News | Cardiovascular diseases

Injectable treatment recommended by NICE for patients with high cholesterol

The cholesterol-lowering treatment inclisiran could be a "game-changer" in preventing heart attacks and strokes, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.…

Pharmacists can provide drug treatment for hypertension, WHO guideline says

The World Health Organization has published a new hypertension guideline that states “non-physician professionals” can provide pharmacological antihypertensive treatment, as long as certain conditions are met.…

Apixaban use in low body weights — should we be monitoring anti-Xa levels?

There are limited data for the use of direct oral anticoagulants in low body weight, but that does not mean we cannot adjust dosing to ensure patients are not put at risk from over-anticoagulation.…

Pharmacist advice on inappropriate direct oral anticoagulant prescribing accepted in four out of five cases

Data from a study of hospitalised patients in Belgium show hospital physicians accepted advice on dose adjustment for direct oral anticoagulants in almost 80% of cases.…

In figures: the science of stress

For many, living through the COVID-19 pandemic will have been the most stressful time in their lives. For some, this stress will have taken a more serious toll, not only on their emotional wellbeing but on their physical health too.…

Mechanical heart valve patients switched to DOACs during COVID-19 pandemic to be reviewed ‘urgently’

A National Patient Safety Alert says GP practices should review specific patients “no later than 28 July 2021” who have a record of a mechanical heart value and are receiving a direct oral anticoagulant.…

Blood pressure medicines should be considered for all patients at risk from cardiovascular disease

Pooled trial data show that blood pressure medicines lowered risk of stroke by 13%, heart failure by 13%, ischaemic heart disease by 8% and death from cardiovascular disease by 5%.…

NHS England considering three models to make high-dose statins available in community pharmacy

Exclusive: Switching the drugs from prescription-only to pharmacy medicine is one of the options being looked at.…

NHS Health Checks catch patients who would benefit from statins but majority are not prescribed them

Of eligible patients who attended an NHS Health Check, 26 in 1,000 were prescribed statins, compared with 8 in 1,000 of those who did not attend, study results show.…

Reducing systolic blood pressure to below NICE target could cut heart attacks and CVD deaths, study concludes

Findings from the SPRINT trial suggest that a systolic blood pressure of less than 120mmHg is associated with a lower rate of clinical events.…