A portable ultrasound study found that nearly a quarter of participants had plaques in at least one artery, with added iliofemoral examination increasing identification by 5%. The technology showed promise for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis before symptoms arise, potentially preventing disease through preventive treatment.
A study published in Global Heart explores the prevalence of atherosclerosis across ancient populations, revealing that genetic susceptibility is present in all cultures. Environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and physical activity play a crucial role in determining when and how quickly atherosclerosis develops.
Research suggests that ancient cultures may have been plagued by atherosclerosis due to chronic infection, inflammation, or exposure to smoke. The study of mummies from various cultures reveals a high incidence of the disease, which contradicts the expectation that modern lifestyles are the primary cause.
A new study comparing ancient and modern Egyptian whole-body CT scans found no significant differences in atherosclerotic disease incidence or severity. Despite higher age ranges in modern Egyptians, researchers detected vascular calcifications strongly correlated to age in both groups.
The study investigates progerin's potential causative factor for atherosclerosis in both modern and ancient populations. Progerin is found to be expressed in vascular cells, leading to vessel wall cell loss and replacement by fibrous tissue.
A study analyzing the iceman mummy suggests that genetic predisposition is a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis, even in ancient times. The iceman's genome revealed specific genetic mutations linked to cardiovascular disease, contradicting the idea that our ancestors lived healthier lives.
A study of mummies from various regions reveals evidence of atherosclerosis in ancient populations, contradicting the assumption that the disease is modern. Non-traditional risk factors like cooking fire smoke and chronic infection may have contributed to the condition.
Research by Dr Derrick Bennett shows that deaths from ischaemic stroke due to tobacco use in China, India, and Russia are higher than the world's other countries combined. Tobacco control policies can play a crucial role in preventing IS deaths.
A new Global Cardiovascular Disease Atlas shows that wealthy countries are reducing their burden of heart disease and stroke, while developing countries are experiencing mixed performance. The atlas uses disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to measure the burden of CVD in each region and country.
Studies demonstrate the utility of ultrasound in emergency medicine, yielding rapid and accurate diagnoses. Clinician-performed cardiac ultrasound has been shown to improve prognostic value, with significant correlation between GP and cardiologist measurements.
Experts argue that stethoscopes may become obsolete due to the rapid advancement of point-of-care ultrasound technology, which has improved image quality, reduced cost, and increased portability. The shift towards ultrasound is driven by its ability to diagnose heart and lung problems with greater accuracy than traditional stethoscopes.
Early ultrasound training can enhance diagnostic skills and detect life-threatening conditions like cardiac tamponade. Medical students performed better in detecting valvular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, and cardiac dysfunction using ultrasounds compared to trained cardiologists.
A study published in Global Heart finds that echocardiography is increasing detection rates of definite and borderline rheumatic heart disease globally. Using echocardiography increases detection rates by many-fold, revealing a higher true global prevalence than current estimates.
A lack of awareness about rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in low-income countries is a major concern. Raising awareness that untreated sore throat caused by group A streptococcal infection can lead to acute rheumatic fever (ARF)/RHD is crucial for prevention and control.
Current estimates of rheumatic heart disease deaths globally are likely underestimates, with new studies underway to address data gaps and inform control strategies. The authors propose re-evaluating the burden of disease in two categories: symptomatic and asymptomatic disease.
Benzathine penicillin G's supply is intermittent in many countries due to quality control issues and low administration rates. Novel delivery devices are proposed to improve accessibility to this life-changing intervention.
Treating strep throat with penicillin can reduce ARF/RHD risk by 70-80%, and including primary prevention in overall strategy is crucial. Global efforts to combat RHD control have shown success through comprehensive strategies involving syndromic treatment, education, and awareness campaigns.
The World Heart Federation is publishing a special issue to raise awareness about rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which is highly preventable but remains neglected globally. The special issue explores the burden of RHD, current challenges, and innovative solutions for prevention and treatment.
The World Heart Federation calls on countries worldwide to set a target year to reduce population smoking levels to 5% or below and implement measures in the international tobacco control treaty. Finland, New Zealand, and Scotland have announced target years of 2030, 2025, and 2034 respectively.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) disproportionately affects women, with unique risk factors including pregnancy and autoimmune diseases. Women are more likely to die from CAD than men in similar circumstances, especially at younger ages.
The World Heart Federation hosted an international meeting to address the growing burden of rheumatic heart disease, a neglected non-communicable disease that kills over 200,000 people under 25 annually. Four key strategies were identified to integrate RHD prevention and control into national action plans.
The World Heart Federation has published a new position statement outlining five strategic targets to achieve its goal of reducing premature deaths from rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among individuals aged <25 years by 2025. The targets include comprehensive register-based control programmes, global access to benzathine penicillin G, a...
Global cardiovascular disease leaders urge the world to adopt a 25% reduction target for premature NCD mortality by 2025. The Taskforce, comprising leading CVD organizations, aims to reduce the global burden of CVD and address its impact on families and economies.
A new Harvard report presents preliminary data showing that taxing salt products or implementing industry reductions can lead to significant reductions in cardiovascular disease deaths. The study found that these strategies could save money by reducing healthcare costs associated with hypertension and CVD events.
A global study presented at the World Congress of Cardiology reveals that patients with rheumatic heart disease are not receiving necessary surgery or secondary prevention treatments. In Africa and India, only 41% of patients enrolled had received surgery, highlighting a dire lack of surgical services available in most centers.
A 25% increase in high blood pressure screening in 19 developing countries could reduce CVD events and deaths by up to 3%. The study found that only one-third of people with high blood pressure are aware of their condition, and even fewer receive treatment.
Two new studies presented at the World Congress of Cardiology show that coordinated screening and control programmes can identify patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) early, reducing treatment costs. In Uganda and Fiji, children were screened using a stethoscope and portable echocardiography machine, detecting 1.5% RHD cases.
A new study found that exposure to alcohol use in Bollywood movies is directly associated with alcohol consumption among Indian adolescents. The study, presented at the World Congress of Cardiology, reveals that students who were highly exposed to such content were 2.78 times more likely to have tried alcohol.
A new report highlights significant gaps in public awareness regarding the cardiovascular risks of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. Half of all Chinese smokers and one-third of Indian and Vietnamese smokers are unaware that smoking causes heart disease, with even higher rates among non-smokers.
Three large studies from India, China, and the Middle East expose a consistent pattern of inadequate treatment for women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), resulting in poorer outcomes. Women tend to be admitted later, have more comorbid disease, and receive less aggressive treatment than men.
A new study at the World Congress of Cardiology found that women with diagnosed heart disease are more likely to give birth to female babies. The study, which reviewed 200 pregnant women with cardiac disease, found that 75% of their children were female.
A new study presented at the World Congress of Cardiology found that high normal blood pressure becomes less of a risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease with age. The study showed similar risks for diagnosed high blood pressure across all age groups.
A study of 434,190 individuals in Taiwan found that exercise can help smokers quit and reduce the risk of heart attack. Regular physical activity increased life expectancy by 3.7 years among smokers.
A new study from Hong Kong reveals that smokefree legislation has led to a decrease in total smokers, but hard-to-quit 'hardcore' smokers have increased. The number of hardcore smokers grew from 23.8% to 29.4% among males and 10.6% to 16.3% among females between 2005 and 2008.
A recent study found that short-term treatment with omega-3 fatty acids improves arterial stiffness and moderates the negative effects of smoking on vascular elastic properties in smokers. The cardioprotective effects of omega-3 fatty acids are attributed to their anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic properties.
The Indian Heart Watch study reveals alarming levels of lifestyle and biological risk factors driving India's CVD epidemic. The country faces a growing CVD crisis due to high prevalence of obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity.
A new study has identified left-ventricular hyper-trabeculation as a common feature among black male athletes, with a prevalence of 6.8% compared to 0.4% in non-athletes. This finding raises concerns about the challenges of differentiating between athlete's heart and serious medical conditions in this demographic.
A recent study published at the World Congress of Cardiology found that regular exercise significantly reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in individuals with high blood pressure. The study involved over 434,000 participants and revealed a significant difference in mortality risks between physically active and inactiv...
Patients with rheumatic heart disease in the Middle East are being admitted too late for surgery, highlighting the need for early screening and prevention programs. The World Heart Federation calls for coordinated efforts to prevent progression to severe RHD, which can be prevented with penicillin.