JACC Releases

Breathing in Low Levels of Lingering Secondhand Smoke Damages Lining of Blood Vessels After Only 30 Minutes

Rachel Cagan — 2012-05-14 00:00:00

Secondhand smoke is loaded with toxic chemicals and studies have shown that it increases the risk of heart disease by up to 30 percent. New data find that inhaling even low levels of lingering secondhand smoke – at increasingly lower concentration levels than have been used in prior studies – for a short period results in marked signs of cardiovascular dysfunction among nonsmoking adults, according to a study published in the May 22, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Both Improving Fitness and Preventing Fat Gain Important in Reducing Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Amanda Jekowsky — 2012-02-06 00:00:00

Maintaining or improving fitness, as well as preventing fat gain, are associated with a lower probability of developing risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in healthy adults, according to a study published in the February 14, 2012, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). The study is one of the first to examine how a change in fitness or fatness (or both) affects subsequent development of CVD risk factors.

Higher blood pressure in younger years leads to increased risk of death later in life

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-11-21 00:00:00

Elevated blood pressure in early adulthood is associated with a greater risk of death decades later, including overall mortality and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a new study published this week in the November 29, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). The findings represent the first analysis of high blood pressure in young adults that takes into consideration the impact of hypertension during middle age.

Chocolate Lovers May Have Added Reason to Indulge – in Moderation

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-10-10 00:00:00

Chocolate lovers may have one more reason to give in to their cravings without the accompanying guilt. New research adds to the mounting evidence that consuming chocolate seems to lower the risk of stroke and – what’s new – it appears to be more protective against certain types of stroke. Moreover, women who ate the most chocolate – 66.5 grams each week, which amounts to roughly two chocolate bars – had a 20 percent lower risk of having a stroke, according to a research correspondence report in the October 18, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

Women From Low-Income Households at Greater Risk for Heart Failure

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-09-19 00:00:00

Heart failure (HF) – a chronic condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the body – carries serious health consequences and financial burdens for many women 65 and older. But new data show that post-menopausal women who live in low income households and have less than a high-school education are at even greater risk for developing HF, regardless of race or ethnicity and even after adjusting for known risk factors, according to a study published in the September 27, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

Health Coverage – or Lack of it – Has Measureable Influence on Quality of Care and Outcomes for People With Heart Failure

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-09-19 00:00:00

For people hospitalized with new or worsening heart failure (HF), the type of health coverage one has – if any – can make a big difference when it comes to the quality of care received, as well as clinical outcomes. In fact, compared to patients with private/HMO insurance, those with Medicaid, Medicare or no insurance have longer hospital stays and are less likely to receive some of the evidence-based therapies recommended for HF, according to a new study published in the September 27, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

Erectile Dysfunction Significantly Increases Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-09-12 00:00:00

Erectile dysfunction (ED) significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and all-cause mortality, according to a meta-analysis conducted by a Chinese research team and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the association is independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors, a finding that may help to answer a pivotal question regarding the relationship of these two conditions.

Isolated, Small Muscle Training Increases Exercise Capacity in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-09-12 00:00:00

Focusing on isolated, small muscle exercise effectively combats exercise intolerance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), according to a study conducted by an Italian and American research team and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. This type of exercise promotes better oxygen transport, overcoming the central limitation of the impaired cardiac function, which may have significant implications for improving the quality of life for people with CHF.

Metabolic Syndrome Found to be Greater Risk Factor for Heart Failure Than Obesity Alone

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-09-12 00:00:00

Adding further data to the ongoing discussion about how to best prevent heart failure (HF), a Greek research team found that normal-weight people with metabolic syndrome (MetS) had higher rates of HF than obese study subjects without MetS, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The findings readdress the significance of MetS and insulin resistance as markers of future HF risk and highlight the importance of evaluating metabolic status in all cardiovascular risk stratification, regardless of weight.

Observed Hostility Better Predictor of Heart Disease than Patient Report

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-09-05 00:00:00

Hostility identified by an interviewer, called “observed hostility,” appears to be a better predictor of ischemic heart disease than patient-reported hostility, and the presence of any hostility is more important than the severity, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). The study, appearing in the September 13, 2011 issue, found any level of observed hostility was associated with a two-fold increased risk in heart disease, independent of other psychosocial and cardiovascular risk factors.

Some Hospitals Better than Others in Selecting Patients to Undergo Cardiac Catheterization

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-08-08 00:00:00

Hospitals vary markedly when it comes to the rate at which diagnostic coronary angiography or catheterization – an invasive procedure that allows doctors to see the vessels and arteries leading to the heart – actually finds obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in people without known heart disease. In fact, while some U.S. hospitals report that 100 percent of patients undergoing this procedure were found to have CAD, others had rates as low as 23 percent, meaning the majority of patients selected for elective catheterization did not have blockages, according to a new study published in the August 16, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers say these findings warrant further efforts to improve the patient selection and decision-making processes used by institutions to limit exposure to costly, invasive procedures when not needed.

Mediterranean Diet: A Heart-Healthy Plan for Life

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-03-07 00:00:00

The Mediterranean diet has proven beneficial effects not only regarding metabolic syndrome, but also on its individual components including waist circumference, HDL-cholesterol levels, triglycerides levels, blood pressure levels and glucose metabolism, according to a new study published in the March 15, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study is a meta-analysis, including results of 50 studies on the Mediterranean diet, with an overall studied population of about half a million subjects.

Coronary Stent Thrombosis Influenced by Circadian Rhythms

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-02-21 00:00:00

Circadian rhythms affect the incidence of coronary stent thrombosis, with more events occurring during the early morning hours, according to new research published in the February 2011 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. The analysis was only the second study conducted on circadian (24-hour) variation in coronary stent thrombosis and was the first to also examine seasonal patterns and weekly variation. Its findings associate coronary stent thrombosis with several other adverse cardiac events that also follow a circadian pattern, such as stroke, unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and sudden cardiac death.

Heart Disease: A Serious Family Affair

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-01-24 00:00:00

According to a study published in the February 1, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, parental history of heart disease nearly doubles a person’s risk in all regions of the world, even after considering all other known risk factors of heart disease. In other words, many unknown genetic and environmental factors running in families remain to be discovered and play an important part in determining one’s likelihood of developing heart disease.

Inappropriate shocks from ICDs ‘common’ and lead to greater risk of death

Amanda Jekowsky — 2011-01-24 00:00:00

Despite the benefits of therapy with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), inappropriate shocks from the devices are “common” and place patients at a greater mortality risk. These were the conclusions drawn by a Dutch research team that examined the incidence, predictors, and patient outcomes of inappropriate ICD shocks in a large, real-world patient population. Published in the February 1, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the study showed that inappropriate ICD shocks were more than just painful and psychologically disturbing—they also impacted patient survival.