Although guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation advocate for anticoagulation in patients with a high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or greater), the recommendations for patients at low (CHA2DS2-VASc 0) and in particular intermediate (CHA2DS2-VASc 1) risk of stroke are less clear. In this blog, we discuss antithrombotic strategies in these latter two subgroups.
Dofetilide: A Diamond in the Rough for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Structural Heart Disease
For patients with atrial fibrillation and structural heart disease, antiarrhythmic options remain limited. Although amiodarone has been a cornerstone of drug therapy in this population, dofetilide is a viable option for many patients. In this piece, we review the safety and efficacy of this often-overlooked drug.
Avoiding Atenolol
In this quick read, we provide an argument for why atenolol should be avoided in patients with compelling indications for beta blocker therapy.
New Year, New Goals: Review of the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guidelines
It’s about time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions, so why not add 130/80 mmHg to your list of goals for 2018? A major overhaul of the blood pressure guidelines were recently published, and they include stricter blood pressure goals, restaging of hypertension, and stronger recommendations for out-of-office blood pressure monitoring. Read on for details!
Dietary Supplements and Heart Health
Dietary supplements – which include herbal medications, vitamins, minerals, amino acid supplements, and dietary substances – have become a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States. Today, approximately one-half of American adults reports using some form of dietary supplements. The purpose of this blog will be to briefly review evidence for common dietary supplements touted for heart health and to provide evidence-based resources for practitioners and patients to utilize.
No Love Lost for Intravenous Labetalol Infusions: Risks of Prolonged Use
Labetalol is a beta blocker with potent antihypertensive effects, and it may be administered orally or intravenously. The latter feature makes it especially useful for the acute management of elevated blood pressure but prolonged infusions can result in hemodynamic collapse. In this entry, two cases are discussed and recommendations are made for the appropriate management of continuous labetalol infusions.
Anticoagulation Safety (Part 2 of 2): The Role of an Anticoagulation Stewardship Pharmacist
Anticoagulants account for 5-10% of drug errors that occur in the hospital. Part 2 of this 2-part series on anticoagulation safety will focus on the role of anticoagulation stewardship, including what it entails, who is involved, and why it is important.
Cocaine and Beta Blockers: All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
Beta blockers remain a cornerstone in the management of several cardiovascular disorders yet many clinicians are reluctant to use them in the setting of cocaine abuse. In this entry, we take a look at the evidence.
Pharmacists’ Role in Conducting the Cardiovascular Physical Examination
Physical examination has become a “lost art” for many clinicians across a variety of disciplines. Many pharmacists have not had formal physical examination training in school and those that have rarely utilize these skills after completing their training. Pharmacists are poised to employ physical examination in their patient care setting to evaluate the effects of therapy, triage patients, and guide clinical decision-making. This piece describes a general overview of the importance of physical examination and provides readers with a list of tools that pharmacists can use to reinforce prior knowledge of the cardiovascular physical examination.
Muddying the Water: Reduced vs. Preserved Ejection Fraction in Trials of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Evidence from randomized controlled trials has demonstrated that the cornerstone pharmacologic therapies used in the management of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) do not confer the same benefits in patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). So why do we enroll both subgroups in trials of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF)? In this entry, we’ll explore differences in pathophysiology between HFrEF and HFpEF and how they may result in variable responses to pharmacologic therapies commonly used in ADHF, particularly diuretics and vasodilators.