Geriatric Cardiology found further significant recognition during the 2013, the 62nd, Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in San Francisco. More than 19,000 specialists attended from March 9 to March 11. Many came earlier and remained later for tutorial sessions provided by internationally famous cardiologists assembled for the sessions. For example, Valentin Fuster presented a full day symposium on the integration of new advances in cardiovascular disease into daily practice. The session was designed to be an immersion course for the general cardiologist and fellows in training. A special retreat in geriatric cardiology for fellows in training throughout all 3 days of the sessions was provided by a $25,000 grant from the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP) in an attempt to cultivate future investigators and leaders. The six sections: transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), controversies in imaging, advanced heart failure, sweating with the oldies (still active), valid management goals, and clinical dilemmas. Prime time educational events were offered by companies and organizations at various venues throughout San Franscisco. As the leader in the formulation of health policy standards and guidelines, its focus this year was on preventative and therapeutic issues while also covering the entire field of cardiology. For the cardiologist attending, there was a continuing problem of where to attend very hour among the multiple offerings. Of the simultaneous overwhelming excellent presentation, dare I discuss only 3? Since the DIG report in 1996, digitalis which had been the major drug for treatment of heart failure for two centuries has virtually disappeared from use. This “Largely dismissed heart failure drug may help solve costly problem for Medicare and hospitals” as reported in the scientific sessions by Ali Ahmed and at least 14 other famous cardiology collaborators from throughout the world. Searching for ways to reduce Medicare spending, health care reform is targeting Medicare costs resulting from hospital readmission of Medicare beneficiaries for all causes within 30 days if discharge, readmission of Medicare beneficiaries for all causes within 30-days. Annually this costs 17 billion dollars. Heart failure is a leading cause of both hospital admission and readmission for older adults. Digitalis therapy has been neglected for treating heart failure among such adults although it is effective and inexpensive and shows great promise for reducing need for both hospital admission and readmission. Ahmed and coworkers conclude that “Digoxin reduces 30-day all-cause hospital admission in ambulatory older patients with chronic systolic heart failure.” They are in the process of developing future studies needed to examine its effect on 30-day all-cause hospital readmission of hospitalized patients with acute heart failure. “Program for weight loss seems to pay off” as reported in the sessions by Stevan Driver from the Mayo Clinic. Considering the Center for Disease Control and Prevention statement that 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese and these portend increased morbidity and mortality, this first financial incentive plan for sustained weight control deserves close study and further development. One hundred healthy adults participated for over a year. Weight loss in the incentive groups was 9.08 pounds compared with 2.34 among the others. “Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral and Attendance in Women: A high risk population with two strikes against it” as reported in the sessions by Colbert and coworkers from Canada and New Mexico revealed that “Despite the fact that women derive greater benefit from attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR) than men, they are less likely to be referred and less likely to attend. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving referral and attendance at CR thereby positively impacting the quality of care and decreasing mortality in women with coronary artery disease (CAD)”. Their study included 25,958 subjects of whom 6,374 were women. The average age of the women in the study was 67.3 years and of men, was 62.7 years. The college provides professional education and national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care. Current standards of care, interaction between basic scientists and clinicians, special sessions and seminars for interventionalists, along with successful plenary presentations, were all thoroughly represented, although so generously covered as to make selection among them by the attendees somewhat overwhelming. It brought cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists from around the world together to share the newest discoveries in treatment and prevention. The American College of Cardiology gathers evidence throughout the world from the cardiovascular progress reported during its annual meeting.
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Sep 4, 2015
Tara Kidd + 5
Open Access
