Case-control study, meta-analysis, and bouillabaisse: putting the calcium antagonist scare into context

Article Abstract:

A randomized scientific study of the effect of calcium antagonists on heart patients may resolve questions raised by a case-control study and by a meta-analysis. One case-control study concluded that treatment with calcium antagonists increased the risk of heart attack in patients with heart disease. The news media sensationalized this finding and much confusion and fear resulted. Incorrect conclusions may have been drawn from the case-control study, as study subjects may have had conditions other than hypertension that called for the use of calcium antagonists and that predisposed them to heart attacks. Conclusions of a meta-analysis, which is a combination of the results of many smaller scientific studies, may also be flawed because of different characteristics of patient groups or study designs.

Evaluation, Cardiovascular diseases, Calcium channel blockers

---

Diabetic and hypertensive heart disease

Article Abstract:

Hypertension may be the cause of heart disease in patients with diabetes. Characterized by high blood pressure, hypertension in combination with diabetes mellitus creates a great structural and functional stress on the heart. Patients with both hypertension and diabetes mellitus could suffer from severe heart diseases such as heart attack, congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Controlling arterial pressure and blood sugar levels may improve or prevent heart disease in diabetics with hypertension.

Causes of, Complications and side effects, Diabetes, Diabetes mellitus, Heart diseases

---

Should a moratorium be placed on sublingual nifedipine capsules given for hypertensive emergencies and pseudoemergencies?

Article Abstract:

It may be time to abandon the use of sublingual nifedipine to treat hypertensive emergencies. This involves putting a nifedipine capsule under the tongue but studies have shown the drug is not well-absorbed this way. Physicians have been using this technique for about 20 years because it can be done very quickly in a physician's office. However, the FDA has never approved nifedipine for this use and there are many reports in the medical literature of serious side effects.

Usage, Dosage and administration, Nifedipine, Capsules (Pharmacy)

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Patient preferences and clinical guidelines. Meta-analysis of Trials Comparing [beta]-Blockers, Calcium Antagonists, and Nitrates for Stable Angina
• Abstracts: Discordance between meta-analyses and large-scale randomized, controlled trials: examples from the management of acute myocardial infarction
• Abstracts: Clinical evaluation: analysing and discussing the results. Clinical evaluation: deciding what questions to ask
• Abstracts: Use of tumour markers in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Leucocytes and the value of the differential count test
• Abstracts: Central hemodynamic changes associated with pregnancy in a long-term cardiac transplant recipient. The maternal and neonatal outcome of triplet gestations

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.