New research finds that a combination of low dose aspirin and beta-blockers reduces blood pressure and decreases symptoms of anxiety during bereavement. The findings could materialize into preventive measures that clinicians incorporate into their practices.
Dr. Geoffrey Tofler, a professor of preventive cardiology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, in Australia, is the lead author of the new study.
He explains the motivation for the research, saying that the risk of mortality and adverse cardiovascular events is known to spike during bereavement.
Specifically: The increased risk of heart attack [during bereavement] can last up to 6 months. It is highest in the first days following bereavement and remains at four times the risk between 7 days to 1 month after the loss, the lead author notes.
In fact, in their paper which appears in the American Heart Journal the authors note that the risk of death following the loss of a loved one accounts for almost half of the excess mortality during the bereavement of a spouse.
Although the causes of cardiovascular risk during bereavement remain somewhat unclear, researchers believe that contributing factors can include higher systolic blood pressure and heart rate, lower heart rate variability, immune changes, and anxiety, depression, and anger.
Some previous studies, note Dr. Tofler and the team, have suggested that beta-blockers, aspirin, or both could modify physiological pathways that get activated in bereavement.
So, the researchers set out to test whether a low dosage of the beta-blocker metoprolol in combination with aspirin could lower the markers of cardiovascular risk without interfering with the grieving process.
To this end, Dr. Tofler and colleagues enrolled 85 participants who had lost either their spouse or a child in the past 2 weeks.
Of these participants, 42 took low daily doses of metoprolol and aspirin for 6 weeks, and the rest took a placebo.
The researchers asked the participants to take their blood pressure at home, accounting for the systolic measurements in the study.
The team also measured the participants 24-hour average heart rate, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and their blood clotting response measured by the reaction of blood platelets to arachidonic acid.
In addition, the group assessed the intensity of each participants bereavement using the Core Bereavement Items questionnaire.
The main finding was that the active medication, used in a low dose once a day, successfully reduced spikes in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as demonstrating some positive change in blood clotting tendency, reports Dr. Tofler.
He adds, We were reassured that the medication had no adverse effect on the psychological responses and indeed lessened symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, Encouragingly, and to our surprise, the lead researcher continues, reduced levels of anxiety and blood pressure persisted, even after stopping the 6 weeks of daily beta-blocker and aspirin.
Our study is the first clinical trial to examine how the cardiac risk factors could be mitigated during early bereavement, continues the professor.
Co-author and associate professor Tom Buckley, Ph.D., says, Our finding on the potentially protective benefit of this treatment is also a good reminder for clinicians to consider the well-being of the bereaved.
Future studies are needed to assess if these medications could be used for other short periods of severe emotional stress, such as after natural disasters or mass bereavement, where currently there are no guidelines to inform clinicians.
Co-investigator Holly Prigerson, Ph.D., co-director of the Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, at Weill Cornell Medicine, in New York, also comments on the findings. She says, This is an important study because it shows ways to improve the physical and mental health of at-risk bereaved people.
It is a preventive intervention that is potentially practice-changing, using inexpensive, commonly available medicines.
Holly Prigerson, Ph.D.
Finally, the authors caution that people should not take any of the medication studied in this trial without first discussing their symptoms with a physician, as incorrect use can be dangerous.
Read more:
Beta-blockers and aspirin may protect the heart during bereavement - Medical News Today
- Best 30 Cardiology in Secaucus, NJ with Reviews - YP.com - April 12th, 2018 [April 12th, 2018]
- Cardiology | Weill Cornell Medicine - April 14th, 2018 [April 14th, 2018]
- Cardiology Conferences 2018 | Cardiology Meetings 2018 ... - April 26th, 2018 [April 26th, 2018]
- Dr. Anil Goel, MD - Birmingham, MI - Cardiology & Clinical ... - April 26th, 2018 [April 26th, 2018]
- Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) MSc/PGDip | Middlesex ... - May 15th, 2018 [May 15th, 2018]
- Cardiology Conferences 2018 | Upcoming Cardiology ... - May 16th, 2018 [May 16th, 2018]
- Clinical Cardiology Section | Cleveland Clinic - May 27th, 2018 [May 27th, 2018]
- Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology - Open ... - June 6th, 2018 [June 6th, 2018]
- Cardiology Summit 2018 | Cardiology Conferences | Heart ... - June 23rd, 2018 [June 23rd, 2018]
- Cardiology Clinical and Research Faculty Members ... - June 26th, 2018 [June 26th, 2018]
- Cardiology Conferences 2018 | Cardiology Congress 2018 ... - June 26th, 2018 [June 26th, 2018]
- About Us - New Jersey Cardiology Associates - July 8th, 2018 [July 8th, 2018]
- About Us - Ventura Clinical Trials - August 16th, 2018 [August 16th, 2018]
- Clinical Cardiology Made Ridiculously Simple: Michael A ... - August 22nd, 2018 [August 22nd, 2018]
- Clinical Cardiology - American Society of Preventive Cardiology - October 2nd, 2018 [October 2nd, 2018]
- Heart Surgery Hospital in india | Cardiology Treatment ... - October 7th, 2018 [October 7th, 2018]
- Clinical Cardiology - American Society of Preventive ... - December 3rd, 2018 [December 3rd, 2018]
- Guideline Clinical App - American College of Cardiology - December 7th, 2018 [December 7th, 2018]
- Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology- Open ... - December 12th, 2018 [December 12th, 2018]
- Clinical Cardiology - Baptist Health - December 30th, 2018 [December 30th, 2018]
- Cardiology at Cancun: Topics in Clinical Cardiology - February 5th, 2019 [February 5th, 2019]
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, KU School of Medicine - March 10th, 2019 [March 10th, 2019]
- Towards Health Equality: Improving the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in Women - International Atomic Energy Agency - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Lifetime Risk of PAD Varies by Race, but All Are Vulnerable to Traditional Risk Factors - TCTMD - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- DEFINE-HF: Dapagliflozin Improves Function and QoL, but Not Biomarkers, in HFrEF - TCTMD - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Combining Nature and Technology, Luye Medical and Cleveland Clinic Join to Build a Future Hospital in Shanghai - Yahoo Finance - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Will Renal Denervation for Hypertension Rise Again? - Medscape - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Symptoms, and their Association with Cardiovascular Disease - DocWire News - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- CNE expands pulmonary, sleep services with Brigham & Women's physicians - Warwick Beacon - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- What I Am Most Looking Forward to at TCT 2019 - TCTMD - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Serelaxin Not Linked to CV Mortality Reduction in Patients Hospitalized for Acute HF - The Cardiology Advisor - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Sacubitril-Valsartan Not Linked to Lower Hospitalization Risk, CV Death in HFpEF - The Cardiology Advisor - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- FDA clears multiuse angiography systems from Siemens Healthineers - DOTmed HealthCare Business News - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty Effective for Chronic Thromboembolic PH - The Cardiology Advisor - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- RWJBarnabas Health, St. Luke's University Health launch clinical affiliation - FierceHealthcare - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Bilirubin: A Novel Indicator of Infective Endocarditis Adverse Outcomes - The Cardiology Advisor - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Major Bleeding Mostly Early, Not Severe With Rivaroxaban Plus Aspirin in COMPASS - TCTMD - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Community-based Care Model Reduces CVD Risk - Managed Healthcare Executive - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- American College of Cardiology Steps Up: Equal Pay, Opportunities for All - TCTMD - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- FDA Approves Novo Nordisk's Oral Semaglutide, First GLP-1 in Pill Form - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- A New Drug for HF? DEFINE-HF Bolsters Dapagliflozin Cardio Cred - Medscape - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- Seeking Synergy: Bringing Cardiology into Your Enterprise Imaging Strategy - Health Imaging - September 21st, 2019 [September 21st, 2019]
- TCT 2019 Day Two: Transcatheter Valves, New and Old - TCTMD - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Transcatheter Options Best for Tricuspid Regurgitation in Matched Registry Analysis - TCTMD - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Bypass Surgery and Coronary Stenting Yield Comparable 10-Year Survival - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- TAVR Improves Health Status Over Surgery in Low-Risk Patients at 1 Year: PARTNER 3 - TCTMD - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Eidos Therapeutics to Present Interim Analysis of the Ongoing Phase 2 Open-Label Extension Study of AG10 in Patients with TTR Amyloid Cardiomyopathy... - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Off Script: The New Gatekeepers of Procedural Education - TCTMD - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Study Shows Safety and Efficacy of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) Imaging to Identify Patients and Plaques at an Increased Risk for MACE - BioSpace - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- The Heart of the Matter: Cardiovascular Fitness in Horses - United States Eventing Association - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Google parent Alphabet hires former FDA head Robert Califf to lead health strategy and policy - FierceHealthcare - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Inclisiran Benefits Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia and ASCVD - The Cardiology Advisor - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- AUGUSTUS: Best Benefit With Apixaban, P2Y12 Inhibitor Dual Therapy - Medscape - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- New TAVR System Safe and Effective for High-Risk Surgical Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis - Newswise - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Dapagliflozin Improves Heart Failure-Related Health Status in HFrEF - The Cardiology Advisor - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Remote Ischemic Conditioning Did Not Improve 12 Month Clinical Outcomes After STEMI - The Cardiology Advisor - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Insights from the European Society of Cardiology congress | Speaking of Medicine - PLoS Blogs - September 30th, 2019 [September 30th, 2019]
- Smokers Have More Pulmonary Emboli, Leading to Higher Hospital Readmission Rates | - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- AZ's Farxiga gets heart failure prevention okay from FDA - PMLiVE - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Bayer Announces Recipients of the Pulmonary Hypertension Accelerated Bayer (PHAB) Awards at CHEST Annual Meeting 2019 - BioSpace - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- The Epidemic Of The Metabolic Syndrome Among The Palestinians In The G | DMSO - Dove Medical Press - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Optina Diagnostics and the Montreal Heart Institute Partner to Develop a New Biomarker for Atherosclerosis - PRNewswire - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Even With Same Diagnosis, Women Get Half the Heart Attack Treatments as Men - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Eva Dickerman, Andrew Weil - The New York Times - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- EHR vendor Veradigm and partners creating new shared data tools for researchers - Healthcare IT News - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Evolocumab Well-tolerated as Add-on for Hypercholesterolemia Therapy - DocWire News - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Deborah Heart and Lung Center announces affiliation with Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- New Registry to Provide Insight into STEMI Occurrence, Treatment in North India | - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Finding Your Best Fit in Cardiology - TCTMD - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Cardiology team expands to meet community need - The Union of Grass Valley - October 22nd, 2019 [October 22nd, 2019]
- Deaths After Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation 'Concerning' in Real-World Analysis - TCTMD - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Cutler Family gifts $15 million to University Hospitals to transform mens health care - Newswise - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Troponin Increases After Elective PCI Tied to Complexity, Extent of CAD - TCTMD - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Caregiving and the Soul of Medicine - Medscape - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- STEMI Mortality Unaffected by Weekend, Weeknight, or Holiday Admission in France - TCTMD - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Cardiva Medical publishes positive results from the AMBULATE pivotal study Cardiology2.0 - Cardiology2.0 - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Gaps in Access to TAVR and SAVR: 'Something Needs to Be Done' - TCTMD - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Cardiva Medical Announces Publication of Data From the AMBULATE Pivotal Study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Clinical... - November 1st, 2019 [November 1st, 2019]
- Raymond James 4 Analyst Favorite Health Care Picks With Huge Upside Potential - 24/7 Wall St. - November 7th, 2019 [November 7th, 2019]
- Global Computed Tomography (CT) Scanners Devices and Equipment Market Report 2020: Major Players are GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips, Hitachi,... - November 7th, 2019 [November 7th, 2019]