Bradycardia as a Marker of Chronic Cocaine Use: A Novel Cardiovascular Finding.

Few studies have examined the effects of chronic cocaine use on the resting surface electrocardiogram (ECG) between exposures to cocaine. Researchers compared 12-lead ECGs from 97 treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent patients, with ECG parameters from 8,513 non-cocaine-using control patients from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. After matching and adjusting for relevant covariates, cocaine use demonstrated large and statistically reliable effects on early repolarization, bradycardia, severe bradycardia, and heart rate.

Cardiovascular consequences of obesity.

Obesity is a problem of epidemic proportions that is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The long-term efficacy of currently available treatments is limited, and therapeutic benefits might paradoxically be achieved only at the expense of other serious adverse cardiovascular consequences. Owing to these limitations, new paradigms in the management of obesity are being explored, including expanded surgical and pharmacologic therapies.