Tag Archives: European Society of Cardiology

This topic was addressed by Dr Carolyn Lam (National Heart Centre, Singapore) during a Vifor satellite symposium. Iron deficiency is frequently defined as a serum ferritin <100 μg/L (or 100–299 ng/ml, if transferrin saturation [TSAT] <20%); the usual iron deficit in a 35–70 kg heart failure patient with a haemoglobin 10–14 g/dl is 1,000 mg. Iron deficiency is common irrespective of haemoglobin, sex, ethnicity, and even ejection fraction. In heart failure patients it adversely affects: functional status, including exercise capacity quality of life outcome Iron deficiency (but not anaemia) is associated with adverse prognosis. My

The DETO2X-AMI study questioned the current practice of routine oxygen therapy for all patients with suspected myocardial infarction (MI), said Dr Robin Hofmann (Karolinska Institutet at Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden) who presented the study at the meeting. This prospective, randomised, open label trial enrolled 6,229 patients with suspected heart attack from 35 hospitals across Sweden. Half of the patients were assigned to oxygen given through an open face mask and the other half to room air without a mask. The study – using a registry-based randomised clinical trial protocol – was representative of real world practice and used nati

Results from the PURE (Prospective Urban-Rural Epidemiology) study, carried out on 135,000 individuals aged 35 to 70 years from 18 low, middle and high-income countries (North America, Europe, South America, the Middle East, South Asia, China, South East Asia and Africa) has contrasted with current dietary advice, by finding that high carbohydrate intake is linked to worse total mortality and non-cardiovascular mortality outcomes, while high fat intake is associated with lower risk. “Our findings do not support the current recommendation to limit total fat intake to less than 30% of energy and saturated fat intake to less than 10% of energ

For advances in atrial fibrillation, we talk to Professor John Camm (St George’s, University of London), who analyses new AF guidance and the registry ‘real world’ data emerging in this field. Dr Jubin Joseph (St Thomas’ Hospital, London, and President of the British Junior Cardiologists’ Association) speaks about the implications of some of the coronary artery disease studies, and also the use of telemonitoring in heart failure. Finally, Professor Patrick Moriarty (University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA) discusses what effect the new PCSK9 inhibitors are likely to have on life for patients with familial hypercholesto

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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

Heart failure The recommendations on devices, drugs and diagnosis in heart failure were developed by the ESC in collaboration with a heart failure association of the ESC. There have been several major updates since the previous guidance published in 2008.  The new updates include: In devices, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been hailed as a step change in the management of heart failure. LVADs are more reliable and lead to fewer complications than in 2008. Until now, LVADs have been used as a temporary measure in patients awaiting a heart transplant. Professor John McMurray (Glasgow, UK), chairperson of the ESC Clinical Practice

Of the three new drugs, the paper appears to particularly highlight apixaban saying it “is currently the best-documented alternative to both warfarin and aspirin for stroke prevention in a broad population with AF”. It adds that “apixaban has been shown to be superior compared with warfarin concerning the reduction of stroke and mortality in combination with a reduction in major bleeding, with a bleeding risk similar to that of low-dose aspirin, and with better tolerability than both these alternatives, albeit with no reduction in ischaemic stroke compared with warfarin”. The paper says dabigatran 150 mg is also a well-documented alte