Cardiovascular agents

Statins: general safety profile and association with myopathy

Statin therapy has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in reducing mortalities associated with cardiovascular diseases through preventing myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke. Despite the proven benefits of statins in this context, there are growing concerns among patients and physicians on the s…

NICE approves heart failure therapy Entresto

A new combination treatment for heart failure has been recommended for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.…

Older patients may benefit from slightly higher blood pressure targets

High systolic blood pressure is linked to poorer outcomes among patients with chronic kidney disease, but this association is weaker among older patients, a study shows.…

Drug-induced Raynaud’s phenomenon ‘probably underestimated’

Researchers have identified 12 drug classes associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon that should be prescribed with caution in patients with a history of the condition.…

Community prescription drug costs rise

The number and overall cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community has risen for another consecutive year in England, with costs rising at a higher rate than volume.…

Enthusiasm for PCSK9 inhibitors to lower LDL cholesterol is premature

Although PCSK9 inhibitors have been hailed as the next big thing in the treatment of high cholesterol, there are not enough data to make informed opinions about their overall value.…

US study shows increase in risk of drug interactions

The proportion of older adults in the United States at risk of major drug-drug interactions increased from 8.4% to 15.1% over five years, according to an analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine.…

Patients’ education plays part in how they manage anticoagulants

The educational background of patients with atrial fibrillation directly influences how they manage their anticoagulation, according to research. …

Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with statins: assessing the evidence base behind clinical guidance

Statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs are increasingly being used for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.…

Why sprinting to change clinical practice guidelines on blood pressure treatment is premature

Caution is required when the media reports on high profile medical studies.…