News and views

A new report Focus on heart failure, by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, aims to provide primary and secondary care services with guidance on how to achieve high quality care for all heart failure patients. The report is one of a series which highlights best practice within key services in the NHS in order to improve delivery....

The Scottish Heart and Arterial Risk Prevention Group (SHARP) was launched in 1988 with the aim of helping to reduce and prevent premature morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Scotland. The programme for the 20th anniversary meeting – held on the 20th–21st November 2008 in the Hilton Hotel Dunkeld – examined the likely future direction for cardiovascular disease prevention and management but also reflected on achievements over the past 20 years. Dr Alan Begg, Chairman of SHARP reports....

A busy and varied programme discussing some of the hottest topics in cardiovascular disease was presented at the 11th Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) Annual Scientific meeting, held in Chester on 25th – 27th September 2008. It attracted over 250 people and inspired great interest and debate....

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a safe and accurate imaging modality, with an established role in current cardiology practice. It is becoming essential for cardiologists in other non-imaging sub-specialities to acquire a working knowledge of the potential of CMR in both structural and in ischaemic heart disease. In the current specialist registrar training environment, however, it is difficult to gain that expertise unless wholly committed to an imaging career....

Major new trials reported at the American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions, held in New Orleans on November 8th – 12th, showed encouraging results for rosuvastatin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events, while exercise in heart failure patients produced modest health benefits....

The interest in the increasing overlap between cardiac and renal disease was shown by a well-attended meeting, ‘The failing heart and kidney’, organised by the Cardiorenal Forum. Over 100 nephrology and cardiology consultants/trainees, specialist nurses and other health personnel with a special interest in this field attended the meeting at the British Academy, London, on 11 July 2008....

News in brief from the world of cardiology...

News in brief from the world of cardiology...

News in brief from the world of cardiology...

News in brief from the world of cardiology...