
About this episode
The obesity paradox in AF and paradoxes in general, digital health gets whacked again, and direct-to-consumer ads are the topics discussed by John Mandrola, MD in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic
I. Collider Bias and the Obesity Paradox
- 'Obesity Paradox' in Atrial Fibrillation Challenged as Mortality Climbs With BMI https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/979150
- Association of body mass index with outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: GARFIELD-AF https://openheart.bmj.com/content/9/2/e002038
- Collider bias https://catalogofbias.org/biases/collider-bias/
- Pediatric obesity appears to lower the risk of diabetes if selection bias is ignored https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29374028/
- Effect of Caloric Restriction or Aerobic Exercise Training on Peak Oxygen Consumption and Quality of Life in Obese Older Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Randomized Clinical Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2480484
II. Digital Health
- Blood Pressure Smartphone App Fails to Beat Standard Self-Monitoring https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/979341
- Effectiveness of Standard vs Enhanced Self-measurement of Blood Pressure Paired With a Connected Smartphone Application https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2794971
III. Direct-to-Consumer Ads
- Does DTC Heart Drug Advertising Discourage Lifestyle Changes? https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/979404
- Association of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs With Consumer Health-Related Intentions and Beliefs Among Individuals at Risk of Cardiovascular Disease https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2794995
You may also like:
Medscape editor-in-chief Eric Topol, MD, and master storyteller and clinician Abraham Verghese, MD, on Medicine and the Machine https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine
The Bob Harrington Show with Stanford University Chair of Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington
Questions or feedback, please contact [email protected]
Get every episode summarized
Each time This Week in Cardiology publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from This Week in Cardiology

Sep 11 2026 This Week in Cardiology
This Week in Cardiology

Sep 04 2026 This Week in Cardiology
This Week in Cardiology

Aug 28 2026 This Week in Cardiology
This Week in Cardiology

August 21 2026 This Week in Cardiology
This Week in Cardiology