1 Are there sex differences in the epidemiology of acute coronary syndromes? Women comprise approximately 40% of all acute coronary syndrome presentations. According to the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics reported by the American Heart Association, in 2016, there were…
1 What cardiac physiologic changes occur during pregnancy? Hormonal changes cause an increase in both plasma volume (from water and sodium retention) and red blood cell volume (from erythrocytosis) during a normal pregnancy ( Fig. 52.1 ). A disproportionate increase…
1 Who are “the elderly”? The average US life expectancy is 76 years for men and 81 years for women. Elderly in the context of most clinical guidelines refers to patients age 65 years or older. There is variation arising…
1 What is the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and its effects on the cardiovascular system? Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus infects its host via the spike subunit of SARS-CoV-2,…
1 How common is cocaine use in the United States? Cocaine is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs in the United States. Between 2011 and 2015, there was an increased prevalence of cocaine use in individuals aged 12…
1 What is type I versus type II cardiotoxicity? Type I drugs cause irreversible cell loss and cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity. Anthracyclines are type I drugs. Clinical manifestations of irreversible damage may not present for years owing to compensatory mechanisms. Stress…
1 What is the leading cause of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and what are the most common cardiac manifestations of RA? Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with RA. Compared to the…
1 How have the cardiac manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus changed over the years? Until the early 1990s, cardiac manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and associated acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) frequently included overt and often acute viral and inflammatory…
1 What is the difference between physical activity and exercise? Physical activity is skeletal muscle contraction causing body movement that requires energy use. Exercise is a type of planned physical activity that is performed to attain or maintain physical fitness.…
1 Why is smoking cessation of fundamental importance in the management of the cardiac patient? Smoking cessation is the most important of the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The products of tobacco smoke contribute directly, and distinctly, to the…