Study: Only half of Americans with a history of heart disease get annual flu shot
People with heart disease are more likely to become seriously ill from the flu and other respiratory illnesses, including the coronavirus. Yet, new research finds that only half of Americans with a history of heart disease or stroke report getting an annual flu shot, despite widespread recommendations to do so. Rates of vaccination were even lower among Blacks and Hispanics, according to data being presented at the American College of Cardiology s 70
th Annual Scientific Session.
Researchers say the findings should renew efforts to assure flu vaccination is a routine part of quality cardiovascular care.
Prediabetes where blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious heart problems, new research shows.
Young Black women show a high prevalence of obesity, elevated blood pressure and other lifestyle-related factors that may put them on a trajectory to develop heart disease at a young age, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 70th Annual Scientific Session.
Prediabetes can boost a person s chance of major cardiovascular events
People with prediabetes were significantly more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or other major cardiovascular event when compared with those who had normal blood sugar levels, according to research being presented at the American College of Cardiology s 70
th Annual Scientific Session. Researchers said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for clinicians and patients alike to try to prevent prediabetes in the first place. In general, we tend to treat prediabetes as no big deal. But we found that prediabetes itself can significantly boost someone s chance of having a major cardiovascular event, even if they never progress to having diabetes, said Adrian Michel, MD, internal medicine resident at Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak, MI, and lead author of the study, which he said is one of the largest to date. Instead of preventing diabetes, we need to shift focus and prevent prediabetes.
New app enables faster treatment of patients suffering a heart attack
Patients suffering a heart attack received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a procedure to clear blocked arteries in the heart, an average of 10 minutes faster after clinicians and paramedics began using an app to facilitate efficient hospital intakes for these patients, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology s 70
th Annual Scientific Session.
The study was conducted at Baystate Medical Center, a health system headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, that, like many U.S. hospitals, serves patients across a wide geographic area. Before adopting the app, clinicians typically only had about five minutes of advance notice when a heart attack patient was en route, even if the patient had traveled a long distance. The app allowed clinicians to begin coordinating with paramedics much earlier, helping teams prepare for rapid response upon arrival.