to delayed treatment with...
The ACTION study found that adding nifedipine to existing treatments for stable angina reduces the need for hospital interventions by 13% and prevents heart attacks and strokes. Nifedipine also reduces hospitalizations for heart failure in patients with stable angina.
The ICTUS study found that early invasive and selective invasive strategies are equivalent treatment options for patients with nSTE-ACS and elevated cardiac troponin. The study showed higher myocardial infarction rates but fewer rehospitalizations in the early invasive group.
A global study found that nine easily measurable factors predict the majority of heart attack risk, regardless of region or ethnic group. These factors include cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes, which collectively predict over 90% of heart attack risk.
The TARGET study found that COX2 inhibitor lumiracoxib significantly reduces ulcer complications in osteoarthritis patients, but no significant difference was seen in cardiovascular events. Lumiracoxib showed a three to four-fold reduction in ulcer complications compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic demonstrate the potential of embryonic stem cells to rebuild damaged heart tissue, improving contractile function and ventricular remodeling. The study found that stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes integrated into infarcted areas without adverse effects.
A recent study published in JCI Journals reveals that AMP-activated protein kinase plays a crucial role in protecting the heart against ischemic stress. The kinase mediates increased glucose uptake in the heart during ischemia, which helps prevent post-ischemic cardiac dysfunction, apoptosis, and injury.
The updated report recommends lower LDL cholesterol levels as a direct relationship with reduced risk for major coronary events. Therapeutic lifestyle changes are also emphasized for cholesterol management.
Researchers developed a non-invasive imaging method to track new blood vessel growth in the heart after a heart attack. The technique uses a radioactively labeled protein to detect changes in damaged areas over time, providing clear visualization of healing processes.
Nearly half of patients prescribed statins fail to fill their prescriptions often enough or stop taking the drug altogether due to high out-of-pocket costs. Co-pay levels above $20 increase the likelihood of non-adherence, with four times more patients stopping medication when co-pays exceed $20 compared to those under $10.
Researchers developed a simple, pocket-sized risk-prediction tool to calculate the chances of dying within six months for patients after a heart attack or unstable chest pain episode. The tool combines nine variables and has been proven accurate in predicting patient outcomes.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a new clinical standard to help manufacturers develop and calibrate assays that measure specific protein concentrations in patient blood samples. This standard, SRM 2921, is expected to reduce variations in clinical test results by as much as 50-fold.
A recent study of over 1 million Medicare beneficiaries found that older patients aged 90+ are significantly less likely to receive critical care in intensive care units (ICUs) compared to their peers aged 68-70. Treatment in an ICU appears to be just as effective for both ages, highlighting a possible disparity in care received by you...
A study published in JAMA found that a specific genetic variation in the COX-2 gene is associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. The -765GC polymorphism was more prevalent in controls than in patients, resulting in a 52% lower relative risk of MI and a 67% lower relative risk of ischemic stroke.
Researchers at Yale University found that losing a job near retirement age significantly increases the risk of stroke. The study, which analyzed data from six years of the national Health and Retirement Survey, identified 457 workers who were either laid off or left jobless due to a plant shutdown.
A large-scale national trial led by Duke University Medical Center researchers found that exercising reduced the risk of death and non-fatal heart attacks in heart attack patients who were depressed or socially isolated. The study followed 2,078 patients and compared their outcomes to those who did not exercise.
Researchers at the University of South Florida have developed a biosensor-regulated gene therapy that protects heart muscle cells from further injury after a heart attack. The therapy uses an oxygen-sensitive switch to turn on protective genes, which were shown to limit tissue scarring and improve heart function in mice.
Researchers found that blood-forming stem cells lodge in damaged hearts but retain their blood-forming fate, contradicting earlier findings. The study suggests that these cells may not be able to transform into muscle cells, but could still offer some potential for treating heart attack patients
Researchers developed a neural network software that predicts the best dose strategy for individual patients based on 17 characteristics. The new approach showed potential for dose prescription improvement, reducing risk of adverse side effects.
A recent study found that HIPAA compliance severely affected patient participation in long-term outcome studies, with a significant drop from 96.1% to 38.5%. This reduction resulted in a less representative sample of patients, which could bias study results.
Cardiologists at Duke University Medical Center found that aggressive therapies such as anti-clotting drugs and invasive procedures were not used adequately in patients with conflicting blood chemical results. Patients with positive troponin levels had increased mortality, while those with elevated CK-MB but negative troponin did not h...
A study of 2,800 Medicare patients found that hospitals implementing the ACC's Guidelines Applied in Practice (GAP) Project reduced mortality rates by 25% at 30 days and one year. The project improved care through standardized tests, drugs, and lifestyle advice.
Emory researchers discovered significant racial and gender disparities in heart attack treatment, with African-American women receiving the least aggressive care. The study analyzed records of over 672,000 white and black patients younger than 75 and found no trend towards improvement in recent years.
A recent study found that over half of patients with heart failure could benefit from implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), but Medicare's current guidelines exclude them. ICDs can prevent sudden cardiac death by monitoring heart rhythm and shocking the heart back into a normal pace.
A study of over 15,000 insured patients found that less than half were taking beta blockers regularly after a heart attack. The researchers highlight the importance of long-term adherence to the drug for its benefits.
A recent study published by the NIH found that implantable defibrillators significantly reduce deaths in patients with moderate to severe heart failure. The study, which included over 2,500 participants, showed that implanted defibrillator therapy reduced deaths by 22%, while amiodarone therapy did not have a significant impact.
During the winter holiday period, heart attack patients admitted to U.S. hospitals have higher mortality rates and are less likely to receive effective treatments such as aspirin and beta blockers. The researchers believe that the U.S. healthcare system is not adequately staffed during the holidays, leading to reduced treatment options.
Duke University Medical Center researchers found a significant correlation between hospitals' adherence to national guidelines for treating potential heart attacks and improved patient outcomes. Hospitals in the top 25 percentile of adherence had a mortality rate of 4.17 percent, compared to 6.33 percent at lagging hospitals.
A study by Duke University Medical Center researchers found that state-mandated continuing medical education (CME) programs for physicians have little association with improved heart attack care outcomes. However, CME-required states showed a significant increase in the use of branded thrombolytic therapies, which may be influenced by ...
A study of 11,645 patients in community hospitals found that only 18.7% were transferred to tertiary facilities with invasive care capabilities within 48 hours, highlighting a crucial weakness in cardiac care delivery. Non-transferred patients were more likely to have comorbidities and receive suboptimal medications.
A recent five-year study found that simvastatin therapy significantly reduces the incidence of ischemic strokes by 30%, while having no adverse effect on hemorrhagic strokes. The study also shows a substantial reduction in combined major vascular events among patients with cerebrovascular disease.
A University of Iowa study suggests that blocking the action of a certain protein involved in inflammation might be beneficial for organ transplantation, heart attacks, and possibly stroke. The study found that selective inhibition of this protein can prevent tissue damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Researchers found that insulin can reduce concentrations of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A by 40% and 50%, respectively, during the 48 hours following a heart attack. Insulin also appeared to stem the increase of plasminogen activator inhibitor and reduced creatinine kinase levels, indicating improved heart muscle protection.
A new study by Cornell University's Liam O'Neill found that distance from a hospital significantly impacts access to medical facilities and outcome for heart attack victims. The study estimates that patients living far from hospitals face a higher risk of death from heart attacks, with approximately 60% expiring before reaching the hos...
A recent study found that high-dose vitamin therapy had no effect on preventing recurrent strokes and heart attacks. The VISP study involved 3,680 adults who received either a low or high dose of folic acid, B6, and B12 vitamins.
Elevated PlGF levels in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and acute chest pain indicate a significantly increased risk of heart attack or death at 30 days. Measuring PlGF levels may provide a powerful clinical biomarker for vascular inflammation and adverse outcome in ACS patients.
A new tele-electrocardiography system is being tested in Santa Cruz County ambulances to detect ischemia and heart damage. The system, which uses a 12-lead cardiac monitor and cell phone technology, has already provided meaningful results for patients, including a 43-minute reduction in treatment time for one patient.
A study found that the terrorist attack led to an increase in heart attacks and cardiac arrhythmias, with patients experiencing psychological stress showing higher rates of these events. The findings suggest that drugs like beta blockers may help reduce the risk for people with heart disease and risk factors.
Researchers found that women with hypertension in the SYMPHONY trials received more and different agents to reduce blood pressure than men, yet showed no significant difference in blood pressure control. The study highlights opportunities for improving medical therapy and outcomes in women.
The use of clopidogrel in addition to aspirin significantly reduces the risk of recurrent heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular death. The cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that at least one year of therapy with clopidogrel is an attractive value for patients at risk.