The American journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Cardiovascular Outcomes of Patients in SAVOR-TIMI 53 by Baseline Hemoglobin A1c.
The effect of saxagliptin on cardiovascular outcomes according to different hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels has not been described. Thus, we analyzed the SAVOR-TIMI 53 trial to compare the cardiovascular effects of saxagliptin vs placebo according to baseline HbA1c. ⋯ Baseline HbA1c is associated with increased risk of macrovascular events but not hospitalization for heart failure. There was no heterogeneity in the effect of saxagliptin on cardiovascular events by baseline HbA1c, with cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke neither increased nor decreased across the spectrum of baseline HbA1c values.
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Vascular erectile dysfunction is a powerful marker of increased cardiovascular risk. However, current guidelines lack specific recommendations on the role that the evaluation of vascular erectile dysfunction should play in cardiovascular risk assessment, as well on the risk stratification strategy that men with vascular erectile dysfunction should undergo. In the last 3 years, erectile dysfunction experts have made a call for more specific guidance and have proposed the selective use of several prognostic tests for further cardiovascular risk assessment in these patients. ⋯ In this review, we provide additional perspective from the viewpoint of the preventive cardiologist. We discuss the limitations of current risk scores and the potential interplay between erectile dysfunction assessment and the use of personalized prognostic tools, such as the coronary artery calcium score, in the cardiovascular risk stratification and management of men with vascular erectile dysfunction. Finally, we present an algorithm for primary care physicians, urologists, and cardiologists to aid clinical decision-making.
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Violent death is a serious problem in the United States. Previous research showing US rates of violent death compared with other high-income countries used data that are more than a decade old. ⋯ The United States has an enormous firearm problem compared with other high-income countries, with higher rates of homicide and firearm-related suicide. Compared with 2003 estimates, the US firearm death rate remains unchanged while firearm death rates in other countries decreased. Thus, the already high relative rates of firearm homicide, firearm suicide, and unintentional firearm death in the United States compared with other high-income countries increased between 2003 and 2010.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Prognostic Value of Undetectable hs Troponin T in Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome.
The search for improved strategies for safe and early discharge of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome in emergency departments is ongoing. This Biomarkers in Cardiology (BIC)-8 biomarker substudy evaluated the usefulness of high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) below or above the limit of detection (LoD) in low-to-intermediate-risk patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department. ⋯ In low-to-intermediate-risk patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome, undetectable hsTnT values at admission allow a safe discharge without occurrence of death or myocardial infarction within 90 days.