EHJ: February 5, 2013 Assessment of atrial fibrillation (AF)-associated stroke risk is at present mainly based on clinical risk scores such as CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc, although these scores provide only modest discrimination of risk for individual patients. Biomarkers derived from the blood may help refine risk assessment in AF for stroke outcomes and for mortality. Recent […]
JACC: February 2013 Analysis From the ROCKET AF Trial (Rivaroxaban Once-Daily, Oral, Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation) Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand the possible risk of discontinuation in the context of clinical care. Background Rivaroxaban is noninferior to warfarin for […]
JACC: February 2013 Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of beta blockade on outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Background Beta-blockers are widely used in patients with HF and AF. Recommendation in current HF guidelines, however, is based on populations in which the most patients had sinus rhythm. […]
Nature: January 31, 2013 Encounters that set the heart aflutter are celebrated in love songs and romance literature. But that fluttery feeling can also be the first sign of a dangerous episode of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common form of irregular heartbeat. And while the symptoms might be mild, or even unnoticeable, AF is a […]
Kardiologiapolska: 1/22/13 Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is generally associated with deterioration of the clinical status, functional capacity, and quality of life. It is also an independent risk factor for stroke and death. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of AF ablation in this cohort are relatively scant, have included relatively few patients, and […]
J NeuroIntervent Surg: Feb. 18, 2013 Abstract Objectives Endovascular therapy of acute ischemic stroke is evolving towards thrombectomy devices for vessel recanalization. High rates of revascularization have been reported in stroke device trials. However, the discrepancy between recanalization and outcomes raises the question whether patients with irreversible ischemic injury are being exposed to these interventions. This […]
AHA: February 07, 2013 This news release is featured in a news conference at 7 a.m., HT, Thursday, Feb. 7. This news release contains updated numbers from the abstract. Study Highlights: A minimally invasive surgery appears safe and may reduce long-term disability after a bleeding stroke. If the findings are confirmed in a larger study, […]
AHA: February 06, 2013 Study Highlights: Tai Chi exercise reduced falls among stroke survivors. The ancient Chinese martial art helped survivors achieve and maintain balance to aid stroke recovery. HONOLULU, Feb. 6, 2013 — Tai Chi may reduce falls among adult stroke survivors, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2013. […]
JACC: February 2013 Objectives This study assessed whether the results of major, potentially practice-altering cardiovascular trials were influenced by the authors’ self-declared financial conflicts of interest (FCOI). Secondary objectives included assessment of trial outcomes by source of funding, by FCOI subtype, and by trial end points. Background Financial conflicts of interest, ubiquitous in cardiovascular medicine because of […]
AHA: February 6, 2013 Background-The impact of apixaban versus aspirin on ischaemic stroke and major bleeding in relation to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc stroke risk scores in atrial fibrillation(AF) has not been investigated. Methods and Results-In this secondary analysis of the AVERROES trial, our principal objective was to assess the effect of treatment with aspirin or […]
