CARDIOPROGRESS
Foundation for the advancement of cardiology

Head Blows Linked to Brain Changes, Even Without Concussion Even in the absence of a concussion, repeated blows to the head during a season of US football or ice hockey appear to be associated with changes in brain white matter and may also be linked to reduced cognition, a new study shows.

Glaxo’s New Doc-Pay Policy Mostly Pleases Critics The recent decision by GlaxoSmithKline to stop paying physicians to promote its drugs and reform other marketing practices represents progress, Big Pharma critics told Medscape Medical News, but some said the company can’t stop there.

New SGR Repeal Bill Includes Slight Pay Hikes Robert Lowes Facing a March 31 deadline to avert catastrophe in medical practices, a bipartisan group of House and Senate members today introduced a bill that would repeal Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for setting physician reimbursement.

First AHA/ASA Guidelines to Reduce Stroke Risk in Women Sue Hughes The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) has issued the first guidelines for reducing stroke risk specifically in women.

Fruit, Tea, and Wine Could Guard Against Type 2 Diabetes Lisa Nainggolan A new study in healthy women suggests that consuming high levels of flavonoids, including compounds found in berries, tea, grapes, and wine, could potentially lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Gout Incidence Increasing, but Most Patients Go Untreated Janis C. Kelly Previous hopes that gout incidence and prevalence had plateaued in the United Kingdom were dashed by a new report published online January 15 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Caffeine: No Downside, Hint of Benefit in Atrial Fibrillation A meta-analysis from Chinese researchers has concluded that there is an inverse relationship between regular caffeine consumption and atrial fibrillation risk.

“International Heart and Vascular Disease Journal” The International Heart and Vascular Disease Journal is a peer-reviewed medical journal for specialists in cardiology. The journal is published four times a year in two languages (English and Russian), in both print and digital formats. The limited-distribution print version is provided for free. All issues are available for free online at, www.cardioprogress.ru

Take Family History in Every New Cancer Patient, Says ASCO Zosia Chustecka Oncologists seeing a new patient with cancer should take a family history, specifically asking about cancer in first- and second-degree relatives, says the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in a new expert statement.

COPD: Clinicians Miss Myriad Chances to Spot It Early Neil Osterweil Clinicians may be missing the chance to diagnose early-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the vast majority of cases, investigators suggest.

Insomnia, Short Sleep Linked to Greater Risk for MI Insomnia — difficulty falling or staying asleep — was associated with a 69% greater risk of having a myocardial infarction (MI) than among adults without insomnia, according to new research.

New ACC, AHA, SCAI Interventional Cardiology Training Guidance The American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) have jointly issued new guidance outlining competency-based advanced training requirements for interventional cardiology trainees.

The Anti-statin Lobby Strikes Again: Time to Set the Record Straight The joint Franco-German non-commercial television network ARTE recently broadcast a television programme entitled "The Big Bluff" about the link between cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and the use of statins. The programme propounded the theory that there is absolutely no relation between blood cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease, and asserted that cholesterol has become the "ideal villain" in cardiovascular disease through a series of "scientific approximations". In addition, the programme encouraged physicians and patients to interrupt lipid-lowering treatments and statins, in particular, to avoid any blood lipid assessment and last but not least, suggested that the recommendations issued by professional societies such as the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) are inappropriate and influenced by conflicts of interest.

Coffee Consumption and Coronary Artery Calcium Score: Cross‐Sectional Results of ELSA‐Brasil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health) Coffee Consumption and Coronary Artery Calcium Score: Cross‐Sectional Results of ELSA‐Brasil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health) Abstract Background Available evidence for the relationship between coffee intake and subclinical atherosclerosis is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between coffee consumption and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in ELSA‐Brasil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health).

CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS https://www.medscape.com/viewcollection/ MOMENTUM 3: HeartMate 3 Improves Stroke-Free Survival at 2 Years TRIUMPH: Triple Low-Dose Combo Pill a Success in Hypertension Barbershop-Based Healthcare Cuts Hypertension in Blacks Music Boosts Exercise Capacity During Cardiac Stress Test

New EHRA Practical Guide on Novel Oral Anticoagulants A new version of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) practical guide on non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) aims to help physicians navigate various new data — including some just presented last month in the United States — but also a more complex clinical landscape. "As health care providers get more comfortable using NOACs, treatment of more complex patients, such as the elderly, frail, those with multiple co-medications, is getting increasingly more common. We felt that not only an update but a fully revised version would be appropriate," writing committee chair, Jan Steffel, MD, University Heart Center, Zurich, Switzerland, told theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology.

THE THIRD DAY OF THE FORUM Today is the final day of the Forum. The scientific program continues until 5.30 pm in parallel 4 halls. The activity of doctors increased, discussions and questions became substantive. Delegates during breaks linger in the halls and behind the scenes continue to exchange opinions with the lecturers. The number of graduate students from medical universities has increased noticeably. Volunteers in each hall and check-in desks conduct a survey on a 5-point system in various areas, including the organization of the forum and the quality of reports and symposia. This will help optimize our work. Participants of the exhibition express their gratitude for the active participation of delegates and lively interest.

THE DIARY OF THE SECOND DAY OF THE FORUM Today the most motivated doctors and scientists took part in the scientific sessions. The geography of the participants expanded at the expense of delegates from the Crimea and the Donbass. Within the framework of the scientific program, a Russian-Belarusian Symposium on Comorbidity was held, and by tradition there was an active debate at the end of the meeting. On the second day, along with cardiological topics, symposiums on sports cardiology, osteoporosis, hematology and COPD were presented. Moreover, these symposiums are represented by various medical schools in Russia"s regions from Stavropol to Omsk. The forum was attended by the President of the Russian Therapeutic Society, Academician Martynov A.I.

DIARY OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE FORUM On March 21, the opening ceremony of the International Forum of Cardiology and Internal Medicine was held and the scientific sessions began in four halls of the RussianAcademy of Sciences. An introductory speech and a greeting were made by Academician Oganov R.G. and Professor Mamedov M.N. Traditionally, the Organizing Committee awarded 5 scientists and clinicians with diplomas for their contribution to the development of cardiac science and therapeutic services. Reports were presented at the plenary session by Prof. Kukharchuk V.V. (Moscow) on dyslipidemia, Professor Khalimova Yu.Sh. (St. Petersburg) on the hypoglycemic therapy and the main therapist of Uzbekistan, Professor Kamilova U.K. (Tashkent) on nephroprotection.

HEALTHCARE SPENDING ACCELERATING, 19.7% OF ECONOMY BY 2026 By 2026, healthcare is projected to make up 19.7% of the US economy, up from 17.9% in 2016, according to a report released today by the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Spending is projected to be $5.7 trillion by 2026, up from $3.5 trillion now. CMS projects that federal, state, and local governments will be financing 47% of that spending, up from 45% in 2016, partly related to the aging of the population.