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Abstract Information

Please submit one or more abstracts regarding interesting medical cases you have encountered.  As in prior years, four of these abstracts will be selected for oral presentations and the remainder will be included in our poster fair. The cardiovascular fellow clinical vignette contest will also return this year, which is a fantastic addition to the annual meeting.

Download the abstract information here

For submission guidelines and to send in your abstract, please contact the WC-ACC office before November 7, 2011.

414-755-6295 or info@wcacc.org

Accommodations

Overnight accommodations are available at the:

The Abbey Resort
269 Fontana Blvd
Fontana, WI 53125
800-709-1323, press 2 at the prompt
www.theabbeyresort.com

Rooms: $131 + taxes

Schedule of Events - Saturday, December 10, 2011

ACC News You Can Use
October 2011

ACC Submits Comments on Proposed 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The ACC submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on its proposed 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The letter addresses coding of certain services; expansion of the multiple procedure payment reduction policy; physician quality reporting (including future payment adjustments under the Physician Quality Reporting System); Maintenance of Certification program incentives; e-prescribing; and the Physician Compare website. Read the full letter. The final rule is expected in late October.

VIDEO: October ACC Update Looks at Reduced D2B Times, Payment Innovations and More
The latest edition of ACC Update focuses on the stunning improvements in door-to-balloon (D2B) times for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention following an acute myocardial infarction. In addition, ACC CEO Jack Lewin, MD, and health care economist Len Nichols, PhD, discuss payment innovations in health care, including the ACC’s new Community on Payment Innovation led by Nichols. The video also looks at the future of lifelong learning and membership opportunities. Watch the complete video.

New Online Community Focuses on Payment Innovations
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) have launched a new online “Community on Payment Innovations,” funded by Johnson & Johnson, with the goal of bringing together a unique combination of key stakeholders to advance the payment reform debate, encourage innovation and collaboration, and share best practices and lessons learned. This group, led by health care economist Len Nichols, PhD, will discuss new and innovative payment models to improve the health care system by bending the cost curve, with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as the backdrop. The cardiovascular community, physicians, providers, practice administrators, health policy professionals, health care economists, federal and state governments, early innovators, payers and other health care stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the discussions.

Cardiologists on the EMR incentive uptake
Fifty-five percent of cardiologists who responded to an American College of Cardiology (ACC) survey are either participating or plan to participate in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Electronich Heatlh Record (EHR) Incentive Program. Thirty-four percent have already registered, according to the survey published in the College’s Cardiology magazine. CMS reported that in July, cardiology was the third highest specialty to participate in EHRs. The ACC's July survey of a 152 randomly selected panel of members found that 34 percent of participants reported that they have registered for the EHR Incentive Program, and about half of that group—18 percent of total respondents—have met the requirements for the program and have attested to doing so. Read more about this topic in Cardiovascular Business and in Cardiology magazine.

HHS Approves Plan to Screen All Newborns for Congenital Heart Defects
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius approved the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children recommendation to add a screening for critical congenital heart defects to the recommended universal screening panel. This means that all children born in the U.S. will be screened for congenital heart defects within the first 48 hours of life using pulse oximetry. The American College of Cardiology, along with other members of the congenital heart disease community, played an important role in making this a reality.

ACC IN TOUCH BLOG: Next Steps for Reducing PAD Prevalence
The American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) released updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of peripheral artery disease (PAD). The updated document provides agreed-upon approaches and treatments for PAD that clinicians can apply to help improve patient care. The guidelines include expanded criteria for using the ankle-brachial index (ABI) for earlier diagnosis; increased efforts to ensure all patients have access to smoking cessation services, improved use of clot-preventing medications, as well as a more focused definition of effective interventions for avoiding limb amputations and treating aortic aneurysms. In an ACC In Touch blog post, Thom Rooke, MD, FACC, and Alan T. Hirsch, MD, FACC, chair and vice chair of the PAD Guidelines Writing Committee, respectively, called the guidelines a road map to greater prevention opportunities, which will be necessary if we are to reduce the number of people needlessly affected by PAD. Read more on the ACC In Touch blog.  

PINNACLE Network/Paragon Health Webinar Series to Focus on Advancing the Business of CV Care
The ACC’s PINNACLE Network is partnering with Paragon Health to present a six-part webinar series focused on "Advancing the Business of Cardiovascular Care." The webinars, all of which will take place from 4-5 p.m. (ET), are free to ACC members and feature key health care and/or physician leaders addressing hot topics related to the evolving models of cardiovascular practice. Registration is open for the three remaining webinars. In addition, archives of the previous webinars are also available. Register today at CardioSource.org/Webinars!

• Cardiovascular Service Line: Building a Foundation for Success - Understand the key elements for achieving alignment across the hospital and practice to bridge siloes and transform from a product line to a CV enterprise. (Oct. 18)
• Private Practice Success Strategies: How to Optimize Revenue Cycle Management - Focus on the best practices necessary for developing a meaningful revenue cycle management function within physician practices and learn what common pitfalls to avoid. (Nov. 8)
• Aligning Incentives Through Co-Management Models - Understand the key elements of clinical co-management structures through case study presentations and expert commentary. (Nov. 29)

Early Bird Registration is Now Open for ACC.12
The American College of Cardiology’s 61st Annual Scientific Session & Expo reflects the College’s passion for science, education and peer-to-peer networking. ACC.12 in Chicago will highlight the ACC’s focus on lifelong learning and practice improvement, and will feature a new learning pathway structure to better address the needs of cardiovascular professionals round the globe. New this year: ACC.12 will officially kick off with the opening session at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, and will close on Tuesday, March 27, at noon with a brand new ACC.12 Innovators session featuring the top leaders in cardiology. Register by November 8 for special early bird registration rates and the best availability of hotels. For more information visit www.accscientificsession.org.

New Spanish Language Patient Education Video on Cardiac Rehab
In collaboration with CardioSmart, the Coalition to Reduce Disparities in Cardiovascular Outcomes (credo) has released a Spanish-language patient education video extolling the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation.  Endorsed by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the National Hispanic Cardiology Leadership Network and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nursing Association, the video highlights barriers to enrollment and completion of cardiac rehab and how patients overcome such barriers through vignettes of three cardiac rehabilitation program enrollees. Email credo@acc.org to request a free DVD copy.

ACC News You Can Use
August 2011

New Study Using NCDR Data Looks at Appropriate Use of PCI  A new study based on NCDR® data titled “Appropriateness of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI),” shows that although the majority of patients are appropriately selected for PCI procedures, there are opportunities for improvement, especially in the non-emergency setting. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers useddata from the CathPCI Registry® the vast majority of PCIs performed in acute settings (98.6 percent) were classified as appropriate. For non-acute indications, however, 11.6 percent were classified as inappropriate, with substantial variation noted across hospitals. Studies like these are extremely beneficial to patients and to the entire field of medicine. They highlight the important role registries can play in identifying opportunities for individual hospitals and practices to monitor their performance and adopt or develop quality improvement initiatives to optimize the care they deliver. For more information on the study, click here. You can also learn more about the College's ongoing efforts related to appropriate use of PCI and other therapies and procedures in the "Appropriate Use" issue center on CardioSource.org.

ACC Testifies at FDA Advisory Committee Hearing on SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve
American College of Cardiology (ACC) President David Holmes, Jr, MD, FACC, represented the College at an FDA Advisory Committee meeting in July regarding pre-market approval of Edwards Lifesciences SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve. Leaders from the Society for Thoracic Surgery (STS) and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) also spoke. The ACC is working closely with STS, SCAI and others to align efforts to ensure the physician community is prepared to appropriately use this new technology and techniques.  The panel voted on three main questions following the hearing, in general agreeing to recommend approval of the device. The panel – for the first time ever – also recommended that Edwards be required to have all users of the device participate in a professional society registry like NCDR®. The next step is FDA approval. The ACC has posted a detailed summary in the FDA Issues center on CardioSource.org that includes links to the official statements, more information on the specific committee questions, and background information on the PARTNER trial and ACC/STS efforts related to TVT.  A video with Holmes and STS President Michael Mack, MD, FACC, is also available.

FDA Approves Ticagrelor
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the anti-platelet drug ticagrelor for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). A boxed warning to health care professionals and patients warns that aspirin doses above 100 milligrams per day decrease the effectiveness of the medication. It also notes that, like other anti-platelet agents, ticagrelor increases the rate of bleeding and can cause significant, sometimes fatal, bleeding. The ACC will be working with the American Heart Association and Heart Rhythm Society to incorporate ticagrelor into future guidelines. Learn more about the decision.

Call for Innovative Payment Models!
The ACC, in partnership with the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) and with sponsorship from Johnson & Johnson, is creating a first-of-its-kind "Community on Payment Innovations" with the goal of providing an interactive, online venue where cardiovascular professionals and others can engage in meaningful dialogue to advance current and innovative payment models. The community will feature, among other things, case studies, videos, webinars and hot topic discussions. While an editorial panel of experts is already in place and developing venerable content and identifying discussion topics, the College is also seeking expert advice from members currently involved with testing and/or implementing new payment models. The goal is to use these "case studies" as the basis for discussion when the community launches in September. Submissions should be sent to advocate@acc.org with "Payment Models" in the subject line.

Registration Deadline Extended: Don’t Miss the 2011 Legislative Conference!
The registration deadline for this year’s Legislative Conference taking place Sept. 11-13 in Washington, DC, has been extended to August 14. The agenda is shaping up to include key congressional members, their staff and health policy leaders speaking to hot topics like health reform implementation, payment innovation and regulatory trends. General Stanley McChrystal also will address participants on the subject of leadership during the Sunday night's dinner to benefit the ACC Political Action Committee (PAC). Tickets are required for the dinner. General admission is $250 per person ($50 for FITs, CCAs and Practice Administrators). VIP admission, which includes preferred seating and a meet-and-greet reception with the general prior to the dinner, is $1,000 per person ($250 for FITs, CCAs and Practice Administrators). As always, participants will head to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet directly with their congressional delegation. More information is available at CardioSource.org/LegislativeConference.  

Read the July/August Issue of Cardiology
The latest issue of Cardiology magazine has arrived! Don’t miss great articles on medication adherence, sleep apnea and the latest NCDR research. In addition, the magazine includes a feature on the Puerto Rico Chapter’s efforts to engage FITs and patients, as well as an overview of the state-level advocacy issues facing chapters across the country. Read the latest issue at CardioSource.org/CardiologyMagazine. Also look for extended coverage on credo and breaking news items throughout the month of August. In addition, the Cardiology online site includes a special discussion forum and options to download the new Cardiology app for your iPad or iPhone.

PINNACLE Network/Paragon Health Webinar Series to Focus on Advancing the Business of CV Care
The ACC’s PINNACLE Network is partnering with Paragon Health to present a six-part webinar series focused on "Advancing the Business of Cardiovascular Care." The webinars, all of which will take place from 4-5 p.m. (ET), are free to ACC members and will feature key health care and/or physician leaders addressing hot topics related to the evolving models of cardiovascular practice. Whether you are staying in private practice, or are fully or partially integrated with a hospital system, this series is for you. Register today at CardioSource.org/Webinars!
Physician-Hospital Alignment: The Fundamentals of Integration - Learn about current integration models and trends and hear from experts on the elements necessary for a successful integration. (Sept. 7)
Integration is not Alignment: Constructing Sustainable Models - Hear from experts on the common obstacles to sustaining integration and alignment and gain insight into best practices. (Sept. 22)
Effective Governance:  Best Practices in Decision Making- Learn more about the basic tenets of sound practice in both private and integrated settings and hear from leaders on the challenges and best practices associated with transitioning from private to integrated models. (Oct. 4)
Cardiovascular Service Line: Building a Foundation for Success - Understand the key elements for achieving alignment across the hospital and practice to bridge silos and transform from a product line to a CV enterprise. (Oct. 18)
Private Practice Success Strategies: How to Optimize Revenue Cycle Management - Focus on the best practices necessary for developing a meaningful revenue cycle management function within physician practices and learn what common pitfalls to avoid. (Nov. 8)
Aligning Incentives Through Co-Management Models - Understand the key elements of clinical co-management structures through case study presentations and expert commentary. (Nov. 29)

Prepare for Jan. 1 HIPAA compliance with new AMA toolkit
If physician practices or vendors submit claims electronically, they must adhere to the Jan. 1, 2012 compliance deadline for using Version 5010 of the HIPAA electronic standard transactions. Noncompliance puts physician practices at risk for rejected claims and cash flow interruptions. Learn the steps needed to comply with the new 5010 toolkit from the American Medical Association (AMA). The toolkit explains the differences in Version 5010, how to test readiness for the Version 5010 transactions, and steps to take to prevent interruptions to cash flow. Access the toolkit and additional resources. Also visit the “Coding and Billing” section of CardioSource.org/Practice-Management for ACC resources on this issue.

Introducing the newest Meeting on Demand ™ Program: Recent Advances in Clinical Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT
Physicians can now explore the “Recent Advances in Clinical Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT” live program anytime with the ACC’s most recent Meeting on Demand™ Program. The program will survey the various imaging modalities and cutting edge technologies and offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to listen to lectures from the experts with slides synched to audio covering developments in the field.

ICACTL Hosts Webinar Accreditation Series
The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Computed Tomography Laboratories (ICACTL) is hosting two free webinars on August 16 on accreditation and the ICACTL process. The webinars will focus on the key elements of submitting a successful application for accreditation. Mary Lally, MS, RT(R) (MR), IAC Director of Accreditation-MR/CT/Carotid Stenting will discuss the website, online application and the most common reasons for delayed accreditation. A live question and answer session at the end of the presentation will be available. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is a sponsoring organization.
Register for the August 16 webinar at 10:30 a.m. ET 
Register for the August 16 webinar at 5 p.m. ET

Find best practices for appropriate use of imaging in the FOCUS Innovation Community
The FOCUS Innovation Community provides an online forum for members to exchange ideas and experiences on the appropriate use of cardiac imaging. This online environment complements the FOCUS performance improvement module and offers educational and networking opportunities for those interested in appropriate use criteria. Join the FOCUS Innovation Community.  

ACC Communication Summary
June 2011

If you have any questions, contact Cherie Black in Corporate Communications at cblack@acc.org or 202-375-6379.

Any media or press hit questions can be directed to Rachel Cagan at rcagan@acc.orgor 202-375-6395.

Cath Lab Accreditation Now Offered Through ACE
Cath labs can now become accredited through the Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE). ACE’s newest accreditation, for programs that deliver angioplasty and stenting to treat blockages in the arteries of the heart (percutaneous coronary interventions, or PCI), is designed to help cath labs improve quality of care and increase patient safety through the consistent use of guideline and science-driven standards of practice.

ACE, which is sponsored by the American College of Cardiology, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure high-quality patient care and promote patient safety in facilities where invasive cardiac and endovascular procedures are performed. ACE provides professional review of facilities where invasive cardiac and endovascular procedures are performed and accredits those that achieve predetermined benchmarks for quality care. Learn more about ACE and read about ACE’s first cath lab accreditation.

The ACC Announces the Availability of AUC Metrics

This month, Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) metrics will be available for CathPCI Registry® hospitals included the 2010 Q4 report. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is dedicated to high-quality cardiovascular care and believes that the use of AUC metrics can accelerate the delivery of personalized care for patients with coronary artery disease.

AUC metrics will provide hospital cath labs with valuable insights into their performance, as compared with national benchmarks. These metrics are currently labeled as “test metrics” and are to be used for self-assessment and quality improvement at the cath lab level. AUC metrics may be used to evaluate a cath lab’s overall case mix, lending insights into patient cohorts — subsets of patients who might be under, as well as, over treated. Test metrics are not valid for use in health plan payment programs or for public reporting purposes.

The ACC will be using the experience gained during the metric testing phase to refine and enhance the value of AUC to aid professionals in improving quality of care and enhancing patient outcomes.

Douglas Weaver, MD, FACC, chair of the CathPCI Registry Steering Committee states, “This is a great opportunity for hospitals and physicians to receive greater value from participating in the registry and ultimately to improve the quality of care provided to patients with cardiovascular disease.”

For more information, please visit www.ncdr.com/cathpci/auc.

Elevated B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Associated With Increased In-Hospital Mortality or Cardiac Arrest in Patients Undergoing ICD Implantation
Findings from a paper published in Circulation: Cardiovascular and Quality Outcomes, show that the rate of in-hospital mortality or cardiac arrest significantly increased among implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation patients with elevated B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) levels. Researchers examined data from the ACC’s ICD Registry™, identifying more than 53,000 patients who received ICD implants and underwent preoperative BNP measurement from 2006 to 2008. The patients were categorized into four groups by BNP levels (<100, 100 to <300, 300 to <1000, and ≥1000 pg/ml). Complication rates were compared among groups, and odds ratios for in-hospital mortality or cardiac arrest were estimated by multiple hierarchical logistic regressions. There were 2,952 complications reported, including 510 in-hospital deaths and 365 cardiac arrests. The rate of in-hospital mortality or cardiac arrest significantly increased with elevated BNP level (p < 0.001). This was particularly true in males, patients with renal dysfunction and patients undergoing CRT-D implantation. The authors concluded that “Strategies aimed at reducing preprocedural BNP or creating systems to better manage procedural risk in these high-risk patients to decrease complications associated with ICD implantation merit further investigation." Read a CardioSource Journal Scan of the article. Learn moreabouthow analysis of NCDR data is being used to answer health care delivery and clinical questions.

Don't ignore RUC surveys! Annual updates to the physician work relative values are based on recommendations from a committee involving the American Medical Association (AMA) and national medical specialty societies – the RUC. The RUC is an expert panel of the AMA and specialty societies charged with developing relative value recommendations to Medicare. A key part of the RUC process is the completion of relative value surveys. Data from these surveys are used to establish the physician work that determines Medicare reimbursement. A short, 30-minute webinar explaining the importance of the survey and the steps to complete it will be presented June 13 at 5 p.m. (ET). Please plan to attend. You can join us directly by using this link.

Important FDA Alert: The FDA is recommending health professionals limit the use of the highest approved dose of simvastatin (80 mg) because of increased risk of muscle damage. Patients taking simvastatin 80 mg daily have an increased risk of myopathy compared to patients taking lower doses of this drug or other drugs in the same class. This risk appears to be higher during the first year of treatment, is often the result of interactions with certain medicines, and is frequently associated with a genetic predisposition toward simvastatin-related myopathy. The most serious form of myopathy, called rhabdomyolysis, can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure which can be fatal. FDA is requiring changes to the simvastatin label to add new contraindications (should not be used with certain medications) and dose limitations for using simvastatin with certain medicines. The FDA recommends that simvastatin 80 mg should not be started in new patients, including patients already taking lower doses of the drug. Read the full alert.

You can keep on top of FDA alerts like the one above with PDR Drug Alerts (HCNN). PDR Drug Alerts offer immediate, electronic delivery of FDA-approved, specialty-specific drug alerts and safety information for ACC members, and are aggregated on PDR.net for convenient review. As an added benefit, you may also earn continuing medical education (CME) credit for Drug Alerts and FDA-approved product labeling. For more information and to register, go to www.acc.pdr.net. Your email or fax number will only be used to send and administer drug and device alert services.

Registration for the ACC's 2011 Legislative Conference is OPEN! Don't miss this opportunity to hear from ACC leaders and health policy experts on important issues facing the cardiovascular community and to meet directly with congressional leaders. A select number of scholarships are available for FITs, CCAs and Practice Administrators. In addition, new this year, the ACC Political Action Committee (PAC) is holding a special dinner and reception on Sunday, Sept. 11 featuring General Stanley McChrystal. Cost for the dinner is $250 per person, with reduced rates for FITs, CCAs and Practice Administrators. A special VIP reception with General McChrystal will also take place prior to the dinner for PAC donors who have contributed $1,000 or more. For more information, contact advocacyleg@acc.org or visit CardioSource.org/LegislativeConference.

Cath Lab Accreditation Now Offered Through ACE
Cath labs can now become accredited through the Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE). ACE’s newest accreditation, for programs that deliver angioplasty and stenting to treat blockages in the arteries of the heart (percutaneous coronary interventions, or PCI), is designed to help cath labs improve quality of care and increase patient safety through the consistent use of guideline and science-driven standards of practice.

ACE, which is sponsored by the American College of Cardiology, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure high-quality patient care and promote patient safety in facilities where invasive cardiac and endovascular procedures are performed. ACE provides professional review of facilities where invasive cardiac and endovascular procedures are performed and accredits those that achieve predetermined benchmarks for quality care. Learn more about ACE and read about ACE’s first cath lab accreditation.

The ACC Announces the Availability of AUC Metrics
This month, Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) metrics will be available for CathPCI Registry® hospitals included the 2010 Q4 report. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is dedicated to high-quality cardiovascular care and believes that the use of AUC metrics can accelerate the delivery of personalized care for patients with coronary artery disease.

AUC metrics will provide hospital cath labs with valuable insights into their performance, as compared with national benchmarks. These metrics are currently labeled as “test metrics” and are to be used for self-assessment and quality improvement at the cath lab level. AUC metrics may be used to evaluate a cath lab’s overall case mix, lending insights into patient cohorts — subsets of patients who might be under, as well as, over treated. Test metrics are not valid for use in health plan payment programs or for public reporting purposes.

The ACC will be using the experience gained during the metric testing phase to refine and enhance the value of AUC to aid professionals in improving quality of care and enhancing patient outcomes.

Douglas Weaver, MD, FACC, chair of the CathPCI Registry Steering Committee states, “This is a great opportunity for hospitals and physicians to receive greater value from participating in the registry and ultimately to improve the quality of care provided to patients with cardiovascular disease.”

For more information, please visit www.ncdr.com/cathpci/auc.

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ACC IN TOUCH BLOG:
Connect with the ACC on Facebook
“Like” the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Facebook fan page to find out the latest news from the ACC, share your cardiovascular-related updates and connect with your peers from around the world. Get started connecting with the ACC on Facebook now.

Connect with the ACC on LinkedIn
Join hundreds of your colleagues in discussing cardiovascular-related topics and news in the American College of Cardiology (ACC) LinkedIn group. ACC's LinkedIn group features the latest news from the College, including more information about ACC's initiatives in education, science and quality, advocacy and member services. Join ACC’s LinkedIn group now.

Connect with the ACC on Facebook!
“Like” the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Facebook fan page to find out the latest news from the ACC, share your cardiovascular-related updates and connect with your peers from around the world. Get started connecting with the ACC on Facebook now.

Elevated B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Associated With Increased In-Hospital Mortality or Cardiac Arrest in Patients Undergoing ICD Implantation
Findings from a paper published in Circulation: Cardiovascular and Quality Outcomes, show that the rate of in-hospital mortality or cardiac arrest significantly increased among implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation patients with elevated B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) levels.
Researchers examined data from the ICD Registry™, identifying more than 53,000 patients who received ICD implants and underwent preoperative BNP measurement from 2006 to 2008. The patients were categorized into four groups by BNP levels (<100, 100 to <300, 300 to <1000, and ≥1000 pg/ml). Complication rates were compared among groups, and odds ratios for in-hospital mortality or cardiac arrest were estimated by multiple hierarchical logistic regressions.
There were 2,952 complications reported, including 510 in-hospital deaths and 365 cardiac arrests. The rate of in-hospital mortality or cardiac arrest significantly increased with elevated BNP level (p < 0.001). This was particularly true in males, patients with renal dysfunction and patients undergoing CRT-D implantation.

The authors concluded that “Strategies aimed at reducing preprocedural BNP or creating systems to better manage procedural risk in these high-risk patients to decrease complications associated with ICD implantation merit further investigation."

To read a CardioSource Journal Scan of the article, click here. Learn more about how analysis of NCDR data is being used to answer healthcare delivery and clinical questions.

In-Hospital Major Bleeding During ST-Elevation and Non–ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care: Derivation and Validation of a Model from the
ACTION Registry®-GWTG™
Seeking to develop a bleeding model that would allow for the standardization of bleeding events and risk adjustment across hospitals with varying case mix, researchers examined baseline characteristics and in-hospital major bleeding for 90,273 patients enrolled in 251 ACTION Registry-GWTG hospitals across the U.S.
Using multivariate analysis to outline the 12 presenting variables most closely associated with major bleeding, the authors developed a model to stratify risk of bleeding and enable risk-adjusted bleeding outcomes.

As published in The American Journal of Cardiology, findings indicated that the risk model discriminated well in the derivation (C-statistic=0.73) and validation (C-statistic=0.71) cohorts. Predicted risk for major bleeding derived from the model corresponded well with observed bleeding: very low risk (3.9%), low risk (7.3%), moderate risk (16.1%), high risk (29.0%), and very high risk (39.8%).
“Reporting of outcomes is an integral component for quality improvement initiatives among hospitals. This model enables adjustment for case-mix in outcomes, making it useful for clinical decision making as well as quality improvement. We believe our model will be of interest to multiple stakeholders and that advancing our understanding of adjustment for bleeding outcomes will facilitate AMI safety,” said Lead Author Robin Mathews, MD.

To read a CardioSource Journal Scan of the article, click here. Learn more about how analysis of NCDR data is being used to answer healthcare delivery and clinical questions.

Important news from the FDA regarding simvastatin
The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that health professionals limit the use of the highest approved dose of simvastatin (80 mg) because of increased risk of muscle damage. The FDA is requiring changes to the simvastatin label to add new contraindications (should not be used with certain medications) and dose limitations for using simvastatin with certain medicines. The FDA recommends that Simvastatin 80 mg should not be started in new patients, including patients already taking lower doses of the drug. Get the details on this specific alert and learn more about the ACC's FDA efforts in the "FDA Issues Center" on CardioSource.org.

ACC In Touch BLOG: Top Three E-Prescribing Benefits from the View of a Cardiac Care Associate
In the last two years that e-prescribing has been used in my health system, Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Ind., we’ve seen some major benefits, as well as overcome some challenges, writes Denise Milestone, RN, of Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Ind. in a recent guest post to the ACC in Touch blog. The implementation process at Parkview was fairly straightforward. We started with a small group of physicians and nurses who were required to e-prescribe, and then we slowly added more practitioners to this group. Milestone continues: “I see the top three benefits of e-prescribing at Parkview as the following: #3: E-prescribing cuts down on Parkview’s faxes and phone calls, both for the original prescription and for e-refills. We save on a lot of paper, #2: Younger patients love it. It’s very convenient for them and they like not having to keep track of the prescription paper.” Read the complete post to learn more and find out the #1 reason.

Deadline is Fast Approaching! Avoid 2012 E-Prescribing Penalty
If you do not e-prescribe at least 10 times between Jan. 3 and June 30, 2012 Medicare payments will be cut by 1 percent. Under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2007 (MIPPA), qualified e-prescribers received bonus payments for successful participation in 2008 through 2011. Beginning in 2012, qualified e-prescribers will be penalized if they do not successfully participate. Despite protests from the ACC, the AMA and other physician organizations, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will use e-prescribing data from January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011 to determine whose payments will be reduced in 2012. This means that providers who have not begun to report on the 2011 e-prescribing requirements by next Thursday, will see all of their 2012 Medicare payments reduced by 1 percent. The ACC has developed several resources to help practices and providers understand the requirements and avoid the penalty. Learn more at CardioSource.org/healthIT.

PINNACLE Network’s Quality Improvement 101 Toolkit
The increasing demand for high quality delivery of patient care has led many physician practices, hospitals and other health care settings to begin monitoring their performance in an effort to ensure that they are delivering care that is safe, effective, timely, patient-centered, equitable and efficient. To help do this, several organizations have introduced the concepts of continuous quality improvement (CQI) to their staff. CQI is an approach to quality management that builds upon traditional quality assurance methods by emphasizing the organization and its systems. It is an approach that focuses on the “process” rather than the individual, recognizes both internal and external “customers” and promotes the need for objective data to analyze and improve processes. With a solid understanding of an organization’s processes and awareness of performance levels for specific tasks, a team of individuals can bring about needed changes to help the team perform even better. The Quality Improvement 101 Tool Kit will help physicians develop and follow an action plan for a specific clinical or management problem that can benefit from a quality improvement strategy. Learn more about the Quality Improvement 101 Toolkit.

In-Hospital Major Bleeding During ST-Elevation and Non–ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care: Derivation and Validation of a Model
Seeking to develop a bleeding model that would allow for the standardization of bleeding events and risk adjustment across hospitals with varying case mix, researchers examined baseline characteristics and in-hospital major bleeding for 90,273 patients enrolled in 251 ACTION Registry-GWTG hospitals across the U.S. Using multivariate analysis to outline the 12 presenting variables most closely associated with major bleeding, the authors developed a model to stratify risk of bleeding and enable risk-adjusted bleeding outcomes. The findings, published in The American Journal of Cardiology, showed the risk model discriminated well in the derivation (C-statistic=0.73) and validation (C-statistic=0.71) cohorts. Predicted risk for major bleeding derived from the model corresponded well with observed bleeding: very low risk (3.9 percent), low risk (7.3 percent), moderate risk (16.1 percent), high risk (29.0 percent), and very high risk (39.8 percent). Read a CardioSource Journal Scan of the article. Learn more about how analysis of NCDR data is being used to answer healthcare delivery and clinical questions.

ACC IN TOUCH BLOG: Improper CV Care Allegations Go South
The Department of Justice is investigating accusations brought by a Jackson, Tennessee cardiologist against another Jackson cardiologist, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Regional Hospital of Jackson and a Jackson radiologist. The allegations state that the cardiologist overused cardiac services, including cardiac sonography, scintigraphic stress imaging, angiography, angioplasty and stenting, to defraud Medicare, writes ACC President David Holmes, MD, FACC, in a recent ACC in Touch blog post. Holmes writes: “The two hospitals and the radiologist condoned or assisted the cardiologist’s inappropriate use, according to the allegations. This is one of a series of reports about abuse of cardiac services across the country … We need to prevent these abuses from happening. One way in which the ACC is doing so is by supporting the Society for Angiography and Interventions’ (SCAI) Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE) … ACE accreditation criteria also calls for use of registries like the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) and adherence to appropriate use criteria (AUC) -- both of which are already widely accepted and respected by professional and regulatory communities nationwide.” Read the complete blog post.

In-Hospital Major Bleeding During ST-Elevation and Non–ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care: Derivation and Validation of a Model
Looking to develop a bleeding model that would allow for the standardization of bleeding events and risk adjustment across hospitals with varying case mix, researchers examined baseline characteristics and in-hospital major bleeding for 90,273 patients enrolled in 251 ACTION Registry-GWTG hospitals across the U.S. Using multivariate analysis to outline the 12 presenting variables most closely associated with major bleeding, the authors developed a model to stratify risk of bleeding and enable risk-adjusted bleeding outcomes. The findings, published in The American Journal of Cardiology, showed the risk model discriminated well in the derivation (C-statistic=0.73) and validation (C-statistic=0.71) cohorts. Predicted risk for major bleeding derived from the model corresponded well with observed bleeding: very low risk (3.9 percent), low risk (7.3 percent), moderate risk (16.1 percent), high risk (29.0 percent), and very high risk (39.8 percent). Read a CardioSource Journal Scan of the article. Learn more about how analysis of NCDR data is being used to answer healthcare delivery and clinical questions.

More opposition: MedPAC last week released its June 2011 report to Congress. The report included recommendations related to diagnostic imaging that your ACC has – and continues to – oppose. In particular, the ACC is very concerned with the recommendation that reduces the physician work component for imaging and other diagnostic tests ordered and performed by the same practitioner. In addition, the ACC opposes prior authorization of advanced imaging procedures, as the report recommends, because requiring prior authorization would increase the administrative burden on Medicare, increase physician practice costs and could interfere with the physician-patient relationship, potentially delaying timely access to life-saving procedures. Get the details!

The FDA has been very busy! Last week, the agency issued four Class I Recalls for the Boston Scientific Innova Self-Expanding Stent System, the Maquet Datascope Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump, the Boston Scientific iCross and Atlantis SR Pro 2 Coronary Imaging Catheters and the Terumo Coronary Ostia Cannula (10, 12 and 14). In addition, the FDA notified the public that the smoking cessation aid varenicline (Chantix) may be associated with a small, increased risk of certain cardiovascular adverse events in patients who have cardiovascular disease. On Tuesday, the FDA released nine new warning labels that will be used to deter people from smoking. These labels constitute the first major change to cigarette warning labels and ads in almost 25 years. Every ad for and package of cigarettes will be required to contain the new verbiage and graphics by Sept. 2012. The new images are graphic in nature and include depictions of the potential effects of cigarette smoking. Your ACC commented on the proposed rule, encouraging the government to take action against cigarette smoking. With this, the U.S. joins other countries in using graphic depictions of the effects of smoking to deter individuals from smoking, especially children and teens. Read more about all of these updates in the FDA Issues Center.

The Annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule will be released very soon. This rule contains most of the major proposals for physician payment and quality programs for the coming year. ACC will review the rule as soon as it is released and inform members of the major proposals contained within it.

Don't miss the 2011 Legislative Conference, Sept. 11-13 in Washington, D.C.! Planning for this much-anticipated annual event is well underway. Don't miss this opportunity to hear more about the issues facing cardiology and to meet face-to-face with your members of Congress. Just announced: the Sunday night dinner to benefit the ACC Political Action Committee (PAC) will feature General Stanley McChrystal. Tickets will be required! The cost is $250 for general admission, with discounted rates for FITs, CCAs and Practice Administrators. In addition, PAC contributors of $1,000 or more will receive preferred seating and an opportunity to meet General McChrystal during a VIP reception prior to the dinner. VIP tickets need to be requested by Aug. 11. Contact Lucas Sanders at lsanders@acc.org to register for the dinner. Questions about the conference should be directed to advocacyleg@acc.org.

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ACC in the News: June 2011

Health Day, Experts Recommend Cardiac Screening for College Athletes, (June 1)The study authors also noted that American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines for pre-participation screening effectively identified nearly 25 percent of athletes who were candidates for heart screening based on history or symptoms.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/experts-recommend-cardiac-screening-college-athletes-210410843.html
-Also in 8 other outlets

Dallas News, Academic cardiology gets voice, (June 1)
Dr. Joseph Hill, chief of cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, has been named to lead the American College of Cardiology's new Council on Academic Cardiology for the next three years.
The council will provide a strong voice for doctors who are also teaching and conducting research, Hill said.

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/robert-miller
/20110531-dallas-dr.-joseph-hill-of-ut-southwestern-to-head-council-on-academic-cardiology.ece
-Also in print edition

The Bulletin, Aerobic exercise can strengthen hearts of seniors, study shows, (June 2)
When people are regularly inactive, the muscles in their hearts diminish with each passing decade of life. But seniors older than 65 who did aerobic exercise most days of the week were shown to preserve and strengthen their hearts to even greater masses than those of healthy subjects between 25 and 34 years old, according to a study that was presented recently at the American College of Cardiology's annual scientific meeting in New Orleans.

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110602/NEWS0107/106020306
/1025/FEAT&;nav_category=FEAT

Kevin MD, Work should be about optimizing your productivity and health, (June 1)
A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiologyentitled, Screen-Based Entertainment Time, All-Cause Mortality, and Cardiovascular Events, found that, recreational sitting, as reflected by television/screen viewing time, is related to raised mortality and CVD risk regardless of physical activity participation. Inflammatory and metabolic risk factors partly explain this relationship.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/work-optimizing-productivity-health.html

The Dallas Morning News, Midlife treadmill test found to predict risk, (June 2)
Researchers found that a higher fitness level significantly decreased the risk of death from cardiovascular disease - especially among those with other risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Study results were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://w3.nexis.com:80/new/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T12092863597&format
=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T12092888300&cisb=22_T12092863599&treeMax
=true&treeWidth=0&csi=11802&docNo=1

AARP, New Treatment Guidelines for High Blood Pressure, (June 3)On April 25, an expert panel convened by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) offered a number of concrete recommendations for treatment of people over 65.

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-05-2011/high-blood-pressure-treatment-health-discovery.html

McKnight's Long Term Care News, Blood pressure drugs safe in older adults: new guidelines, (June 1)
Recent research, however, has found that blood pressure drugs are safer in this age group than previously thought. To clear up confusion, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have released new recommendations regarding which medications are safest and most effective for older adults, as well as guidance in identifying other non-drug treatments.

http://www.mcknights.com/blood-pressure-drugs-safe-in-older-adults-new-guidelines/article/203721/

AP, Studies look to reduce heart damage in breast cancer patients on Herceptin, (June 3)

Researchers in Manitoba and Alberta are looking for ways to reduce the risk that a woman may beat her cancer but end up with a damaged heart. Dr. Davinder Jassal of the University of Manitoba and Winnipeg’s St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre has just published results of a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on early detection of heart problems.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/studies-look-reduce-heart-damage-breast-cancer-patients-183335915.html
-Picked up in 13 other outlets

Oxygen, The Fit Woman’s Guide to Body Fat, (June 4)
And recent research shows that BMI can also be a false indicator of health in other ways. According to the American College of Cardiology, researchers presented their findings, which showed that individuals with a normal BMI can still have a high body-fat content, increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease and other health-related problems.

http://www.oxygenmag.com/Health/Articles/The-Fit-Womans-Guide-to-Body-Fat.aspx

Heartwire, Similar survival, different risks for TAVI vs surgery: PARTNER A published, (June 5)
As previously reported by heartwire, principal investigator Dr Craig Smith (Columbia University, New York, NY) presented the one-year results from PARTNER A at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2011 Scientific Sessions/i2 Summit. Those results showed that TAVI using the Sapien valve (Edwards Lifesciences) was noninferior to surgery in high-risk aortic-stenosis patients deemed eligible for surgery, but also that the two procedures carried different periprocedural risks.

http://www.theheart.org/article/1235151.do

The Paramus Post, New Jersey Leading Nation In Implementing Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening, (June 3)
On a national level, the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (SACHDNC), working with the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Cardiology, and other stakeholders, established standardized federal recommendations for screening and diagnostic follow-up of critical Congenital Heart Disease.

http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20110603205602406 

Vindy.com, Hospitals embrace promising treatment for heart attacks, (June 5)
Dr. Mooney, who has been performing the procedure for six years at his hospital, said, “The American College of Emergency Physicians has come out in favor of it; so has the American College of Cardiology, and so it’s not considered controversial anymore.”

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/jun/06/hospitals-embrace-promising-treatment-fo/

KION, Hospital Recognized For Heart Health, (June 3)
In a news release Friday, the hospital said the award is the result of meeting stringent criteria on important clinical standards for treating heart failure patients.  In order to receive the award, Salinas Valley Memorial had to achieve the goal of a minimum of 85 percent compliance to core standard levels of care for heart failure patients as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology.

http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/14838334/hospital-recognized-for-heart-health

Kevin MD, Talking patients out of doing tests takes effort and time, (June 4)
Last week’s issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology published a report detailing the use of routine stress testing in patients who had recently undergone successful coronary stenting or bypass surgery.  Using a national health insurance claims database the researchers determined that 59% of recently-revascularized patients underwent some type of stress test in the ensuing 24 months.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/talking-patients-tests-takes-effort-time.html

LA Times, Nearly 70,000 Americans die needlessly each year because they are not given optimal heart failure therapy, (June 6)
The six treatments are highly recommended for heart failure patients by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Assn. The researchers found that 2,644,800 heart failure patients were eligible for the therapies, but did not receive them. The total number of potential deaths that could be prevented each year with optimal implementation of all six therapies is 67,996, they reported.

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-heart-failure-06062011,0,4047246.story?track=rss
-Also in 6 other outlets

ProPublica, Body Imaging Business Pushes Scans Many Don’t Need — Including Me, (June 7)
I consulted with experts at several medical schools, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Radiology and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel assembled by the federal government to study scientific evidence and make independent recommendations for care. All agreed that heart scans of the type offered by Heart Check America were inappropriate for patients with a low risk of heart disease – a category that included me and my wife.

http://www.propublica.org/article/heart-check-america-drawing-complaints-and-scrutiny
-Also in Las Vegas Sun

Jackson Sun, Network streamlines heart attack, (June 7)
"We have been receiving patients from other hospitals for years, but guidelines set out by the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology encourage hospitals to develop a more streamlined process," Albright said in an earlier interview. Albright said that because Jackson General is centrally located in West Tennessee, it receives more Medicare heart attack patients than any other hospital in Tennessee.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110607/BUSINESS/106070319/Network-streamlines-heart-attack?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

MedPage Today, CT Angiography Predicts Coronary Events, (June 6)

When excluding revascularization, the presence of one or more significant stenoses was associated with a six-fold higher risk of events (HR 6.15, 95% CI 3.22 to 11.74), according to the study published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Atherosclerosis/26884

MedPage Today, Published PARTNER Results Confirm TAVI Option, (June 6)

The results, which reflect cohort A of the PARTNER trial, were published online by the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings do not, however, differ from the results reported earlier this year at the American College of Cardiology meeting.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/PCI/26879

TCTMD, Syntax Score Predicts 1-Year Risk in ACS Patients, (June 6)

In patients with moderate- and high-risk acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the Syntax score predicts 1-year ischemic outcomes including mortality, according to an observational analysis published in the June 14, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The finding suggests that this angiographic assessment of lesion complexity may be a useful tool for risk stratification, the authors say.

http://www.tctmd.com/txshow.aspx?id=106387

TCTMD, CABG Plus Stem Cells Equals Improved LV Function in MI Patients with Heart Failure, (June 7)

Findings from a small randomized trial show that isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery combined with autologous bone marrow stem cells improves left ventricular (LV) function and exercise tolerance compared with CABG alone in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic heart failure. The study appears in the June 14, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.tctmd.com/txshow.aspx?id=106389

AFP, FDA panel to consider transcatheter heart valve, (June 7)
The research was part of the multi-year PARTNER study, the world's first randomized trial comparing the two methods, and was showcased at the American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans in April.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110607/hl_afp/healthusheartcompanyedwardslifesciences_20110607190129

Heartwire, CRT both cuts, worsens arrhythmic risk in MADIT-CRT analysis, (June 7)
Ventricular remodeling responses in this MADIT-CRT analysis, published online June 6, 2011 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, were gauged by change in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV).

http://www.theheart.org/article/1235885.do 

Heartwire, Meta-analysis of diverse studies shows CT is a strong predictor of CV events, (June 6)
Findings of disease on coronary computed-tomography angiography (CCTA) scans are a relatively powerful independent predictor of coronary events, according to a meta-analysis published in the June 14, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.theheart.org/article/1235503.do

HealthDay TV, Outrunning Heart Disease?, (June 8)
If you're an older guy who can still run a mile fairly quickly, you just might be able to outrun heart disease.
In a recent study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers followed more than 11,000 men who had taken a treadmill exercise test more than 20 years ago. Based on their results, the researchers grouped the men into low, moderate, and highly fit groups.

http://www.kcrg.com/news/health/?feed=bim&id=123505249
-Also in 7 other outlets

CBS San Francisco, HealthWatch: Sitting Vs. Smoking, (June 9)
Smoking cigarettes is the cause of so much preventable, deadly disease. But now new research shows sitting for long stretches of time may be just as dangerous. To view research from American College of Cardiology click here.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/06/08/healthwatch-sitting-vs-smoking/

Health Imaging, JACC: CCTA proves its merit as predictor in meta-analysis, (June 8)
The presence and extent of coronary artery disease detected during coronary CT angiography (CCTA) are strong, independent predictors of cardiovascular events, according to a meta-analysis published June 14 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. In addition, the meta-analysis provided data to direct which finding should be included in standard CCTA reports.

http://www.healthimaging.com/index.php?option=com_articles&article=28144&publication=8&view=portals

Cardiovascular Business, JACC: Reverse remodeling can predict HF, VTA after CRT-D, (June 7)
In the current study published June 14 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Alon Barsheshet, MD, of the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y., and colleagues evaluated the association between echocardiographic response to CRT and subsequent  VTA in 1,372 patients. Of the 1,372 patients, 623 were implanted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and 749 patients had CRT-D.

http://www.cardiovascularbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=28136&division=cvb

MedPage Today, SYNTAX Score Useful in Unstable Coronary Disease, (June 7)

The scoring system is based on results from the landmark SYNTAX (Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) trial to help determine when surgery is a better option than stenting. After adjusting for possible confounders, the SYNTAX score was an independent predictor of one-year events, according to the study published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/PCI/26913

HemOnc Today, Despite improved transparency, conflicts of interest still arise in medicine, (June 9)
A 2011 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that more than half of the individuals involved in writing recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical practice guidelines reported some financial conflict of interest.

http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=84496

Daily Mail, Sitting can be more dangerous than smoking, study shows, (June 10)
Research carried out by the American College of Cardiology shows that prolonged sitting is linked to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer and even early death and could be just as dangerous, if not more so, than smoking.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2001824/Sitting-dangerous-smoking-study-shows.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

WebMD, Underused Treatments Could Save Lives From Heart Failure, (June 8)
Six heart failure therapies, including four drug and two nondrug treatments, have been proven to reduce deaths and are recommended by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association for patients with reduced left-ventricle ejection fraction.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/news/20110608/underused-treatments-could-save-lives-from-heart-failure

Science Daily, Patient Gender May Influence Nuclear Stress Test Referrals, Researchers Say, (June 8)
According to the study, published online by the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, nuclear stress tests ordered for women are less likely to meet national "appropriate use criteria" than they are for men. Created by the American College of Cardiology Foundation, appropriate use criteria are designed to help physicians determine which patients would benefit from testing and when such imaging might be unnecessary.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110608122821.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20sciencedaily%20(ScienceDaily:%20Latest%20Science%20News)

MedPage Today, CRT-D Protects Some from Some Arrhythmias, (June 9)
Consistently, multivariate analysis showed that high responders to CRT-D experienced a significant 55% reduction in the risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias compared with ICD-only patients (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between low responders and ICD-only patients (HR 1.26; P=0.21), according to a study published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Arrhythmias/26966

BROADCAST

KPRC, Prolonged Sitting, (June 9)
In a stunning new study, researchers say that sitting down is more deadly than smoking. This study shows prolonged sitting is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, even early death. The American College of Cardiology recommends that you take breaks throughout the day and keep yourself moving.

http://www.criticalmention.com/ctv3-1/index_app.php
-Also on WFXT, WTVT, WFXT, KTLA

Health Day, Women May Be Getting Unneeded Heart Imaging Tests, (June 10)
U.S. researchers analyzed 314 nuclear stress tests to determine whether they met so-called appropriate use criteria, guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology Foundation to help doctors decide whether such testing would be beneficial. Nearly all of the tests had been ordered for chest pain.

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=653733
-Also in: U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo, MSN Health & Fitness, and 5 other outlets

Consumer Affairs, Sitting Is As Unhealthy As Smoking, Study Says, (June 10)

If you spend most of your day sitting at a desk, getting up and moving around from time to time not only relieves the tedium, it could extend your life.  That's the conclusion of a report from the American College of Cardiologists that declares too much sitting is as harmful as smoking cigarettes.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/06/sitting-is-as-unhealthy-as-smoking-study-says.html

Palm Beach Post, JFK Medical Center hospital closing cardiac rehab center, (June 10)

Nationally, the trend has flowed in the other direction, with more hospitals opening rehab centers than closing them, said Dr. Randal J. Thomas, speaking for the American College of Cardiology. In the past five years, reimbursements have risen from about $25 to $70 per session, said Thomas, director of the cardiovascular health clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/jfk-medical-center-hospital-closing-cardiac-rehab-center-1531150.html 

The Marion Star, Hospital gets gold in heart treatment, (June 13)
This recognition signifies that Marion General Hospital has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients, states a press release. It represents 85 percent compliance for at least 24 months to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients.

http://w3.nexis.com/new/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T12150522009&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T12150522012&cisb=22
_T12150522011&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=355348&docNo=2

Otago Daily Times, Young at heart – literally, (June 11)

Dr Bhella presented the research recently at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The study was performed with Texas Health Resources and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas.

http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/health/164290/young-heart-literally

Irish Examiner, Young guns recognised for their achievements, (June 13)
His research has already earned him the American College of Cardiology Young Investigator Award 2011 - the first time it was presented to a researcher based in Ireland.

http://w3.nexis.com/new/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T12150522009&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T12150522012&cisb=22
_T12150522011&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=315447&docNo=1

Heartwire, MRI-detected embolic events in AF patients treated with multielectrode RF catheters, (June 10)

"Although not randomized, our three study groups had a similar clinical thromboembolic risk profile and received the same degree of anticoagulation during the procedure," write Dr Claudia Herrera Siklódy (Herz-Zentrum, Bad Krozingen, Germany) and colleagues in a report published online June 8, 2011 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. "Therefore, the difference observed in the rate of new embolic events seems to be catheter specific."

http://www.theheart.org/article/1237547.do

TCTMD, RESOLUTE All Comers Looks at Simple, Complex Cases in Comparing ZES, EES, (June 10)

In patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndromes, 2 newer-generation zotarolimus- and everolimus-eluting stents appear to be safe and effective for both simple and complex cases through 1 year. The results appear in a paper published in the May 31, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.tctmd.com/txshow.aspx?id=106441

BROADCAST
-“Prolonged Sitting” has now been picked up in 22 broadcast outlets
To view full report visit: http://www.criticalmention.com/report/13307x220347.htm

Health Day, Medical Groups Update Heart, Blood Pressure Care Guidelines, (June 13)
"These measures are primarily intended for the use of individual practitioners and group practices in their efforts to improve the care of patients with hypertension and those with stable coronary disease," Dr. Joseph Drozda Jr., director of outcomes research at Sisters of Mercy Health System in St. Louis, Mo., and co-chairman of the writing committee for the new measures, said in an American College of Cardiology news release.

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=653868
-Also in US News & World Report, Yahoo, MSN, and 82 other outlets

Internal Medicine News, Quality Guidelines Issued for Ambulatory Cardiac Care, (June 13)
The 2011 Performance Measures for Adults With Coronary Artery Disease and Hypertension were compiled by a writing committee that was led by the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), the American Medical Association, and the American Heart Association. They were published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC 2011 June 13 [doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2011.05.002]).

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/news/cardiovascular-disease/single-article/quality-guidelines-issued-for-ambulatory-cardiac-care/741a88d2c7.html 

The Daily Telegraph, Walking an hour a day boosts heart health, (June 14)
While it is well known that moderate and intensive exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, Prof McConnell said the study was important because it showed patients it had a direct impact on heart health.

The study is published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8572481/Walking-an-hour-a-day-boosts-heart-health.html
-Also in print version

Heartwire, Applying new appropriateness criteria for echo cuts "uncertain" indications by half, (June 13)
As reported earlier by heartwire, the new criteria, published in March 2011, were a joint effort by several societies, including the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the ASE. The criteria classified 202 patient scenarios as "appropriate" (97), "inappropriate" (71), or "uncertain" (34) indications for ordering an echo. Previously, the June 2007 criteria for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) covered 59 indications, and the March 2008 criteria for stress echocardiography covered 51 indications.

http://www.theheart.org/article/1237669.do

TCTMD, One-Month Platelet Reactivity After PCI Key Risk Factor for Future Events, (June 13)

In more than one-quarter of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), levels of on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity change over the first month. But an algorithm integrating baseline platelet reactivity, genetic polymorphisms affecting clopidogrel metabolism, and key clinical variables can predict 1-month platelet reactivity, itself a strong determinant of long-term clinical outcomes. The findings appear in the June 21, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.tctmd.com/txshow.aspx?id=106453

BROADCAST
-“Prolonged Sitting” has now been picked up in 24 broadcast outlets
To view full report visit:
http://www.criticalmention.com/report/13307x220347.htm

MedPage Today, Cardiology Groups Overhaul Quality Measures, (June 14)

Patient outcomes and achieving control are the major focus in new performance measures for coronary artery disease and hypertension issued by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PracticeManagement/27056

Wall Street Journal, Stent Pioneer J&J to Exit Business, (June 16)
"They were incredibly productive in getting the stent out there and creating a huge market for it," said Spencer King, an Atlanta cardiologist and past president of the American College of Cardiology, who was among the first doctors to put one of the devices in patients. "But they have been passed over by the subsequent-generation stents."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304186404576387420811221538.html.html 

Statesman Journal, Less TV a battle worth fighting for, (June 15)
This year, a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology noted adult subjects who engaged in more than four hours of screen time were 113 percent more likely to suffer heart attacks or stroke compared to those who limited the time to two hours or less, and the risk played out regardless of age, gender and whether they engaged in activity or smoked.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110616/COLUMN0702/106160319/1064 

Pharmalot, Doctor Compensation And Industry Influence, (June 15)
We asked two people who track this topic for their response. One is Adriane Fugh-Berman, who runs the Pharmed Out program at Georgetown University that seeks to educate physicians about industry marketing (and hosts its annual conference tomorrow), and the other is Jack Lewin, who is CEO of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.pharmalot.com/2011/06/doctor-compensation-and-industry-influence/ 

MedPage Today, ASE: New Criteria Point Way to Better Use of Echos, (June 15)
Appropriate use criteria for transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were first issued in 2007 by ASE, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and several other societies. Criteria for stress echocardiography followed in 2008.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASE/27073 

Cardiovascular Business, AIM: Should CRT guidelines be revised if many patients don't see benefit?, (June 14)
Current treatment guidelines endorsed by American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommend CRT for patients with a QRS duration greater than 120 msec. While nearly one-third of systolic HF patients have QRS duration above the 120 msec cutoff, recent research has found that an estimated one-third to one-half of patients receiving CRT according to the guidelines may be benefiting.

http://www.cardiovascularbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=28249 

Cardiology Today, FDG-PET imaging illuminates role of inflammation in aortic stenosis, (June 15)
New findings from a preliminary study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology have shown the presence of inflammation among patients with aortic stenosis through the use of fluorodeoxyglucose PET imaging.

http://www.cardiologytoday.com/view.aspx?rid=84707

Heartwire, Platelet reactivity changes over time, with one-month testing a better predictor of events,
(June 15)
The results of the study, with first investigator Dr Gianluca Campo (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant'Anna), are published in the June 21, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.theheart.org/article/1239053.do

Heartwire, NJ is first state to mandate pulse-ox screens for congenital heart disease in newborns, (June 15)
He adds that "there will be a paper that will come out this year endorsed by the AHA, AAP, and American College of Cardiology that provides an update, so that all three professional organizations now support pulse-ox screening."

http://www.theheart.org/article/1238857.do

Forbes, 3 New Medical Tests that Can Save Your Life – But You Have to Ask, (June 17)
Last month CardioDX presented groundbreaking data at the American College of Cardiology’s 60th Annual Scientific Sessions showing the test’s ability to identify obstructive coronary stenosis, backed up by coronary CT angiography.

http://blogs.forbes.com/melaniehaiken/2011/06/17/3-lifesaving-new-medical-tests-you-have-to-ask-for/

MedPage Today, Restrict Imaging Studies, MedPAC Says, (June 16)
"In an era of healthcare reform initiatives whose objective is to increase healthcare coordination and make the delivery system more patient-centered, we find it disturbing that MedPAC is considering a recommendation that has the potential to, for example, discourage physicians from interpreting their Medicare patients' x-rays," wrote the groups, which included the American Medical Association and the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/Medicare/27101

Cardiovascular Business, JACC: Older HF patients have good LVAD outcomes at community hospitals, (June 16)
Advanced age (older than 70 years) should not be used as an independent contraindication when selecting a heart failure (HF) patient for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy at experienced community hospital centers, based on results of a single-center study in the June 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.cardiovascularbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=28278
Jackson Sun, Cardiologist opens facility, (June 17)
Patel is a board-certified internist and cardiologist and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. The Core Heart & Medical Center, which he founded, is equipped to diagnose and treat a range of cardiovascular illnesses, the release said. Services include stress tests, pulmonary function tests, EKGs, cardiac echocardiograms, ultra sonograms, CT scans and noninvasive angiography. Patel also offers solutions for obesity management.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106170307

Stop Aging Now, New Studies Confirm Dangers of Midlife Weight Gain, (June 16)
Researchers from the American Academy of Neurology publishing in the journal Neurology have released the results of a study showing that being overweight or obese in midlife significantly increases the risk of developing certain forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease as we age. Worldwide this places 1.6 billion people at risk, including more than half of the U.S. adult population. Similar research reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that even small increases in body weight during midlife significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Both studies conclude you can dramatically lower your risk of heart disease and many forms of dementia by controlling excess weight and participating in regular exercise.

http://www.stopagingnow.com/liveinthenow/article/new-studies-confirm-dangers-of-midlife-weight-gain

Science News, Couch potatoes: Where the risks lie, (June 16)
Here they divided daily screen time into: less than 2 hours per day, more than 2 but fewer than 4 hours, or at least 4 hours. People averaging the most screen time were 50 percent more likely to die prematurely during the roughly four years they were followed up than were people who watched screens the least each day, they reported January 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Risk of developing a cardiovascular event (such as heart arrhythmia or heart attack) during that followup period more than doubled for people who were in the highest screen-viewing group (versus the lowest).

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/331436/title/Couch_potatoes_Where_the_risks_lie

Peterborough Examiner, Ontario Medical Association honours Peterborough hospital chief of staff with life membership, (June 18)
He has previously served as director of the Adult Congenital Cardiac Centre, governor of the American College of Cardiology, president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Academy and director of the division of cardiology at the University of Toronto, the release stated.

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3176327

Deccan Chronicle, 42% heart attack victims take bus, auto to surgery, (June 18)
The conference aimed to educate around 300 cardiologists from across the country about this recommendation from the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/lifestyle/health/42-heart-attack-victims-take-bus-auto-surgery-105

BROADCAST
“Prolonged Sitting” has now been picked up in 25 broadcast outlets
To view full report visit: http://www.criticalmention.com/report/13307x220347.htm

Providence Business News, Doctors’ group maintains support of U.S. health law mandate, (June 21)
The schism within the biggest U.S. trade group representing doctors reflects a national debate over the so-called individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act. Florida and Virginia are leading 27 states suing the U.S. to have the rule declared unconstitutional as it sparked opposition among Obama’s Republican rivals for the White House, said Jack Lewin, CEO of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.pbn.com/Doctors-group-maintains-support-of-US-health-law-mandate,59255

MedPage Today, AMA: Delegates Sharply Divided on Individual Mandate, (June 20)
The first resolution will express the AMA's support of the individual mandate and codify the organization's current position. It has the backing of more than a dozen physician groups including the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Cardiology.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AMA/27154

Examiner, AMA debates healthcare reform in Chicago, (June 20)
The AMA's support of new health care legislation was seen as critical in March, when the issue was being nationally debated. Physicians will vote on one resolution in favor of the individual mandate, and on one against it. More than a dozen physician groups, including the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Cardiology, support the ACA-related mandate. Delegations from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, and the District of Columbia, and surgeon groups are for rescinding it. 

http://www.examiner.com/women-s-health-in-chicago/ama-debates-healthcare-reform-chicago-at-the-price-of-women-s-health

The Guardian, America's epidemic of over-prescribing, (June 20)
In another study, two different cholesterol lowering drugs used together were no better than a single drug. A past president of the American College of Cardiology said, "Pushing harder with more drugs and higher doses doesn't necessarily help patients across the board." A New England Journal of Medicine editorial commenting on the findings said that while the belief that aggressive treatment of cardiac risk factors in diabetics was logical and understandable, in certain situations it turned out to be risky. "Lower is not necessarily better."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/20/healthcare-drugspolicy

Mail Today, New Hope for a Health Heart, (June 21)
The study, published in the Journal the American College of Cardiology, found that all the risk parameters for cardiac disease including - hypertension, obesity and diabetes rose in this group over the time of study. Such a remarkable rise suggests that young adults in India could have high rates of heart disease and stroke. No wonder, the need to expedite preventive measures of heart risks is being felt like never before.

http://epaper.mailtoday.in/showstory.aspx?queryed=9&querypage=28&boxid=2442746&parentid=55080&eddate=Jun 21 2011 12:00AM&issuedate=2162011
Global Pharma Sector News, Ticagrelor Could Cut Down 20% of Heart Attack Deaths, (June 21)
A new analysis of the PLATO study presented this year at the American College of Cardiology showed that ticagrelor is just as effective at reducing deaths in patients over the age of 75 as in younger patients. Professor Storey commented: “Our new findings really highlight the universal applicability of the treatment.”

http://www.globalpharmasectornews.com/2011/06/ticagrelor-could-cut-down-20-of-heart-attack-deaths/

MedPage Today, Speedy Transfer Equals Better STEMI Outcomes, (June 22)

The study "highlights a major opportunity for further improvements in heart attack patients" and "reinforces the need for coordinated systems of care and communication at all levels of the healthcare system," Ralph Brindis, MD, MPH, a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif., and immediate past president of the ACC, said in a statement.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/PCI/27202

MedPage Today, NT-ProBNP Tops CRP for Event Prediction, (June 21)

"These results may have clinical relevance, and other groups should now extend our observations in other prospective cohorts to establish whether NT-proBNP is indeed able to enhance risk prediction across a range of populations in a clinically meaningful, and cost-effective, manner," the researchers wrote in the June 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/PreventiveCare/27176

MedPage Today, Post-PCI Bleeding May Up Death Risk, (June 21)

The researchers, who reported their findings in the June issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, developed a bleeding risk score from seven variables, including serum creatinine, age, sex, presentation, white blood cell count, cigarette smoking, and randomized treatment.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/PreventiveCare/27171

Internal Medicine News, In-Hospital Mortality Risk Increases With DIDO Time for STEMI Patients, (June 21)

Hospitals typically focus on shortening overall door-to-balloon (DTB) times as a way to improve the outcomes of STEMI patients, but little has been known about the impact of DIDO times as a component of the interhospital transfer process. DIDO times are increasingly being advocated as a new quality of care metric for transferred STEMI patients, with a national benchmark of 30 minutes or less recommended by the 2008 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association performance measures for acute myocardial infarction (J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2008;52:2046-99).

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/news/cardiovascular-disease/single-article/in-hospital-mortality-risk-increases-with-dido-time-for-stemi-patients/bf26ac1461.html

Health Leaders Media, Mortality Risk in STEMI Patients Linked to Slow Transfers, (July 21)

The study is published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association. It focuses on a relatively new term in heart care called the DIDO, a metric developed in 2008 by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association to indicate the time between the patient's entrance to the first hospital, or door in, to the time they left it for the hospital with the cath lab, or door out.

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-3/TEC-267684/Mortality-Risk-in-STEMI-Patients-Linked-to-Slow-Transfers

WTMA, Transfer of Heart Attack Patients Between Hospitals Not Fast Enough, (June 21)

Heart attack patients who need urgent percutaneous coronary intervention, or widening of heart arteries clogged by plaque, are often transferred from one hospital to another, as 75 percent of U.S. hospitals do not have the capabilities of performing this procedure.  If this transfer has to take place, the American College of Cardiology recommends that it be done in 30 minutes.  A study finds that achieving this transfer time is a rare event, and it’s costing lives.

http://www.wtma.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=116&itemid=29682402

Community Impact Newspaper, Baylor Grapevine honors DFW Airport’s first responders, (June 21)
Established by the American College of Cardiology, the national industry standard for door-to-balloon times is 90 minutes. DFW Airport EMS/Fire in 2010 achieved an average door-to-balloon time of 36.7 minutes. Baylor officials say such speed is crucial during a heart attack because "time is muscle," meaning the more time it takes to restore blood flow to the body, the more damage is sustained by the heart muscle. 

http://impactnews.com/grapevine-colleyville-southlake/582-recent-news/13431-baylor-grapevine-honors-dfw-airports-first-responders

Health Imaging, Societies blast laws seeking major spending cuts, (June 22)

Legislation employing across-the-board budget cuts, such as the Commitment to American Prosperity (CAP) Act, which seeks to meet “arbitrary” federal spending caps, could have serious consequences for vulnerable U.S. citizens, such as the aged, disabled and impoverished, based on a Lewin Group report. The AARP, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and American College of Cardiology supported the report.

http://www.healthimaging.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=28401

MedPage Today, Old Legs Can Handle Catheter Fixes, (June 22)

Nor was advanced age correlated with major adverse cardiovascular events (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 0.7 to 2.3, P=0.4) or amputation (OR 0.7, 95% CI: 0.4 to 1.2, P=0.2), they wrote online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Geriatrics/PeripheralArteryDisease/27218

Cardiovascular Business, JAMA: Is statin use linked to diabetes, regardless of dose?, (June 22)

Results of a recent meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that higher doses of a statin were associated with an increased risk to develop diabetes. The meta-analysis of three large randomized controlled trials--TNT, IDEAL and SPARCL--found that atorvastatin compared with placebo was associated with an increased risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes. While Waters et al concluded that the benefits of atorvastatin outweighed the risk in patients with coronary or cerebrovascular disease, the researchers noted that the potential risk of new-onset diabetes required careful monitoring.

http://www.cardiovascularbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=article&id=28396:jama-high-dose-statin-use-could-be-linked-to-diabetes

Great Falls Tribune, Guidelines aim to pinpoint heart risk, (June 21)

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology expect to release new guidelines this year that will recommend the use of additional tools to help determine a person's risk of heart attack and the level of treatment appropriate.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106210340

Heartwire, NT-proBNP beats CRP at predicting CV risk in older population, (June 22)

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was better than C-reactive protein (CRP) at predicting major cardiovascular events in older men with and without preexisting cardiovascular disease in a new prospective study. The study, published in the June 28, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, was led by Dr Goya Wannamethee (University College London, UK).

http://www.theheart.org/article/1242989.do

MedPage Today, Doc Groups Get Figures on Feds' Spending Cut Plans, (June 23)

The proposal would cut more than $1.4 trillion dollars from Medicare and Medicaid and decrease physician participation in Medicare, according to the analysis by the Lewin Group. The study was commissioned by the American Medical Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American Hospital Association, and AARP, all of whose members would stand to lose if Medicare and Medicaid were slashed.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Washington-Watch/Washington-Watch/27240

Salt Lake Tribune, Report: Proposed federal cuts proposal would harm elderly, children, poor, (June 23)
AARP, the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American College of Cardiology and LeadingAge — an association of 5,400 not-for-profit organizations that advocate for older Americans — singled out the proposed Commitment to American Prosperity (CAP) Act as particularly harmful in a study released Wednesday.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52063085-78/spending-federal-cap-cuts.html.csp

Long Island Business News, Cardiologists see red over insurers’ interference, (June 17)
Christopher M. Kramer, chairman of the Imaging Council of the American College of Cardiology, believes doctors should have the last word.“The insurers are taking decisions out of the hands of physicians, who are the proper people to make decisions on the appropriateness for patients,” he said. “Radiology benefits managers denying appropriate tests is a major problem and cost burden to the overall health system because of the need for practitioners to hire additional people to take care of authorization.”

http://libn.com/2011/06/17/cardiologists-see-red-over-insurers%e2%80%99-interference/\

Part B News, Medicare claims data could be used to judge provider performance, (June 20)
It’s not a good idea to only use claims data to evaluate performance as there are several factors that sum up to administering quality care, says Brian Whitman, regulatory affairs associate director for the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

http://pbn.decisionhealth.com/Articles/Detail.aspx?id=500277

Health Imaging, Why does race still matter? (June 23)
As we move forward, initiatives must mirror those like the American College of Cardiology’s (ACCs) Quality First initiative. The goal of Quality First is to improve disparities of care by providing increased transparency and a bigger focus on outcomes. The first step to improving these disparities is understanding why they occur.

http://www.healthimaging.com/index.php?option=com_articles&article=28402&publication=&view=portals

American Medical News, MedPAC seeks to rein in imaging pay, (June 27)

Physician organizations largely panned MedPAC's imaging pay recommendations, saying that few opportunities exist for physicians to interpret tests more efficiently than they do now. Reducing imaging fees could lead doctors to contract out for their diagnostic testing instead of doing it themselves, said Brian Whitman, associate director of regulatory affairs for the American College of Cardiology. "You are going to encourage less coordinated care," he said.

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/06/27/gvl10627.htm

American Medical News, Performance measures for coronary artery disease, hypertension released, (June 24)

The measures were developed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation, the American Heart Assn. and the American Medical Association-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement. They were concurrently published online June 12 in Circulation and June 13 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/06/20/hlsc0624.htm

Internal Medicine News, Rule Predicts Which ED Patients Need an Immediate ECG, (June 24)

According to current guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, "ECG should be performed within 10 minutes of ED arrival for all patients with chest discomfort or other symptoms suggestive of STEMI" (Circulation 2004;110:588-636). "These are common-sense guidelines, but we often get caught up in the latter part," said Dr. Seth Glickman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noting that about one-third of patients with STEMI do not have a complaint of chest pain.
http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/news/cardiovascular-disease/single-article/rule-predicts-which-ed-patients-need-an-immediate-ecg/a17c4794bf.html

Bradenton Herald, Talking Health: Sleep disorders may cause more than just tiredness (June 28)
A 2008 study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology showed that of 92 patients who had survived night-time heart attacks, 64 also had obstructive sleep apnea.
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/06/28/3306294/sleep-disorders-may-cause-more.html

Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Despite health scares, patients find bad habits tough to change (June 27)
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that smoking after a heart attack significantly decreased life expectancy. The study, published in 2010 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that people who quit smoking after their first heart attack were 37 percent less likely to die of another heart attack, compared with those still smoking.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/lifestyles/health/s_744152.html

Diagnostic & Interventional Cardiology, ACCF/STS Provide Road Map For Expected U.S. Introduction of Transcatheter Valve Therapy (June 27)

If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this summer, transcatheter valve therapy (TVT) – an innovative procedure that uses minimally invasive catheter-based technology to repair heart valve disease much like stents with coronary arteries – will bring a new therapeutic option to older patients with aortic stenosis who either could not be treated before or are too high-risk for conventional surgical therapy. Because of the anticipation and issues surrounding its potential release, its complexity and the multitude of stakeholders with a vested interest, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) today released a joint position statement to identify and provide timely guidance on key clinical issues that will arise with the potential roll out of this new technology, as well as recommendations for how to optimize patient safety and outcomes.

http://www.dicardiology.net/article/accfsts-provide-road-map-expected-us-introduction-transcatheter-valve-therapy

MedPage Today, Cardio Groups Urge Caution When TVT Hits Market (June 28)
Fearing a stampede to use transcatheter valve therapy (TVT) for all kinds of patients with valvular heart disease, two major professional societies have issued a position statement calling for the technology to be adopted carefully and selectively.
When the first TVT device is approved -- expected later this year -- interventi0nists should not implant it willy-nilly in all patients with valvular disease, according to the statement released Monday by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/PCI/27311

Sign on San Diego, Sharp study shows heart pumps work for older heart failure patients (June 28)
The study was released in the June 21 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/28/sharp-study-shows-heart-pumps-work-older-patients/

The Baltimore Sun, Where are the results of the investigation of cardiac cath labs? (June 29)
Regardless of whether Dr. Mark Midei and others may have performed inappropriate stent procedures, the state and Maryland hospitals have not yet agreed to require mandatory accreditation of cardiac cath labs and outside peer review. These were strong recommendations by the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Angiography and Interventions. One year after an investigation by the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) was requested, the results are yet to be announced to the public, raising the issue of whether HSCRC is capable of compiling reliable clinical data. Are Maryland cardiac patients being properly protected?
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-ed-stent-letter-20110628,0,2123678.story

MedPage Today, Cutting Deficit, Fix SGR Too, Groups Say (June 28)
The letter was signed by groups including the American College of Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, and many others.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Washington-Watch/Washington-Watch/27319

e! Science News, Coordinated system helps heart attack patients get treatment faster (June 28)
STEMI patients generally need coronary angioplasty, or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), to open blocked coronary arteries. PCI within 90 minutes of first medical contact can improve outcomes and is recommended by American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines.

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/06/28/coordinated.system.helps.heart.attack.patients.get.treatment.faster

The Heart.org, Amid hype and hope, ACC/STS consensus document seeks to ease TAVI rollout (June 29)
It's not often professional societies release an "expert consensus document" for procedures and therapies that are not yet available for widespread use. But such is the hype and hope for transcatheter valves that presidents of both the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society for Thoracic Surgery (STS) saw fit to publish a "professional society overview" that they hope will "frame the discussion of key issues and questions for consideration as this new technology unfolds" [1].
The document, by ACC president Dr David Holmes (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) and STS president Dr Michael Mack (Medical City Dallas Hospital, TX), was published online June 27, 2011 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

http://www.theheart.org/article/1246805.do

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