We can be sure that the greatest hope for maintaining equilibrium in the face of any situation rests within ourselves."
--Francis Braceland,
American psychiatrist
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| PCNA SmartBrief |
| March 29, 2012 |
Non-HDL cholesterol may be better risk predictor, data show
Non?high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels may be a better target for statin therapy than low-density lipoprotein or apolipoprotein B, according to research from the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dr. Mauro Moscucci of the University of Miami commented that practice changes would not occur without new guidelines but added he will "take an additional consideration of non-HDL cholesterol" when considering patient therapies. Medscape (free registration) (3/28)
Better type 2 diabetes control seen after weight-loss surgery
Researchers examined 150 overweight and moderately obese type 2 diabetes patients and found that 42% of those who had gastric bypass surgery and 37% of those who underwent sleeve gastrectomy attained an A1C level of 6% or lower after a year, compared with only 12% in the drug-treated group. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. Reuters (3/26)
Study: Low LDL cholesterol in childhood reduces cardiac risks
Maintaining low levels of LDL cholesterol from childhood will reap big rewards in terms of lower cardiovascular risks later in life, a Wayne State University researcher told the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting. "We are not suggesting that everyone take statins from childhood; rather, that lowering LDL through more attention to healthy diet and exercise from a young age could make a big difference to public health," said lead author Dr. Brian Ference. Medscape (free registration) (3/26)
Other News
Telemedicine said to boost cardiovascular care for patients
Patients with hypertension who used a Web-based telemedicine portal generally got more timely treatment and adjustments in their medications, compared with people who made periodic office visits to treat their high blood pressure, according to research reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. MedicalXpress.com (3/26)
Checklist keeps heart patients out of hospital, study finds
Heart patients whose physicians used a 27-point checklist as part of discharge procedures had a 2% readmission rate within a month, compared with 20% for those who received standard hospital discharge instructions, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting. Researchers said patients using the checklist also were more likely to take appropriate blood pressure medications. USA Today (3/25)
Other News
NP emphasizes preventive care in wellness program
Nurse practitioner Ginger Vaughn runs the Village Wellness program at John Knox Village in Lee's Summit, Mo., testing employees for blood pressure, cholesterol and other screening measures and then working with them to improve their individual risk factors. "We do a lot of teaching through our wellness program," Vaughn said, and she says health care is heading in the direction of prevention and education. The Kansas City Nursing News (3/23)
Patient survey: Nurse hotline promotes adherence to self-care
Nearly all of the 312 people who called a telephone health advice line said that the clarity of the advice they got from qualified nurses was an important or very important factor in their self-care, a Canadian study found. In the Journal of Clinical Nursing, researchers reported that patients who followed advice for self-care were more likely to say that nurses had emphasized the importance of the regimen. Nurse.com (3/26)
Studies: Health education in schools leads to cardiovascular disease risk reduction in children
Information released at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session on Sunday from the University of Michigan Systems indicates that children understand the impact of healthy behaviors and habits. Read more.
Team-based care and patient education key to positive outcomes, studies show
New studies released Saturday in a press conference at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session reveal that effective patient communication and understanding key to adherence and positive patient outcomes. Read more.
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--Francis Braceland, |
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