Cardiovascular diseases

MHRA approves dupilumab for treatment of uncontrolled COPD

The regulator has granted marketing authorisation for a subcutaneous injection as an add-on maintenance treatment for adults with uncontrolled COPD.…

Statins offer cost-effective benefit for older people, study results suggest

The researchers found that lifetime use of a standard statin therapy increased quality-adjusted life years by 0.24–0.70 per person.…

More than 2,000 patients tested in UK’s first routine genotyping project for clopidogrel prescribing

Exclusive: The genotyping project at NHS Tayside identified 2,300 patients, 29% of whom emerged as ‘poor’ or ‘intermediate’ CYP2C19-clopidogrel metabolisers.…

Lessons from testing 2,300 patients at the UK’s first CYP2C19 genotyping system 

Specialist clinical pharmacist Alex Matos explains what his team has learned in the two years since setting up the NHS Tayside project to genotype acute stroke patients with an indication for clopidogrel.…

MHRA approves semaglutide to prevent cardiovascular events in overweight and obese adults

The approval is based on data from a trial that demonstrated how semaglutide lowered the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events compared with placebo.…

Paediatric arrhythmias: pathophysiology, types and pharmaceutical management 

While many arrhythmias in children are harmless, it is vital to distinguish between the different types to ensure that potentially harmful ones are identified early and treatment plans are optimised for the patient.…

Semaglutide lowers risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD, study results show

Experts say this is an “important trial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus”, offering the possibility of semiglutide as an additional treatment option for slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease.…

Long-term beta blocker use after heart attack did not lower risk of death and recurrence, study results show

A study of more than 5,000 patients showed that death or another myocardial infarction occurred in 199 patients in the beta-blocker group and 208 patients in the no beta-blocker group.…

Case-based learning: chronic breathlessness in adults

The causes and management of breathlessness in adults, with a focus on chronic breathlessness.…

NICE recommends phased roll out of genetic testing for clopidogrel prescribing

In draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said that testing could be rolled out to patients at higher risk of stroke recurrence first, while capacity is established.…