Epidemiological studies and working hypotheses based on pathophysiology can lead to shortcuts and assumptions on which treatment may sometimes be based. As is often the case, prospective, randomized, controlled studies bring important insight into the actual benefits of various treatment options. This selective review describes some recent studies that provide insight in various areas such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, renovascular disease, venous thromboembolic disease, pneumonia, as well as acute pancreatitis.