Tag Archives: consensus

Introduction Statins are the gold-standard lipid-lowering therapy based on their efficacy in reducing serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and general tolerability.1 While statins have an extensive body of evidence that have shown them to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events,2,3 there are concerns around side effects. An increase in cases of treatment-induced comorbidities, such as new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) has been observed.4-6 When combined with patient and media concerns, this has led to a reported 50% drop-out rate within 12 months.1 In response, other LDL-C lowering medications have been developed. Proprote

Landmark trials in heart failure – 30 years from CONSENSUS With 2017 marking the 30th year since the publication of CONSENSUS,1 which first reported a reduction in mortality with enalapril versus placebo in patients with advanced heart failure (HF), the BCS held a dedicated session to review the seminal clinical trials and advances in chronic heart failure management in this period. Dr Rosita Zakeri (Royal Brompton Hospital, London) reviewed this session for us and spoke to the BJC afterwards. Rosita Zakeri The era of vasodilator therapy for heart failure began in the 1990s. Professor Karl Swedberg (University of Gothenberg, Sweden) began

You will not need to be reminded that our summer months (such as they were) were witness to a wealth of sporting endeavours. In addition to the ubiquitous and oft-repeated terms like ‘legacy’, ‘inspiration’ and ‘unbelievable’, the word team also enjoyed a reasonable airing. Extending the example of ‘Team-GB’, and employing a more cardiological perspective, I would submit the term ‘Team Heart’ for general consumption. Before readers assume that I am proposing a new Olympic competition in the form of the quickest call to balloon time, the largest number of new cardiac outpatients processed successfully in four hours, or the

Introduction Stable angina is the most common manifestation of coronary heart disease. While considered relatively benign in terms of prognosis, the condition confers a higher risk of cardiovascular events than in the general population, with average annual mortality rates of 1–2%. Guidelines for the management of stable angina are relatively conservative in their approach, given their process of development. Moreover, stable angina management has not been as rigorously evaluated in large randomised trials as other coronary conditions. The role of newer treatment options in management algorithms also merits wider consideration. This expert

Introduction Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can benefit from rhythm management to improve unpleasant symptoms or increase exercise capacity,1 making anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) an important option in the management of AF. The benefits of any AAD must be weighed against the risks of adverse effects, which in some cases are serious. Defined indications for the use of AADs have been developed by regulatory bodies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which, in addition to guidelines from groups such as the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the European So

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