News From the American Heart Association

AHA Issues New Products

The following new products for the public and the healthcare professional are available through your local American Heart Association or call 1-800-AHAUSA1.

• AHA/AAN Scientific Statement: Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents in Acute Ischemic Stroke. This paper expresses a consensus of expert opinions and answers key questions relating to the use of antithrombotic agents in relation to acute ischemic stroke. Questions covered in this article include: Do antithrombotic agents reduce stroke mortality and stroke-related morbidity? Do they reduce early stroke recurrence? Do they vary in efficiency by stroke type? Do they reduce systemic thrombotic complications such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli? What are the risks of hemorrhage associated with their use? and To what extent do antithrombotics alter acute cardiovascular complications? The paper discusses available literature and provides recommendations that can serve as guidelines for the use of antithrombotic agents in different situations in relation to treatment and/or management of stroke. Product code 71-0233.

• AHA Scientific Statement: Cardiovascular Health in Childhood. Strategies for promoting cardiovascular health that can be integrated into the comprehensive pediatric care of children are presented. The critical areas: physical activity, obesity, insulin resistance and Type II diabetes mellitus are reviewed. Background information, methods of assessment, and means of intervention are discussed. A cardiovascular health schedule is outlined to help the practitioner implement these suggestions within the framework of comprehensive pediatric care. The strategies are directed toward promoting optimal cardiovascular health for all children. Product code 71-0229.

• Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2003 Update. This 8-1/2”×11”, 44-page reference booklet is the definitive source for the most recent statistics, tables and graphs on cardiovascular disease, risk factors and medical procedures/operations. Detailed information is provided on prevalence, incidence, mortality, aftermath, hospital discharges and cost. Specific data is also available by specific populations, including males, females, whites, blacks and Hispanics. The information in this booklet is also available at americanheart.org. Product code 55-0567.

• Stroke Facts 2003. This two-sided, four-color, 8-1/2”×11” sheet features information about incidence, death rates and cost related to stroke. This document is printed in English on one side and Spanish on the other. The Spanish side spotlights data relating to Hispanics. Product code 55-0571.

• AHA Scientific Statement: Fat Substitutes. The statement presents a review of the potential effects of fat substitutes on achieving the American Heart Association dietary recommendations for fat intake and examines the potential effects of fat substitutes on health. A description of trends in dietary fat intake and the composition and labeling of fat substitutes is also included. Product code 71-0228.

• AHA Scientific Statement: Prevention Conference VI: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. A report on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease based on working group discussions and preceding presentations at Prevention VI Conference. It constitutes a review of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, including epidemiology, pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, risk assessment in diabetics, lifestyle and medical management of risk factors, management of cardiovascular-renal complications and revascularization in diabetic patients. Product code 71-0225.

• AHA Scientific Statement: Reporting of Renal Artery Revascularization. Although the treatment of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis using percutaneous intravascular stents has gained widespread utility, there exist few prospective randomized controlled trials to support the regulatory approval of these devices. To facilitate this process and to help answer many important questions regarding the appropriate application of renal artery stents, well designed and rigorously conducted trials are needed. These trials must have clearly defined goals and must be sufficiently sized and performed so as to withstand intensive outcomes assessment. Towards this end, this document provides guidelines and definitions for the design, conduct, evaluation, and reporting of renal artery stent randomized controlled trials. In addition, areas of critically necessary renal artery stent investigation are identified. It is hoped that this information will be valuable to the investigator wishing to conduct research in this important area. Product code 71-0235.

• AHA Scientific Statement: Dietary Sugar and Cardiovascular Disease. This report contains a review of dietary sugar on health, with emphasis on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. It provides a rationale for limiting sugar intake. Product code 71-0230.