Characteristics and outcomes of patients with peripheral artery disease undergoing endovascular revascularization: A community hospital perspective.

Background: There are limited data on outcomes for patients with peripheral artery disease undergoing endovascular revascularization by multi-disciplinary teams in a community hospital setting.

Methods: From January 2015 through December 2015, we assembled a multi-disciplinary program comprised of cardiologists, surgeons, radiologists, nurses, and administrative staff for managing patients with peripheral artery disease undergoing endovascular revascularization. Demographic, procedural, and outcomes data were collected with use of a template from the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative database.

Predictors of Suboptimal Gain in Exercise Capacity After Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves exercise capacity (EC), but not all CR participants achieve such improvements. Our primary aim was to develop a tool to identify those with suboptimal improvement in EC after CR. We retrospectively analyzed 541 patients enrolled in a phase-II CR program after a cardiac event or intervention from 2003 to 2014.

Preexisting atrial fibrillation and cardiac complications after liver transplantation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and it is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality. Our aim was to determine the impact of preexisting AF on patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). A retrospective case-control study was performed.

A summary and critical assessment of the 2013 ACC/AHA guideline on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in adults: filling the gaps.

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Task Force on Practice Guidelines has recently released the new cholesterol treatment guideline. This update was based on a systematic review of the evidence and replaces the previous guidelines from 2002 that were widely accepted and implemented in clinical practice. The new cholesterol treatment guideline emphasizes matching the intensity of statin treatment to the level of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and replaces the old paradigm of pursuing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets.

A perspective on the New American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for cardiovascular risk assessment.

The recently published American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for cardiovascular risk assessment provide equations to estimate the 10-year and lifetime atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in African Americans and non-Hispanic whites, include stroke as an adverse cardiovascular outcome, and emphasize shared decision making. The guidelines provide a valuable framework that can be adapted on the basis of clinical judgment and individual/institutional expertise. In this review, we provide a perspective on the new guidelines, highlighting what is new, what is controversial, and potential adaptations.

Reversible non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular dysfunction after liver transplantation: a single-centre experience.

Background & Aims: Non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NIC) is an early complication of liver transplantation (LT). Our aims were to define the prevalence, associated clinical factors, and prognosis of this condition.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on patients undergoing LT at our institution from January 2005 to December 2012.

[Evidence-based cardiology: practical applications from epidemiology. IV Cardiovascular risk prediction].

Cardiovascular risk assessment in patients without established disease allows to match the intensity of risk factor modification to the underlying hazard for cardiovascular events. The cardiologist needs to know the characteristics of current risk prediction algorithms, their advantages and limitations.

[Evidence-based cardiology: practical applications from epidemiology. III. Diagnostic capacity of a clinical test].

This article reviews different characteristics of validity in a clinical diagnostic test. In particular, we emphasize the likelihood ratio as an instrument that facilitates the use of epidemiologic concepts in clinical diagnosis.

[Evidence-based cardiology: practical applications from epidemiology. II. The use of biomarkers].

The use of biomarkers that show an association with the development of cardiovascular disease needs a careful evaluation in regard to the quality of evidence that establishes their relationship. Although observational studies have been paramount to establish the importance of the traditional risk factors, we can only screen and intervene on biomarkers when there is demonstrated benefit in well-designed randomized clinical trials.

[Evidence-based cardiology: practical applications from epidemiology I. The evaluation of a novel drug or therapy].

The substantial increase of randomized controlled trials demand familiarity with the essential aspects of their design and performance by the cardiologist, particularly the adequate interpretation and applicability of the results. In this clinically-based review, we discuss some important aspects in the assessment of novel contemporary therapy such as the use and analysis of composite endpoints; implications from early termination of trials and extrapolation of results to the population.

Combined effect of cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity on mortality in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: High cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index (BMI) are associated with decreased mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. Our objective was to determine the joint impact of fitness and adiposity measures on all-cause mortality in this subgroup.

Methods: Coronary artery disease patients (n = 855) enrolled in the Mayo Clinic cardiac rehabilitation program from 1993 to 2007 were included.

Impact of exercise on blood lipids and lipoproteins.

Abnormal blood lipids are a significant cardiovascular health risk. Drug therapy and diet continue to be standard management strategies. However, considerable evidence supports physical activity and exercise as having a positive impact on abnormal lipids and such are often recommended as adjunctive interventions.