Cardiovascular Features

Orthostatic hypotension—also called postural hypotension—is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. This article reviews current advances in the area.

Cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes are a multi-facet intervention that is offered to patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The programme is usually delivered over a 6-12-week period by a multi-disciplinary team focusing on the prescription and up-titration of cardio-protective medication, smoking cessation, diet, physical activity and psychological support.

With an increasingly ageing population, projections have suggested a that there may be a 20% increase in the number of older adults with asthma by 2030.

Highlights at the American Geriatrics Society included a presentation looking at antihypertensive drug de-intensification and recurrent falls in long-term care. This was presented by Kenneth Boockvar.

NICE has launched new guidance focused on improving the accuracy of diagnosis of asthma and introducing more effective treatment and monitoring of the chronic condition.

Prescriptions for antiplatelets and anticoagulation have never been higher; however, difficulties arise when stopped due to surgery or other procedures with no consensus on length of cessation or bridging therapies. We have searched the literature to create guidelines on cessation and bridging for physicians and surgeons prior to procedures.

A review of the latest clinical trial data and medical advances as outlined in a paper published online in EP Europace.

There has been recent debate on how to place current research assessing different targets of blood pressure therapy into a real-world context. This article summarises the main clinical studies in this area and illustrates how the current evidence base can be used to guide treatment decisions. It also highlights those patient groups where the evidence does not extend.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the elderly population presents a diagnostic challenge. It is often masked by an expected decline in respiratory function with the added complexity of comorbid conditions such as cardiac disease and muscular deconditioning. Incidence is increasing in this patient group due to increasing longevity and the popularity of smoking in the last century.

NICE is to due to publish guidance this month setting out what medicines adults, young people and children with asthma should take to control symptoms and reduce asthma attacks. This article reviews some of the likely recommendations and impact on clinical practice.