Current medical research and opinion
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To quantify clinical and cost long-term outcomes in cardiovascular stable post-myocardial-infarction patients. ⋯ High risk MI survivors who have been event free for ≥1 year remained at substantial risk of CV events and had increased healthcare costs for up to 5 years post-MI. These long-term risks have not been previously demonstrated in a working-age US population and suggest an unmet need for continuing secondary prevention long-term post-MI.
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Hispanic/Latino (H/L) ethnicity is associated with higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and more complications and comorbidities. Few studies of antihyperglycemic agents (AHAs) have compared H/L with non-H/L patients. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies have shown canagliflozin (CANA) is effective at lowering hemoglobin A1C (A1C). ⋯ Compared with non-H/L patients, our H/L patients were younger and had higher mean baseline A1C. Significant improvement in glycemic control was observed for both cohorts, with greater improvement for H/L patients. Additional research is warranted, including longer follow-up and adjusting for possible confounding factors.
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Warfarin is efficacious for reducing stroke risk among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, the efficacy and safety of warfarin are influenced by its time in therapeutic range (TTR). ⋯ Many warfarin-treated NVAF patients have a low warfarin TTR. NVAF patients with low vs. patients with high warfarin TTR used healthcare resources to a greater extent, which was reflected in higher healthcare costs.
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To examine the long-term persistence and safety of the non-vitamin-K-antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) dabigatran (D), rivaroxaban (R) and apixaban (A) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) treated in the framework of a well structured, nurse-based AF unit for initiation and follow-up of NOAC. ⋯ In a retrospective study at a single AF clinic, NOACs showed significantly different bleeding rates and varied discontinuation rates when compared to each other, related mainly to agent-specific side effects and bleedings. The majority of patients that discontinued proceeded with other types of oral anticoagulant.