Women face unique socioeconomic barriers that set back their cardiovascular health early in life, increasing risk of heart attack and stroke. These disparities can be mitigated through policy changes, community support, and diversification within the cardiology workforce.
Male smokers have a lower rate of blood pressure control than female smokers, according to a study by the American College of Cardiology. Smoking cessation is key to improving health outcomes, with studies showing that quitting smoking can lead to better adherence to treatment and improved cardiovascular care.
A survey of cardiologists reveals that while underrepresented minorities are satisfied with their careers, they face discrimination, exclusion, and burnout. The study highlights the need for support systems to address systemic barriers.
A study published by the American College of Cardiology found a significant inverse relationship between oral health and COVID-19 severity, as well as delayed recovery and increased inflammation in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Researchers recommend maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent or decrease COVID-19 disease severity.
The ACC Middle East 2021 conference will showcase the latest evidence-based strategies for improving heart health in the Middle East. The event features presentations from renowned experts on the most impactful clinical trials and contemporary best practices in treating cardiovascular disease.
A study by Intermountain Healthcare found that notifying pharmacies of discontinued prescriptions can prevent almost 200 safety events over two months. By using a CancelRX functionality in their electronic medical record system, the team was able to avoid these events and ensure patients only receive correct medications.
Researchers found that providing patients with a clinician team roster increased recognition of each clinician's name and face, with an average increase of 4.57 out of 5 on a five-point Likert scale. This improvement was particularly notable during the COVID-19 pandemic when universal masking made facial recognition more challenging.
The ACC Quality Summit Virtual brings together clinicians, administrators, and quality professionals to translate data into achieving quality care. Key findings include innovative health care strategies and exceptional leadership, as showcased by the 2021 Ray Bahr Award of Excellence winner.
A new study finds that left-sided breast cancer radiation therapy increases the risk of coronary artery disease in younger survivors, with a significant increase in risk seen at 10.5% for those who received left-sided radiation therapy compared to 5.8% for right-sided.
New study finds that rescue breathing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is preferable to compression-only CPR for infants, children, and adolescents in case of cardiac arrest. Rescue breathing CPR was associated with higher odds of favorable neurological outcomes and overall survival compared to compression-only CPR.
Despite guidelines and legal requirements, women remain underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, limiting treatment data on cardiovascular disease. Research shows that women respond differently to drugs than men, highlighting the need for sex-specific data in optimal care.
The American College of Cardiology has issued clinical guidance on reducing ASCVD risk in patients with persistent hypertriglyceridemia, recommending lifestyle intervention and non-statin therapies. The guidance emphasizes the importance of individualized nutrition guidance for these patients.
Leading cardiovascular organizations call for global action to improve clinician well-being, citing drivers such as lack of control over workload and misalignment of values. The organizations suggest strategies to prevent burnout, including supporting psychosocial health and creating healthy work environments.
A new study found that young South Asian heart attack patients are more likely to be obese and use tobacco products. The study also revealed a higher prevalence of family history of heart disease and abnormal lipids in this patient population. Targeting modifiable risk factors, creating awareness, and decreasing system delays can help ...
A new study found that statin therapy is not associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. Researchers analyzed data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly trial and found no significant difference in the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment between statin users and non-...
A high childhood BMI is associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes and early heart attack in adulthood. Adults who had a high BMI in adolescence were at highest risk for these conditions, regardless of their adult BMI.
Four leading cardiovascular organizations urge governments to implement the World Health Organization's MPOWER framework to reduce tobacco use. The joint opinion outlines comprehensive strategies, including lowering nicotine concentrations in combustible tobacco products and enforcing strong systems and premarket assessments of all tob...
The experimental drug omecamtiv mecarbil significantly reduces hospitalizations for patients with severe heart failure and low ejection fractions. It offers improved benefits over current medications, especially in those with more severely impaired hearts.
Researchers found that sotagliflozin reduced the risk of death or worsening heart failure by 22-43% in patients with both diabetes and heart failure. The medication showed significant benefits across various patient subgroups, including those with preserved ejection fraction.
Early-phase trial found pirfenidone significantly reduced a marker of heart muscle scarring compared to placebo in patients with preserved ejection fraction. The study suggests that fibrosis is an effective treatment target and could lead to personalized approaches to prevent or reverse scarring.
A study found that cooling patients to a lower temperature than recommended did not improve outcomes after cardiac arrest. Cooling to 31 degrees Celsius showed no difference in death or poor neurological outcomes at six months compared to guideline-recommended cooling of 34 C.
A new study found that consuming even one glass of wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverage increases the chance of an episode of atrial fibrillation occurring within four hours. The study tracked objective, real-time alcohol consumption and heart rhythm disturbance using wearable sensors and blood tests.
The LIFE trial found that sacubitril/valsartan combination therapy did not improve health outcomes for patients with severe heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The study showed that valsartan alone was more effective in reducing hyperkalemia and clinical outcomes.
The American College of Cardiology's Global Heart Attack Treatment Initiative has shown measurable positive impacts on care delivery for heart attacks in low- and middle-income countries. The program tracked STEMI treatment metrics and outcomes for over 2,000 patients across 18 medical centers in 13 countries.
A randomized controlled trial found that an additional auditing and feedback program on hospital care for heart failure patients did not improve outcomes, including reduced rehospitalization and death rates. The study's lead author suggests future interventions may employ digital tools or focus on care delivery outside the hospital.
Research suggests that the type of heart failure a patient has may influence which approach is optimal for treating atrial fibrillation (AFib). A study found that rhythm control may be especially beneficial for patients with reduced ejection fraction, but more research is needed to confirm this trend.
A new hyperinvasive care approach improved six-month survival rates for patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, especially those resuscitated for over 45 minutes. The study showed better neurological function recovery in the hyperinvasive group at 30 days.
Researchers found that finerenone reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation by 30% in patients with chronic kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes, regardless of their history with AFib. The study suggests that finerenone can delay the onset of heart rhythm disorder and protect the heart and kidneys from further damage.
A new study suggests that cardioprotective drugs during adjuvant breast cancer therapy may not be necessary for most patients, especially those at low risk of heart disease. The research found no significant differences in heart function between patients who received these medications and placebos.
Patients who underwent renal denervation experienced a median reduction of 8 mmHg in daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure. The procedure was shown to be effective regardless of sex, ethnicity, age, or waist size.
A recent survey found that burnout rates doubled among cardiovascular clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, with half providing direct care to patients and reporting inadequate PPE. The study highlights the need for improved health system support and wellness initiatives to address burnout and its consequences.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that FFR-guided PCI had no significant benefits for STEMI patients with multi-vessel disease and was more expensive than angiography alone. The FLOWER-MI trial enrolled 1,171 patients who underwent a second stenting procedure after a STEMI heart attack.
The HOST-EXAM trial found that patients who received clopidogrel experienced a 30% reduced risk of adverse events compared to those on aspirin. This study confirms the effectiveness of long-term maintenance therapy with clopidogrel as an alternative to aspirin for patients who have completed dual antiplatelet therapy.
Patients taking daily omega-3 carboxylic acid had similar rates of major cardiovascular events as those taking corn oil placebo, according to a post-hoc analysis of the STRENGTH trial. Higher levels of achieved EPA and DHA did not affect outcomes.
In a phase 2 trial, evinacumab significantly reduced triglyceride levels in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, particularly those with specific genetic mutations. The study found that the magnitude of response was highly dependent on the participant's genetic profile.
A novel 12-week physical rehabilitation program tailored to address specific physical impairments in older heart failure patients improved physical functioning, quality of life, and depression. However, participation did not significantly reduce rehospitalizations during the six-month follow-up period.
A phase III trial found dapagliflozin did not significantly reduce organ failure or death, but showed favorable safety data and lower numbers of serious adverse events. The study suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors may offer organ protection in acutely ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
A recent study found that using a rapid, high-sensitivity troponin T testing protocol did not improve patient outcomes after one year. In fact, patients who received this protocol were more likely to experience a heart attack or death compared to those in the standard-care group.
Switching from high-potency DAPT (ticagrelor) to less potent clopidogrel after 30 days reduced major cardiac events, including heart attacks and strokes. In a study of over 2,700 patients, de-escalation was shown to be safe and more effective than continuing on ticagrelor.
The study found that rivaroxaban significantly reduced the occurrence of total severe events in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease who underwent lower extremity revascularization. The treatment also showed a 12.5% absolute reduction in risk for adverse events in this high-risk population.
Researchers found no significant differences in cardiovascular events or major bleeding between patients taking 81mg or 325mg daily doses of aspirin. Long-term adherence was better among those taking the lower dose.
The study analyzed over 36,000 LAAO procedures performed with the WATCHMAN device in older, higher-risk patients with atrial fibrillation. At one year, the estimated 1.53% ischemic stroke rate was lower than predicted by stroke risk scores, suggesting effective stroke prevention.
Researchers found that left atrial appendage occlusion significantly reduced stroke risk by 33% in patients with AFib or atrial flutter. The procedure, performed during heart surgery, added less than 10 minutes to the operation and demonstrated long-term safety.
Researchers found that apixaban reduced blood clot formation around implanted valves with no increased bleeding risk. However, a subset of patients showed higher rates of non-cardiovascular death without anticoagulation indication.
The PARADISE-MI trial found sacubitril/valsartan to be well-tolerated and associated with a trend toward improvement in secondary endpoints. However, it did not significantly reduce the rate of heart failure or cardiovascular death following a heart attack compared to ramipril.
A new study found that women with possible heart attacks are triaged less urgently, wait longer to be seen, and undergo fewer tests than men. Women were also less likely to receive cardiac monitoring or be seen by a consultant.
A new study found that moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly due to reduced stress-related brain activity. The findings suggest that low or moderate drinking may be beneficial for heart health without the drawbacks of excessive drinking.
A study found that social factors such as education and financial stability significantly impact an individual's ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The researchers urge a greater focus on ensuring access to vaccines and precautionary measures for disadvantaged groups.
A new study reveals that nearly 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure are taking medications that could elevate their blood pressure. Researchers identified three common culprits: antidepressants, NSAIDs, and oral steroids, which were reported by 9%, 7%, and 2% of participants, respectively.
A study found that psychological distress after a heart attack doubles the risk of subsequent cardiac events in younger adults. Researchers also discovered an association between inflammation and cardiovascular risk among patients experiencing high distress.