Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Jan 2012
Editorial ReviewA point-by-point response to recent arguments against the use of statins in primary prevention: this statement is endorsed by the American Society for Preventive Cardiology.
Recently, a debate over the merits of statin therapy in primary prevention was published in the Wall Street Journal. The statin opponent claimed that statins should only be used in secondary prevention and never in any primary-prevention patients at risk for cardiovascular events. In this evidence-based rebuttal to those claims, we review the evidence supporting the efficacy of statin therapy in primary prevention. ⋯ However, prevention of heart attacks, strokes, and death from cardiovascular disease does not have to be all or none-all statin or all lifestyle. In selected at-risk individuals, the combination of pharmacotherapy and lifestyle changes is more effective than either alone. Future investigation in prevention should focus on improving our ability to identify these at-risk individuals.
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Clinical cardiology · Mar 2011
EditorialIs hyperoxic ventilation important to treat acute coronary syndromes such as myocardial infarction?
After reviewing the literature, I was unable to find hard evidence that the use of supplemental oxygen (hyperbaric or normobaric) in an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is beneficial, and there is some evidence that it may be harmful.
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Those of us who see patients with cardiovascular disorders frequently use antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents; the common agents are aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin. This editorial is a personal viewpoint about commonly used drugs, not so commonly used drugs, and drugs that are yet to be used clinically.