In episode 64, we finish off the listener questions and comments and clarify the murkiness, or murkify the clariness, around a number of cardiovascular issues. By the end of the podcast, both Mike and James are heavier because they eat up all the “sweet” comments made by their listeners.

Show Notes

1) BMJ hypertension meta-analysis

BMJ 2009;338:b1665

2) Atenolol lowers blood pressure but no effect on cardiovascular outcomes

Lancet 2004;364:1684–9

3) First-line drugs for hypertension

Cochrane Review

4) UKPDS spin

BMJ 2000;320:1720-3

5) Effect of intensive control of glucose on cardiovascular outcomes – meta-analysis

Lancet 2009;373:1765–72

6) Felodipine and cardiovascular outcomes

J Hypertens 2005;23:2157-72

In episode 63, we again let the listeners take control as we try to deal with the excellent questions and comments that come our way. We get into a heavy discussion around issues of weight and weight loss. Mike asks James a number of questions that make him squirm and James thanks him because fidgeting is a great way to burn calories.

Show Notes

1) InfoPOEMS

Essential Evidence Plus

2) Association between authors’ published positions and their financial relationships with manufacturers

NEJM 1998; 338: 101-6

3) J or U shape curve for BMI and mortality

Lancet 2009;373:1083-96

4) Orlistat  – the setting effects the results Effect in primary care study

J Int Med 2000; 248: 245-54

Effect in tertiary care study

JAMA 1999;281:235-42

5) Comparison of weight loss diets

N Engl J Med 2009;360:859-873

6) Fidgeting burns calories

Science 2005;307:584-6

In episode 62, the eighth and final podcast in our tome on the treatment of type-2 diabetes, we talk about cholesterol and ASA. Statins have evidence of benefit, around 3-4% absolute risk reductions over 5 years, other drugs for cholesterol have little if any evidence of benefit, and there is evidence of no benefit from taking ASA. We come up with an overall synopsis; increase activity, eat good food, use metformin, then maybe sulfonylureas, thiazides/ACE inhibitors for BP, statins but don’t measure cholesterol, and no ASA. Both James and Mike collapse from exhaustion and leave the final word to Chris their producer.

Show Notes

1) Statin meta-analyses

Lancet 2008;371:117-25

Table of data

Another table of data

2) Fibric acid derivatives FIELD

Lancet 2005;366:1849-61

Fibrate meta-analysis

Arch Intern Med 2005;165:725-30

3) ASA – no benefit in diabetics

JAMA 2008;300:2134-41

BMJ 2008;337:a1840

Diabetes Care 2003;26:3264-72