Lamotrigine may be associated with increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias, FDA warns

Source: British Cardiovascular Society

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Date of publication:  9^th April 2021

Publication type:  Research

In a nutshell:  An FDA review of study findings showed a potential increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with pre-existing cardiac disease who are taking lamotrigine. FDA reviewed in vitro studies of lamotrigine after receiving reports of abnormal electrocardiographic findings, chest pain, loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest.

Length of publication:  1 webpage

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Acknowledgement:   Home | BCS (britishcardiovascularsociety.org)

Physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality if performed during leisure time, not working hours

Source: British Cardiovascular Society

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Date of publication:  17^th April 2021

Publication type:  Research

Length of publication:  1 webpage

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Acknowledgement:   Home | BCS (britishcardiovascularsociety.org)

Research begins to rapidly understand deadly link between Covid-19 and cardiovascular diseases

Source: British Heart Foundation  

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Date of publication:  11 June 2020

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell:  Improved care for people with heart and circulatory disease suffering from Covid-19 could soon be available after we and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) announced support for six flagship research programmes.

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Acknowledgement:   https://www.bhf.org.uk/

ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly trial (ASPREE)

Source: British Journal of Cardiology

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Date of publication:  March 2020

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell:  Primary prevention aspirin among the elderly: challenges in translating trial evidence at the clinic

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Acknowledgement:   British Journal of Cardiology

Researchers develop first tool for predicting sudden cardiac death in children with HCM

Source: British Heart Foundation

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Date of publication: August 2019

Publication type:  Research

In a nutshell: HCM is an inherited heart condition that causes the heart muscle to become thicker. It can lead to life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading cause of death in children with the condition. Most people with HCM have few, if any, symptoms. Although there are tools which can help predict the risk of sudden death in adults with the condition, until now they haven’t existed for children.

Scientists at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital collected anonymised medical records from cardiac centres around the world to find out which factors are associated with a higher risk of sudden death in children with HCM. They used this to develop a tool that means doctors can identify children with HCM who may need to be fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) which can shock the heart back into a normal rhythm if they experience a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm. The new tool could also help to reassure families of those children with HCM who are found to be unlikely to experience a cardiac arrest.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

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Acknowledgement: British Heart Foundation

Ability to do push-ups may predict cardiovascular risk

Source: Medical News Today

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Date of publication: February 2019

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: A new study suggests that the more push-ups a man is able to complete, the lower his cardiovascular risk and vice versa. These findings may establish a new measure of risk assessment that is simple and does not require costly specialized equipment.

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Acknowledgement:   Medical News Today

Embrace Mediterranean or Nordic diets to cut disease, WHO says

Source: The Guardian

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Date of publication: May 2018

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Britain could lower its rates of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease by embracing Mediterranean- or Nordic-style diets, a major study into the benefits of healthy eating suggests.

A review by the World Health Organization found compelling evidence that both diets reduce the risk of the common diseases, but noted that only 15 out of 53 countries in its European region had measures in place to promote the diets.

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Acknowledgement: The Guardian

‘Apple-shaped’ women may have increased heart attack risk

Source: NHS Choices: Behind the Headlines

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Date of publication: March 2018

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: “Women with apple-shaped bodies are ‘more likely to suffer heart attacks than those who are pear-shaped’,” the Daily Mirror reports, as a new study found a link between increased waist size and heart attack.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and other institutions investigated the links between having increased levels of body fat and the risk of having a heart attack.

They used data from people enrolled in the UK Biobank study, which asked nearly 500,000 adults between the ages of 40 and 69 about their health.

The study found having a bigger waist and having a bigger waist relative to your hips were linked to an increased risk of having a heart attack.

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Acknowledgement: NHS Choices: Behind the Headlines

 

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is associated with increased risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a nationwide case–time–control study

Source: European Heart Journal

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Date of publication: February 2017

Publication type: Study

In a nutshell: Researchers found a link between the potentially fatal heart problem and ibuprofen use, as well as another type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) called diclofenac. A cardiac arrest is a serious emergency where the heart stops pumping blood around the body.

The Danish study looked at 29,000 people who experienced a cardiac arrest, and then at whether these people had taken NSAIDs.

The researchers found the risk of a cardiac arrest was increased by a third for those who took ibuprofen in the 30 days leading up to cardiac arrest.

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Acknowledgement:  European Heart Journal

Study highlights heart disease risk for pregnant women

Source: British Heart Foundation

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Date of publication: December 2016

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Pregnant women and those who have recently given birth need to be aware of the symptoms of heart disease, according to a new report from researchers at the University of Oxford.

The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths report, from MBRRACE-UK, highlighted that two in 100,000 women died in pregnancy or in the early weeks after childbirth from heart disease, which is the leading cause of women dying in pregnancy or the early weeks after childbirth.

The report showed that overall, 8.5 women per 100,000 died during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth, between 2012 and 2014.

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Acknowledgement: British Heart Foundation

How to manage and reduce stress

Source: UK Health Forum

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Date of publication: November 2016

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Research has shown that stress can sometimes be positive. It makes us more alert and helps us perform better in certain situations. However, stress has only been found as beneficial if it is short-lived. Excessive or prolonged stress can contribute to illness such as heart disease and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

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Acknowledgement: UK Health Forum

New recommendations for overweight people with heart risks

Source: Reuters

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Date of publication: August 2014

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The United States Preventive Services Task Force has issued new recommendations for overweight patients who have risk factors for heart disease. These patients should receive intensive behaviour counselling for diet and exercise. Previous studies showed that by attending this form of counselling for up to one year, many health markers were improved and the risk of diabetes was reduced.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

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Acknowledgement: Annals of Internal Medicine, 26th August 2014