Blood pressure measurements during treadmill exercise testing and the risk for the future development of atrial fibrillation.

Hypertension is a well-established risk factor for the onset and progression of atrial fibrillation (AF). Blood pressure (BP) measurements during routine exercise stress testing (EST) may identify subjects at increased risk for developing AF. We performed a retrospective analysis of treadmill EST carried out using the Bruce protocol in patients aged ≥40 years without a history of AF (n = 17,617; 42% women).

A safety and clinical efficacy analysis of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies in patients with markedly elevated creatine phosphokinase levels.

Introduction: PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) are often used in statin-intolerant patients, aiming to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Along with the growing experience with their use, there is a lack of evidence regarding the safety, tolerability, and clinical utility of PCSK9i in patients with markedly elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels.

Methods: We screened a comprehensive HMO database for patients treated with PCSK9i (Jan 2016-Dec 2019), in whom elevated CPK levels (>1,000 U/L) were documented prior to the initiation of therapy.