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Dear Readers,
We are pleased to present our annual Journal Watch Cardiology Top Stories list for 2011. Our editors voted on the stories published during the past year that they believe to be most important to you and your practices.
The list is replete with reports about procedures. Leading the pack are two studies from the STICH trial, which showed that coronary artery bypass grafting does not increase survival in patients with ischemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction receiving optimized, guideline-based medical therapy. Another major contribution was the PARTNER trial, strengthening the promise of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. EVEREST II demonstrated that a percutaneously placed mitral valve clip was safer but less efficacious than surgical repair or replacement. The Rheos Pivotal Trial heralded the potential benefit of a surgically implantable baroreflex activation device for resistant hypertension. In a study of practice patterns in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 12% of PCI procedures were deemed inappropriate — and only half were considered appropriate. Findings from another study raised concerns that many patients with stable coronary artery disease are not being treated with optimal medical therapy before undergoing PCI.
Drug studies are also prominently featured on our list. We highlight a study of apixaban for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, an advance sure to influence practice. A much-needed comparison of high- and low-dose diuretics in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) resulted in a tie. Another important study showed that colchicine is helpful for recurrent pericarditis. The AIM-HIGH findings, while controversial, underscored concerns that long-acting niacin is not beneficial in patients treated well with statins. Finally, in a death knell for nesiritide, ASCEND-HF failed to find a benefit in patients hospitalized for HF.
It has truly been an eventful year. Please enjoy this feature, and let us know what you think by adding a Reader Remark or by sending us an e-mail at jwcard@mms.org.
CABG vs. Medical Therapy in Patients with Ischemic Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Reasonable Alternative to High-Risk Surgery?
Diuretic Therapy for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: Putting Practice to the Test
Mitral Regurgitation: An Alternative to the Knife?
ASCEND-HF: Nesiritide Does Not Benefit Patients with Acute Heart Failure
What Hath COURAGE Wrought? No Change in Practice
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at U.S. Hospitals: A Report Card
Niacin Is Ineffective in Patients with Established Cardiovascular Disease
Another Contender in the Race to Unseat Warfarin
Can Atrial Fibrillation Cause MR?
An Implantable Device for Resistant Hypertension Performs Well in a Randomized Trial
Colchicine Effective for Recurrent Pericarditis
Best wishes for 2012,