In this list, Healio and Cardiology Today present the most-popular vascular medicine articles published in 2019.

In no particular order, Healio readers this year were most interested in results of the COLCOT trial, new BP measurement standards from the American Heart Association, updates on the valsartan recall, type 2 MI and more.

COLCOT: Low-dose colchicine reduces CV risk after MI

Adults with a recent MI were less likely to experience an ischemic CV event over 2 years when assigned the anti-inflammatory gout medication colchicine compared with assignment to placebo, according to new results of the COLCOT trial presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Read more

AHA updates BP measurement standards

Advances in techniques to measure BP accurately are essential outside and in the office setting, according to a scientific statement published by the American Heart Association in Hypertension. Read more

Long-term sitting affects vascular health

Long bouts of uninterrupted sitting in relatively healthy patients negatively impacted markers of peripheral and central vascular health, according to a study published in The American Journal of Cardiology. Read more

Many Americans unaware of MI signs, symptoms

Nearly half of all U.S. citizens do not know the five signs and symptoms of MI and, depending on the sociodemographic subgroup, may not know any at all, according to research published in JAMA Network Open. Read more

ED visits spike, prescribing patterns change in wake of valsartan recall

When multiple generic valsartan products were recalled worldwide in July 2018 due to the presence of a carcinogenic contaminant, valsartan dispensing immediately decreased. However, there was an immediate spike in ED visits for hypertension and incomplete replacement with alternative products in some patients, according to new data presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Read more

More focus on BP control, diet may prevent 94.3 million premature deaths

BP control, sodium intake reduction and trans fatty acid elimination may prevent nearly 100 million global deaths within a 25-year period, according to a study published in Circulation. Read more

LEGEND-HTN: Thiazide, thiazide-like diuretics superior to ACE inhibitors

Drug classes used as monotherapy for hypertension were shown to be comparable, although thiazide or thiazide-like diuretics were superior to ACE inhibitors, according to results from the LEGEND-HTN study published in The Lancet. Read more

Noninvasive testing after ED visit for chest pain may reduce event rates

Patients who underwent noninvasive diagnostic testing after evaluation for chest pain in the ED had a lower observed rate of CV death or MI, according to a retrospective cohort study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Read more

Salt substitute reduced hypertension incidence by 55% in Peru

A pragmatic population-wide salt substitute strategy implemented in Peru, which consisted of 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride, contributed to reductions in both systolic and diastolic BP, especially in participants who were high risk, according to results from a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress. Read more

Type 2 MI confers elevated risk for death within 1-year follow-up

Patients with type 2 MI are at greater risk for recurrent CV events and death within the first year of follow-up compared with patients experiencing type 1 MI. Read more

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Top vascular medicine news of 2019: Colchicine benefit, valsartan recall and more - Healio