Chronic pain in adults may increase their risk of high blood pressure, and the location and extent of pain and if they also had depression were contributing factors, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

After 24 months, 34% of veterans who have heart and blood vessel disease and high cholesterol in a quality improvement program that included health care coaches and other resources had improved cholesterol levels to below 70 mg/dL.

The cholesterol-lowering medication alirocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor, along with a statin, lowered LDL cholesterol levels more than 50% in patients after a heart transplant, compared to those taking a placebo plus statin, according to the results of a new clinical trial.

Among patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), those taking a “polypill” combination of three medications typically prescribed for heart failure, once daily for six months, had improved heart function and symptoms, better quality of life, fewer hospitalizations and greater medication adherence in comparison to those who took the same medications as separate pills.