Patient Information

There should be no age cutoff in offering coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) to older patients with ischemic heart failure, according to a secondary analysis from the landmark STICH trial. In fact, CABG provided an absolute 14.4% reduction in cardiovascular mortality, compared with medical management, in both the youngest and oldest quartiles of patients with heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, cardiovascular mortality was a secondary endpoint in STICH. Read about the primary endpoint, and the impact CABG has on it, by going to Cardiology News: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/heart-failure/single-article-page/cabg-reduces-cardiovascular-mortality-in-ischemic-heart-failure-regardless-of-age/ff069be54ebbefc62c43bcc9afdbd907.html.

There should be no age cutoff in offering coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) to older patients with ischemic heart failure, according to a secondary analysis from the landmark STICH trial. In fact, CABG provided an absolute 14.4% reduction in cardiovascular mortality, compared with medical management, in both the youngest and oldest quartiles of patients with heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, cardiovascular mortality was a secondary endpoint in STICH. Read about the primary endpoint, and the impact CABG has on it, by going to Cardiology News: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/heart-failure/single-article-page/cabg-reduces-cardiovascular-mortality-in-ischemic-heart-failure-regardless-of-age/ff069be54ebbefc62c43bcc9afdbd907.html.

There should be no age cutoff in offering coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) to older patients with ischemic heart failure, according to a secondary analysis from the landmark STICH trial. In fact, CABG provided an absolute 14.4% reduction in cardiovascular mortality, compared with medical management, in both the youngest and oldest quartiles of patients with heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, cardiovascular mortality was a secondary endpoint in STICH. Read about the primary endpoint, and the impact CABG has on it, by going to Cardiology News: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/heart-failure/single-article-page/cabg-reduces-cardiovascular-mortality-in-ischemic-heart-failure-regardless-of-age/ff069be54ebbefc62c43bcc9afdbd907.html.

Click here to download the PDF.

Click here to download the PDF.

Click here to download the PDF.

Azithromycin maintenance therapy may be best reserved for patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and few symptoms, according to an analysis from the COLUMBUS randomized controlled trial. The study, reported on in Family Practice News, also revealed that patients with a high serum eosinophil level… http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/pulmonary-sleep-medicine/single-article-page/copd-patient-characteristics-predict-response-to-maintenance-drug/f29efaba9a4874ed9b754fb87b77b663.html.

Azithromycin maintenance therapy may be best reserved for patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and few symptoms, according to an analysis from the COLUMBUS randomized controlled trial. The study, reported on in Family Practice News, also revealed that patients with a high serum eosinophil level… http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/pulmonary-sleep-medicine/single-article-page/copd-patient-characteristics-predict-response-to-maintenance-drug/f29efaba9a4874ed9b754fb87b77b663.html.

Azithromycin maintenance therapy may be best reserved for patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and few symptoms, according to an analysis from the COLUMBUS randomized controlled trial. The study, reported on in Family Practice News, also revealed that patients with a high serum eosinophil level… http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/pulmonary-sleep-medicine/single-article-page/copd-patient-characteristics-predict-response-to-maintenance-drug/f29efaba9a4874ed9b754fb87b77b663.html.

During the first year on anticoagulant treatment, patients who received a new oral anticoagulant (NOAC) had an ischemic stroke rate similar to that of patients who received the traditional oral anticoagulant, warfarin. But they also had a significantly reduced rate of intracranial hemorrhage, according to Laila Stærk, MD, who reported on the findings at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. The study included 43,299 Danish patients, of which 42% received warfarin, 29% received dabigatran, 16% received apixaban, and 13% received rivaroxaban. More on the results of this study are available in this article and video from Cardiology News: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/arrhythmias-electrophysiology/single-article-page/video-noacs-cut-intracranial-bleeds-in-real-world-atrial-fib-patients/2c213686c34e2f2e9fb58000ff2cad80.html.

During the first year on anticoagulant treatment, patients who received a new oral anticoagulant (NOAC) had an ischemic stroke rate similar to that of patients who received the traditional oral anticoagulant, warfarin. But they also had a significantly reduced rate of intracranial hemorrhage, according to Laila Stærk, MD, who reported on the findings at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. The study included 43,299 Danish patients, of which 42% received warfarin, 29% received dabigatran, 16% received apixaban, and 13% received rivaroxaban. More on the results of this study are available in this article and video from Cardiology News: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/arrhythmias-electrophysiology/single-article-page/video-noacs-cut-intracranial-bleeds-in-real-world-atrial-fib-patients/2c213686c34e2f2e9fb58000ff2cad80.html.

During the first year on anticoagulant treatment, patients who received a new oral anticoagulant (NOAC) had an ischemic stroke rate similar to that of patients who received the traditional oral anticoagulant, warfarin. But they also had a significantly reduced rate of intracranial hemorrhage, according to Laila Stærk, MD, who reported on the findings at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. The study included 43,299 Danish patients, of which 42% received warfarin, 29% received dabigatran, 16% received apixaban, and 13% received rivaroxaban. More on the results of this study are available in this article and video from Cardiology News: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/arrhythmias-electrophysiology/single-article-page/video-noacs-cut-intracranial-bleeds-in-real-world-atrial-fib-patients/2c213686c34e2f2e9fb58000ff2cad80.html.

Many patients are sleep deprived but are either unaware of, or unwilling to acknowledge, their problem. Sleep deprivation occurs because of inadequate sleep duration (often caused by insomnia or simply not allowing enough time for sleep), or poor sleep quality (often caused by sleep-disordered breathing). These conditions can be diagnosed by obtaining a thorough sleep history that consists of 5 groups of questions. The specific questions that should be asked in order to make a more accurate diagnosis are included in this article from Current Psychiatry, available at http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/the-publication/issue-single-view/disordered-sleep-ask-the-right-questions-to-reveal-this-hidden-confounder/913369ef53768717303c9cd35a58e790.html.

Many patients are sleep deprived but are either unaware of, or unwilling to acknowledge, their problem. Sleep deprivation occurs because of inadequate sleep duration (often caused by insomnia or simply not allowing enough time for sleep), or poor sleep quality (often caused by sleep-disordered breathing). These conditions can be diagnosed by obtaining a thorough sleep history that consists of 5 groups of questions. The specific questions that should be asked in order to make a more accurate diagnosis are included in this article from Current Psychiatry, available at http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/the-publication/issue-single-view/disordered-sleep-ask-the-right-questions-to-reveal-this-hidden-confounder/913369ef53768717303c9cd35a58e790.html.

Many patients are sleep deprived but are either unaware of, or unwilling to acknowledge, their problem. Sleep deprivation occurs because of inadequate sleep duration (often caused by insomnia or simply not allowing enough time for sleep), or poor sleep quality (often caused by sleep-disordered breathing). These conditions can be diagnosed by obtaining a thorough sleep history that consists of 5 groups of questions. The specific questions that should be asked in order to make a more accurate diagnosis are included in this article from Current Psychiatry, available at http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/the-publication/issue-single-view/disordered-sleep-ask-the-right-questions-to-reveal-this-hidden-confounder/913369ef53768717303c9cd35a58e790.html.

All adult cancer survivors should be screened for chronic pain at every visit, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s first clinical practice guideline for managing this patient population. Estimates suggest that as many as 40% of the 14 million US adults living with cancer have chronic pain related to their malignancy. Yet most health care providers “haven’t been trained to recognize or treat long-term pain associated with cancer,” said Judith A. Paice, RN, PhD, in a press statement accompanying the release of the new guideline. To learn more about the key recommendations from the guideline, see this article from Family Practice News: http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/pain/single-article-page/asco-always-screen-cancer-survivors-for-chronic-pain/5c182fdaacc6b573f00f001f3928749b.html.

All adult cancer survivors should be screened for chronic pain at every visit, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s first clinical practice guideline for managing this patient population. Estimates suggest that as many as 40% of the 14 million US adults living with cancer have chronic pain related to their malignancy. Yet most health care providers “haven’t been trained to recognize or treat long-term pain associated with cancer,” said Judith A. Paice, RN, PhD, in a press statement accompanying the release of the new guideline. To learn more about the key recommendations from the guideline, see this article from Family Practice News: http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/pain/single-article-page/asco-always-screen-cancer-survivors-for-chronic-pain/5c182fdaacc6b573f00f001f3928749b.html.

All adult cancer survivors should be screened for chronic pain at every visit, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s first clinical practice guideline for managing this patient population. Estimates suggest that as many as 40% of the 14 million US adults living with cancer have chronic pain related to their malignancy. Yet most health care providers “haven’t been trained to recognize or treat long-term pain associated with cancer,” said Judith A. Paice, RN, PhD, in a press statement accompanying the release of the new guideline. To learn more about the key recommendations from the guideline, see this article from Family Practice News: http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/pain/single-article-page/asco-always-screen-cancer-survivors-for-chronic-pain/5c182fdaacc6b573f00f001f3928749b.html.

A 54-year-old man with a history of cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has had a progressive decline in kidney function. He was diagnosed with HCV 15 years ago; he tried interferon treatment, but this failed. He received a transjugular intrahepatic shunt 10 years ago after an episode of esophageal variceal bleeding. He has since been taking furosemide and spironolactone as maintenance treatment for ascites, and he has no other medical concerns, such as hypertension or diabetes. What is the cause of the patient’s renal failure? The answer can be found in this article from Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: http://www.ccjm.org/current-issue/issue-single-view/renal-failure-in-hcv-cirrhosis/6336c91b99df7f186817921a5d5c08ab.html.

A 54-year-old man with a history of cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has had a progressive decline in kidney function. He was diagnosed with HCV 15 years ago; he tried interferon treatment, but this failed. He received a transjugular intrahepatic shunt 10 years ago after an episode of esophageal variceal bleeding. He has since been taking furosemide and spironolactone as maintenance treatment for ascites, and he has no other medical concerns, such as hypertension or diabetes. What is the cause of the patient’s renal failure? The answer can be found in this article from Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: http://www.ccjm.org/current-issue/issue-single-view/renal-failure-in-hcv-cirrhosis/6336c91b99df7f186817921a5d5c08ab.html.

A 54-year-old man with a history of cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has had a progressive decline in kidney function. He was diagnosed with HCV 15 years ago; he tried interferon treatment, but this failed. He received a transjugular intrahepatic shunt 10 years ago after an episode of esophageal variceal bleeding. He has since been taking furosemide and spironolactone as maintenance treatment for ascites, and he has no other medical concerns, such as hypertension or diabetes. What is the cause of the patient’s renal failure? The answer can be found in this article from Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: http://www.ccjm.org/current-issue/issue-single-view/renal-failure-in-hcv-cirrhosis/6336c91b99df7f186817921a5d5c08ab.html.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) significantly cut the rate of sudden cardiac death in patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure, and reduced all-cause mortality in patients younger than 68 years. Results from the Danish Study to Assess the Efficacy of ICDs in Patients with Non-ischemic Systolic Heart Failure on Mortality (DANISH) also highlighted the importance of targeting implantable ICD treatment to the patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure who are most likely to benefit from it. The DANISH results “tell us ICDs can benefit patients if we can be a little better in selecting the right patients,” said Lars Køber, MD, professor of cardiology at the University of Copenhagen. Read more on which patients would benefit most from ICDs in this article from Cardiology News, available at: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/heart-failure/single-article-page/video-icds-cut-mortality-in-younger-healthier-heart-failure-patients/8b26c497ed439d4bac87c4086f0f74f1.html#mytake

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) significantly cut the rate of sudden cardiac death in patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure, and reduced all-cause mortality in patients younger than 68 years. Results from the Danish Study to Assess the Efficacy of ICDs in Patients with Non-ischemic Systolic Heart Failure on Mortality (DANISH) also highlighted the importance of targeting implantable ICD treatment to the patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure who are most likely to benefit from it. The DANISH results “tell us ICDs can benefit patients if we can be a little better in selecting the right patients,” said Lars Køber, MD, professor of cardiology at the University of Copenhagen. Read more on which patients would benefit most from ICDs in this article from Cardiology News, available at: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/heart-failure/single-article-page/video-icds-cut-mortality-in-younger-healthier-heart-failure-patients/8b26c497ed439d4bac87c4086f0f74f1.html#mytake

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) significantly cut the rate of sudden cardiac death in patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure, and reduced all-cause mortality in patients younger than 68 years. Results from the Danish Study to Assess the Efficacy of ICDs in Patients with Non-ischemic Systolic Heart Failure on Mortality (DANISH) also highlighted the importance of targeting implantable ICD treatment to the patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure who are most likely to benefit from it. The DANISH results “tell us ICDs can benefit patients if we can be a little better in selecting the right patients,” said Lars Køber, MD, professor of cardiology at the University of Copenhagen. Read more on which patients would benefit most from ICDs in this article from Cardiology News, available at: http://www.ecardiologynews.com/specialty-focus/heart-failure/single-article-page/video-icds-cut-mortality-in-younger-healthier-heart-failure-patients/8b26c497ed439d4bac87c4086f0f74f1.html#mytake

Higher levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides over a lifetime are protective against type 2 diabetes, a Mendelian randomization study has shown. Jon White, PhD, of University College London and his co-investigators sought to shed light on the role of the most commonly measured lipid fractions—LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides—in the development of coronary artery disease and diabetes, particularly the observed link between statin therapy and an increased risk of diabetes. More on the study, and how the results can help to identify the potential effects of lipid-modifying drugs, is available at Family Practice News: http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/cardiology/single-article-page/rises-in-ldl-and-hdl-cholesterol-triglycerides-tied-to-lower-diabetes-risk/1c99fd4b400f60185df3f4de7d895f5f.html.

Higher levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides over a lifetime are protective against type 2 diabetes, a Mendelian randomization study has shown. Jon White, PhD, of University College London and his co-investigators sought to shed light on the role of the most commonly measured lipid fractions—LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides—in the development of coronary artery disease and diabetes, particularly the observed link between statin therapy and an increased risk of diabetes. More on the study, and how the results can help to identify the potential effects of lipid-modifying drugs, is available at Family Practice News: http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/cardiology/single-article-page/rises-in-ldl-and-hdl-cholesterol-triglycerides-tied-to-lower-diabetes-risk/1c99fd4b400f60185df3f4de7d895f5f.html.

Higher levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides over a lifetime are protective against type 2 diabetes, a Mendelian randomization study has shown. Jon White, PhD, of University College London and his co-investigators sought to shed light on the role of the most commonly measured lipid fractions—LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides—in the development of coronary artery disease and diabetes, particularly the observed link between statin therapy and an increased risk of diabetes. More on the study, and how the results can help to identify the potential effects of lipid-modifying drugs, is available at Family Practice News: http://www.familypracticenews.com/specialty-focus/cardiology/single-article-page/rises-in-ldl-and-hdl-cholesterol-triglycerides-tied-to-lower-diabetes-risk/1c99fd4b400f60185df3f4de7d895f5f.html.

Studies suggest that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a poorer quality of life, as well as more anxiety and depression, than patients who are terminally ill with lung cancer. And a retrospective review of patient records from 2010 to 2013 showed that providers referred only 5% of patients with COPD for palliative care, even though COPD is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions and treatments are often aimed at palliation of symptoms. It was findings like these that prompted researchers to conduct a quality improvement (QI) initiative to explore the benefits of integrating palliative care in the care of patients with COPD. Read about the outcome of their QI initiative in Federal Practitioner at: http://www.fedprac.com/the-publication/issue-single-view/integrating-palliative-care-in-copd-treatment/e4e785616a398de4c5f4d3ddad5b4330/ocregister.html.

Studies suggest that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a poorer quality of life, as well as more anxiety and depression, than patients who are terminally ill with lung cancer. And a retrospective review of patient records from 2010 to 2013 showed that providers referred only 5% of patients with COPD for palliative care, even though COPD is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions and treatments are often aimed at palliation of symptoms. It was findings like these that prompted researchers to conduct a quality improvement (QI) initiative to explore the benefits of integrating palliative care in the care of patients with COPD. Read about the outcome of their QI initiative in Federal Practitioner at: http://www.fedprac.com/the-publication/issue-single-view/integrating-palliative-care-in-copd-treatment/e4e785616a398de4c5f4d3ddad5b4330/ocregister.html.

Studies suggest that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a poorer quality of life, as well as more anxiety and depression, than patients who are terminally ill with lung cancer. And a retrospective review of patient records from 2010 to 2013 showed that providers referred only 5% of patients with COPD for palliative care, even though COPD is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions and treatments are often aimed at palliation of symptoms. It was findings like these that prompted researchers to conduct a quality improvement (QI) initiative to explore the benefits of integrating palliative care in the care of patients with COPD. Read about the outcome of their QI initiative in Federal Practitioner at: http://www.fedprac.com/the-publication/issue-single-view/integrating-palliative-care-in-copd-treatment/e4e785616a398de4c5f4d3ddad5b4330/ocregister.html.