Health News

Women less likely to die after TAVI than men

Date: Sep-04-2013
Dr Sherif said: "Earlier studies on the impact of gender on outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have had conflicting results. A Canadian study reported in 641 consecutive patients that female sex is associated with a better long-term and short-term survival after TAVI.[1] An Italian study of 305 high risk patients found no gender differences in composite safety and efficacy endpoints at 30 days and one year after TAVI...

Study shows patient-centered medical home philosophy boosts patient, physician satisfaction

Date: Sep-04-2013
The common refrain about health care is that it's a broken system. A new joint program between the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC), demonstrates a way to mend the system with a new patient-centered program that is getting raves from patients, as well as the residents and nurses who provide their care. Results from the program are highlighted in a study being released in September...

Pacemaker for slow heart rhythm restores life expectancy

Date: Sep-04-2013
Pacemakers implanted for slow heart rhythm restore life expectancy to normal levels, reveals research presented at ESC Congress 2013 today by Dr Erik O. Udo from the Netherlands. The findings provide a new reference point for the prognosis of modern pacemaker patients. Dr Udo said: "Previous studies describing the survival of pacemaker patients used data that is more than 20 years old and cannot be used anymore for patient counselling and benchmarking...

Common blood pressure drug losartan (Cozaar) reduces aortic enlargement in Marfan syndrome

Date: Sep-04-2013
A common drug that is used to treat high blood pressure in the general population has been found to significantly reduce a dangerous and frequently fatal cardiac problem in patients with Marfan syndrome. Results of the COMPARE (COzaar in Marfan PAtients Reduces aortic Enlargement) study reveal that patients treated with losartan (Cozaar) had a significantly reduced rate of aortic enlargement after 3 years compared to patients who did not receive the treatment...

TAVI feasible in bicuspid aortic valve

Date: Sep-04-2013
Bicuspid aortic valve (BV) is the most common congenital valvular abnormality, occurring in 1-2% of the general population. Two of the aortic valvular leaflets fuse during development resulting in a valve that is bicuspid instead of the normal tricuspid configuration. BV is associated with increased mechanical stress which predisposes to calcification and development of aortic stenosis which narrows the opening of the aortic valve. Dr Bauer said: "TAVI is used to treat elderly high risk patients with severe aortic stenosis...

ASSURE study of experimental agent to raise HDL yields 'disappointing and surprising' results

Date: Sep-04-2013
The search continues for an agent that increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and reduces arterial plaque, after the experimental apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) inducer, RVX-208 failed to do so in the ApoA1 Synthesis Stimulation and Intravascular Ultrasound for Coronary Atheroma Regression Evaluation (ASSURE) study...

STEMI incidence falls in southern Switzerland after smoking ban implemented

Date: Sep-04-2013
Second-hand smoke increases the risk of coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction. For this reason, health policies aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and public smoke exposure are strongly recommended. Dr Porretta said: "Canton Ticino (CT), which is one of the 26 cantons of the Swiss Federation, was the first Swiss canton to introduce a smoking ban in April 2007...

Salk researchers develop new model to study schizophrenia and other neurological conditions

Date: Sep-04-2013
Schizophrenia is one of the most devastating neurological conditions, with only 30 percent of sufferers ever experiencing full recovery. While current medications can control most psychotic symptoms, their side effects can leave individuals so severely impaired that the disease ranks among the top ten causes of disability in developed countries...

Combination pill 'more beneficial for heart disease patients'

Date: Sep-04-2013
A single combination pill used to treat blood pressure, cholesterol and platelet control could prove more beneficial for patients with or at risk of heart disease, compared with standard preventive therapy - according to a study published in JAMA. Researchers from the International Centre for Circulatory Health at Imperial College London conducted a randomized trial involving 2,004 patients in India and Europe who either had heart disease or were at risk for it...

Oral nutritional supplements provided to patients during hospitalization demonstrate significant health and cost benefits

Date: Sep-04-2013
Abbott A recent health economics and outcomes study, conducted by leading health economists and supported by Abbott, found that oral nutritional supplements provided to patients during hospitalization were associated with significant reductions in length of stay and hospitalization cost. Additionally, the 30-day readmission risk was significantly reduced for patients with at least one known subsequent readmission...