April 2013 Br J Cardiol 2013;20:57-8. Online First
March 2012 Br J Cardiol 2012;19:10 News and views
February 2011 Br J Cardiol 2011;18:17-8 Meeting reportNews and views
January 2009 Br J Cardiol 2009;16:17-19 News and views
August 2023 Br J Cardiol 2023;30:86–9 Meeting reportNews and views
July 2023 Br J Cardiol 2023;30:90 News and views
May 2023 Br J Cardiol 2023;30:69 doi:10.5837/bjc.2023.014 Clinical article
Derek L Connolly, Azfar Zaman, Nigel E Capps, Steve C Bain, Kevin Fernando
While statins are the gold standard for lipid-lowering therapies, newer therapies, such as PCSK9 inhibitors, have also demonstrated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction, but with a similar or better safety profile. Conflicting guidance has contributed to a low uptake. More up-to-date, evidence-led guidance supports greater use of newer therapies, particularly in combination with statins, to reduce LDL-C to levels shown to be effective in trials. The aim of this study was to determine how such guidance can be implemented more effectively in the UK.
Using a modified Delphi approach, a panel of healthcare professionals with an interest in the management of dyslipidaemia developed 27 statements across four key themes. These were used to form an online survey that was distributed to healthcare professionals working in cardiovascular care across the UK. Stopping criteria included 100 responses received, a seven-month window for response (September 2021 to March 2022), and 90% of statements passing the predefined consensus threshold of 75%.
A total of 109 responses were analysed with 23 statements achieving consensus (four statements <75%). Variance was observed across respondent role, and by UK region. From the high degree of consensus, seven recommendations were established as to how evidence-based guidance can be delivered, including a call for personalised therapy strategies and simplification of LDL-C goals, which should be achieved within as short a time as possible.
March 2023 Br J Cardiol 2023;30:16–20 doi:10.5837/bjc.2023.009 Clinical article
Karen Booth (on behalf of UK-AS, the UK Aortic Society)
Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition that is often under-recognised. In the first in a series of articles about the condition, the epidemiology, pathology, classification and clinical presentation of aortic dissection are discussed.
August 2022 Br J Cardiol 2022;29:106–8 doi:10.5837/bjc.2022.027 Clinical article
Cong Ying Hey
Disparities in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are among the leading health and social care concerns in the UK. The disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic to health services has further placed cardiovascular care and the respective patient communities at the sharp end, not least in exacerbating existing health inequalities across service interfaces and patients’ health outcomes. While the pandemic engenders unprecedented constraints within established cardiology services, it conduces to a unique opportunity to embrace novel transformative approaches within the way we deliver patient care in maintaining best practices during and beyond the crisis. As the first step in navigating toward the ‘new norm’, a clear recognition of the challenges inherent in cardiovascular health inequalities is critical, primarily in preventing the widening of extant inequalities as cardiology workforces continue to build back fairer. We may consider the challenges through the lens of health services’ diverse facets, including the aspects of universality, interconnectivity, adaptability, sustainability, and preventability. This article explores the pertinent challenges and provides a focused narration concerning potential measures to foster equitable and resilient cardiology services that are patient centred in the post-pandemic landscape.
July 2022 Br J Cardiol 2022;29:102–5 doi:10.5837/bjc.2022.024 Clinical article
Selwyn Brendon Goldthorpe
A retrospective study of 322 patient experiences of post-operative pain, short term and long term, following a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedure. Pain from pacemaker and ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) implant surgery remains a problem both in terms of severity and longevity. There is a subset of patients receiving implants that have severe pain that may be of a long duration. Patient advice needs to be appropriate to these findings.
This study illustrates a need for better pain management by physicians, support, and realistic communication with their patients.
You need to be a member to print this page.
Find out more about our membership benefits
You need to be a member to download PDF's.
Find out more about our membership benefits