| News about cardiovascular disease prevention and management |  |
| Heart Health News |  |  |
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- Nursing initiative increases lipid tests
When Kaiser Permanente nurses in Colorado were allowed to order nonfasting cholesterol tests and use electronic medical records to point out missing data, the number of completed lipid profiles among members ages 40 to 80 rose from 77.3% to 83.3%, according to a study presented at the PCNA Annual Symposium. The data allowed Framingham risk scores to be calculated for 15,000 additional members in the first year. "We try to do everything we can to help each member of the health care team work to the full limits of their scope of practice," said registered nurse and study presenter Sally Foland. MedPage Today (free registration)
(4/13)     
- Ultrasound helps ID heart disease risk in small study
Ultrasound evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness is useful in assessing risk of heart disease, according to a small study presented at the PCNA Annual Symposium. The study evaluated CIMT in 26 first-time STEMI patients and found vascular age, when adjusted for CIMT, was significantly greater than chronological age. People who learn their vascular age exceeds their chronological age are more likely to comply with preventive strategies, presenting author and nurse practitioner Lori Neri said. MedPage Today (free registration)
(4/13)
- Testosterone supplements may benefit heart failure patients
A meta-analysis showed improved breathing and exercise capacity among patients with moderate to severe chronic heart failure after taking testosterone supplements. Researchers failed to find any significant side effects from taking the supplements. The findings appear in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure. Nurse.com
(4/17)
| Emerging Trends | | |
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- Seniors in Medicare "doughnut hole" often stop taking heart drugs
Seniors who enter the Medicare Part D gap of prescription-drug coverage have a 57% higher risk of discontinuing medication essential for heart health, according to a study in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Researchers also found that entering the "doughnut hole" is not linked to risks for switching drugs or death and other outcomes. HealthDay News
(4/17)
- Study: EKG readings help predict heart events
Abnormalities identified by an electrocardiogram may provide insight into heart attack risks for the elderly, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study involved more than 2,100 patients between the ages of 70 and 79 with no known heart disease and found the presence of abnormalities to be associated with elevated risk for heart attack or other heart events over the next eight years. The Wall Street Journal
(4/10)
| Nursing in the News | | |
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- Bullying can become "social norm," Ohio nurse researcher says
Peggy Berry, a doctoral candidate at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, said bullying "becomes the social norm" and can be passed on from nurse to nurse. She said people should be told they are bullying because they may not realize it, but she cautioned nurses against retaliating against a colleague who bullies. NurseZone.com
(4/12)
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