Peter McKavanagh

Cardiologist in NHS- SE Trust. MB MMedSc PhD. Dad. Very amateur judoka. As soon as I can think of a funny bio, I’ll update this.

[Dr. Filippo Cademartiri @FCademartiri]

🧠💊 Statins: Separating Evidence from Noise

This landmark Lancet review examines the true efficacy and safety of statins using large-scale randomized controlled trials — not anecdotes or biased observational data.

📉 How effective are statins?

For every 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol, statins reduce major vascular events (heart attack, stroke, revascularization) by about 25% per year after the first year of treatment.
Lower LDL by 2 mmol/L for 5 years in 10,000 high-risk patients and you prevent:

✔ ~1,000 major vascular events (secondary prevention)
✔ ~500 events in higher-risk primary prevention
The benefit scales with baseline risk and LDL reduction.

⚖️ What about harms?

Randomized evidence shows that serious statin-related adverse effects are rare:
• Myopathy: ~5 cases per 10,000 over 5 years
• New diabetes: ~50–100 cases
• Hemorrhagic stroke: ~5–10 cases
Crucially, most muscle symptoms attributed to statins in routine care are not caused by the drug — placebo-controlled trials demonstrate strong misattribution (nocebo effect).

📊 The paper strongly emphasizes that large randomized trials are far more reliable than observational studies when assessing drug safety. Many alarming side-effect claims arise from biased data sources.

🔍 Bottom line:

The cardiovascular benefits of statins substantially outweigh their risks in appropriately selected patients. Underuse driven by exaggerated safety concerns may cause preventable heart attacks and strokes.
Evidence matters. And in the case of statins, the evidence is robust.

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

President Trump is taking 325 mg of aspirin a day to prevent heart disease. His doctors advise him to take 81 mg. Both are wrong. Here’s why.
New edition of Ground Truths, open-access
https://t.co/PpnNFoxtEP

[Dr Paddy Barrett @Paddy_Barrett]

High Blood Pressure is the single most important risk factor for early death worldwide.

But what blood pressure should you aim for?

Getting this wrong can cost you dearly.

Here's why

📕Make Sure To Bookmark✅

🧵👇

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[Aakash Tuli @AakashTuliMD]

🧵 A Cardiologist's Guide to Interpreting CPET
1️⃣ What is CPET?
A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) evaluates how well the heart, lungs, and muscles work together during exercise. It's key for diagnosing unexplained dyspnea and assessing functional capacity. 🚴‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[CoreAalst @CoreAalst]

🚨Dr. Bernard De Bruyne’s @BernardBruyne Physiology Masterclass episode is now live! 🚨

Learn how coronary physiology is helping us understand plaque rupture. 🫀💥

What stood out to you in this episode? Let us know in the comments!👇

Want to watch the previous Physiology Masterclasses? Find them all here: https://t.co/lPOewcJfEk

@EmanueleBarba13 @ColletCarlos @SimoneBiscaglia @jeroen_sonck @CardioAalst @OLVZaalst

#Cardiology #PhysiologyMasterclass #FocalDisease #DiffuseDisease

[JACC Journals @JACCJournals]

This study’s radiation therapy (RT)-treated cohort underscores the utility & value of cardiac history & planning CT scan parameters for prospectively assessing the risk for #cardiotoxicity after definitive RT. https://t.co/3qo5XQP2os

#JACCCardioOnc #CardioOnc #LungCancer @gwalls@gwalls89 @MckavanaghPeter @Dr_AJC @DrSuneil_PCa @K_Butterworth @drjmcaleese @gerryhanna

[Peter McKavanagh @MckavanaghPeter]

@Ldq3Liam @DessieGibson_ @lightbulb75 I don’t have the rhythm to do anything like that.

[Peter McKavanagh @MckavanaghPeter]

@DrNataliaP @rallamee @DrPeterOKane @nicolasamabile @GoranEBC @G_MarquisGravel @warkaa21 @GorgadzeTamara @OKhaliqueMD @mariobaloo @KVM83 @biljana_parapid @rooshaparikh @MA_dEntremont @ProulxBoivin_LA @AlexBastiany @VijayKunadian @GLGasparini @drricalde @jcspratt Congratulations @DrNataliaP. Great work.

[Virgin Media Sport @VMSportIE]

Absolutely brilliant! 👏

Stevie Mulrooney, the star of the Toy Show, sings Ireland's Call in front of a sold out Aviva Stadium.

Fantastic. 💚

#IREvITA | #GuinnessSixNations

[Heart_BMJ @Heart_BMJ]

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for lipid management 💯
https://t.co/XmfZo1hk7d

[Peter McKavanagh @MckavanaghPeter]

@micktheejit @TeelingWhiskey Have a great day

[Leonard Chiu, MD MS @LeonardChiuMD]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is one of the most common causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in young adults. What is #HCM exactly?

A 🧵 on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy...1/24

We'll cover:
1) Dx criteria
2) Pathophys
3) Prevalence
4) Natural hx & Clinical clues
5) Management & NEW Tx

[Dr Steve Taylor @DrSteveTaylor]

"We spend below average on our health service compared to our peers, so its not surprising that we have fewer hospital beds, doctors, nurses, MRI/CT scanners. To a certain extent, you get what you pay for."

Siva Anandaciva, Chief Analyst @TheKingsFund

[Peter McKavanagh @MckavanaghPeter]

Eliminating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease residual risk | European Heart Journal | Oxford Academic https://t.co/IkhfHVeWiS

[American Heart Association @American_Heart]

🚨❤️ It's #CPRAEDAwarenessWeek! Nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests happen outside a hospital. Be prepared to take action! Learn Hands-Only CPR and become a real-life superhero. 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️ Let's create the #NationOfLifesavers, ready to make a difference. ❤️ @ElevanceHealth

[Peter McKavanagh @MckavanaghPeter]

@docjohnnyg @BElbarouni In fairness to Basem, you definitely look older since we left.

[Peter McKavanagh @MckavanaghPeter]

@heyBarsee @rpnickson AI

[Dr Tony Goldstone @goldstone_tony]

The NHS is completely BROKEN

It WASNT broken by COVID/Ukraine/inflation(*delete excuse)

It was broken by deliberate CHOICES to break it

RT if you want this/next government to make CHOICES to properly fund the NHS, reward its staff & provide better healthcare for UK population

[Bartosz Hudzik MD PhD FESC FACC @BartoszHudzik]

5yr risk after #AMI🧠
👉#mortality 12.5%☠️🧠
👉#bleeding 2.7%🩸
👉recurr. #MI 5.5%💔🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠🧠
👉#stroke 2.4%🧠
👉#HF 2.4%🫀
➡️https://t.co/SsaVSjb3hI
@ESC_Journals @ehj_ed @mmamas1973 @mirvatalasnag @HeartOTXHeartMD @DocSavageTJU @DrMarthaGulati @gbiondizoccai @CMichaelGibson

[SportsCardiology @Sports_CardioNL]

High intensity interval training counteracts atherosclerotic coronary disease progression and reduces atheroma volume in residual coronary atheromatous plaques following PCI. https://t.co/PA0omnu1fk
#Sportscardiology #CAD #HIIT