Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2012
Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with increased risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults.
This study sought to evaluate the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. ⋯ Adult Taiwanese with SCH had an increased risk for all-cause mortality and CVD death.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTadalafil for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: a double-blind 52-week uncontrolled extension study.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety and durability of efficacy of tadalafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension. ⋯ Long-term treatment with tadalafil was well tolerated in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. In patients receiving either T20 mg or T40 mg, the improvements in 6MWD demonstrated in the 16-week PHIRST study appeared sustained for up to 52 additional weeks of treatment in PHIRST-2. (Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Response to Tadalafil Study; NCT00549302).
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2012
Comparative StudyIndirect comparisons of new oral anticoagulant drugs for efficacy and safety when used for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.
This study sought to perform an indirect comparison analysis of dabigatran etexilate (2 doses), rivaroxaban, and apixaban for their relative efficacy and safety against each other. ⋯ Notwithstanding the limitations of an indirect comparison study, we found no profound significant differences in efficacy between apixaban and dabigatran etexilate (both doses) or rivaroxaban. Dabigatran 150 mg BID was superior to rivaroxaban for some efficacy endpoints, whereas major bleeding was significantly lower with dabigatran 110 mg BID or apixaban. Only a head-to-head direct comparison of the different new OACs would fully answer the question of efficacy/safety differences between the new drugs for stroke prevention in AF.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2012
Contemporary evidence about hospital strategies for reducing 30-day readmissions: a national study.
This study sought to determine the range and prevalence of practices being implemented by hospitals to reduce 30-day readmissions of patients with heart failure or acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ⋯ Although most hospitals have a written objective of reducing preventable readmissions of patients with heart failure or AMI, the implementation of recommended practices varied widely. More evidence establishing the effectiveness of various practices is needed.