News | Cardiovascular diseases

Top ten research briefings of 2020

This year, all but one of our most-popular research briefings were, unsuprisingly, on the topic of COVID-19.…

Consistent use of statins linked to reduced risk of cancer death

Women who take cholesterol-lowering medicines, who are subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer, colorectal cancer or melanoma, are less likely to die from their cancer if they adhere to their cholesterol medicines, research published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology has su…

Patients taking placebo and statins experience similar side effects

Patients experience similar side effects taking a placebo as they do taking a statin, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine has suggested.…

Polypill with aspirin cuts heart attacks and strokes by almost a third, study suggests

A polypill combining three blood pressure medicines and a statin, taken with aspirin, reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events occurring in at-risk groups by more than 30%, research has suggested.…

Pharmacist-led atrial fibrillation case finding programme prevents an estimated 90 strokes

A pharmacist-led programme to identify patients with atrial fibrillation may have prevented up to 90 AF-related strokes across 23 clinical commissioning group areas, NHS England has said.…

Charity expresses patient safety concerns over draft atrial fibrillation guidance from NICE

A UK charity has expressed patient safety concerns over draft guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the management of atrial fibrillation.…

Increased anticoagulation is reducing the rate of stroke and saving nearly £300 per patient treated, study suggests

The NHS is saving nearly £300 per patient on oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, despite rising prescription costs for the medicine, owing to a decline in AF-related strokes.…

Gaps between clinical guidelines and practice for lipid management in Europe, researchers find

Less than 60% of patients receiving lipid-lowering therapy achieve the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels set out in European guidelines.…

Pharmacists could screen patients for AF during flu vaccination appointments, study suggests

Screening for atrial fibrillation could be carried out during flu vaccination appointments to increase early detection rates, a feasibility study has suggested.…

My weight loss programme shows pharmacy can tackle obesity at no cost to the NHS

Gareth Evans highlights how community pharmacists can support patients with ongoing weight management and clinically significant weight loss at no extra cost to the NHS.…