(Reuters Health) Chlorthalidone-based treatment improves long-term outcomes associated with isolated systolic hypertension, especially among patients with diabetes, according to a report in the January 1st issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

Despite their beneficial effects on hypertensive complications, diuretics have been associated with the development of diabetes, the authors explain. Whether diuretic therapy adversely affects morbidity and mortality among diabetics is controversial.

(Reuters Health) The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends in a revised scientific statement issued today that physicians strongly encourage patients to participate in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs to prevent recurrent cardiac events.

In 1994, the AHA declared that cardiac rehabilitation should include not just an exercise-training program but also multifaceted programs aimed at reducing modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD).

(Reuters Health) Postmenopausal women who use conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) or estrogen plus progestin are at increased risk of biliary tract disease, according to findings from a randomized trial of healthy women. The elevated risks ranged from 54% to 93% depending on the estrogen and disease type.

“The association between estrogen therapy and gallbladder disease was suggested as early as 1975,” senior author Dr. Robert B. Wallace, from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, told Reuters Health. “Since then, there have been a handful of observational studies that have supported or refuted the link,” but just one randomized trial has looked at this topic, he added.

(Reuters Health) For patients who require an antiplatelet drug to prevent vascular disease, but have a history of aspirin-induced ulcer bleeding, aspirin plus esomeprazole appears to be a better choice than clopidogrel monotherapy, new research suggests.

Contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, the rate of recurrent bleeding with clopidogrel was actually much higher than that seen with aspirin plus esomeprazole. Moreover, the findings run counter to guidelines by the American College of Cardiology-American Heart Association, which recommend clopidogrel in this setting.

(Reuters Health) In a new study, a 12-week lifestyle intervention helped an ethnically diverse group of adults with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia reach their goal risk factor levels without using drug therapy.

These results “refute the notion that intensive lifestyle intervention is not worth the effort,” lead author Dr. Neil F. Gordon, from St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System in Savannah, Georgia, and colleagues report in the December 15th issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.