The American journal of medicine
-
There are no randomized controlled trials of thrombolytic therapy, pulmonary embolectomy, or inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in patients with unstable pulmonary embolism (those in shock or on ventilator support). Yet, there are many investigations of these treatments based on retrospective cohort studies using administrative data from large government and commercial databases. Extensive data from these cohort studies showed that thrombolytic therapy resulted in the lowest in-hospital all-cause mortality. ⋯ In fact, IVC filters decreased in-hospital all-cause mortality with anticoagulants alone or with pulmonary embolectomy as well as thrombolytic therapy in adults of all ages with unstable pulmonary embolism. The IVC filters reduced mortality only if inserted on the day of admission or the next day, while the patients were unstable and in a fragile condition. We conclude that the best treatment for patients with unstable pulmonary embolism is thrombolytic therapy combined with an IVC filter inserted during the period of fragility, while the patient is unstable, and this treatment is indicated in all unstable patients irrespective of age.
-
Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 205 deaths per 100,000 persons annually and is the leading cause of death worldwide. The public health burden of cardiovascular disease is expected to continue to grow as the prevalence of many cardiovascular risk factors increases. Several novel classes of glucose-lowering, lipid-lowering, and weight-loss therapeutics have shown mortality benefits in outcomes trials. ⋯ In this review, we highlight recent advances in the pharmacotherapeutic management of the cardiovascular risk factors of hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and obesity. We examine key subgroups within recent cardiovascular outcome trials, weigh the risks and benefits of several novel therapeutics, and provide practical insight into the use of these agents. Our article concludes with a look toward the future and provides the practitioner and scientist with an early view of emerging therapeutics that may play an important role in primary cardiovascular prevention.