Cardiology Now

Safe and effective use of the novel anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban) requires clinicians to replace everything they know about warfarin. Here, a short podcast discussion on the new, shorter periprocedural interval.

New research suggests that statin drugs may cause excessive tiredness and exertional fatigue. Here, a short podcast discussion between a cardiologist and a primary care physician on the study’s clinical implications.

Azithromycin has recently been linked to cardiac death in patients with a high baseline risk of cardiovascular disease. In this short podcast, Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon discuss the research and recommend antibiotic options for primary care practice.

Data from a recent genetic analysis question the benefits of raising HDL-cholesterol levels to reduce risk of MI and spark debate over current drug development programs. Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon talk about the implications for clinical practice.

Use of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease must be based on individual risk-benefit analysis and is not appropriate for patients at low risk. Here, Drs Kohli and Cannon discuss risk stratification and patient selection.

Frequent coffee drinkers have a lower risk than those who drink little or no coffee, of death related to heart and respiratory disease, stroke, and infections.

The European Society of Cardiology just weighed in on the 3 new alternatives to warfarin for oral anticoagulation. The response is tempered enthusiasm.

Are these findings another green light for dark chocolate? Some experts say “yes” as they also point to a recommended upper daily “dose.” What does this new research add to the current data on the health benefits of the flavinoid-rich sweet? Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon discuss study results and what you should tell your patients.

The Los Angeles county coroner’s office recently ruled that singer Whitney Houston drowned in her hotel bathtub but that other factors contributed to her demise. Did the 48-year-old have pre-existing cardiovascular disease? Did cocaine abuse trigger a deadly cardiac event? Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon put the autopsy results and the pop star’s final moments in context.

Bariatric surgery nearly cures type 2 diabetes—at least that’s what results of a new study seem to imply. The study, presented at the recent ACC meeting and published in NEJM, found that 42% of patients randomly assigned to the stomach-reducing surgery quickly reached HbA1C targets and remained controlled at 1-year follow-up.