CHICAGONon-cardiac co-morbidities, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation and frailty, are main predictors of late mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), suggesting that patients with these conditions merit closer evaluation and follow-up, according to the longest multicenter study on the clinical outcomes and valve durability with TAVI presented March 24 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiologys (ACC) scientific session. However, in general, valve function remained stable at four years.

CHICAGOPatients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) at medical centers in 12 countries had significant improvement in valve function as well as low mortality and stroke rates at 30 days and six months, according to the real-world ADVANCE trial presented March 24 at the American College of Cardiologys (ACC) 61st annual scientific session.

Dapagliflozin could be a potential treatment option for type 2 diabetics receiving insulin. A study published March 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that the drug reduced HbA1c levels and body weight in type 2 diabetics whose insulin levels are not adequately controlled.

Odd as it may seem, patients prescribed atorvastatin may face lower co-pays for the brand name Lipitor (Pfizer) than for the generic. In an Ideas and Opinions article published March 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Lisa Gill and colleagues from Consumer Reports explored the causes of this topsy-turvy pricing and provided guidance for physicians whose patients require the drugs.

In a comparison with Framingham-based models, the Reynolds Risk Score proved to be the more accurate predictor of risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women in an independent study using a large, multi-ethnic, prospective cohort. Results from the paper published online March 7 in Circulation have clinical implications, according to the authors of an accompanying editorial.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical developer of drugs to treat diseases associated with inflammation and autoimmune disorders, has announced that the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for VISTA-16 clinical trial has recommended stopping the study due to a lack efficacy that could not be reasonably overcome in the remainder of the trial.

Thanks to innovations in medicine, more and more adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are living longer and need specialty care. Many of these adult patients have complex anatomies and/or comorbidities, which raises the question: where are these patients best treated, pediatric hospitals or adult hospitals?

The FDA today added "important safety changes" to the labeling for some widely used statins.