A new, small cross-sectional study found that electronic cigarette users had sympathetic predominance and increased oxidative stress, which are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. However, the researchers noted further work was necessary to determine potential adverse health effects of electronic cigarettes.

Though it has long been believed that only high-risk patients are susceptible to developing retained blood syndrome after heart surgery, new research from Germany suggests all heart surgery patients can be at risk of developing the condition.

Some of the best conversations happen in elevators. I had just left the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Summit and was dashing to my room to grab my bag, check out and depart for home. No time to chat, but I couldn’t resist when the man who rushed into the elevator after me asked, “Were you at the QRUR session? Wasn’t it excellent?”

Pasadena, California-based Geneva Health Solutions has raised $1.9 million to expand the reach of its cardiac monitoring device, a gadget aimed to remotely help manage patients with implanted cardiac devices.

On days with major snowfalls, hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease decreased 32 percent compared with days with no snowfall, according to an analysis of hospital admissions at four hospitals in Boston. However, two days after major snowfalls, hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease increased 23 percent compared with days with no snowfalls.

An analysis of a community-based study found that higher levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity (MPVA) or sport/exercise-related physical activity were associated with a lower risk of incident hypertension among African Americans.

The approval of two new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes acknowledges echocardiographic myocardial strain imaging and myocardial contrast perfusion echocardiography as emerging technologies, often a necessary step before a code is promoted to payable status.

We are living in a data-rich, information-poor era of healthcare, with what feels like a chasm between where we are and where we aim to be with patients’ outcomes, quality improvement and practice growth. The gulf is overflowing with data that are both the key to our success and the hurdle holding us back.