Coronavirus disease 2019: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis on cardiovascular biomarkers.

Purpose Of Review: Preventive cardiology has an important role to play in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been observed to have a greater mortality impact on subgroups of people in the population who are deemed to be at higher medical disease risk. Individuals with cardiovascular disorders are one such COVID-19-associated high-mortality risk group.

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Reduction in First Responders Resulting From an Individualized Lifestyle and Blood Test Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that a lifestyle program would improve risk factors linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in first responders.

Methods: A 1-year cluster-randomized controlled clinical trial in 10 cities. Participants were 175 first responders, with increased waist circumference and/or low levels of large (α1) high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles.

Niacin and heart disease prevention: Engraving its tombstone is a mistake.

Niacin (nicotinic acid) has been used for primary and secondary coronary heart disease prevention for over 40 years. Until recently clinical trials incorporating niacin as part of an intervention strategy consistently demonstrated reduction in clinical events and lesion improvement, including ≥6% absolute mortality reduction. Two large clinical event trials in 2011 (Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome With Low HDL/High Triglycerides and Impact on Global Health Outcomes) and 2014 (Heart Protection Study 2-Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events) concluded that niacin added to statin therapy did not provide clinical event benefit over statin alone.

Classification of LDL phenotypes by 4 methods of determining lipoprotein particle size.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering is the primary objective of patient management for cardiovascular disease. However, large numbers of patients who have achieved their LDL-C goal remain at risk for cardiovascular events. Low-density lipoprotein subfractions may provide insight into this residual risk.