Cardiovascular Business - January/February 2008 - (Page 10)

ClInICal sTUDY DIGesT › A stAFF rEport Co-payments and Compliance; Genetic Hope for CaD Prevention; Cath lab false Positives Nature: scientists find new genetic links to cholesterol, lipid levels Scientists have discovered more than 25 genetic variants in 18 genes connected to cholesterol and lipid levels in an international collaboration supported primarily by the National Institutes of Health, published in the February issue of Nature Genetics. The researchers reported that seven of the 18 genes previously had not been connected to cholesterol and lipid levels, while the 11 others confirm previous discoveries. The variants could potentially lead to strategies for the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease. As a result of the research, the authors found that severely impaired myocardial fatty acid metabolism, which might mainly reflect repetitive myocardial ischemia, can identify a high-risk group of cardiac death among hemodialysis patients. Congestive Heart Failure: Heart failure more prevalent in PaD patients, cost-effective to screen The presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with a nearly two-fold increase in the prevalence of heart failure (HF), which might serve to enhance the cost-effectiveness of general screening criteria for the underlying detection of HF (Congestive Heart Failure 2007;13[6]:3196-332). The scientists found that using PAD as a risk marker to enhance HF screening appears to be worthwhile when compared with a nationally accepted screening tool. As a result of their findings, the researchers contend that the strategies that use PAD as a potent risk marker for underlying HF can enhance the cost-effectiveness through general screening criteria. JaCC: Metabolic sPeCt imaging may predict cardiac mortality A resting radionuclide scan that can identify metabolically impaired myocardium may be able to stratify patients with end-stage renal disease, but no apparent heart disease, according to risk of death from cardiac causes, suggests a study published in the Jan. 15, 2008 issue Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Health affairs: Decreasing drug co-payments increases adherence for patients with heart disease Removing economic barriers for the treatment of chronic conditions encourages patients to remain on recommended therapies (Health Affairs 2008; 27[1]:103-112). The 12-month study, partly funded by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), investigated the impact on medication adherence of reducing prescription co-payments, in addition to existing disease management programs, for employees of a service industry company. The researchers found that there was a statistically significant improvement in adherence for heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol, and the results were achieved in addition to existing disease management programs, when co-payment rates for generic medications were reduced from $5 to $0 and co-payments for branded drugs were cut in half. Circulation: lack of vitamin D may increase heart disease risk The same vitamin D deficiency that can result in weak bones has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease 10 Cardiovascular Business January/february 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cardiovascular Business - January/February 2008

Cardiovascular Business - January/February 2008 Contents The Ticker: Quality Pays in Several Ways Cover Story: The Proof: Why Evidence-based Medicine Improves Cardiac Care Clinical Study Digest: Co-payments and Cath Labs Cardiac PET/CT Fills in Gaps Left by SPECT Tapping into IT to Improve the Office-Based Practice SPECT–Proving Its Value Cardiac Images in the EMR: Just a Click Away The Top 20 Ways to Market Your Cardiac CTA Practice The Big Picture: Medical Displays for Cardiac Images Statins Work But Pharmacoeconomic Caveats Abound Driving Data Protection: Opting for Storage On- or Offsite News & Views Calendar Reader’s Resource

Cardiovascular Business - January/February 2008

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