A panel of experts believes genetic testing of individuals at risk of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) could “alter the natural history” of the condition, which is estimated to be undiagnosed in more than 27 million people worldwide, including more than 1 million in the United States.

Higher body mass index (BMI) as a young adult may result in higher blood pressure (BP) and left ventricle mass index, resulting in changes to the heart structure, researchers report in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) journal Circulation.

The FDA approved the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system, which works for up to 14 days at a time, according to an announcement from device maker Abbott.

Postmenopausal women with high levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) did not have the same cardioprotective benefits typically seen in women of other ages, researchers reported in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

Intensive blood pressure lowering helped reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a substudy from the SPRINT trial presented last week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago.

A recent review of almost 80 randomized control trials suggests increased intake of long-chain omega-3 (LCn3) polyunsaturated fatty acids from oily fish have minimal to no effect on mortality or cardiovascular health. Results of the review were published online July 18 in the Cochrane Library.

A hypertension management protocol from an integrated healthcare system was successfully adopted by a network of safety-net clinics, resulting in substantial improvements in blood pressure control for patients of all races.

The FDA on Friday, July 13, joined more than 20 other countries in recalling medications containing valsartan, an active ingredient used to treat hypertension and heart failure. Some of the medications with valsartan have been contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable human carcinogen.