NSAIDs and MI risk

September 11, 2017 Andrew To

One-man-band on St Kilda Road, Melbourne

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use is associated with a significantly increased risk for myocardial infarction (MI). This includes naproxen, considered by some as one of the safest drugs in this class. This is according to a new patient level meta-analysis from the University of Montreal, studying celecopxib, diclofenac, ibuoprofen, naproxen and rofecoxib.

Patient centered discussion of primary prevention statin therapy

September 5, 2017 Andrew To

The Mayo clinic has recently published an electronic tool called “Statin Choice Decision Aid”, which is immensely valuable in helping patients visualize cardiovascular risk, and the benefit of statin medications as applied to them.

Are cardiologists obsessed with statins?

September 4, 2016 Andrew To

Sam is a 60-year-old male heart attack survivor who had an unremarkable recovery after the successful coronary artery stenting in the middle of the night of his presentation. Now it is 3 months and Sam feels absolutely grand. At follow-up, his cardiologist insists that he should continue all the prescribed medications. He read on the internet some bad press about statin medications and thought, “surely, nothing will happen if I stop taking statins?!”

Dual anti-platelet therapy and non-cardiac surgery

March 14, 2016 Andrew To

A 75-year-old male is now 7-month post anterior myocardial infarction. He had successful proximal LAD drug eluting stent, currently on Aspirin and Ticagrelor. He is awaiting total hip joint replacement, and the orthopaedic surgeon would like to know whether he could stop his anti-platelets.