CT Scan Can Improve Chest Pain Diagnoses without Raising Costs

Using cardiac CT angiography early on in the presentation of chest pain may more accurately assess patients who should be admitted for MI, according to the results of a study presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology. Click on the links below for detailed information:

Read more about this at Cardiovascular Business

Here is a video we made of the presentation.

Bypass Surgery Beats Angioplasty for Long-term Survival

According to a study presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology, older people with heart disease who undergo non-emergency procedures to restore blood flow to their heart generally have better long-term survival odds with bypass surgery than with angioplasty. The study, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, included approximately 190,000 men and women over the age of 65 who had bypass surgery or angioplasty (a far less invasive procedure used to clear diseased arteries by inserting a stent) between 2004 and 2008. After four years, the survival rate was 84% for those who underwent bypass surgery, compared with 79% for those who got a stent. Click on the links below to learn more:

Read more about this at CNN Health online

Read more about this at the New England Journal of Medicine

We made a video of the presentation. We apologize that the quality of the audio and visual isn't great.

No Difference in Safety Measures for Patients Off-Pump or On-Pump during CABG

Researchers at the ACC conference reported that there were no differences in safety measures--including death, MI, stroke and renal failure --observed at 30 days among patients receiving on-pump or off-pump during coronary artery bypass grafting. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, included 4,752 patients at 79 centers in 19 countries. Find out more:

Read more about this at Healio

Read more about this at the New England Journal of Medicine

New Cholesterol Drug Faces Sudden Challenge

A new type of drug being developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. cut levels of cholesterol almost in half when given every four weeks. However, researchers at the ACC conference reported that it fell short of reductions reported a day earlier with once-monthly injections of Amgen Inc's rival product. Both monoclonal antibodies work by blocking a protein called PCSK9, and are shaping up to be the next important drug designed to prevent heart attack and stroke.

Wall Street analysts expect the new class of drugs, including those in earlier stages of development at Merck & Co. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. to generate annual future sales of up to $20 billion. See link below to find details:

Read more about this at Reuters online

If you’re interested in attending next year’s ACC conference, mark your calendars for: March 9-11, 2013 in San Francisco. According to ACC’s website, this conference will focus on the transformation of cardiovascular care — “from discovery to delivery”. Interested healthcare professionals are encouraged to attend for a “look at how innovation and science impact the delivery of care and focus on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in our patients.”

AMRI will definitely have a front row seat, so if you aren’t able to attend, you can look for highlights next spring on our website.