After reviewing safety data, the FDA announced on July 9 that prescription non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and celecoxib are commonly used to treat pain, inflammation and fever.

Three quarters of adults, including nearly 70 percent of current smokers, are in favor of raising the minimum tobacco age of sale to 21, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey on July 6. In a statement, American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown indicated tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) announced on July 1 that board-cetified cardiology subspecialists would no longer be required to maintain certifications. The policy will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Physicians still must become certified in a foundational discipline such as cardiology and their subspecialty, but they will not need to continue to be certified after passing the initial examinations.

The annual MedAxiom Cardiovascular Service Line Symposium, which this year took place June 10-12 in Atlanta, allowed presenters and attendees to examine the nuts and bolts of high-quality patient care and share insights on what works and what doesn’t.

A multidisciplinary panel tackled the challenge of testing for coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. Their roundtable discussion touched on the current evidence, appropriate use and new approaches.

High costs and slow recruitment have hampered many a randomized controlled clinical trial in recent years.

In the U.S., the state of blood pressure monitoring is changing. Recommendations published in February by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggest the use of 24-hour ambulatory, home or automated blood pressure monitoring instead of conventional office measurements for the diagnosis of hypertension.

Managing revenue cycles has become increasingly important with healthcare reform’s emphasis on value and efficiency. Analytics help medical systems know where they stand and how they can improve.