April 8, 2020

Staying Healthy Amid COVID19: What Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Need to Know Gretchen Cuda Kroen, Senior Editor of Practical Cardiology interviews Stephen Kopecky, M.D., a cardiologist and specialist in Preventative Medicine from the Mayo Clinic about what patients and their physicians need to know about staying healthy with heart disease in the wake of COVID19. Read more

Why Older Patients Are More At Risk for COVID-19 : A Decline In ACE2 Expression A new perspective from a team of Maryland-based cardiovascular clinicians sheds insight on an often forgotten facet of the inherent COVID-19 risk carried by patients with cardiovascular history: the decline in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression associated with aging, and the response of care most common in such patients.

Image IQ: Petechia and Palpable Purpura on the Palms of Hands, Fingers, and Toes A 40-year-old woman went to the doctor after petechia and palpable purpura appeared on the palms of her hands, fingers, and toes. She appeared chronically ill and had significant weight loss. Her doctor also noted the presences of Osler nodes. She did not have any recent injuries or skin punctures and reported she had been in good health until the last few weeks. Based on these clues, how would you diagnose this patient?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT….

ACE Inhibitors & ARBs: Wading Into the Unknown of COVID-19 There has been some dissent lately about the role angiotensin-converting enzyme plays in the COVID-19 infections. The chemistry can be quite confusing, making it easy to see why it has caused controversy. Learn more

Birth Weight Predicts Heart Failure in Mothers A new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology (ACC.20/WCC) has revealed a low birth weight could serve as an indicator for increased risk of cardiovascular disease in mothers. Read more.

To Reduce Risk of Heart Arrhythmias, Eat More Meat A new study examining the impact of increased protein intake in older women has returned promising results showing a potential reduction in the risk of one of the most common cardiovascular conditions. Learn more

US Adult E-Cigarette Use Climbing, Despite Cardiology Health Concerns Electronic cigarette use has grown to approximately 1 in every 20 US adults, according to new findings presented virtually at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2020 Scientific Sessions this week. Read more.

Statins Could Reduce Cardiotoxicity, Heart Failure from Chemotherapy While chemotherapy with anthracycline and trastuzumab have been linked to cardiotoxicity, new research is suggesting a common cardiovascular medication could help offset some of the negative impact on cardiovascular health in breast cancer patients. Learn more

Specific Cancer Types May Carry Increased Risk for Atrial Fibrillation While multiple previous studies have detailed the additional risk of arrhythmias associated with patients who have cancer, new data is shedding light on which forms of cancer carry the greatest risk. Read more.

We want to hear from you! Did you love an article you read in Practical Cardiology? Disagree with an author’s conclusions? Want to share how you solved an issue in your practice? Then Practical Cardiology editors want to hear from you! Please send your comments to GCudaKroen@mjhlifesciences.com.