Cardiology
Clinical Inquiries
What is the value of screening for heart disease with an exercise stress test (EST) in an asymptomatic person?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against an EST for screening asymptomatic individuals of any age. (Grade...
Q&A
Should patients with unstable coronary syndromes routinely undergo cardiac catheterization and appropriate revascularization?
Cannon, CP, Weintraub WS, Bemopoulos LA, et al. Comparison of early invasive and conservative strategies in patients with unstable coronary...
Q&A
Can a bedside blood test predict death or myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with chest pain?
Newby LK, Storrow AB, Gibler WB, et al. Bedside multimarker testing for risk stratification in chest pain units. The chest pain evaluation by...
Q&A
Are all b-blockers equally effective in reducing mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
Gottlieb SS, McCarter RJ. Comparative effects of three beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol) on survival after acute myocardial...
Q&A
Can early treatment with atorvastatin (Lipitor) improve the outcome of patients with acute coronary syndromes?
Schwartz GG, Olsson AG, Ezekowitz MD, et al. Effects of atorvastatin on early recurrent ischemic events in acute coronary syndromes. The MIRACL...
Q&A
Is ticlopidine more effective than aspirin in preventing adverse cardiovascular events after myocardial infarction (MI)?
Scrutinio D, Cimminiello C, Marubini E, et al. Ticlopidine versus aspirin after myocardial infarction (STAMI) trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001; 37:...
Q&A
Does lipid lowering increase nonillness mortality?
Muldoon M, Manuck S, Mendelsohn A, Kaplan J, Belle S. Cholesterol reduction and non-illness mortality: meta-analysis of randomised clinical trial...
Original Research
Group Office Visits Change Dietary Habits of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: The Dietary Intervention and Evaluation Trial (D.I.E.T.)
Q&A
Should calcium channel blockers be used as first-line antihypertensive therapy?
Pahor M, Psaty BM, Alderman MH, et al. Health outcomes associated with calcium antagonists compared with other first-line antihypertensive...
Q&A
Is either sotalol or amiodarone more effective than digoxin for converting patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm within 48 hours?
Joseph, AP, Ward, MR. A prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of sotalol, amiodarone, and digoxin for the...
Q&A
What is the differential diagnosis for patients with symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) and normal systolic function?
Caruana L, Petrie MC, Davie AP, McMurray JJV. Do patients with suspected heart failure and preserved left ventricular function suffer from “...